Strengthening Constitutional Self-Government

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Gerson on the Rick Warren Show

Michael’s official message is that McCain did well. My own view is that, overall, Obama did too, and he was probably more comfortable with the format. BUT Gerson’s big news concerns what Barack said that was lame, illogical or evasive enough for Republicans to exploit.

Discussions - 9 Comments

Sorry Peter, Obama, by any measure, did not do well. Many of his answers were vague and mushy and he made every attempt to gear his responses to the audience. His "above my pay grade" comment was a silly attempt to imply that only God could handle the issue (that wasn't the question). McCain gave his answers straight and true (like them or not) and that's why many if not most pundits say Obama got bested. In Obama's defense, it was a no win situation for him. I think the reverse might be if Obama and McCain did the same type of event at an ACLU meeting.

i think gerson nailed this one. after months in the shadows, or trying to give set speeches, the"old" john mccain showed up. he was sharp, a bit irreverent, awkward at times, but the john mccain that we saw on the campaign trail in new hampshire. this debate will help rally conservatives and evangelicals to mccain; and as gerson said, however nice barrack may seem, he's not conservative in the least. the audience need only consider their views on the court. obama supplied some red meat by a personal attack on thomas, unnecessary, ungenerous, and untrue. when pressed, it's the liberal shibboleths that come first to his lips. jwc

So PETER thinks Elmer Fudd did well...................???????????????????????????????

Nobody in American history has been as hyped as the false messiah/Elmer Fudd, -------------- that being the case, his performance made GW, {who I long ago branded a verbal cripple} appear composed and well-spoken.

Obama is PAINFULLY provincial, and when asked to expand on issues beyond those related to race/class and gender, it's CLEAR to one and all, INCLUDING NOW EVEN THE MEDIA, that he is WAY beyond his ken, and way beyond "his pay grade."

The media is now acting as Elmer Fudd's Praetorian Guard, clearing the way for this provincial and now churning out accusations of cheating by the old codger, McCain.

Fudd's performance was SO BAD, SO CLEARLY AND SHOCKINGLY BAD, that the media, in a flat-out panic, are firing off accusations of cheating by McCain, {for they can't possibly concede the point that the false messiah is, in fact, nothing more than the political equivalent of Elmer Fudd}.

I'm saying right now that Barrack Hussein/Elmer Fudd is not going to prevail in the Fall.

My tendency is to agree with JWC on this one---McCain did very well and the post-game bickering about the "cone of silence" only attests to that even further....however, McCain needs not just the staunch consercative and evangelical base to show up he needs to capture the independent voter as well....

Americans LOOOOVE their wedge issues, don't they? Tell me again why any of this religious gobbledygook matters so much?

The opinion of Frank Luntz on Fox tonight: Obama did well, McCain did better. Some observations: McCain looked younger than he has lately. He got the tears going when he talked about his tough choice in Vietnam. McCain, in Luntz's opinion, shouldn't give a prepared speech at the convention but should go with the townhall, tieless approach (I'm actually for this). But most importantly: Obama's answers on abortion, marriage, and the judiciary were bad and left him quite vulnerable to attack. (Rev. Rick himself suggested that he would have pulverized Bararck had his forum allowed for follow-up questions.) Criticizing Clarence Thomas for, in effect, lacking experience and stature is, of course, more than a bit ironic. So, to repeat, it's McCain's job to hit hard where Obama is weak. This forum was, it seems, a very good first step in getting the evangelicals enthusiastically on board, but only that.

Obama did well if only because the cameras picked up the hesitancy of actual thought rather than the pseudo-fluidity of McCain's focus-group canned answers. Obama is no messiah or intellectual, but these were the thoughtful hesitancies of a reasonable person, not the choked brainlessness of George W. or the certainty of an ideologue. I think Americans are tired of those who answer such questions with such certainty so as to be unable to even hear any other views. Every one of McCain's remarks I had heard before, poll-tested phrases and townhall scripts. But that only speaks to the vacuity of many evangelicals and their unassailable certainty. Unable to think for themselves, they 'listen for' clue phrases and applaud like seals when they hear them.

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