The Trail: A Daily Diary of Campaign 2008

I think we can all agree the "flag pin" question was a bit much, though I didn't realize "the women on the street" who asked the question was actually someone the NY Times quoted about this, but all these other questions really were legitimate. The media has focused on the Rev. Wright and "bitter" remarks ad nauseum, and this IS the first debate held since these issues came up. But the larger point is that of the other 20-something debates, many of them focused rather harshly on Clinton's negatives. This ONE debate was more focused on Obama's, the front runner's, negatives, and the whining is deafening - just deafening. I think that highlights pretty starkly just how great the bias in the media really is. And let's face it, if he had actually performed well, no one would be saying a word, other than to praise how he tough he is.

This entire argument highlights IMO a greater issue, the liberal media's overwhelming favoritism toward Obama, and that's actually the more substantive issue here. When Clinton was the front-runner, that was the "excuse" for her getting the majority of the hammering. If Obama makes it to the general election, you can bet he's going to get roughed up plenty and that these issues are going to come up again.

I know Obama supporters and the Obamedia are angry about this debate - well take a walk in my shoes. This is how the frustraition feels when the media is unduly influencing this election.

But Obama sure never complained about being the liberal media's darling for all these months. So . . . he can cry me a river. He's still way ahead on the media bias scale.

Here's an interesting article on the pin issue:

CNN's glass house: Sr. VP reportedly criticized ABC debate question about flag pin -- but CNN has repeatedly covered issue

http://mediamatters.org/items/200804180011

Quote: "To the Obama slimy gutter rats"
"So long, Obama gutter rats.
"The Obama supporting pukes promptly go on the whiny binge, calling WaPo a Clinton rag.
These buffoons have to be joking, except they are not funny, and they reek of vomit."
"please don't come running to us Clinton supporters for help. You anaimals stink."
"ANd yet, the Pampers diapered Obama supporters keep whining till the PA primary that their man got asked by ABC about statements he heimself made..."

Now there is your typical Clinton supporter, under-educated as the exit polls say, and as foul-mouthed as the Senator from New York.

So Sen Clinton gets endorsed by 3 actual superDs and it gets a small print link on NYT and nothing at all on WaPo. Obama gets endorsed 3 old foggies (with one of them being a well known backstabber who has been all over the media badmouthing CLinton for a while now) whose support counts for exactly nothing, and the endorsement gets BIG print, big link, and talked all over the net, TV, blogs...

ANd yet, the Pampers diapered Obama supporters keep whining till the PA primary that their man got asked by ABC about statements he heimself made, and about the pastor who married him and got his children baptized.

When Sen Clinton got grilled by "I am Mr Fair" Russert over the spelling of Medvedenko (or Medvedev, or some gas company CEO Putin lackey), none of these same Obama fans moved a lip and said that was n't a relevant question.

ANd yet, these Obama supporters think they can win the general election w/o the support of 1/2 of the democratic party.

Keep dreaming.

The WaPo, after thoroughly infested with racist and sexist viruses like Eugene Robinson, Colby scumbag, EJ Dionne, Gerson, and other assorted pondscum, finally posts a token article saying that the debate was not unbelievably unfair to Hussein Obama.

The Obama supporting pukes promptly go on the whiny binge, calling WaPo a Clinton rag.

These buffoons have to be joking, except theyare not funny, and they reek of vomit.

When Mr Hussein Obama is given a proper Lee Atwater and Karl treatment in the fall, please don't come running to us Clinton supporters for help. You anaimals stink. Please turn to your pits of the earth heroes and heroines like Rich, Reich, Dowd, Kristoff, Matthews and other stinkeroos to try and stem the damage, but by then, Obama will be likethe emperor with no clothes.

The Obama suppporting gutter rats are whining all over the net, as is their main man, that oh mommy, he got asked a question or two on Wright, and how MR Hussein Obama himself shot his Harvard educated mouth all over the topic of bitterness and further compounded by saying joblessness leads to clinging to god and intolerance of strangers.

The same Obama gutter rats and their main man Obama of course sat smiling smugly through 20 debates as moderators piled on Hillary, asked her to spell the name of Medvedenko, to taking the mike away from her for a commercial, to thundering her down on driver licenses for illegals, and so on; in the mean times, spinster bi**&es like MoDowd were yucking up all over the net about what Hillary wears, her hair, her sex life, her husband's sex life and so on.

To the Obama slimy gutter rats, any thing is fair game on Clinton, but oh no, their main is not to be touched.

Come the fall, when he is raked over the coal by the Rethugs, the CLinton supporters will be smiling as well. Hopefully, a whole bunch of us will vote McCain or write ROn Paul's name or just sit home and enjoy the balmy Nov weather.

So long, Obama gutter rats.

From today's news. Another one:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Robert Reich, a former labor secretary during President Bill Clinton's administration, endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Friday.

"My conscience won't let me be silent any longer," Reich wrote on his blog in announcing the endorsement for Obama, who is in a hard-fought Democratic presidential battle with former first lady Hillary Clinton.

Reich said he had delayed a formal endorsement because of "the pull of old friendships" but he believed Obama offered the best chance of creating a new kind of politics and transcending old divisions."

bi-racial. Anyone could have put up that link on the internet. Including YOU??

All I know is that biracial people have been talking about taking over the world for some time now (see: Biracial World Domination - http://www.biracialworlddomination.com ) and it looks like Barack Obama is just claiming whatever racial heritage he needs in order to further their goals.

I think that I have worn a flag lapel pin once in my long life. And someone else pinned it on me then.

Does that make me a bad American?? Nope.

"Some viewers took umbrage at the questions."

You haven't been paying close attention. A visit to the post-debate forum at ABC News, among many other sites, will reveal to you the near universal loathing that's representative of the feeling viewers had about the circus sideshow that masqueraded as a debate. You also seem blithely unaware or unconcerned that the questions raised in the first 50 minutes of the "debate" have been answered so many times that rehashing them on Wednesday night merely has the effect of badgering the witness. With the exception of yourself, David Brooks, and a handful of other mediocrities which whom you really don't want to be associated, most reasonable people recognize the questioning of both Clinton and Obama (but mostly Obama) as a reputation-destroying hatchet job. The sad conclusion your readers must draw from your "Take" is that Barack Obama can offer no explanations or justifications for any of his decisions, choices, or beliefs that will satisfy folks like you.

(This may be a double post. If so, my apologies.)

Senator Clinton has my vote if I were an American. Cable Tv is looking for cable repair personnel who can dodge sniper fire. By the way, where was her Pin??

When Clinton was asked about sniper fire in Bosnia, I wish Obama would have asked permission to answer that question on Clintons behalf. He could have made a sharp case against gotcha Politics by pointing out that the issue had been rehashed on end for the past weeks and that both he and Clinton were there to discuss Politics, to debate issues that matter to the American people in their daily lives. In this way, Obama would have undoubtably won acclamation from both campaign camps. He thereby would have pressured ABC to change the course of the debate and he would have come across as both with it and above it. - Michael Mettler, Switzerland

If they were both to be forced to wear flag lapel pins jammed into their foreheads until they die, Stephie and Gibson--and now by extension, Balz--shouldn't live their performance in this "debate" down. Before the next election the entire journalist-moderator-45-seconds-to-reply format should be junked. It leads to consistently awful results and has since the 1970s.

And my God, that Mr. Gibson, who normally poses as Mr. Average Joe, is sure worried about anybody raising his capital-gains taxes!

Long ago, in the posh suburbs of NY, a plan was hatched.

"We shall find a man, a man who is totally unelectable. He must be able to hide his unelectable nature until there are only two left."

Later, the man kept winning, one after another of his faults kept blowing up all around him. He stank horribly, but the people kept voting for him.

"What is this?", she said, "How is this happening?" "We do not know" they told her honestly, "the man is an obvious Marxist, he is secretly a Muslim, his wife is the only woman is the world hated more than you, he has been exposed as a hater of whites, Jews and small town America, a hater in fact of all things American, yet they keep voting for him and defending him"

So she fired them all. Then she had him secretly drugged just before an important debate. He babbled and stuttered and stammered his way through that night, looking totally confused. "Brilliant!!!" his supporters screamed. "God damn ABC", yelled others.

Alas the end is not yet written, stay tuned to see how it ends.

stupid article.

Hillary should have won Super Tuesday with all of her base infrastructure and Clinton machine and old brand name but did not! As to the vetting "show"-- passed off as debate--of Barack Obama by ABC moderators and Hillary, yes Senator O did manage to see it through with a degree of composure. BUT obviously O was not prepared to withstand attack by the 2 moderators and Hillary v. Barack Obama (Vetting). The old guy moderator was even discourteous to Obama, interrupting Obama as he responded to questions!
But, contrary to posts congratulating you for performance of last evening, Hillary, you lost again big with your, "yes, yes, yes"! Remember, under cover of MSM and "shows" your campaign handlers & you said, "no, no, no". For shame, Hillary! Last evening debate you showed yourself a liar again and also a big coward--your closing statement was slack, after having spent all your energy attacking Obama. Obama's closing was thoughtful, on his message, strong enough after the drubbing by 3 on 1. Unsurprisingly, an dismayed audience expressed vocal outrage for the ABC hit "debate" and moderation.
Time's Halperin scored Obama and Hillary B range overall for style, substance, offense, defense, indicating that the debate did not change front runner status of Obama. Time's Halperin noted that Hillary camp would view H as the winner based on the outward dynamics. IMO Hillary didn't convince supers that she is the ONE: That is unless, supers want to send to the GE a consummate liar who also showed herself flopper and coward in response "can O beat McC?"question. But Hillary did say that she may be many things but she was not dumb: =dumb enough to say "no, no, no" to the O beat McC question in full broadcast, though she and her campaign say so on "shows," MSM, conference calls, etc. all the time!
The democratic party should broker an endgame with neither Hillary or Obama as nominee--since Hillary lost at super Tuesday and has responded by reacting so viciously to the campaign of Obama: She's a surrogate for the republican McCain. I am so ashamed of the democratic party's fiasco of a primary. So, I'm finished following it after PA April 22. How sad sad sad sad a primary! Out of Control!

BTW this post of Whippy is ON MESSAGE:
"Actually, the subtext of the questioning was *not*
"Who is Barack Obama?"
The subtext was "What can the media -- and Hillary and McCain -- get away with pretending Barack Obama is?"
Trying to fit him into a dismissive storyline hasn't worked, so far."
BTW this post of ? is OFF TOTALLY:
"... I say to all those who have been penalized for fighting tough battles. To all those who have paid their dues only to see a cute, ambitious upstart stroll in and steal the show. To all those who favor substance over style. To all those who have had to work so hard only to see the tall and young and good-looking get the credit. To all those who are sick of seeing hard earned experience get wiped out by 'charisma'..."
No, with everything going for her Hillary was out-strategized by young Barack Obama.
FINALLY, Senator O may not win because he is 21st century phenomenon; he is the global new world order; he is an American some Americans FEAR for such reasons as first USA president potentially of the new global order of governments. He is young, brilliant, and fresh. IMO, Hillary and McCain truly fear Obama who campaigns out of a new playbook. So, at endgame now Hillary, Bill, with McCain, with media vet him. Obama upended team Hillary and Bill; but Obama is indeed struggling now Vs. Billary the McCain surrogates AND McCain abetted by their operatives? Three vs. One.

OBAMA failed the test during the debate. He still has a lot of questions to answer for... especially his association with Ayres - the TERRORIST!

To some extent this was more of a belated interview than a debate, with Barack Obama having to answer questions about his personal associations. But some of us actually do want to know more about Barack Obama's character. Reasonable people are not going to get hung up on whether he wears an American flag on his lapel. But there are reasonable concerns about some of his personal associations. These are not easy questions, but they are an important part of the vetting process. Even if some of these questions have been asked before, Obama still was not providing satisfactory answers on ABC. The defensiveness of Obama supporters is telling in itself - if he was able to provide straight answers, they would not have to post thousands of angry rebukes of the questioning.

Look this is one of the few times Obama got the Hillary treatment from the media, and he didn't look near as good as she does when the going gets tough.

Obama took the Karl Rove playbook from Bush's 2000 campaign. . . . AND NOW, he's acting just like Bush did toward Florida . . . and now also Michigan.

If Obama was a real difference maker, he would be saying things like, "I'd rather the people have a real say, than be President. Let's seat those delegates and let the chips fall where they may."

But no, with Florida and Michigan Obama's shown his true colors -- and they are not noble, just a plain, ordinary, tell the lies politican.

Anyone, who wants a President that can rise above the muck of politics and bring an honorable standard to the White House, need look no further than Florida and Michigan to see that Obama's not their man.

Obama going to change how things are done in Washington. Every election the candidates say that and it is the same and has been since John Adams. Our founding fathers foresaw it and designed a system around it. Learn from history or you will repeat it. George Bush ran on a platform of changing how business is done in Washington and ending partisanship, and look what that got us. The Obama supports have drunk the cool-aid and are incredibly out of touch with reality. Obama needs to be touch enough to deal with the "Swift boat" attacks and all the scrutiny that every other Presidential candidate has had to live through for the last 35 years. Get over it and grow up. Everyone blames the press when they are not receiving flattering stories; the press merely asks what thousands if not millions of Americans ask. Nice to see Obama finally getting scrutiny. So stop being cry babies.

You write, approvingly:

"...Obama must yet cross a threshold with the voters before he can be elected president. That threshold is more than whether he is ready to be president, whether he can be a credible commander in chief. Instead it to give people a sense of confidence that he is someone with whom they feel comfortable, that he shares with them a life story and a set of values they expect of their president."

Huh? Are you saying that Obama needs to make voters feel like he's someone they'd like to have a beer with?

Isn't that the Washington Borg mindset that got us into this atrocious war? Isn't that the mindset that has given us 43 white male presidents?

Haven't you Washington turds learned ANYTHING??????

ABC/Washington Post sucks.

The President of the United States is the most powerful position in the world. The individual who is seeking such a position cannot shrink from any questions, and must be able to explain himself or herself, fully and completely, and without exception. The president must be above reproach in all aspects. That President Bush may be viewed as not attaining that standard cannot justify an argument that such a standard is obsolete. If any candidate, Democrat, Republican or any Third Party chooses to run for that office, that person must be able to be tough and to handle any situation. While I am 'only' 43 years old, I have followed politics for most of my life, and I cannot remember any debate where the moderators were blamed and attacked with such vitriol and name calling as what has occurred with this debate. My impression is that the moderators posed very difficult and very relevant questions to both candidates, and that the reason that those who are blogging who support Obama are so beside themselves is that the curtain on this candidate, and what he stands for, and who he associates with (which are issues that are unquestionably relevant), has been lifted, and he has now been asked to explain himself and now has been compelled to reconcile his beliefs, which, by most accounts are not shared by the majority of voting Americans (emphasis on 'voting'), with such a majority view. Going just a bit further, it almost seems as though there is some trepidation on the part of Obama supporters that their candidate will be so scrutinized to such a degree so as to reveal his true values systems, political agenda and beliefs, and that the vexation that the Obama supporters appear to share as a result of last night's debate ultimately finds its source in the fear that the voting population as a whole, having been made aware of Obama's true posture, will be voting for McCain in November for the reason that McCain will be viewed as the 'lesser of two evils.'

The sad thing about this article as much of what I've choked back vomit to stomach is the bias against Obama. It's so unfortunate in a nation that is supposed to be for the free and the brave.

The bias against him may be racial, it may be because he signifies change. This bias may be because he signifies a joining together of blacks, whites, asians, latino and other races that frightens mainstream biases that linger from antebellum and pre-antebellum days.

It's really sad in this day and age that a paper such as the WaPo, NYTimes, even ABC could be so ignorant as to purposely call themselves professional in this election.

The CNN faith forum on this past Sunday showed a commentator so racist, she should be removed from her position as a reporter. This woman was a vulture in that her obvious bias and mean spirit not only shows unprofessionalism, it exudes her racism.

Many people like her seem to be ignorant when they act in such a disparaging manner.

When persons of color meet these ignorant types, who come across mean, condescending, even asking such personal questions about his daughters, minors the show the ignorance of their racism, hate and venom permeates outward, yet the people who experience such behavior, never call them out, but acknowledge and experience within him/herself that these people are have an ignorant disease of racism that exists this day and time, unfortunately.

I keep saying Americans are a funny lot and whenever I log onto the news, I'm proven right each and every time. I just couldn't stop laughing at the moronic questions posed to Senator Obama. The flag pin was a killer. I couldn't stop laughing over that one, especially since neither moderators nor Hillary Clinton were wearing one. And then there were 8 shots of Chelsea Clinton sitting in the audience - one or two shots would have been, well, normal media coverage. But 8! If that isn't a blatant effort to sway the electorate, I don't know what is. So much for ABC objectivity. And then there were a myriad questions regarding Senator Obama's associations most of which were inane to say the least. How terribly convenient ABC didn't ask about Senator Clinton's affiliations with a whole host of dubious characters let along the controversies that plagued her and her husband the last 15 years. But my hat goes off to Senator Obama, he neither shrank from the inquisition nor did he wine as Mrs. Clinton did during a debate about questions always being directed at her. In fact he looked pretty presidential and pointed out the blatant contradictions (i.e. 2 members of some long gone radical group that Bill Clinton himself pardoned). I see how it works at ABC: guilt by association for one candidate and a free pass for the other. Too funny. And then there are the attacks on Senator Obama for being elitist. I just can't keep from tearing up from laughter over that one: Americans constantly wine about their deteriorating education system and when someone actually manages to get an excellent education, they tear him down for being elitist! Oh America, you just gotta love it. And the sad thing is this ABC political hack job may just work because the average American is, well, just not too bright. No you say? I'm being elitist you say? A snob? Well, please allow me to retort: Ronald Reagan, two Bushes and the Iraq War. I rest my case.

Signed one of the many citizens of the world still waiting for a Gentler Kinder America. Oh please....I can't stop laughing!

Although I only saw snippets from the debate, after reading these comments and the other coverage on the net and in the newspapers here in Europe, it looks as if Stephanopolous (wasn't he from Sesame Street?) did his worst - and Obama tackled it well. The only thing you can do when coming under groundless personal attack is to try to pull the debate back to the issues. He didn't lose his cool. Clintons supporters (and McCains') seem to have very little to throw at him. Pastor Wright? A tenuous connection with a former Weatherman? In the succinct phraseology of the Vice President: "So?"

The media just won't admit that its possible to ask tough questions about issues that matter, and that ABC chose not to do that. Come on Dan, stop spinning and print the truth.

Unless Jesus the Christ is running for president, I think everybody ought to back off a little. Don't be stupid! This country is in for a tough ride no matter who wins. America will need to back the next president if she is to come out of this hole that she's in. We had better learn that none of us are truly worthy to hold the highest office. Take a look at yourself and look in your closet and you will see what I mean. I'm sure that because we are so critical of others that we probably have eliminated some other good candidates to run this country. Why? Because we want someone who's perfect....like us. Someone who looks, act, and think like we do. To bad you and I are not running and quess what, Jesus the Christ is not running for the office either. So lets just stick with the real issues and no more "Obama who when he was eight at the time, shook hands with the hotel doorman who turns out use to be a KKK member. Therefore he should have known and not shook hands with that man. Didn't he know what KKK stand for? What would His pastor have to say about that. Doesn't he know that it un-American to associate with people like that?" Just kidding but I think you get the point.

(What's in your wallet, I mean closet?)

I believe he was drugged before the debate. The fix was in. Someone must come forward and volunteer to be Barack Obama's food and drink tester. I am too old and cannot stay up until 3:00 AM in the morning, which presidents apparently do quite often. Please, somebody else give this man some help!

Regardless, Mr. Obama will survive and learn from this. He will come back strong. He will have the rain and sun gods on his shoulder. Women will want to get to know him too.

And best of all, he will turn off the Iraq war machine.

Wowowowowowowowowowooooo

Obama = kerry = dukakis = stevenson.

Liberals of all people should aknowlege that a from-humble-roots black guy can be an elitist.

Pelosi and all the rest are only here because the Clintons dragged the Dems kicking and screaming to the center. It now seems we're determined to slip back to sucking our thumbs in loserville proudly discussing how the rest of the county just doesn't understand what's good for them.

Does anyone else think it's funny that Obama is talking about unifying the country from a position TO THE LEFT of Clinton. Before he goes for the big prize he should first try to just make back a little closer to the middle.

Questions surround Obama's candidacy:

http"//questionbarackobama.blogspot.com

This piece is entirely newsworthy because it points out a debate that Obama got hammered rather than Hillary. News to those of us who follow the information avidly, yet got tired of watching the debates about 15 ago :)

Frankly, I think his association with the Rev. Wright was purely about maintaining political status in his hometown, without the intention of running for POTUS. When it comes to church, it's not only the preacher you are making contacts and ties with.

I'm also curious as to why we have this almost hyper-obsession with every single choice these people have made since birth. Is it trying to compensate for re-electing GWB? Well we can't change that. Let's look at them as potential leaders, not saints. I'm fairly certain I couldn't stand the scrutiny, could anyone else?

More horrible coverage from the establishment media as usual.

GUESS WHAT - we don't care about this crap, so stop writing about it! I want to read the real issues, not you trying to fit these candidates into some same old script comparing politicians' personalities.

I think Jtk's comment is worth repeating:

nonsense. it was tabloid tv disguised as "news" or "journalism." it was an embarrassment to ABC and an insult to viewers. and no amount of "the republicans will do it to him later" rationalization will change that.

and I would add the Mr. Balz is an embarrassment, too.

One always hopes that these "debates" are about public policy issues important to all of us: the economy, health care, war and peace, etc. etc. Last night's debate takes the prize for absence of discussion on anything of substance.

Instead we got the trivial and specious.

Dear Mr. Balz, the polls seem to show that the voters have moved on and are not concerned with "anger and bitter," the Pastor, and lapel pins. Unfortunately, the media talking heads still are. Why is that. Stupidity? Ego! Or, are they having difficulty with the notion that the next President of the United States will not be a white, anglo-saxon protestant male or female.

Obamaniacss!!!
GET A GRIP! HE LOST IT LAST NIGHT. TAKE IT LIKE A MAN YOU ALL AND DO NOT BE A BUNCH OF CRYING BABIES. HE LOOKED REALLY BAD DURING THE DEBATE BECAUSE HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY HONEST ANSWER FOR ALL THE QUESTIONS HE GOT. HE WAS NOT PREPARED FOR MODERATORS THAT WANTED TO KNOW THE TRUTH. WE DO NOT KNOW WHO BO IS. THE ONLY THINK WE KNOW ABOUT HIM IS HIS NAME, THE WORD CHANGE AND THE NOT SO PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN, WIFE.

Yes, you're right. The Republicans are masters of inane and asinine non-issues. Unfortunately, this election will be about issues that affect us not more Lee Atwater stle wankery. Everyone has seen the devastation that those types of policies and politics have brought us.

To all Democrats who say they will vote for McCain if their candidate (be it either Hillary or Obama) doesn't win the nomination: WHY would you vote for the Republican platform - take a good look at what they stand for. Please do not do the "I didn't get my way so I'm going to take my toys and go home - so there!" attitude. That will spell further disaster for the country. Do you really want another war-mongering, far right thinking person in the White House??? McCain is not the moderate he once was. He has flip-flopped more than a beached mackerel - check out his most recent views on all the major issues. And prepare for more years of war in the Middle East.

Hillary's "image" is irrelevant. What are we? Too stupid to not realize that she's a say anything shrew? I'd have liked her a great deal more had she run a decent campaign on the issues and not relied on her "machinery" to crown her by acclimation. She made wrong assumptions which lead to the wrong strategy and now she has been using childish tactics which are quite transparent and empty. Too bad for America. She needs to re-group and become a Senator of note, and help and support Obama get this country corrected and on the right path again. She still has work to do, just not as President.

Does Obama normally stutter? Or is this new? Also he used "thing" too many times.
Puzzling..

I've been reading a lot about the candidates and have been open to Obama's message but I'm getting the same feeling some others are expressing. I know he's a smart guy and a great speaker but I worry about him being elected President. Bush was elected by people who believed in his simple message and look where we've wound up. Presumably Obama has some very good advisers but the country has a lot of challenges and I'm afraid he's not up to the task. Clinton's and Obama's policies are similar and whoever wins the presidency will have to deal with Congress. I don't believe that Congress is going to be swayed by a good speech.

I've seen many references to Obama being a transformational leader but I don't see how he's going to transform society. He's biracial which is fine but assuming that makes him transformational (whatever that means) is to me a reverse kind of racism just as assuming that because he's biracial that he cannot be a leader. I guess I just don't see where all the passionate belief of so many supporters comes from. I truly wish I would have an opportunity to see his performance in the Senate for a few terms so I could decide.

I have a much better idea of how Clinton handles things. Some other posters here commented that they don't mind her being a b****. I guess since I don't plan on being buddies with her I don't care a whole lot about that either. Other countries have had successful women leaders who were tough. I want someone who will stand up to other countries who wish us harm and to folks in this country who think Cheney and Rove are heroes.

AT LEAST HE DIDN'T "CRY" YET AS HILLARY TRIED TO DO IN N.H.!!! I DIDN'T SEE TEAR THE FIRST!!!

Rev. Wright served his country in the Marine Corps...

Posted by: Mary | April 17, 2008 10:19 PM

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hey, Virgin Mary, Son Jesus is wailing. He had a bad debate night. Can you go change his diapers?

What utter nonsense. Who is Hillary Clinton?

Why has she gotten off so lightly? W
Posted by: saraz | April 17, 2008 8:14 PM
-----------------------------------------------
Hey Shiraz, I love you a lot as a wine. As a person - NOT! Obamanuts are very stupid but most will concede, Hillary has done many things. Getting of lightly IS NOT ONE OF THOSE THINGS. LMAO!!!!

Obama and the Country of Doom

Obama spells doom for this country. Not only because of his dubious affiliations with mob members like Rezko and criminals like Auchi, but because of his lack of experience and bias education especially his bizarre religious affiliations. He is like silly putty; able to change his ideas for the public as needed so as to achieve his goal as supreme leader.

His intentions are unclear, but his affiliations are clear. Being surrounded with people like the violent Ayers, or the Hiteresque Wright, or his American hating wife Michelle, or his Kenyan half brother Islamic Jihad terrorist Abongo "Roy" Obama, or his Jewish/Israeli hating best friend Rashid Khalidi, or his close advisor Robert Malley who advocates supporting and helping the terrorist group Hamas, or Mr. McPeaks, Obama's military advisor who open believes American Jews are the "problem." and "Christian Zionists were driving America's policy in Iraq to benefit Israel," or Obama's super delegate and major long term supporter Senator Meeks who openly hates and distrust all whites and gays or Obama's most dangerous affiliation to Mr. Auchi who was Saddam Hussein right hand man and made billions in Iraq and has been a important supporter and behind the scene man throughout Obama's rise to power.

And besides all this questionable laundry in Obama's life, another serious question is why is Obama protected and promoted by the media? Is this also being directed from behind the scenes? The American public has been fooled before and I guess those in power know we can be fooled again. (Kennedy's assassination, Martin Luther King's assassination, the invasion of Iraq...).

The fact that Obama has made it this far demonstrates the collective lack of discriminative intelligence and education of this country. And nothing demonstrates this better than how well Obama plays his black card; which plays on our fear of being labeled a racist.

As usual, Dan Balz gets it absolutely right. Any candidate who can't tell people who s/he is is going to lose. Would people be so upset if he hit a home run with any of those questions? Does anyone even remember what Obama's answers were? If not, that's a problem

Oh, poor Barry the bitter Bigot. He didn't get nice questions about diversity, and global warming. People asked him questions about character and associations and he objects. Poor Barry the bitter bigot.

Obama, tell me of your accomplishments that merit my vote for you as POTUS.

It's a simple request.

Rev. Wright served his country in the Marine Corps, which I'm sure you already know and has also been a guest at the WHITE HOUSE of your girl Hill and Mr. Casanova!!! Also, at the time Barack was living in Indonesia, would you have had any reservations about Muslims??? No? Your answer HAS TO BE "no". Because at that time SEPT.11th hadn't happened. So why do you keep bringing up the fact that he lived in Indonesia, etc.? Remember...he lived there when he was a KID...MANY, MANY, YEARS AGO!!! BUT IT ALL COMES DOWN TO WHO YOU'RE PERSONALLY BACKING...FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO THINK LAST NIGHT'S "DEBATE" WAS WARMLY RECEIVED BY MOST AMERICANS, WHY DON'T YOU GO TO ABC NEWS' WEBSITE AND SEE THE RESULTS OF WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT THAT JOKE!!!!

"It's so interesting (and somewhat pleasurable) to see the Obama supporter attack machine set its beady eyes on the media now that Obama is starting to be asked the hard questions. I encourage you all to send the usual death threat emails to ABC so they can finally write a story about the hatefulness of Obama supporters."

Hillary, go to be honey. The bags under your eyes are getting scarry. And Dont worry about Bill-- He always shows up the next day looking for some reasurance from you.

Posted by: Ann Lewis | April 17, 2008 10:11 PM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hey, Ann. Don't know if your husband or brother or sister or mother or father or pom-pom or chiwawa told you this: Humor NOT your strength.
Put Comedy down, raise your hands and step away from it.

Posted by: Andrew | April 17, 2008 7:23 PM
--------------------
Andrew, a great comment.

There was a shot of Gordon Brown shaking hands with Obama. It was hilarious. Even Obama could not believe he was being allowed to touch Gordon Brown.

Ha ha ha ha ha!!!

"It's so interesting (and somewhat pleasurable) to see the Obama supporter attack machine set its beady eyes on the media now that Obama is starting to be asked the hard questions. I encourage you all to send the usual death threat emails to ABC so they can finally write a story about the hatefulness of Obama supporters."

Hillary, go to be honey. The bags under your eyes are getting scarry. And Dont worry about Bill-- He always shows up the next day looking for some reasurance from you.

Yes, Dan Balz, Yes!!!

The only sober guy in the business of Journalism. Obama mania has not left him untouched either but he is a real trooper. He is trying all he can not to turn.

Mommy! Mommy! Journalists are asking my candidate some tough questions. Stop them. Stop them. WAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

Obama's wimpiness is enough in my mind to disqualify him from the Presidency. The guy up on the podium was anything but ready to be The President of United States. He was a joke. Irritated, petulant, whiny - it was pathetic. What he dealt with, Clinton has been dealing with for 16 years.

So wake up Obamabots and smell the coffee. Return to planet earth.

Man! We need a change in the media; some new fresh blood. We need new faces with new though provoking ideas. we need real journalist, not real jokers. The networks and cable stations are full of egos. Does the story has to always be about them? For instance, why are Charlie and Stephanopoulos the story here after a so called debate? Didn't these knuckleheads learn anything from Carol Simpson and her performance? Shame, Shame, Shame, on these tabloid entertainers working for Disney. Stephanopoulos ought to identify himself as someone who worked for a republican administration everytime he interviews a Democrat. Fox or better known as SLY TV doesn't have to much to say on their unfair and unbalance tabloidcast either. Rise up young people and take back the airways as well as our country to a higher level!

"By the way, you were wrong, you can choose your family. You chose Bill as your spouse. You should have walked out the door twenty years ago."

Posted by: Gloria S | April 17, 2008 9:55 PM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hmmm.... So let's see.

Bill cheats on Hillary.

Pastor goes:

"The government gives them the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes a three-strike law and then wants us to sing 'God Bless America.' No, no, no, God damn America, that's in the Bible for killing innocent people."

"God damn America, that's in the Bible for killing innocent people ... God damn America for treating our citizens as less than human. God damn America for as long as she acts like she is God and she is supreme."

"We bombed Hiroshima, we bombed Nagasaki, and we nuked far more than the thousands in New York and the Pentagon, and we never batted an eye."

"We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant because the stuff we have done overseas is now brought right back to our own front yards. America's chickens are coming home to roost."

"We started the AIDS virus ... as a means of genocide against people of color."

Hmmm... let's see.

Hillary hangs with someone who cheats on her.
Obama hangs with someone who commits treason.

Hmmm....

What should we do ... what should we do.

WHAT, IN LAW, IS THE CRIME FOR SOMEONE WHO CHEATS AND WHAT, FOR SOMONE WHO COMMITS TREASON!!!!

KNOCK, KNOCK!!!!!

Dan Balz is just another Washington lightweight reporter. If you've ever dealt with news people like I have, they're just after the quick one liner. They want the headline, not the real story. Whether or not Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton can handle the presidency is not as important to these news gatherers as is a quick soundbite. Major issues of the day which require a complex mind to analyze are not half as sexy as flag pins, mild associations with acquaitances, and other irrelevant garbage. These are not the issues that define how a leader will perform. They are irrelevant small minded junk that fits the small mind of the reporters who ask them. last night's debate gave us 50 minutes of crap. Timethat could have been spent on Trade, china policy, global warming, and things that really matter. When issues werea addressed, no one bothered to question Hillary Clinton on her astounding pronouncements on the middle east and her beligerant attitude toward Iran. But these reporters were on top of the slips of the tongue that both candidates had made. Great reporting? I think not!

This kind of analysis can only be written from deep inside the political media bubble. because you have heard the candidates' policies debated many times, you assume voters have too. But many primary voters don't tune in to the campaign at any level of detail until it's in their state.

Posted by: jssmad | April 17, 2008 1:29 PM
----------------------------
jssmad: You are absolutely right, and some of those primary voters are college students who don't have the time to follow the campaigns closely. An example: Yesterday in an article written in our newspaper after Chelsey Clinton spoke at a local college, a first-time voter is quoted about Obama as follows: "He was the only one who voted against the war from the beginning." "He never flip-flopped or changed." This shows two basic things that the student doesn't know about Obama. One, not knowing when the vote was taken and two, not knowing that Obama was in the Illinois state senate in 2002 when the vote was taken,so he couldn't have voted against it. Accidentally, the student did get one thing right, but it didn't have to do with the vote on Iraq. It had to do with Obama flip-flopping and changing his mind on his "oops" votes in the Illinois senate. I do not think this student is the exception, and there are thousands of them who are not informed about the candidates.

Shame that the media has decided only now to get serious with Obama.

They had so little time and so many things to discuss with him that they couldn't even get to Rezko.

Wow.

"By the way, you were wrong, you can choose your family. You chose Bill as your spouse. You should have walked out the door twenty years ago."

Indeed. They are both seriel abusers-- they abuse the public trust, and Bill is a creepy old man, and before that a creepy younger man.

I can't understand why so many are still so enamored with the Clintons.

The Clintons set the tone for dishonesty and cynicism that justified BushCo to say and do whatever they want.... "because they can". As Slick Willie said regarding why he had his intern give him oral sex, "because he could".

Folks, it was not a very good eight years..... Heath care reform debacle, the Republican landslide, I did not have sex with that women... depends on the definition of what the word "is" is, the right wing conspiracy... lying to a grand jury, having sex with a young intern under his employ, stained dress as evidence, DNA tests, Whitewater, Hillary's destroyed documents, the small investment that magically turned into a fortune, Marc Rich and cash for Pardons. All of the missed opportunities and lost years because of Monica. Credible allegations of rape against Bill when he was Governer.

Don't we deserve a chance at something better?

Why does Obama need angry supporters to defend him? Ins't he supposed to be applying for the job of defending us?

So ABC grilled Saint Obama for a change. He didn't exactly soar above the flames. In fact, he actually came away with a few subtle third-degree burns.

It's good to see what Obama will do under intense pressure. If he survives grilling by American reporters, he's well on his way to understanding the adversity he'll face with stubborn foreign leaders as President. If he can't handle ABC, how will he do when he sits down with the leaders of Iran and Syria?

Finally, Obama himself fuels continued controversy over the "40 minute issues" because he consistently clams up when his judgement or past connections are questioned by the media. If he (1) stopped hesitating to answer questions fully from the beginning and (2) stopped dismissing questions about his judgement as "manufactured issues" maybe he'd actually dispell some of this controversy surrounding him. He keeps the sharks swirling around his boat because he keeps dropping blood in the water and then gets mad when the sharks won't go away.

Obama can put all the controversy to rest, but first he needs to understand that he needs to answer questions to the satisfaction of the media and the voters, not merely to his own satisfaction.

If Obama is as good as he says he is, he will survive these attacks. If he sinks, he has no one to blame but himself.

If we make Obama out to be a victim, and vote him in because we feel sorry for him, he will truly be "President of the United States of Victims." He must be "President of the United States of American," or nothing at all.

Posted by: Andrew | April 17, 2008 7:23 PM

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MAGNIFICIENT!!!!

Did any of you people who are so obsessed with American flag pins ever think that maybe people don't want to wear pins of ANY KIND because they put holes in clothing??? Personally, I can't afford to buy new clothes all the time...too many other more important things to take care of !!!

hehe Obama wore a flag lapel pin yesterday, a few months after bitterly railing that it was phoney patriotism.

First he for the flag, then against it, now for it.

Guess he is a phoney patriot.

Obama's spiritual advisor Rev Wright's church is building Rev Wright's retirement home, a 10,000 sq foot home with a golf course and $10 million line of credit in a white neighborhood called Tinley Park in Chicago. Maybe, he only hates poor whites. Because the church is tax exempt, it is hard to get more information.

Posted by: skinsfan1978 | April 17, 2008 8:30 PM

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WHAT! HA HA HA!!!!

.

http://www.dipdive.com

.

Look at all the whiny Obama people...Obama takes a little heat and all the Whole Foods shoppers wags their indignant manicured fingers. THIS is what is wrong with America where PC has triumphed over reason and experience. Where the self-righteous pompous hypocritical liberals are so used to getting their way that they can't fathom the reason why anyone would dare to even question their favorite pseudo post-racial poster child.

Obama has himself to blame to fend off those questions. It is his own conceit and lack of judgment that has put him in the spotlight. Obama has to take those punches like a man.

We're electing a president here; not a high school council president. If the liberals really want to walk the walk they should move out of their gilded encaves and into black neighborhoods. They should take their kids out of private schools and have them experience what real America is like.

Posted by: mtlyorel | April 17, 2008 8:03 PM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beautiful.

I thought the moderators did a great job. For the first time Obama wasn't handled with kid gloves. He didn't get to answer the majority of questions after Clinton, so he had to come up with his own answers. His supporters are outraged because he didn't perform very well. Part of the reason is that he hasn't been given the same treatment as Clinton, and he actually seemed shocked and angry that he might actually be called on some things.
He would have been a better candidate if he had not been given a free pass from the media for so long.

Posted by: greenfun | April 17, 2008 4:41 PM
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Good, good!

One thing is clear from the debate.... Barack is a gurly man incapable of articulating his own defense when challenged. This does not bode well once the republican attack machine rears its ugly head. He will never deliver on his promise to reduce the price of bitter arugula at Whole Foods Market.

It's so interesting (and somewhat pleasurable) to see the Obama supporter attack machine set its beady eyes on the media now that Obama is starting to be asked the hard questions. I encourage you all to send the usual death threat emails to ABC so they can finally write a story about the hatefulness of Obama supporters.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So many nice postings, so little time...

What utter nonsense. Who is Hillary Clinton?

Why has she gotten off so lightly? W
Posted by: saraz | April 17, 2008 8:14 PM

Saraz! What planet are you living on?

Its funny. This article gets published in the middle of the day and the Obamabots descend like a swarm of zombies. As if they had been waiting for a debate related publication. Middle of the day. HRC supporters out to work. Evening comes. HRC supporters return from work. Balance returns. Its beautiful.
A thought comes to mind. Either the Obamabots don't have a job or this is there job.
Hmmm ... where is Obama putting all that money ? I wonder ....

An underinformed, overstimulated Wesleyan sophomore liveblogs the Democratic debate:

\"8:22: Gibson poses a question to Obama about Jeremiah Wright\'s anti-American comments. But has anyone considered that Wright said some pretty true things about pervasive racism in America? Read your Cornel West, folks.\"

http://www.236.com/news/2008/04/17/the_democratic_debate_guest_li_5926.php

The overt Obama-bashing tenor of this debate will inevitably generate some sympathy votes for him in the same way a few debates did for Hillary.

Dan,

It wasn't "heat" it was mud.

Oh how I would have loved a discussion of solar energy as focused as the discussion of whether Obama's pastor loved Jesus more that this mighty nation.

Heat might have been something like, both of you seem to be supported by the Nuclear power industry money.... Or, heat to Hillary, "You voted for the war in Iraq, and now you are talking about extending the nuclear umbrella of the US to include additional nations....

Heat indeed!

LYNN PARKER: NO ONE ELSE EVEN WANTS TO DIGNIFY YOUR THREATENING-SOUNDING POST, BUT I WILL; GET SOME HELP!!! YOU NEED IT!!!

WHAT TO expect FROM THESE TALKING HEADS? THEY PRETEND TO KNOW EVERYTHING AND THEY KNOW NOTHING. IT IS ALL ABOUT THEM TRYING TO BE THE HEROES OF OUR EVER SHALLOW media.WE NEED A PANEL OF REAL INTELLECTUALS AND SCIENTISTS ASKING QUESTIONS AND NOT THESE pathetic IGNORANTS.

Copyright Reverend Irving Wright with twenty years of Amens from Barry Obama

While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us repudiate a land that's so called free,
Let us all be hateful for a land that's so called fair,
As we raise our bitter voices in a solemn prayer.

God Da-mn America,
Land that I loathe.
Stand astride her, yet despise her
With a chip on a shoulder from above.
From the plantations, up to Harvard
To the Jews rich from our blood
God Da-am America, keepin' us down down down.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A RACE CARD, LOOK NO FURTHER THAN OBAMA . . . . He's a walking race card.

Less qualified, worse Health Care Plan, and 90% of the black vote.

And on the side lines, the Republican big wigs are pulling for him, because they can skim off the Latino vote.

Well, now Obama's near-about's got the election in the bag, so the media can start coming out of its closet and begin to look neutral.

Quietly, the Republican big wigs have been pulling strings for Obama. Just look at the response of CORPORATE media.

"21 debates and 16 months of HRC getting this kind of treatment and look at the complaints when Barak gets it once. This is why I have been saying lay off the personal attacks and let's look at real policy, what they have done and their proposals.

Same old Clinton/Rove deceptive polemics. No basis in fact.. Just shrill threats, impertinence and sneering lies. UGLY and the Nation is catching on.

No one in the media has dared lay a glove on HER ARROGANCE because of the Clinton/Rove code of knee capping anyone who dares challenge.

Hey ABC News, how bout those donations to the library and the Chinese contributions?? Talk about character issues.

No. Let's play the diversion game of questioning Obama about his loyalty to the US. Lapel flag, etc.

MCCARTHISM AND SHAMEFUL.

Have you decency Hillary, ABC News, Lieberman, Weekly Standard????

This behavior and ethic is not what the US is about and will be repudiated. Yes, it does result in short term gain, like kicking a man in his balls. But it is fundamentally inhumane and we know it in our gut.

It's funny how the minute someone asks Barack Obama some hard questions, everyone who supports him is up in arms.
In previous debates much time was spent hammering Hillary Clinton and giving Obama a pass and no-one complained.
ABC did an excellent job. They asked questions that had not yet been answered and the only reason it took so long to get past it is because Obama took so long to answer. He tried several times to give speechy responses that didn't answer the question and for the first time he had interviewers who pointed him back to the actual question. The reason everyone is so angry is not because the questions weren't relevant. They are angry because Obama came off angry and defensive. He avoided answering questions and on numerous occasion resorted to attacks on Hillary which he always followed with his BS but I don't want to be negative.

Anyone who watched this debate with an open mind came away feeling that they had actually seen a DEBATE.

Barack Obama and his campaign have done nothing but whine all day because he wasn't treated with Kidd Gloves. He has been attacking Hillary Clinton non stop for weeks and yet has the gall to continue to say she is being negative.

If we had seen more debates where the candidates were pushed to answer the actual question as they were last night we would be seeing very different primary results.

Mr. Balz,
What a load. I just lost all my respect for you.

Wow! Dan is right - this is the first debate where Barack Obama was put on the defensive and all the Obamaites are screaming foul and other assorted insults to everyone in their path. Hillary gets this daily and nightly, and all through the debates - so maybe now you guys know how it feels!

Whatever you may feel about the ABC moderators, they are the first to go this length to dig deeper into who Obama is. Be glad, guys and gals - he needs a little more practice in being in the hot seat just in case he makes it and takes on the GOP nasties. I still think Hillary is the real thing - but if BO gets it, I'll be there.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ah, so many nice postings to second and so little time.

Again the Obamaites prove that they are delusional, bereft of factual knowledge, scream like infants when they don't get their favorite toys. Yes, your idol has feet of clay and no amount of posturing, denial, screaming and yelling on the part of Obama and his supporters will hide the fact that Obama is not ready for prime time.

Yes I am interested in the questions posited at last night's debate and in Obama's and Clinton's answers. I don't want a President who can't explain satisfactorily his association with Wright and Ayers and who has difficulty in articulating his convictons and beliefs unless he has a script and teleprompter. I don't want a thin-skinned President who can't own up to the truth.

I am surprised no one has hauled the race card yet. What are you Obamaites waiting for?

At each of the debates, the moderators have phrased difficult questions in such a way as to be almost apologetic to Obama. I have serious concerns about Obama's past associations and his dismissive, condescending tone and evasive answers. The man is only asking to be the President of the United States. Can you imagine Churchill or Roosevelt taking a stand on an American lapel pin or not holding your hand across your chest during the national anthem. It's disrespectful. With respect to his pastor, his answer was not truthful. Obama is a highly intelligent man. You mean to tell me that he never heard or was aware of Wright's incendiary remarks after 9/11. Unbelievable. As far as the Ayres controversy is concerned, Bill Clinton pardoned. Hillary is not Bill.

May be it is time to have a debate about the sleeziness of the media, both on the right and the left. Who should we choose as a moderator?

If you note the tone of the Obamamaniacs, that is the way they respond. You might think that they do not think. We need to remember that Obama is paying over 3,000 bloggers so we do not even know if the postings are from real people or from one of those mechanical robots known as the hired Obamananiacs. You can ever hold an intelligent discussion with them, since they only resort to insults to the media, in this case ABC for asking the proper questions, or against Hillary because they really do not have any factual basis for their insults. There is nothing to discuss since all they can write is a bunch of blah blah blah blah based on no proof or facts.

It's interesting that some folks would count acting in a dignified manner as a "loss". Regardless of your political bias, if you believe in honesty, dignity, and respect than Senator Obama clearly met the mark. HRC supports who wonder why no outrage came when she was supposedly under attack was because she was being questioned on things she actually did or said - not about the people she associated with. Lastly, I guess Clinton supporters also don't mind that she went 'all Republican' last night when she forcefully spoke of major aggression toward Iran. Goldwater's girl is back and this time she's not just helping to block Civil Rights for African Americans...she's Bush-Rove-Cheney bent on dismantling humanitarian rights all under the guise, "I'm a good American because I'll shoot ya"

Quote: "Should be THE deal breaker."

No, the "deal breaker" will be the upcoming Clinton fraud trial where Hillary will be required to testify. Before the general election too. I can hardly wait.

Wow! Dan is right - this is the first debate where Barack Obama was put on the defensive and all the Obamaites are screaming foul and other assorted insults to everyone in their path. Hillary gets this daily and nightly, and all through the debates - so maybe now you guys know how it feels!

Whatever you may feel about the ABC moderators, they are the first to go this length to dig deeper into who Obama is. Be glad, guys and gals - he needs a little more practice in being in the hot seat just in case he makes it and takes on the GOP nasties. I still think Hillary is the real thing - but if BO gets it, I'll be there.

There is an interesting pattern here with Obama. I remember when the Rezko thing first came to light. Initially, it was greeted with a chorus of "tabloid" journalism, but as questions progressed Obama has been forced to change 3 times his account of how much money he has taken from the slumlord. He still has not explained the strange transaction where Rezko purcharsed that parcel of land then sold it back to Obama, all in the same day, for less than he paid. Smell a rat? Am I a racist for asking legit questions about Obama's character? This is one Dem who is not about to drink the Kool-aid.

Just what is it that make BHO think he is tough enough to be President? Hillary Clinton has faced a lot of tough questions. When she made a mistake she admits it, but then she comes back swinging. No question the girl has guts. I would not want to be the one opposing her on health care, jobs, or brining our troops home.

Nor would I want to be a country attacking an ally of the United States when she is Commander in Chief. She knows leadership and she knows the importance of standing tough.

I have news for you, Obama is the next president. First president for all Americans whit and black. Debates like last night sealed the deal just like the NCAA Championship in the 60s between Texas Western and Kentucky. Field the racist team, and lose. Obama will win because he is simply better.

Finally, people are waking up to what a paper maiche candidate Obama is. Actually, He's like a balloon. Prick him a little and he bursts. The bit about brushing dandruff off his shoulders during this speech today is another example of of his condescension and arrogance. He's like a spoiled child who cries when things don't go his way. The Democrats could/should easily won back the presidency in 2008. But if Obama is the nominee, it ain't gonna' happen because this country doesn't want a juvenile in the White House.

To Obama & his big ugly in your face racist wife a typical white American is closed minded, anti-immigrant, gun toting, bigots! Maybe that is due to spending 20 years listening to the hate filled rants of the Rev. Weight against Whites, American or hanging around with terrorist, slum landlords and the Islam Nation leaders!

Obama From Dreams of My Father,

" I FOUND A SOLACE IN NURSING A PERVASISVE SENSE OF GRIEVANCE AND ANIMOSITY AGAINST MY MOTHER'S RACE". Barack Hussein Obama
From 'Dreams of my Father', "The emotion between the races could never be pure, even love was tarnished by the desire to find in the other some element that was missing in ourselves. Whether we sought out our demons or salvation, the other race (WHITE) would always remain just that: menacing, alien, and apart." Barack Hussein Obama
From Dreams Of My Father: "That hate hadn't gone away," he wrote, BLAMING "WHITE PEOPLE - some CRUEL, some IGNORANT, sometimes a single face, sometimes just a faceless image of a system claiming power over our lives." Barack Hussein Obama
From 'Dreams Of My Father', "There were enough of us on campus to constitute a tribe, and when it came to hanging out many of us chose to function like a tribe, staying close together, traveling in packs," he wrote. "It remained necessary to prove which side you were on,to show your LOYALTY TO THE BLACK MASSES, TO STRIKE OUT and name names" Barack Hussein Obama

OBAMA EXPRESSES HIS ADMIRATION FOR ISLAM: &g t; Quote from Barack Obama's book, Dreams Of My Father: "THE PERSON WHO MADE ME THE PROUDEST, though, was [HALF BROTHER] Roy .. HE CONVERTED TO ISLAM"
From 'Dreams of my Father', "IN INDONESIA I SPENT TWO YEARS IN A MUSLIM SCHOOL" "I STUDIED THE KORAN"
From 'Audacity of Hope: "Lolo (OBAMA'S STEPFATHER) FOLLOWED ISLAM...."I LOOKED TO LOLO FOR GUIDANCE".
From 'The Audacity Of Hope, "I WILL STAND WITH THE MUSLIMS should the political winds shift in an ugly direction."
From The Audacity Of Hope, "WE ARE NO LONGER JUST A CHRISTIAN NATION," "WE ARE ALSO a Jewish nation, A MUSLIM NATION, a Buddhist nation, a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers."
Obama is telling us plainly that he APPROVES of Islam. DENY TH AT HE ISN'T! He tells us how proud he is of his brother who converted to Islam!!
(by the way, his brother is a radical Islamic in Africa!) He tells us that he looked to his stepfather for guidance and that he was a MUSLIM. He tells us blatantly that HE WILL STAND WITH THE MUSLIMS. He tell us that he DID attend a Muslim school, although his handlers have tried to deny it. He is telling us that America is no longer a Christian nation- that western civilization which owes its greatness and strength from the morality outlined in the Bible, and by Jewish teachings is no more!!
What do you think might be the possible consequences of electing a president with admiration for Islam??
Mass immigration of radical Muslims?? Yes. He wants an open border! Amnesty for the invading horde!

For the first time we can say that Obama treated him the way they should have treated him from the beginning. Since he is used to hold the press and media in the palm of his hand, his reaction was a mixture of surprise and "how come"? He was unable to get out of that mood. Well, Obama, since this is the way you handle pressure and real questions, it is enough to support my conviction that you still have a long way to go to even try to run for the presidency of this Nation. While looking at you I kept remembering your images mockering Hillary shouting and laughing like a demented man "Annie Okley, Annie Okley." I believe they forgot to ask you about why you decided to make the comments you did to a bunch of rich guys in CA when those rich donors were asking you why you were failing to convert voters in PA. I hope you learned a lesson from Hillary yesterday. You still have such a long way to go that it is unbelievale. And yes, for the first time I disagree with Hillary, if you are to be the candidate, I will vote for McCain since even when you might be ellectable, it does not mean that you are ready to be elected.

21 debates and 16 months of HRC getting this kind of treatment and look at the complaints when Barak gets it once. This is why I have been saying lay off the personal attacks and let's look at real policy, what they have done and their proposals. This type of coverage should happen to neither candidate- so I think Obamites can maybe take a step back and let go of this method of dealing with HRC now- although this seems unlikely. I feel like more likely someone will respond to this post with accusations of killing Vince Foster, calling her emotional or crafty or yelling about an embellished story in Bosnia.

"Stephanopoulos strongly defended his handling of the debate. He dismissed criticism that it had focused too heavily on "gotcha" questions, arguing that they had gone to the heart of the "electability" that, he said, is forefront in the minds of voters evaluating the two Dems."

It is going to be a hard lessen when these arrogant little fu**s realize that there will be accountability for this kind of behavior. It may not be immediate but people are indeed keeping score and there will be a reckoning.

Same for the Gov of Penn. If he doesn't distance himself from Hillary's despicable racist McCarthism he too will have limited political career options.

The Clinton's or Rove do not have a monopoly on retribution.

Obama is not the type to think in terms of retribution. But a lot of his supporters will enforce retribution so that this grotesque behavior does not get rewarded. It will be clear that there is a huge cost to not speaking against the Clinton/Rove/McCain/ garbage.

She is beyond sleazy, corrupt and dishonest.

She is the Joe McCarthy of this Millennium.

I've noticed that many of the negative comments directly at ABC seem to be very similar, using words like tabloid. Come on, this is an election for President. People who ask questions are either racist or biased. This may fly with the kool-aid Democrats, but come the general election it will be 1972 all over again!

Look, I've never seen anything like that in my life and neither have u. It is not accurate to say this is what he will face. He will never face that kind of a cauldron again, a freakishly one sided group of moderators and a two flanked attack. A debate structured in that way has never occurred before, it can only hapen once because it was a right wing ambush. I challenge you to give an example of a debate between a Democratic and Repubican candidate in the past that was in any way similar.

Now Bill says he is whinging because he wants to talk about issues. And Hillary (who uses the talking points of the far right) was the one going on about cushions a few weeks back.

You call that heat?!

I call that republican babble. The "issues" addressed in the first 50 minutes of the debate are republican "issues".

Let's do a reality check--democrats don't give a flying-bat's behind about the republican's issue. Democrats find republican standards for picking a candidate ridiculous.

Made in China flag lapel pins is not a democrat issue--it's a republican issue

Who Obama sat next to on a philanthropic board is not a democrat issue--it's a republican issue.

Whether there was sniper fire or not in Bosnia is not a democrat issue--it's a republican issue.

Republicans don't vote for democrats, so what do we democrats care what the republicans think.

Well now . . . Obama's near-about's got the election in the bag, so the media can start coming out of its closet and begin to look neutral.

The fact is that Hillary is by far and away the best candidate, AND with the best health care plan. . . . But because there's a "black thing" going on (code word for prejudice), a lesser candidate has ridden a 90% black vote to the nomination, because of the color of his skin.

If the Republicans really wanted to run against Hillary instead of Obama, they would actively be recruiting their folks in a get out the vote drive. And I'm not just meaning their talking peanut-brains like Rush Limbaugh.

Quietly, the Republican big wigs have been pulling strings for Obama. Just look at the response of CORPORATE media.

To me, a flag pin is an empty gesture if you have done nothing to actually demonstrate your patriotism and love for your country.

Just like bumper sticker patriotism--because the sticker on my car will get better medical and educational benefits for our vets.

obama will disarm and enslave America. his rolodex is full of America haters, can you really believe they have no influence?

After 20+ debates of basically the same thing over and over...wasnt it nice to have something a little different?? Come on you bunch of morons!! FREE YOUR MINDS!!

Get real!This is just a very small taste of what is to come after he wins the party nomination.Sing the ditty,"The swift boats are a coming"to the tune of The shrimp boats etc.You get the picture.By the time Rove and company get through,going into a shredder would be more merciful.

the only thing this debate answered was the question of whether the media can keep sound bites of both candidates alive for ratings.

The media made the mistake of assuming that the people of the United States can be manipulated as easily as they were in the last century. Lets not forget that during that century they pitted wasps against immigrants and white against black. But if they paid attention to the change in education, that most people have friends across racial lines, and that Americans are multicultural today -- media would have known that they were way behind the times. Reality is hardly spoken of that Americans love each other, whether of different race or background and dont care about superficial patriotic symbols like flag pins and such. They care whether the candidate really loves us all as a people, and is prepared to accept us. That's what matters. The old way is no longer the way and its time to realize that the change has already happened.

Maybe we could all email KenM1 's lists of topics ignored to get to stupid flag pins to Dan Balz and ABC!.

How about?
*Global Warming
*Wall Street reform
*NAFTA
*CAFTA
*Financial stimulus
*Government corruption
*Finance reform
*Oil subsidies
*Afghanistan's decline
*Rise of China
*Medicare going bankrupt
*Medicaid going bankrupt
*Social Security going bankrupt
*National dept
*Reliance on China's funding
*Lead paint in toys, lack of regulation
*Transportation infrastructure
*Port security

So really. Nothing left to talk about. My opinion of the nation press is dropping faster than housing prices.

Obama's spiritual advisor Rev Wright's church is building Rev Wright's retirement home, a 10,000 sq foot home with a golf course and $10 million line of credit in a white neighborhood called Tinley Park in Chicago. Maybe, he only hates poor whites. Because the church is tax exempt, it is hard to get more information.

This kind of analysis can only be written from deep inside the political media bubble. because you have heard the candidates' policies debated many times, you assume voters have too. But many primary voters don't tune in to the campaign at any level of detail until it's in their state.

Why don't/won't political reporters take ANY responsibility for their role as agenda-setters, perpetuating the almost-exclusive focus on so-called character issues?

Check out the article "Barack's "Underground" Friends" http://savagepolitics.com/?p=291

http://www.savagepolitics.com
brilliant writing plus it offers a great community in which to discuss. The editor actually takes time to answer and the political humor section is awesome!!!

ABC News is not the only one who should be ashamed. The media in general has been extremely stupid and sleazy for several months. You are immature, and I include you Balz and the Washington Post. You talk about process, about silly gaffes. That is how we got into that goddamn war. You have failed in your jobs to inform. And death of 4000 dead soldiers is partly your fault.

So I implore you to grow up, grow a spine, and start covering news like an adult.

Cut the garbage, give us real news on real issues.

I agree with Shales. I tried to watch but switched to History channel once the first commercial came. I could tell even then how the questioning would go. George S. and Charlie G. should be embarassed with the National Enquirer type questions asked. Laziness or agenda, or a little of both. In hindsight, I should have expected this from ABC. Maybe Gibson and George are not as smart as I thought they were.

p.s. I look forward to WaPo and the rest of the MSM vetting MCCain in the extreme just like they are slamming both the Dems.

You will do that, right? You're not just GOP shills, right? So prove it.

"Barack Obama got the first real glimpse here Tuesday night of what he will face if he becomes the Democratic presidential nominee."

So he will have to face debate moderators who spout rightwing talking points?

So he will have to face onesided attacks by the so-called moderators?

The problem is not the heat, it is the bias. You just DON'T GET IT!!!

Pledges about taxes? Rightwing talking points that their sacred capital gains MUST NOT BE RAISED? Pledge on Israel? Guns?

They might have well have had Sean Hannity and Dick Cheney moderate, because this was the RNC debate, not the ABC debate.

And yet, WaPo still doesn't get it.

Let me spell it out: Not the scrutiny, but the **BIAS**.

To me, the best argument for electing Barack Obama is that we will finally be rid of 1968. The year that created the template for all political discurse since.

William Ayers????!!!!! Flags on the lapel -- didn't Nixon start that? The Reverend Wright -- a throwback to the Panthers. Enough already! John McCain still has his head in the Tet Offensive.

It's sad that these things constitute the overriding concerns in Dan Baltz' outmoded political world.

Yes and his vision won. Look at the hundreds of thousands of responses every major news outlet is getting. Look at the 17,000 ABC got on their website, almost 95% of them taking the network to task for this ridiculous "gotcha" debate.

A real sea-change took place last night. Offered more of the same the American people, including those who don't support Senator Obama, roundly rose up and told the media enough! Journalists should be quaking in their boots.

What utter nonsense. Who is Hillary Clinton?

Why has she gotten off so lightly? Why hasn't the press scrutinized where the Clinton's got their money from? Why didn't the press play the tapes of Hillary using identical segments of her most "heartfelt" speech from both her husband and John Edwards. These embarrassing side by side video clips were all over the blogs.

If Hillary Clinton is the nominee, you can be sure that the Republicans will be scrutinizing her closely. The exposee of the "real Hillary Clinton" has not yet begun.

Both Obama and Clinton will be "under the microscope", but Clinton has a longer history with more dirt to uncover.

This article is ridiculous.

You are right -- it is not unfair to put Obama through this. The problem is, it just goes on and on. We get it. The Rev Wright issue was legitimate, but there's nothing left to say about it. Nothing in the debate helped me decide who to vote for. I felt ABC did a terrible job coming up with questions, the answers to which might make a difference to voters.

Its actually amusing to see American media flailing in the 21st century using the yellow journalism of the last century like it has any meaning today as our jobs are destroyed and health care benefits taken away. ABC was like a colonial newspaper trying to act like some segregated state protecting the population from change. It was really laughable because ABC was living in the last biggoted century rather than the multi-racial America of today. When will they get it that their constituency is not lilly white and conservative any more. Dont expect asians, african americans, and hispanics let alone many whites to support this trash journalism.

Don't legitimize dirty politics. Just because he'll face more slimy attacks on the way to becoming president doesn't legitimize the ones in last night's debate. This isn't the NFL where a quarterback's got to learn to play against tough opponents in the regular season before winning in the playoffs. This isn't a game. It's for the direction and well being of our country. Dirty politics is a tactic, but unlike blitzing the quarterback, there's a moral element to it as well - it's wrong. And it's wrong because it's bad for our democracy and for the well being of the people. You're not a sports reporter - you're a political columnist - try to remember that.

Happy "By the way, why does Hussein studder so much? Is he an idiot, lead poisoning, or does he suffer from some type of mental disorder?"

You are the moron. He is the one that both Clintonista and McSamians have been calling too glib. One tired performance and you bigots are all over him.

Get a life or join the local chapter of you-know-what.

ABC stepped to a new low last night. That was nothing but biased tabloid journalism directed primarily at Obama.

You would expect that from Fox News, but hardly from ABC. Of course, now I know better. ABC has lowered its principles of what constitutes professional journalism, namely: focus on "gaffes" and side issues rather than substantive ones.

Are you kidding me flag pins and patriotism is heat? I call it a weak attempt at replicating 20th century prejudice in a new century where it wont work. It not only fell flat, it was offensive to America. We are not a white mass of homogenous bigots, we are a people who expect reasoned questions. This debate was an example of how American has failed the world in the most explicit and obvious terms.

It is a shame for liberals that most of us bitter white folk think Obama is a crock of shet. His view on government finance seem to be crafted by some B- student in 9th grade high school. " I want to raise taxes to make things fair. " How stupid of a statement is that?
What has to drive Obmama supporter crazy is the fact that he cannot win without the support of us crazy white folks who thinks he has not a clue about how to lead.
By the way, why does Hussein studder so much? Is he an idiot, lead poisoning, or does he suffer from some type of mental disorder?

Look at all the whiny Obama people...Obama takes a little heat and all the Whole Foods shoppers wags their indignant manicured fingers. THIS is what is wrong with America where PC has triumphed over reason and experience. Where the self-righteous pompous hypocritical liberals are so used to getting their way that they can't fathom the reason why anyone would dare to even question their favorite pseudo post-racial poster child.

Obama has himself to blame to fend off those questions. It is his own conceit and lack of judgment that has put him in the spotlight. Obama has to take those punches like a man.

We're electing a president here; not a high school council president. If the liberals really want to walk the walk they should move out of their gilded encaves and into black neighborhoods. They should take their kids out of private schools and have them experience what real America is like.

To quote another poster from elsewhere, "Pro-War then Anti-war, Pro-Nafta then Anti-Nafta, Pro-gun control now Happy Hunter, Pro-Colombian interests now Anti-Colombian interests and now she has also found religion.."

With all these contradictions and lies, Hillary got off easy. Obama on the other hand was publicly lynched by two white men and a white woman.

And I say this as a non-African American.

Irish for O'bama! Obama-Gore or Gore-Obama or even Obama-Pelosi '08!