Despairing, disgusting and disheartening – those words are flying around today to describe ABC’s irresponsible Democratic presidential debate Wednesday night.

Here’s another one – dangerous.

ABC’s failure to ask tough questions, act as a watchdog and hold our leaders accountable is not an anomaly. It is a testament to our broken media system.

So, why dangerous? Because ABC’s behavior is a precursor for more bad journalism to come under increasing media consolidation. We know that bad journalism equals less civic engagement, less political and corporate accountability, and less democracy. In other words, our journalism is in peril, and so are we.

Last night’s debacle has sparked outrage across the Internet. Tom Shales of the Washington Post called the debate “another step downward for network news,” while Editor and Publisher reprimanded ABC with a “most embarrassing performance by the media in years” award. According to some bloggers, the debate could have been held in a circus tent for its “freak show” factor; another called it “utterly asinine.”

The public has also weighed in, flooding ABC’s debate comment page with nearly 15,000 angry posts by mid-day on Thursday.

Maybe it’s been awhile since we’ve seen something as egregious as Charles Gibson noting Obama’s absent flag pin. But as our media falls into fewer and fewer hands, real journalism is replaced by cheap infotainment and rank sensationalism. Newsrooms are being squeezed, foreign bureaus have been shuttered, and serious issues are simply ignored.

Last night’s debate is just a symptom of a much more serious sickness afflicting our media system. The root of this problem is bad policies that let Big Media get so big.

Let’s take ABC to task. But let’s also remember that gossip and cheap shots outrank serious, challenging and vital journalism pursuits on nearly every news network. ABC and other networks have an obligation to the American people because they use the public airwaves.

So while we jeer and boo Gibson and George Stephanopolous, we should also push for policies that stop Big Media from being the only ones with the power to pose questions to America’s possible future leader.

Take action by signing our petition to demand quality journalism from ABC. Go even further by urging your senators to support the “resolution of disapproval” that would nullify the FCC’s decision to allow for even further media consolidation.