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1. #1
   On September 30th, 2007 at 7:14 pm, huhwhat said:

   Morons.

2. #2
   On September 30th, 2007 at 7:24 pm, ShoreMark said:

   It’d have been nice if, in response to his first question, Duncan had said something like, “There is no American Flag on this stage, I asked that this oversight be remedied and was refused, I will not participate in a debate for the next POTUS without it, good night,” and then walked calmly off the stage.

3. #3
   On September 30th, 2007 at 7:33 pm, zorro said:

   I would have walked off the stage.

   These PC democrap have now become, well, simply disgusting.

4. #4
   On September 30th, 2007 at 7:44 pm, Snooper said:

   Political Correctness, Multiculturalism and Identity Politics.

   The leading causes of the death of patriotism in the United States.

   Sad state of affairs, that, eh?

5. #5
   On September 30th, 2007 at 8:04 pm, locomotivebreath1901 said:

   All American Presidential Forum. Lots of hype and rhetoric, but no American flag. Classic newspeak, and a textbook application by the leftist-utopians.

   The ‘no show four’; Fred Thompson, Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, and John McCain (all who must obviously hate black folks - see: the hype & rhetoric) apparently made a very wise decision to avoid this perverse assault upon E. pluribus unum.

6. #6
   On September 30th, 2007 at 8:33 pm, rightisright said:

   Libs: hate America

   Liberalism is a cancer slowly growing until death.

7. #7
   On September 30th, 2007 at 8:52 pm, Dandapani said:

   We’re circling the drain faster than the tub is filling… won’t be long at this rate…

8. #8
   On September 30th, 2007 at 8:59 pm, nbarry said:

   The candidates should have put it bluntly in one voice: no flag, no debate. In that case, it might have ended up as a Ron Paul monologue.

9. #9
   On September 30th, 2007 at 9:26 pm, Pat said:

   Who are we going to offend? Come on, PBS, do tell.

10. #10
    On September 30th, 2007 at 10:54 pm, scrubjay said:

    The candidates should have been more proactive. They could have sent an aide to get small flags on a stand for each of the candidates and they could have placed them on their podiums.

11. #11
    On September 30th, 2007 at 11:45 pm, DarkKnight said:

    Ms. Malkin, is there a reason why you haven’t written anything pertaining to the fact that four major GOP candidates decided to skip a debate to reach out to the minority community?

    Fred Thompson agreed to attend at first, then backed out because the other three weren’t coming.
    That opened them up to harsh criticism from some of the six contenders who did show up.

    http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3669536&page=1

    But you post only about the U.S. flag missing?

    ————————————
    Some notable quotables:

    Sen. Brownback
    “I think it’s a disgrace that they aren’t here,” Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback said.

    Former Republican congressman Jack Kemp (to the Washington Post)
    “What are we going to do — meet in a country club in the suburbs one day? If we’re going to be competitive with people of color, we’ve got to ask them for their vote.”

    Former Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele
    (paraphrasing) blacks and Republicans have for too long “stood at arm’s length from each other” and the divide needs to end.

    Former Gov. Huckabee
    … he was “embarrassed” by the absences. Later added, “There is still racism in this country.“

    Brownback “apologized” for the message sent by the no-shows.

    Tancredo had not planned to take part in the debate. But Smiley, other black leaders and some prominent Republicans called on all of the party’s presidential contenders to participate to avoid the appearance of brushing off minority issues. And this week, Tancredo changed his mind.
    -From the Baltimore Sun

    Tavis Smiley, host of the debate
    “Fortunately, there are those in the Republican Party who do understand the importance of reaching out to people of color.”

    Aimena Lipscomb, 21, senior English major
    “If you can’t show your face to someone you want to represent, how can you represent us?” Source

    What is your position on their absence Ms. Malkin?

    Good grief, GOP hopefuls. Big Tent indeed.

12. #12
    On October 1st, 2007 at 12:31 am, Dasoku said:

    I really wish I could find a way to avoid any of my tax dollars going to PBS.

13. #13
    On October 1st, 2007 at 12:58 am, swj719AWG said:

    I would have walked on stage, turned to look at that travesty, said “Sorry, but that’s crap” and walked off.

14. #14
    On October 1st, 2007 at 1:40 am, Alphonse said:

    Former Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele
    (paraphrasing) blacks and Republicans have for too long “stood at arm’s length from each other” and the divide needs to end.

    Pander instead of principle? That’s why we have both parties kissing the butts of illegal aliens for the Hispanic vote, and it is pure corruption. Not healthy at all.

15. #15
    On October 1st, 2007 at 3:34 am, purplepeep said:

    I don’t know if you could find a PBS shoot where Old Glory would be found. Except maybe in one of Ken Burns Civil/WWII war episodes.

    Will PBS will be waving it’s “diversity flag” on Independence Day?

16. #16
    On October 1st, 2007 at 5:48 am, Chuck said:

    Disgraceful

17. #17
    On October 1st, 2007 at 7:45 am, gayle said:

    We MUST take back OUR country!

18. #18
    On October 1st, 2007 at 8:25 am, Uplander said:

    This debate among GOP Candidates was about the Republican Primary. There won’t be a large turnout of Blacks for that primary. The ‘Host’ of this ‘debate’ has also in the past attempted to lend credibility to Louis Farrakhan. There are Black forums with more credibility. I do agree that all candidates present should have exited the building after the refusal to include Our Flag at the ‘All-American Presidential Forum’.

19. #19
    On October 1st, 2007 at 9:01 am, TMoney said:

    PBS: Another good reason to throw your television out the window, or use the Elvis method - a .38 special.

    I’m really ready for the primaries, so we can have real debates instead of large-paneled forums, like this.

20. #20
    On October 1st, 2007 at 9:31 am, Boomer said:

    Just when I thought PBS couldn’t sink any lower. If I was in the area I could have broken into my retirement shadowbox to provide my retirement flag flown over the US Capital Building on 22 Mar 00 or better yet my father’s burial flag. If the American flag offends viewers at PBS I guess the US tax dollars funding this liberal network also offends them. A great way to reduce the deficit is to stop all Federal spending on this type of anti-America BS.

21. #21
    On October 1st, 2007 at 9:46 am, pressto said:

    I agree, next time there is a debate for the President of the United States and there is no flag, state your reason and walk off the stage.

22. #22
    On October 1st, 2007 at 10:28 am, ackrite55 said:

    They should have staged a sit-in until an American flag was brought out. The question remains, how do the candidates show their faces to a multicultutral crowd without running the risk of being accused of pandering. I have heard the phrase, “F Ronald Reagan.” in the black community & it didn’t register until the Southern Stategy surfaced.

23. #23
    On October 1st, 2007 at 10:31 am, Dr. Lead Based Paint said:

    None of the Republicans should have participated in this event in protest of the anti-American agenda of PBS and the travesty that such an adversary is supported through taxpayer money.

    If Duncan Hunter had the stones to do something along the lines of ShoreMark’s suggestion, he would have gotten an ENORMOUS boost in the polls.

    A lot of people are looking for a candidate that’s willing to take a stand and do the right thing. Once again, we didn’t find one of those.

24. #24
    On October 1st, 2007 at 10:39 am, Wile E Coyote said:

    I agree with the Dark Knight and his take on the entire debate about the debate. Rather than talk about the fact the front runners chose not to attend, we are focusing on the lack of a US flag.

    Personally, I found the weird flag backdrops (where the podiums seem to blend into the background)to be more offensive.

    And y’all might want to take a few minutes to hunt down pictures from previous Republican and Democratic debates. Nary a real flag to be seen.

25. #25
    On October 1st, 2007 at 12:22 pm, Roman Con said:

    This does not surprise me. Almost three years ago, I and my wife and two young daughters fled the People’s Republic of Maryland after reading the writing on the wall: following a brief respite from moonbattery, the PRM was ready to elevate the socialist O’Malley to godhood. We loaded up the van with our bibles, Veggie Tales DVDs, and snacks that are probably banned in NYC by now, and headed south on I95 in the dead of night. Our papers were in order, and we were granted political asylum in the red state of Virginia. Thank God.

26. #26
    On October 1st, 2007 at 12:34 pm, Callie369 said:

    EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE CANDIDATES SHOULD HAVE WALKED OFF THE STAGE AND REFUSED TO CONTINUE UNTIL AN AMERICAN FLAG WAS FOUND.

    I HOPE CANDIDATES CHECK BEFORE THE NEXT DEBATE AND MAKE SURE AN AMERICAN FLAG IS PRESENT.

    IF IT OFFENDS SOMEONE IN THE AUDIENCE, THEY CAN LEAVE…..THEY DON’T BELONG THERE ANYWAY.

27. #27
    On October 1st, 2007 at 1:16 pm, Cosmo said:

    Question was raised as to who would be offended. Note that the debate was carried on PBS. Both viewers were probably moonbats. I’m sure the organizers didn’t want the two of them to switch over to FSTV or Oxygen without a fight.

28. #28
    On October 1st, 2007 at 1:16 pm, C-1-5in69 said:

    Everyone who watched the debate raise your hand!
    PBS seems somewhat irrelavent anyway!

29. #29
    On October 1st, 2007 at 1:27 pm, trismegistus said:

    A couple of years ago, working weekends at a Hollywood Video, I was verbally “chastised” for having an American flag on my car and was ridiculed for bringing a tiny US flag to work on July 4. Flags from other countries were “cool” though, highly acceptable to the multicultural mindsets working at the Hollywood Video. American flags have become a terribly vast problem to so many “enlightened” people in the United States that maybe it is time to relegate the US flag to Confederate flag status, attach a PC list of “no longer acceptable” words to each star in the American flag and make haste to remove all American flags from the public square in our next Bonfire of the Vanities.

30. #30
    On October 1st, 2007 at 1:39 pm, wild thing2 said:

    Oh my gosh, this makes me so angry. I am so sick of this happening.

31. #31
    On October 1st, 2007 at 1:48 pm, Caitriona3 said:

    I would like to know who PBS thought might be offended. This is a debate for the “AMERICAN” presidency on a public television station for the “AMERICAN” public. Anybody who would be offended by an “AMERICAN” flag on such a program has more than a few loose screws. I used to be so supportive of PBS, but they will be loosing my funding. This is strike 3 for me.

32. #32
    On October 1st, 2007 at 3:18 pm, Dr.D said:

    The very idea of a special “debate” for black issues is a totally racist concept. Can you imagine a “white issues debate?” The whole thing is divisive in the extreme, and it is exactly the sort of thing that we should be seeking to bring to an end, not supporting.

33. #33
    On October 1st, 2007 at 3:29 pm, Rick Moran said:

    To the commenter who was opposed to most of the people on this thread.

    I am very sorry but I think I inadvertently deleted your comment. If you post again, I promise to see that it makes it on the site.

34. #34
    On October 1st, 2007 at 4:13 pm, Cadman said:

    I am really suprised at all of these comments about the flag. I watched the debate.. how many of you complaining watched it too? Don’t we need to worry about getting the best candidate in office instead of worrying about the flag? BTW, it was an excellent debate full of ideas. I found 1 candidate an excellent choice for myself. Alan Keyes

35. #35
    On October 1st, 2007 at 11:31 pm, purplepeep said:

    Cadman said:
    I am really suprised at all of these comments about the flag.

    how many of you complaining watched it too?

    That’s irrelevant, Cadman, it wouldn’t matter if no one watched. And I suspect “no one” is an accurate ballpark number of actual viewers.

    What does matter is there should have been a US flag, since we are talking about the highest office of our land here.

    Actually, the “PBS diversity flag” could have stayed put. A US flag on a small pole to the side would have done just fine.

36. #36
    On October 2nd, 2007 at 12:12 am, DarkKnight said:

    On October 1st, 2007 at 11:31 pm, purplepeep said:

    A US flag on a small pole to the side would have done just fine.

    So would ALL of the GOP hopefuls running for president, but I guess that is asking too much, huh PP?

37. #37
    On October 2nd, 2007 at 11:40 am, Cadman said:

    Purple, so it does not matter if no one watched the debate, only that there is a flag present? You guys missed a great debate and a chance to get to know the values of our candidates.

38. #38
    On October 2nd, 2007 at 1:07 pm, purplepeep said:

    DarkKnight said:

    On October 1st, 2007 at 11:31 pm, purplepeep said:

    A US flag on a small pole to the side would have done just fine.

    So would ALL of the GOP hopefuls running for president, but I guess that is asking too much, huh PP?

    Not even a good shot at diversion, DK, but as far back as I can recall the “Great Tavis Smiley Debates” has never been of any importance to anyone, especially viewers. They could’ve run another pledge drive and gotten more watchers.

    Now as for outright avoidance you have to consider the Democrats confessed abject terror at just the thought of an unscripted Q&A at a Fox News debate.

    Since Fox News debates have garnered the most viewers you’d think the candidates you’d think they would jump at the chance. Of course, that means they would have to actually give answers, so there is that big downside. Ah well….

39. #39
    On October 2nd, 2007 at 1:18 pm, purplepeep said:

    Cadman said:
    Purple, so it does not matter if no one watched the debate, only that there is a flag present? You guys missed a great debate and a chance to get to know the values of our candidates.

    Nope, it doesn’t matter at all - just as it doesn’t matter if there’s anyone in a courtroom. They don’t yank the flag if only a few lawyers are just hanging out there.

    I suspect the world will turn as normal even though the historic Great Tavis Smiley Debate garnered little interest.

40. #40
    On October 2nd, 2007 at 2:52 pm, Cadman said:

    People who watched the debate are now more informed of their choices than people who didn’t. Flag or no flag.

    I bet people suspected Rome would turn out normal too.

41. #41
    On October 4th, 2007 at 6:14 am, denbren52 said:

    The American Flag has now become a symbol of the right. You will never see a lefty with a flag on their house, car or boat.

    But a lefty politician must still appear with a flag backdrop if they expect to get elected. So, I guess all is not yet lost.