You do realize that the "McCain cheated" charge only strengthens the meme that Obama did poorly

[ruggerson]

I'm sure the McCain camp is grinnning from ear to ear that there is a quiet buzz out there that he was SO damn good at the Saddleback Forum, he must have somehow cheated.

This whole thing plays right into their hands.

What we should be stressing is that McCain gave standard, formulaic Republican answers, designed to shore up his weak bona fides with the religious rightwing, and that Obama was more incisive, more substantive and more thoughtful.

Obama will get plenty of credit for doing the forum, but not if his very appearance there is drowned out by people on the web shouting that McCain knew the questions beforehand.

[Major Hogwash]

1. Just because McCain cheated doesn't mean he "did good".

I don't think he did that well.

I thought Obama was way too careful the way he chose his words.
Like he is afraid of offending anyone.
And I mean anyone.

[ruggerson]

11. Sure it does

we don't accuse losers of cheating.

[DesertFlower]

16. he didn't worry about offending

Thomas, Scalia and Roberts.

[Raine]

17. He WAS good...

I can't deny it. Of course when you have the questions ahead of time it's easy to be good. x(

[emilyg]

18. They were both good.

[Raine]

24. Yes

Obama was very good, he gave thoughtful answers without knowing the questions ahead of time.

[AngryAmish]

2. Well the only reason he kicked his ass so bad is that he cheated.

[DJ13]

3. Actually, I think it reinforces the notion the GOP are cheaters

Remember this?

[BlooInBloo]

4. Of course that's all it does. Except to non-Obama supporters...

EDIT: But then there's nothing that'll convince non-Obama supporters that he does anything good anyway, so there's really no point in trying with them.

[ruggerson]

6. ...

[BlooInBloo]

9. huh? I didn't say anything about you.

[ruggerson]

15. Sorry

took it the wrong way. I'll edit.

[cyndensco]

7. That works both ways...

mccain could walk on water tomorrow and I'd still think was a stupid, warmongering, jacka**.

[BlooInBloo]

8. hahahaha! Just a stupd warmongering jackass who happens to walk on water. lol!

[Bluerthanblue]

5. no, Obama "won" in my mind. I expected McCain to

stumble more though. His rehearsed and to a great degree 'meaningless' non/answers- surprised me, but didn't do him any favors IMO.

He didn't even wait for the questions- THAT was pretty telling in itself.

:shrug:

[ProSense]

10. So whenever the GOP cheats it shoud be ignored

for fear that pointing out makes us look weak?

Hogwash!

[BlooInBloo]

12. Nah. Just Obama, amazingly enough.

[MoJoWorkin]

13. I couldn't disagree with you more. Obama did very well, and he did it honestly----

that is the important story here.

McCheater has been caught---if only the MSM will do their job now---which I have my doubts will happen.

[PCIntern]

14. You're thinking like a Democrat...

that's why we often lose...

You hit 'em...and when they say, 'no mas' you hit them harder.

[DesertFlower]

19. exactly. i thought obama did well.

republicans think McCain was great. i'm beginning to think that our brains are wired differently.

[ruggerson]

20. I agree with hitting them hard

but it should be on things that reinforce Obama's strengths not McCain's.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

21. It was a surprisingly good performance by McCain, fortunately seen by few, and best forgotten

The buzz about the cross story being fake is unsurprising--it sounds like some canned myth from the life of Constantine--but that's not going to sink McCain either.

Pugs would rather hear a great phony story than a true boring story. Ronald Reagan told war stories that were scenes from movies, and people loved him for it.

The best was the one from the point of view of a guy dying in a plane crash. (How did he tell you the story of his last seconds, Ronnie?)

[Life Long Dem]

22. What? We can't attack McSame?

[dbonds]

23. I don't buy that.

McLame didn't do that good, he just gave a stump speech, but he cheated cause he knew the questions. Obama did very well by anyone's measure except paid pundits.