Are you kidding me??? Is this supposed to be a presidential debate or the Jerry Springer Show? More right wing talking points about how the right will attack Obama, making Hillary look like the more viable candidate.
5) Two more follow up questions about Pastor Wright and whether he is patriotic or not and whether Obama has “disowned” him. Then a brief respite for Obama as the moderator turns to the all important Bosnia gaffe for Clinton. Then right back to Obama-bashing…
6) Senator Obama, I have a question, and I want to know if you believe in the American flag. I am not questioning your patriotism, but all our servicemen, policemen and EMS wear the flag. I want to know why you don't. Just to add to that, I noticed you put one on yesterday. But -- you've talked about this before, but it comes up again and again when we talk to voters. And as you may know, it is all over the Internet. And it's something of a theme that Senators Clinton and McCain's advisers agree could give you a major vulnerability if you're the candidate in November. How do you convince Democrats that this would not be a vulnerability?You’re not questioning his patriotism but you are asking if he believes in the American flag? I saw this topic for a week straight on the O’Reilly Factor. It is not tabloid journalism; it is fixed news. It is talking points for the Republican Party being reported as news and asked as legitimate questions in a presidential debate! What is the snide, “I see you put one on yesterday” supposed to be inferring???
7) I want to give Senator Clinton a chance to respond, but first a follow-up on this issue, the general theme of patriotism in your relationships. A gentleman named William Ayers; he was part of the Weather Underground in the 1970s. They bombed the Pentagon, the Capitol and other buildings. He's never apologized for that. And in fact, on 9/11 he was quoted in The New York Times saying, "I don't regret setting bombs; I feel we didn't do enough." An early organizing meeting for your state senate campaign was held at his house, and your campaign has said you are friendly. Can you explain that relationship for the voters, and explain to Democrats why it won't be a problem?Guilt by six degrees of separation. Ayers carried out his acts when Obama was 8 years old. This is another fabricated issue by the right wing echo chamber being presented as a credible issue. And of course, Hillary is allowed to respond to each of these!
8) The moderators realize that the debate has turned into a free-for all gang up pile on Obama. The result:
And Senator Clinton, I'm getting out of balance in terms of time. And you're getting shortchanged here. And so if you want to reply here, fine. If you want to wait, we'll do it in the next half hour.How sweet! Clinton is getting shortchanged??? Obama is getting pummeled with Fox News talking points, pseudo issues, and absolute garbage and the moderator feels that Clinton is getting shortchanged.
That was the first hour of this debate folks. In order. Finally a real question was asked about Iraq. It went to Senator Clinton of course, as she was being shortchanged. But it was America that got really shortchanged of course. They got screwed by ABC who did not want to host a debate last night as much as they wanted to host an assassination of the candidacy of Barack Obama. There were other clear Fox-style questions, such as suggesting that if a candidate says unequivocally they will withdraw from Iraq that they are saying they “know better then the generals” and stating that Iran is definitely pursuing nuclear weapons, which is actually not a given. The overall point again is that the debate was hijacked by the right wing machine that continues to throttle this country.
The damage is done. ABC, which is owned by Disney, is the same network that ran the historically inaccurate hit piece on the Clinton’s blaming them for 911. All major media is now owned by less then ten companies who all do business with the government. Ratings matter but not as much as politics. There is nothing left sacred anymore. Last night should have been about you America. We should have heard the differences between the candidates on Iraq, the economy, jobs, healthcare, the environment and education. I counted two questions on Iraq, one on the economy and none on jobs, healthcare, the environment and education. NONE. Instead we had time for the first HOUR to hear every Sean Hannity, right-wing, insane talking point regurgitated over and over again as if it was news. As if it was topical. As if it was relevant.
The machine doesn’t want the debate in this country to be about the economy or the war because they lose both points. Their candidate is for another 100 years in Iraq and bombing Iran. Their candidate admits not knowing anything about the economy and was part of the Keating Five from the S and L scandal of the late 1980’s. If the debate is fair and about what really matters in this world, they lose. Instead they want the debate to be about flag lapel pins, as if that is how patriotism is measured. Instead they want the debate to be about any sordid figure they can relate to the democrats no matter how silly or distant. They want the debate to be about “bitter-gate”; a completely fabricated lie created by the Rush Limbaugh’s of the world and sold to you as news. Packaged to you like Jeff Gannon used to package question for the president. After last night it has become clear that we will have to sort through the spin and lies; not only of the candidates but of the media which no longer is a free enterprise. The media is trying to pick your president again America. Of that there can no longer be any debate.
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