Obama Takes the Bait

[susankh4]

"" Like many, I thought the questions at last night's debate were tough and sometimes a little small.

That being said, I disagree with the suggestion that this is a new feature to these debates. Hardly. This is par for the course. I recall the debate on October 30, 2007 - hosted by MSNBC - that focused relentlessly on Clinton. When the focus was off Clinton, the questions were weak.

What connects these debates? Both were focused on the frontrunner. In October, Clinton was in the lead. So, she took the heat. Today, Obama is the frontrunner. So, it's his turn. The media being the media, it asks hot questions not about policy - but about the silly campaign soap opera. That's what it does.

Unfortunately, Obama did not help himself. In fact, the hard time he received was partially his fault. There were two critical instances of this. ""



http://www.realclearpolitics.com/horseraceblog/2008/04/obama_takes_the_bait_1.html

[Vinca]

1. Obama was between a rock and a hard place. He could either

act as he did or fight back. Plan B meant ole Hill would be out there telling everyone he was breaking his promise about having a campaign that breaks the mold and takes the high road. Plus she'd toss in the innuendo of angry black man, booga booga booga. He did just fine.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

2. That idiot debate made Obama both frontrunner & underdog all at once.

Tell the dinosaur dude who wrote that to try to keep up.

[JoFerret]

12. Underpuppy?

.

[cali]

3. RCP. Why is it people (both Obama and Clinton supporters)

think it's reasonable to use right wing sources to bolster their povs?

Clue: It doesn't help your argument.

[nxylas]

7. Is RCP a right-wing source?

They are mostly focused on hard data, and as we all know, reality has a liberal bias. I've seen them link to op-eds from both conservative and liberal sources.

[Warren Stupidity]

14. Yes it is a rightwing source.

"In an interview with Human Events, McIntyre explained "we have a frustration all conservatives have", which is "the bias in media against conservatives, religious conservatives, Christian conservatives." He described the philosophy behind the website as based on "freedom" and "common-sense values." Said Bevan, "We think debate on the issues is a very important thing. We post a variety of opinions."<5>"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RealClearPolitics

[nxylas]

16. Well, I was never aware of their bias

Then again, I tend to just look at their polling data, which is value-neutral, except in the sense that math has an anti-Hillary bias.

[stillcool]

22. I didn't know that either..

It's amazing how many times I visit that site, but have never read anything but the poll numbers.

[backscatter712]

17. I've been there a few times,

and their articles that they put up on the front page are loaded with assclowns like Karl Rove, William Kristol, etc. It's very much right wing. They only do lip service for left-wing coverage and commentary.

[susankh4]

21. They tend to be quite balanced.

[TahitiNut]

25. Bullshit. See #24 below.

:eyes:

[susankh4]

26. That means nothing. Go to their website and look up all their sources. Some on each side.

[TahitiNut]

24. Read this (from one of the horses' mouth) ...

McIntyre described the philosophy behind the website as based on "freedom" and "common-sense values." Said Bevan, "We think debate on the issues is a very important thing. We post a variety of opinions."

"We have a frustration that all conservatives have," said McIntyre, "which is the bias in the media against conservatives, religious conservatives, Christian conservatives."

"Conservative spotlight: Real clear politics"

Yup. It's that ol' "liberal media" they're dealing with. :eyes:

[stillcool]

23. It's one stop shopping...

to get all the polling data. I've never read an article there. I've never noticed one.

[cooolandrew]

4. What gets forgotten is there are new voters and they are suprised it is treated like hollywwod goss.

The young voters are new to this and at the very least expect issues which a reasonable request. Hillary did take heat in earlier debates but on substantial issues than her personal life, which is the whole argument. What made the ABC debate tragic it was for BOTH candidates all "he said, she said" and nothing what can fix america. Sensible voters tuned in to learn how they would help them not how often they wear a pin.

[cooolandrew]

5. Say my worry was the economy how Barack's flag pin help me. Yeah get him but on something.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

6. What's "goss"?

[Bodhi BloodWave]

8. Unless i'm wrong its simply british slang for gossip(ing) n/t

[A-Schwarzenegger]

10. Oh, thanks.

[susankh4]

9. I remember well the days....

when I thought debates would be about real issues. Alas, this is 2008. The new generation will have to learn the truth just as I did.

Life is sometimes disappointing. But, it's no reason to give up and grow bitter.

[JoFerret]

11. Good debate analysis. Fair.

Worth a read in full by those inclined to be interested in these things.

[C_U_L8R]

13. Bait? What bait? It was brushed off and we're fired up.

Here is Pennsylvania.


Unstoppable Pennsylvania.
http://www.dailykos.com/comments/2008/4/18/22105/1053/399#c399

GOBAMA !

[Danger Mouse]

15. We just love us some RW sources!

:hi:

[Swamp Rat]

18. RW propganda

[TahitiNut]

27. Yup. It's just a hint at the corruption when DU is filled with Drudge, Fox, RCP, WSJ, NewsMax ...

:puke:

Gotta love that "fair and balanced" viewpoint. (Imbeciles.)

[EFerrari]

19. ABC lost the debate, that's clear in the condemnation they've gotten

both from their viewers AND from their peers.

[kentuck]

20. So, if this is what the media does, why do we continue to participate??

"The media being the media, it asks hot questions not about policy - but about the silly campaign soap opera. That's what it does."