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THESE QUESTIONS ARE A DISGRACE.
A woman asks if Obama "believes in the American flag" because he doesn't wear a flag pin.
Charlie Gibson says that questions about the flag are "all over the internet" -- along with Pamela Anderson's sex tape, cats with bad grammar, and Rick Astley. Journalism at it's finest.
Obama says he "reveres" flag. Says he shows patriotism by trying to make America better.
"This is the kind of manufactured issue that distracts us from" the issues.
And now, we're on to William Ayers. Gaaah. Obama says Ayers is someone Obama knows ... says he's also friendly with Tom Coburn who wants to give the death penalty to people who perform abortions. Attacks the whole idea of guilt by association, says "the American people are smarter than that."
Clinton says that's fair "but" Obama served on a board EVEN AFTER 9-11 and Ayers' comments about the bombings. Says she knows Obama is a "great man" but it's something the Republicans will raise.
Obama says by same standard, Bill pardoned some members of Weather Underground. Says, somewhat angrily, that both of them will be attacked by Republicans, points out that he does better against McCain than Clinton.
The debate is 46 minutes in, and nothing remotely meaningful has been discussed.
--Sam Boyd
COMMENTS (14)
So they're quoting the Commander in Chief clause, which apparently means they'll be asking important questions about Tony Rezko!
Posted by: Jim D | April 16, 2008 8:52 PM
I TOTALLY agree. I didn't know about Ayers, and it IS a problem, but that does not shake my confidence in Barack Obama the man. The first 1/3 of the debate was disgraceful. Really, the tenor of the debate is odd.
Posted by: N Smith | April 16, 2008 9:16 PM
Is the erroneous apostrophe in "Journalism at it's finest" an example of unintended irony, or very subtly crafted sarcasm?
Posted by: VincePeterson | April 16, 2008 10:21 PM
I wish they all would have suprised us with some meaningful discourse.
Too much to hope for I guess.
We heard all that trash for weeks but they spent the first hour doing it again??
How can they call themselves by any title other than mud slingers. Why does not someone other than these vapid talking heads conduct the 'debates'? They are only qualified to conduct soap opera for the highest bidder.
No wonder everything is in a mess if we call that a debate. Disgusted and soon to be bitter....
Posted by: Rockey Mann | April 16, 2008 11:13 PM
In 2012, if the networks say "Wanna debate? Insist that college debate profs do the questions.
The MSM only gets a decent one about 10% of the time, so lock out their poffy-haired zombies and let's have real adult debates again.
Posted by: Kevin Hayden | April 17, 2008 6:23 AM
"The American people are smarter than that, George (Stephanopolous)."
It sounded a very short step away from Barack saying "the American people are smarter than you, George."
How appropriate that would have been.
Second, that's as angry and demonstrative as Barack is allowed to get.
Who will win the coveted Bernard Shaw Award this year? Any bets?
Posted by: ThresherK | April 17, 2008 6:48 AM
LOL, 'bout time you childish hateful lefties got some of your OWN medicine. It is fun to watch you crybabies freak out.
Posted by: Truthy | April 17, 2008 8:35 AM
For the first time I thought this democrat debate was very revealing! Thank you ABC you actually got the Dems off their scripts and revealed who they really are.
Posted by: katablog | April 17, 2008 9:28 AM
Wow, some right wing troglydyte is using CAPS on his 'puter. Thanks for adding so much to this conversation. On a separate note, why doesn't anyone mention what the Woods Fund does now instead of what Ayers was involved in 40 years ago? Its mission is to help the poor overcome obstacles but the media acts like its stated goal is to bomb unoccupied federal buildings.
Posted by: ConTroll Freak | April 17, 2008 9:31 AM
Hey Cuntroll freak,
I bet this troglodyte is better educated, happier, and healthier than you asshole. You are irrelevant punk.
PS - you misspelled "troglydyte" college boy. Hahahahaha
Posted by: Truthy | April 17, 2008 10:13 AM
"I bet this troglodyte is better educated, happier, and healthier than you asshole."
I'll take that bet. At least I'm not blatantly trolling and posting mindless partisan drivel.
Posted by: PaulB | April 17, 2008 10:59 AM
Hey Cuntroll freak,
I bet this troglodyte is better educated, happier, and healthier than you asshole. You are irrelevant punk.
PS - you misspelled "troglydyte" college boy. Hahahahaha
Posted by: Truthy | April 17, 2008 10:13 AM
===========================
Wow. This might be the most pathetic post I've read this political season. And this is coming from the person who accused "lefties" of being "childish" and "hateful."
Projection much?
Posted by: jlo | April 17, 2008 11:21 AM
It was one of the better debates that I have heard so far. We need to KNOW everything possible about the candidates, their associations, their core beliefs and what they stand for; and, not just what they epouse in their carefully prepared pandering speeches.
Posted by: Leon Johnson | April 17, 2008 2:40 PM
it was one of the better debates that I have heard so far. We need to KNOW everything possible about the candidates, their associations, their core beliefs and what they stand for; and, not just what they epouse in their carefully prepared pandering speeches. so if somebody out there cries about it enough, then we need to know if either candidate ever broke wind in an elevator and laughed about it later? because seriously, that is the sort of trivial crap that this mockery of a debate put as being front and center. I want substantive questions about policy, not idiotic questions about lapel puns or orange juice. The same people who put forth those questions are the same sort of people who bought McCain donuts...you know...fluffers.
Posted by: Anonymous | April 22, 2008 6:18 PM