Brief Thoughts on last night's debate

by | Apr 17, 2008 | Campaigns and Elections, Democracy, Obama | 6 comments

Yesterday’s debate between Sens. Obama and Clinton was important because it was the last debate before the critical Pennsylvania primary. But watching it I was not only disappointed in the questions asked by Charles Gibson and George Stephanopoulus, I was pissed. Over 50 minutes spent on Obama’s minor connections to a former member of the Weather Underground, on Obama’s refusal to wear an American flag on his lapel, on Clinton’s Bosnian lie. And I caught Gibson in at least one critical right-leaning error–asking Obama about his interest in raising the capital gains tax to its Clinton era rate of 28%, Gibson noted that the tax decreases revenue rather than increases it. This is an “untruth” to put it nicely. Of the debates I’ve caught pieces of, this was the worst.If you agree, do me a favor and sign this petition. 

6 Comments

  1. Keith
    Keith on April 18, 2008 at 12:08 pm

    Hey Lester.

    Glad to do it and it’s done. Thanks for providing the petition, and I couldn’t agree with you more. I’ve rarely so many in the media become that upset – loudly and publicly – at two members of their own tribe. The National Enquirer? Sure. Fox News even. But when they start attacking high-profile “mainstream” heavyweights like Charlie Gibson and Stephanopolous that’s pretty remarkable.

  2. Mark
    Mark on April 19, 2008 at 12:00 pm

    Only in America can a man run for president and be accused of being too white and then be accused of being a black separatist. It’s no wonder then that in one breath the media can question Obama’s relationship with Jeremiah Wright as religious extremism and in the next breath lend credence to the idea that he’s an “elitist” who looks down on people who “cling to religion”.

    The doublethink on display here boggles the mind.

    The debate certainly wasn’t helped by the presences of George “I’m a former Clinton administration staffer, no conflict of interest here” Stephanopoulos and Charles “An awful lot of folks have million dollar salaries” Gibson.

    It was a hack job and an ambush and Obama did not respond as well as he could have, but I can’t help but think we’ll see more of it until he wins in November.

    As a side note: When did “politics” become something entirely separate from policy?

  3. The Good Doctor
    The Good Doctor on April 19, 2008 at 12:27 pm

    Kid, I have NO idea…

    But I do have another thought on the debates. If the two candidates are far more alike than they are different….then how can you spend two hours focusing on policy?

  4. DLT
    DLT on April 19, 2008 at 2:26 pm

    I think you could easily spend 2 hours on policy. Even in this debate, there were significant differences in their approach to Iran, with Clinton advocating a NATO like protection for Israel. As you have stated before, each candidate has different approaches to the foreclosure process. With over 20 shooting in Chicago this past 24 hours, it would be interesting to hear their crime fighting approaches. For several months, you’ve been advocating a debate on urban policy, and it would be interesting to hear exactly how Clinton would use Edwards as a policy czar. In summary, I just think there is significant room for asking questions that differentiate the candidates. It just laziness that keeps categorizing them as policy and policy implementation twins.

  5. Lester Spence
    Lester Spence on April 19, 2008 at 2:59 pm

    Now there you go…I’m trying to give them a break and you’re using my own concepts against me!

    But of course you’re right. No getting around it. They were, are, and shall remain, bastards for getting this so wrong.

  6. albatross
    albatross on April 20, 2008 at 6:14 pm

    I also signed the petition. The debate transcript was amazing–I think a shorter version of the first half of the debate would have made a hell of a good SNL skit.