#1: Tim Russert is a Chauvinistic Jerk. #2: Hillary & Barack Are Both Qualified to be POTUS.

[David Zephyr]

From his constant interruptions to Senator Clinton to his facial grimaces and contortions whenever he addressed her, any fair-minded human being watching --- what should have been a debate forum of the highest principles --- would have to conclude that Tim Russert is truly a chauvinistic pig who has real personal issues regarding Hillary Clinton. And it was infuriating to sit as a spectator and watch it.

As an Obama supporter, I was distracted over and over throughout the evening from my wanting to cheer for my candidate because I found myself yelling at the screen at this bag of testosterone-poisoned fat who was rude and downright mean in how he addressed Senator Clinton. Hillary, apparently so used to Russert by now, took it all in stride with dignity, grace and class.

I was glad to see Hillary address the unfair disadvantage of always having to go first when the questions were asked as our family had noticed this in the Texas debate. What is shitty, is that it had to be addressed at all because IT NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED.

Everyone here knows that I support Senator Obama and that I think that the contests on Tuesday should be the last ones if Hillary loses either of them. After watching how shabbily this amazing woman of such great intellect and public service was treated by Tim Russert and NBC last night, I have a deep suspicion that Hillary may have "won" the debate on a very subliminal dimension and might just wind up winning Ohio and Texas now. If she does, then I will have to eat some humble pie.

We as Democrats are very fortunate to have Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton representing us. It is clear to me now that there is a reason why millions and millions of Democrats have reduced the contest down to these two stellar human beings: They were the best in the crop.

Finally, as transformative as having a man of color as President would be, it is equally transformative to have a woman as President. Neither is more "transformative" than the other. Both represent the very medicine we need to culturally propel this nation out of the dark ages and into a better future.

And for my fellow Obama supporters, we are fools if we think that Hillary Rodham Clinton is also not ready to be President of the United States. She clearly is.

[Forkboy]

1. Pretty much sums things up.

:thumbsup:

[KoKo]

2. Neo-Gore is the ONE! see here..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4779988

[ZinZen]

3. I agree

as an Obama supporter Russert was extremely rude to Clinton. I yelled at the tv for him to let her finish her thought on a topic. Very rude Timmeh.

[David Zephyr]

4. Thank you for your comments. I'm glad other Obama supporters saw this.

I don't like when men interrupt women when they are speaking and, maybe it's because my family is filled with strong women and with men who cherished them as equals, but last night really made me uncomfortable seeing such bad behavior by Russert.

ZinZen, I'm glad there were other Obama supporters yelling at Russert, too. You have let me know I wasn't alone.

He's an ass.

[question everything]

5. Wouldn't it be nice if we could have just the two of them debating

instead of having a need to moderate? Then we can throw away the idiotic requirement of allowing 90 seconds to explain a complicated issue.

If no network "volunteer" the time, perhaps both campaigns and the Democratic Party could pitch in.

They can either structure it to decide about the topics, or just have a free for all.

[mtnsnake]

6. I thought the other guy, whatever his name is, was even more rude to Hillary

than Russert. He clearly showed his impatience with her in a very nasty way at least twice and never showed the same disdain for Obama when Barack spoke at length, too.

Thanka for all your remarks in the OP....breath of fresh air.

[Danger Mouse]

7. Russert's face give me nightmares.

[Doctor_J]

8. Chauvanist, maybe. Right-wing tool, definitely

The networks are all under orders to basically campaign for McCain. It will get worse from here on.

[DeepModem Mom]

9. THANK YOU for this post! K&R!

[David Zephyr]

17. It bothered us last night and it's all we talked about after the debate.

It wasn't fair.

And I know I wasn't the only American that saw it.

Hillary might just win Ohio and Texas and if she does, it's a whole new ballgame.

In any event, I like them both and want them on the ticket together, regardless of how unpopular that seems to be here at the DU.

I can't help it. I like them both. They make me very, very proud.

[DeepModem Mom]

20. I like them both, too. I support Obama, and DeepModem Dad supports Hillary.

The rest of the family is also split 50-50. And none of us likes Russert!

[indimuse]

10. thanks for the honesty...

means alot!

[indimuse]

12. K&R

:dem:
:kick:

[Doctor_J]

11. Not only qualified, but a million times better than anyone on the other side

Same thing with Edwards. One of the main reasons I am now supporting Obama is that I believe that even with the massive fraud that will take place, he will destroy the spotty old geezer in November.

[SaveOurDemocracy]

13. Thank you for standing up, and speaking out. k&r

:hi:

[NastyRiffraff]

14. Thank you from a Hillary supporter

As a woman, I'm all too familiar with being ignored by men. And people wonder why Hillary sometimes shouts? Sometimes a woman HAS to in order to be heard. Or, she's so used to being forced to do that it becomes her method of speaking (not true in Hillary's case, but perhaps in my own case). And then, of course, she's vilified for it, and called "shrill."

We have two candidates who indeed are qualified to be president. It's a historic race, with a man and a woman running who are both intelligent and capable.

Would that likes of Russert, Williams, and Matthews were half as capable in their jobs.

[Martin Eden]

15. I also thought Clinton was unfairly treated

And I didn't much like Russert's questions in general. He was trying to play "gotcha" politics rather than asking questions in order to help voters evaluate the candidates.

I voted for Obama on Super Tuesday, but I won't consider it a disaster if Hillary Clinton is the next president.

[Lint Head]

16. John Edwards would make a great Supreme Court Justice.

But I think he could still be President some day. :dem:

[sandnsea]

18. She's gone first 6 of 10 times

And Obama got tough questions on Farrakhan, public financing, Pakistan, and more. He just answers better and doesn't get caught in Clintonian triangulation. I think if Hillary were more straight-forward, she wouldn't have all these media problems. I think Russert played gotcha with the both of them.

[David Zephyr]

19. Watch the Texas debate. Hillary went first time after time.

Going second in a debate allows you the luxury to not know the answer and to have time to hear the opponent respond and then you can mop up with thoughtful critiques of what the other person said.

It was unfair in Texas to Hillary.

I'm sorry you could not see the misogyny in Russert last night. Our family, wild supporters of Obama, saw it. We were appalled by it.

[sandnsea]

22. Yeah, 6 of 10 debates

Who goes first is decided before the debates. At least one of them was decided on a coin toss. It isn't plotted by the moderator. If she didn't want to go first every time, she should have negotiated to go back and forth when she set up the debates. SNL concocted the story line and she pretended there was some truth to it. If she had gone second, she'd be complaining that the man always got to go first and she never had a chance to look like the expert she is. She's an expert on crying sexism is what she is. Russert only went after her when she wasn't straight-forward in her answers, like on the tax question.

[LBJDemocrat]

21. She's technically qualified

In that she's a native citizen over 35 years of age. But then again, so is Bush.

[charlie]

23. Yeah

Pumpkinhead's dismissive interruptions left me pretty much agog, too. While I'm not impressed with Hillary, I would've gladly whacked that self-important dirtbag's noggin with a 2-by-4 for her. Fair is fair, right is right, and Russert is neither.

[Orsino]

24. "Qualified" is nearly meaningless since * came to power.

Native-born, able to drink for over fourteen years, and--what? Anything else needed?

[demo dutch]

25. So anyone firing complaints at MSNBC!!!!!! I did! 4 times!

[Blondiegrrl]

26. How exactly is Russert sexist, a chauvanistic pig, etc?

First off, I agree with you that it seemed obvious that Russert dislikes Clinton. I agree that is poor behavior for a moderator. But how does his dislike translate into him being sexist? Perhaps Russert, like myself, just plain doesn't like Hillary Clinton.

I'm just weary of the gender card being played again and again. I am a woman and a feminist. There are many female politicians I like and admire, and several I would love to have as president. Hillary Clinton, however, is not one of them.

[woolldog]

27. I thought they said at the beginning of the Texas debate

that the two candidates had flipped a coin. Obama won and decided to answer questions second and that's why he was answering questions second?

[LadyVT]

28. THANK YOU, DZ! :)

It is such an advantage to go second. You have at least 3 minutes to prepare your answer, and you can respond to what the person who went first said.