Last thought for Chris Matthews.

[DearAbby]

There is a very important difference between past Presidents and the current President. Would America allow a black man to be confrontational to a white man? How would that have gone over?

America knows Mitt Romney lied, each and every one of us knows....we just wanted Obama to call him on it...but in doing so, How would America reacted?

[DJ13]

1. After being President all these years, that seems silly

The people know Obama, they would understand when he (finally) said enough is enough and confronted Romney directly.

[DearAbby]

3. Does it?

The Romney team is strategically using this tactic. The tape released the night before, highlighted the reasons why a black man can not be seen as confrontational to a white man.

Romney went in there knowing one of two things would happen...Obama would call him out on his lies, and be seen as the Angry Black man. Or Obama would take the high road.

[DJ13]

6. This is the same excuse that was made back in 2008

It was somewhat valid back then, no one outside of the party faithful really knew anything about Obama, but he can certainly show some fire in his belly now since he's well known, and no one who isnt a diehard rightwinger would hold it against him.

[Doodler71]

18. I thought the same thing. The timing

Of the video release and Obama's sedate approach to the debate. Honestly, I would have loved a bit more fire and passion from our Prez, but I don't think the damage the msm is screaming about is accurate.

[hrmjustin]

2. I am sorry I am having a difficult time understanding the Angry black man thing.

If he was assertive in the debate how does that make him this scary black man. he has to be more assertive or he won't win.

[DearAbby]

5. If America elects a known liar.

then we deserve what we get. Why should Obama be doing what the Media should be doing? The media should have been holding candidate's feet to the fire... What do you expect from Obama? He is only human.

[hrmjustin]

8. I know he is human , but expected more of him last night.

he let that man get away with too much.

[DearAbby]

11. Get away with what?

What did he get away with? Last I saw fact checkers are having a field day with it. He came across as a RED BULL Buzzed car salesman, closing a deal. Repulsive except to GOP Obama-haters.

[hrmjustin]

15. Obama should have refuted him. that is what a debate is. 67 million people tuned in...

... and they saw Romney Dress down the President. And the president let him. People who do not follow politics like we do watched that debate, and many will not watch the fact-checkers refute Romney. Obama could have put him away last night. He did not.

[MrSlayer]

4. Yes they would and I think it's time to knock this crap off.

Enough with the "angry black man" fear. I'm fucking sick of this excuse. Yeah, people are racists but the racists are already going the other way. People like strength and he projected weakness last night. People want you to stand up for yourself and they have no use for punks and that's what he looked like, Romney's punk. No one said he had to get all ghetto and up in Mitt's grill, THAT would be ridiculous. But he damn well should have defended his positions with passion and assertiveness. People would respect that, not be offended. People have no respect for timidity.

I'm still pissed at the ludicrous performance last night and even more pissed at these stupid excuses.

No one intentionally goes out and gets their ass handed to them in front of the largest audience they're going to see in the campaign. I don't give a fuck how many dimensions of chess they play.

[DearAbby]

7. I expect Joe Biden will shovel most of this back

at Ryan...make him explain the New Improved Mitt Romney. The media has been calling them out on the lies....but for some fucking reason...Lies are acceptable. OUTRAGE from the media would help too, instead they are sitting there whining because Obama didnt do their job.

[hrmjustin]

10. Thank you!!!

[DonViejo]

12. I understand your anger Mr Slayer.

I believe the President told us what happened last night, today in WI; paraphrasing him, he met a Mitt Romney that wasn't expected but, more telling, unkown. We all assumed the boring Romney was going to show up, he didn't. I think we are all shocked at the Romney that showed, debated, and lied like hell. Fact checking and good analysis are just now reporting Romney lied. I also believe the President was not and had not prepared for the Romney that showed up.

[DonViejo]

9. I have faith the majority of American people would respond

well, Dear Abby. Yes, I'm very aware of the racist and outrageous way the right wing has treated the President since before his election. And yes, it continues; Limbaugh, Gingrich Sununu, birthers, Trump and thousands of people promote and push the ugliness. But, I trust the American people.

[DearAbby]

13. I do too...people may be low information

but they aren't stupid...NEVER EVER BET AGAINST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE - Joe Biden.

[Honeycombe8]

14. Oh, for geebs sake. Some white men need to get over the race thing. America would've reacted FINE...

it never would've crossed MY mind that a black man is correcting a white man. (I'm white.) He's not black. He's the PRESIDENT!

For those that wouldn't have, do you really think they're voting for Obama, anyway?

[DonViejo]

16. But "the angry black man" is a scare tactic used

by the right wing against this President. Limbaugh, Hannity, Drudge, Sununu, Tucker Carlson and others started beating that drum the day before the debate.

[treestar]

17. What's pathetic is the comments that he is disappointed and upset

This is the greatest country in the world and the people we have on national TV for news and political analysis are people who need to vent? For whom it is about their emotional state? We deserve better.