A word of caution about tonight’s town hall debate
Here we go again. Tonight’s second presidential debate will be moderated by another left-leaning journalist, Tom Brokaw. More significantly, the format will be a town hall. Brokaw will pick the questions from a pre-selected pool. “Tuesday’s match-up at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., will be moderated by NBC’s Tom Brokaw, with the questions to be culled from a group of 100 to 150 uncommitted likely voters in the audience and another one-third to come via the Internet. The Gallup Organization — as in past debates like this — has the job of making sure the questioners reflect the demographic makeup of the nation. Brokaw selects the questions to ask from written queries submitted prior to the debate, according to the ‘contract.’”
Anyone remember the last time a liberal media outlet invited “undecided” citizen questioners to participate in a presidential campaign debate?
Hint: CNN/YouTube/plant debacle.
Refresher:
Concerned Young Undecided Person “Journey” = John Edwards supporter “Journey”
Concerned Undecided Log Cabin Republican supporter David Cercone = Obama supporter David Cercone
Concerned Undecided Mom LeeAnn Anderson = Activist for the John Edwards-endorsing United Steelworkers union LeeAnn Anderson
Concerned Undecided Gay Military Retiree Brig. Gen. Keith H. Kerr = Hillary/Kerry supporter and anti-”Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” activist Keith H. Kerr
Brokaw and his minions better be making damned sure there isn’t a single plant among its “undecided” questioner pool.
On a related note: It would be wise to dramatically lower your expectations of this debate. The town hall format lends itself to the worst pander-style, personal sob story politicking.
Reader David sends a good prediction:
My prediction is that the most prominent topic covered tonight, of course, will be the one nobody has been talking about – except Obama in the last week – which is healthcare.
Yep, it’s going to be a bunch of “real people” whose moms are sick and can’t get health care, yada-yada-yada, “What are you going to do for me?”-type questions.
One caller this morning did offer Bill Bennett a chance for McCain to attack Obama on health care, because his “universal coverage” plan includes insuring illegal immigrants and Gitmo detainees. But you and I both know, McCain will not go there.
Exactly.
***
Related: Beware of Ponytail Guy — how townhall debates can go very wrong.
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- Playing with fire at the town hall debate? « WitSnapper | The Blog
- Mofo Politics | Everything McCain, Obama, Palin, and that other guy-related» Blog Archive » Friendly reminder: Tom Brokaw hearts liberals and communists
- BipolarNation.com » 2nd ‘08 Presidential Debate: Preview
- Sister Toldjah
- McCain McCan’t be Mr. McNiceguy any more « The Family Guy
- JammieWearingFool
- Five Hours Ahead » Blog Archive » Ayers and the “undecided” voter
- Ed Driscoll.com
- Michelle Malkin » Debate game: Guess the insipid questions
- Ace of Spades HQ
- Cassy Fiano » Liveblogging the debate tonight
- Michelle Malkin » Liveblogging the town hall debate: Me, me, me
- Michelle Malkin » Liveblogging the town hall debate: Me, me, me
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As long as Tom’s bff Keith didn’t get to pick the questions it will be reasonably fair. Not fair, just reasonably fair. Thats all any republican can expect.
Honestly, who could possibly be undecided at this point when choosing between McCain and the Socialist?
I seriously doubt they are concerned about using plants and having them discovered. You saw how concerned the media was before when such things were uncovered.
It would be tremendously difficult to have lower expectations than I do already. This whole thing has been a setup at least since the 70’s. What gets the media so mad is people still usually elect Republican presidents.
Won’t be watching anyway. Night job.
MM,
I aint going to lower my expectations one bit. I expect John Mccain to kick butt and he will.
That said do I expect anyone to admit it but voters HELL NO, including you.
Suit yourself.
I have zero faith this will be fair in any way to McCain when you have someone from NBC involved.
I vividly recall the Ponytail Guy from the 1992 debate. The fix was in for Slick then and it’s in for Obama now.
McCain will be mercilessly grilled and Obama will get Twinkies and softballs lobbed at him.
I’ll be watching, but I thoroughly expect a leftist hatchet job. I hope I’m wrong, but the media cannot be trusted.
This is gut-check time for McCain… if he wusses out on pinning Obozo down over his piss-poor judgment and radical associations, we can kiss it all goodbye.
Jammie,
so they both wont have to answer same quesiton? cmon now focus
I can’t hardly stand to watch this, listening to the messiah is more than I can stomach. and listening to mccain trying to defend his vote on this bailout, immigration, etc is not any fun either.
wish we had a real conservative who was not afraid of his beliefs, actually defend his positions, and attack obama…sigh…
right,
so do tell please who was your pony?
I fully expect some liberal talking points out of Brokaw, and some planted “undecided” liberal questioners.
Is there a possibility that some PUMAs might get themselves planted in there too?
Maybe some veterans from our recent conflicts, Vets For Freedom?
Maybe a pro-life activist could sneak in?
Second Amendment defenders?
I wish Sarah would sneak in in disguise and get Obama on live TV, face to face!
We’ll see what happens.
Senator Obama, how will you save us from global warming?
Senator McCain, why will you keep us in Iraq for 100 years?
Senator Obama, how do you feel about gay marriage?
Senator McCain, why are you going to overturn Roe v. Wade?
lawdyy is this thread going to turn into a waaa waaa my pony isn’t in the rodeo thread?
I don’t buy the premise that I need to lower my expectations..PERIOD
whine on whine on
You can bet the farm that there WILL be plants. There’s NO CHANCE that NBC will prevent them. Their news director wants drama, where it revolves around McCain.
For Obama? A soft pillow and cool glass of sparkling water is the utmost concern.
To believe otherwise requires the willing suspension of disbelief.
I was for Fred, but nobody really excited me that much. it seems like we’re in an era of denial, when no one really wants to talk about, much less tackle, the issues we face.
Just added a link above to the Ponytail Guy story.
Uncle psssst it dont work that way.
They are both asked same question regardless of who directed at.
Which is why I will skip this puke-fest. I would rather watch a B. Spears concert which is a puke-fest all its own. Heck, I think I might prefer watching Olbydork over this debate.
Have I lowered my expectations enough?
My expectations would be higher if it were Sarah going up against Obama.
The thing that makes me hopeful for McCain is I didn’t think he did very well in the debates during the primaries, but he ended up winning the nomination. We’ll see.
okay too much BS and hand ringin. you fret all damn day if you want…
I have to watch it. I want to see if Brokaw will call on Keith Olbermann as one of those “concerned but undecided voters” who gets to ask a question.
Putting everything else aside, I think McCain really wants to win. He has slowly (dragging his feet) been taking the gloves off. His poll numbers are low, so it is now or never, and he has nothing to lose.
Time for McCain to stand up and fight.
Socialism vs fascism isn’t really much of a choice.
The democrats are virtuoso performers when it comes to planting minions among a crowd. Each plant is programmed to “go off” at various times throughout the event. One will spout “STOP THE WAR!” while a few minutes later another will scream “NO MORE BUSH/McCAIN!” while the crescendo refrains goes “OBAMA, OBAMA, OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT!” The democrats will wipe the anticipatory drool from their chins and chortle while rubbing their tofu-laden bloated mid-sections satisfied their minions, yet again, swayed public opinion.
I would like someone to ask McCain if he is so against pork barrel spending, why did he vote for the bailout bill?
And I would like someone to ask Obama to explain why his work with the Annanberg Challenge and the Woods Foundation wasn’t used as executive experience? And “Barack, how’s your brother in Kenya doing?”
Maybe he’ll go back to D.C. and get another bail out bill started. Wonder who we could get to fill in for him?
Thanks, Michelle. Good piece.
And yes, my expectations are low.
My demands of McCain are high, but I don’t expect them to be fulfilled.
Reader David is right on the money. There will be a plethora of people asking when their handout is coming… “I need salve for my hives and had to spend my last dime on a new crack pipe. Help me out!”
It will be a sickening if McCain starts pandering. He needs to seize the moment, disrard the detail of the question (Like Obama does) and tear into Obama’s socialize medicine plan and point out why it would be a disaster.
But alas… as I said… my expectations are low.
Maybe Sarah can stand in for him. That would produce a better result.
Me too.
Monica Crowley has some question for Barack Obama tonight.
http://monicamemo.typepad.com/weblog/2008/10/raising-mccain.html
What about that loser who dropped the nuclear “C” word onn McCain a few months back? A relative of pony guy?
I expect tonight’s format to devolve into a series of questions like
I have this affliction … or
I am this unfortunate … or
I fit this demographic … or
America has failed me … so
What are you two going to do about it?
JFK be damned.
A better question should be Why don’t you two get off my back and let me live my life and allow me to pursue my happiness and stop ruining the country I love with your bailouts and your give-aways and your entitlements and everything else you think is “fair” when all your doing is crushing America’s future?
Reader David hit the nail on the head… Right after SARAH’S debate last week, a local station here in Phoenix was running a crawl under screen… One of the comments “yeah, but she didn’t say anything about HEALTHCARE”, swear that was on the crawl… The problem with PLANTS in these type of DEBATES, not one of these “MORONS” is found out until later… Then nothing but DENIAL, DENIAL, DENIAL from the moderator and MSM… Should probably ditch this format entirely… Will it happen??? NOT!!!
As my online moniker might suggest, I am a “pony-tailed guy.” I would love for them to hand me that microphone.
hey if you’re gonna ask great white father, or new bi-racial messiah for a handout, ask em for something for me too!!
By far the best forum has been Saddleback where both McCain and Obama were asked the same questions out of ear shot of each other. Any other forum allows for subtle or not so subtle bias by the moderator. Since all of the moderators chosen so far are to the left, Obama starts with a lead.
McCain needs to hammer Obama, but the town hall forum will not allow this to happen. Unless McCain just ignores the question and does what Palin did to Ifill, he will probably lose again.
You’re right…Obama does have some scary fascist tendencies, doesn’t he? Yes, the choice should be very clear to anyone at this point.
Here, here!!!
Remember when being an American meant doing an honest days work for an honest days pay, and that your word was your bond? Remember when we scoffed at the USSR and their stupid social policies, and how we prospered while they faltered? What the hell happened?
History shows that the implementation of socialism (read: welfare) by any government begins that country’s death march. If we don’t stop it, we are doomed. If McCain doesn’t hammer the point tonight (in spite of his shameful bailout vote), then he’s toast.
They let Ifill moderate the VP debate with her stellar record of impartiality, why would this be any different?
Bottom line is that either McCain will come out swinging or he wont. We can complain till we are blue in the face about plants in the audience and the internet question, but it wont change it one bit and the media will never report it anyway.
McCain needs to use the Palin approach and talk directly to the voter regardless of the question.
Undecided voters my azz.
We’re just suppsed to accept that as gospel?
I have low expectations for the questions, but high expectations that McCain will do a Gov. Palin and answer them as he wishes.
Mavericks do that, right?
Hear this? It’s a purty lil birdy chirping away
Michelle, If you could ask one, what would your question be.
After the 2000 election , The Wall Street Journal reported that when one state was leaning to Gore as the election night wore on, Brokaw said something about how “If this state goes to Gore, we win”. Brokaw wrote a letter to the editor of the WSJ denying he said what he was quoted as saying or at least he said it was taken out of context. What can not be denied is that Brokaw is a very committed liberal. He pals around with left wing journalist Georgie Ann Geyer, who is one of the old time 1950s left wing columnists. Brokaw also rolled his eyes and shook his head at the way Dan Quayle answered one of Brokaw’s questions in 1988. When Quayle tried to answer him, Brokaw shook his head and snottily said “no”. Then when Lloyd Benson answered questions in meaningless snooze inducing cliches, Brokaw was all smiles.
Leave to Republican debate chairman Frank Farenkoph to invite Brokaw to the big dance. Farenkoph is a lobbyist for the gambling industry. Farenkoph calls ii “gaming”. Only a K Street establishment type like Farenkoph would invite Brokaw to be a moderator.
Rather than wasting our time with this phony whine fest and questions from idiots that still haven’t decided whom to vote for, they should just turn the two lose and let them go at it. Brokaw won’t function as an impartial moderator; his job will be to cut of debate when the atmosphere gets to hot for Obama. One of these days the media should stop treating the public like a bunch of brain impaired fools.
Maybe he’ll end up “committing suicide” on a park bench or something?
How does one find an “undecided likely voter” anyway. Anyone likely to vote at this point has made some decision, surely.
Well, based on precedent, they look through liberal PAC’s and liberal campaign staff rosters to find these “undecided” voters.
McCain has blown his royaldopeyness away at all the debates and the saddleback forum was little big horn for Odopey.
Have faith in Senator McCain, what he should do is have Go. Palin in the front row glaring at Sen. Odumbo the entire time, lmao, he’d be stutterin and stammerin fumblin and mumblin all night. That may even happen w/o her there.
It’s Killin em and
I Love it!!!
McCain/Palin 08′
Image: Odimblub is is going down , again.
At one point, the McCain camp was thinking of skipping the Brokaw “debate,” but of course they did not. What a surprise. I just see no hope in this. Whatever low expectations people on this list might have, I will meet them and go even lower. Getting your hopes up for McCain is pretty much like getting your hopes up for Bush — you’re always going to be disappointed and I’m looking forward in the coming weeks and months (years) to all the disappointment I can handle.
Drill Baby Drill, on his inexperience, money he squandered with the Annenberg Challenge what was it again? 40-50 million +…..
People who think Obama is some economic genius are sorely mistaken….it’s always said but the proof is simply not there, sorry.
Obamas Accomplishments.
A Big Zero. drill it home!
Don’t even bring up Bidet he’s not worth the time.
Beenthere, are you the guy on the corner with the sandwich board that says “the end is near” ????
I hope Brokaw calls on this guy…
That is the serious aspect of this. As humor CAN be an effective weapon, I found these 2 videos worth their weight in laughing gas in the fight against Obama:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxhYampIl7A&feature=related
heh.
Go to a soup kitchen and find a derelict in a drunken stupor – there’s your “undecided” voter. Now, sober him up and give him $100 to vote for Obama – he has now become a “likely” voter.
For the Democrats, this scenario is not that far fetched.
I hope Brokaw calls on this guy…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxhYampIl7A&feature=related
heh…worth its weight in laughing gas in the fight against Obama.
I also wonder how anyone could be undecided at this point which means anyone who says they are undecided, are probably lying.
In the first debate, McCain used his “I wasn’t voted Miss Congeniality” line TWICE, I cringe every time he uses this stale joke. STOP IT! Secondly he needs to show some anger in his voice, rather than his usual monotone cadence. Then, fight, fight, fight!!!!!
Why, no, whatever gave you that impression? I’m the guy on the corner with the sandwich board that says “the end is now.”
He also needs to quit saying…”my friends”! That drives me crazy!
If for some reason McAmnesty was unable to continue running before the election, who would run in his place? Romney, Palin???
I think a drinking game is coming. For every biased question from Brokaw you get one shot of cognac.
Common AJ, now “plug” for Biden?
Now=no Doh
McCain has to come out swinging tonight. He needs to do away with the Mr. Nice Guy approach. Especially since the Odumbo camp released a new McCain smear site called Keating Economics.
McCain should fire his media advisers.
Agreeing to be on this NBC-moderated debate was an enormously stupid decision; as was Palin’s interviews with Katie Couric et al.
Sun Tzu: the outcome of a battle is won before it’s even started.
Don’t go into territory that is designed to defeat you.
I won’t be watching tonight. I suspect we will get plenty of chances to hear The Savior speak over the next four years.
Most people can’t drink that much.
I hate to let facts get in the way of your whining, but it should really be noted that it was “left leaning” Tom Brokaw, a close friend of John McCain, who demanded that Keith Olbermann be removed from MSNBC campaign coverage because he was too partisan.
Also, following last week’s whining about Gwen Ifill that amounted to no actual bias in the debate itself, why not wait until AFTER the debate to whine this time?
Resume whining at will.
All they know are brain dead liberals. What do you expect. They have no experience with true constitutional conservatives.
I was feeling very defeated and was thinking the same thing this morning…
I wonder if I will be able to get behind Obama as president of my country. I hope I will be able to.
How do undecideds reflect the demographic makeup of the nation? Unless Gallop thinks America is made up of liars and idiots.
I wish they would take questions from any registered voter instead.
I’m not going to bother.
If all Sarah Palin can do is stand there trying to out-liberal Joe Biden, then there’s nothing to suggest McCain is going to stand up to Oblahma.
I’ll read the reviews of it here and on RWN, thanks. Much less time spent turning my stomach at the altar of the porcelain god.
RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
Actually, the country IS made up of liars and idiots. Those who are voting for Obama.
Wow, FilmLadd, Sun Tzu! Very good advice too. I don’t see why the GOP continues to go through the charade of the debates.
Republicans have an oppression complex. You just can’t get a fair shake, can you?
lol, beenthere.
Don’t go there Rob. Thats exactly what they want. We’re conservative self motivated Republicans.
Good to see that you are complaining about the ‘unfair’ debate before it even has taken place.
This matches nicely with the complaint about Gwen Ifill being ‘in the tank’ for Obama. Of course, as you put it after the debate, “Sarah Palin Rocks’, so apparently Ifill wasn’t really the evil witch that you portrayed as being.
And I’m sure that you’ll tell us all how McCain handily won the debate in tomorrow’s lead article.
I’m looking forward to your ‘McCain Defeated, Fraud At Polls’ article on November 5th.
http://www.nationofwhiners.com
From this media? Not a chance.
We are already seeing fraud at the polls in Ohio.
What the hell did Palin “do” to Ifill??
The part I saw was nothing but pandering to a bull$h!+ liberal-biased question. She stepped right in and acted nearly as foolish as Al Gore himself on the subject of “climate change”. How exactly did she accomplish anything with that?
RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
I was going to make a rude comment about Barney Frank but I guess I won’t.
The problems are deeper:
- Blind support of one’s party affiliation (contrary to national security interest).
- Electing officials without merit (being rich is no merit).
- Not holding the elected officials accountable (corrupt officials should be impeached and prosecuted).
Feel free to add as you identify…
Starting with Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Barack Oblahma, and John McCain.
RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
Obama doesn’t think well on his feet, so expect him to say George Bush a lot. That will be his only way to score points.
It’s more of a merit than being a socialist a$$-kisser.
RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
I doubt this will score him many points, but it will hurt him less than the other things he will say.
America’s pretty much fed up with listening to Oblahma talk about George Bush.
Get over it already!
RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
Yes of course, liberals control the media. The entirety of the press is aligned against Bush and the Republican party, yet they win most elections, and implement most of their ideas.
That makes sense.
Yeah… I can’t wait to sit back and watch as such deep questions get asked like….
“Mr. Savior Sir, all the world’s dying to know. Is it boxers or briefs?”
Yes they do. An honest person could easily see this from voting records and watching them. For example, they are all over the troopergate distraction, yet have never investigated Obama? Thye have done more work on Palin in the last 5 weeks than they have done in 2 years on Obama. Open your eyes.
Another important word of caution about tonight’s debate…
It is absolutely IMPERATIVE that anyone who watches this debate takes the time in the hours before to read this, this, and this.
Make sure this important information is fresh in your mind. You may discover some REALLY interesting things about these candidates when they open their big socialist mouths to speak.
RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
Can’t win on the issues then by all means CHEAT! Honesty should never stand in the way of a candidate achieving his/her goals. page 45 of the Elect a Chicago Thug Handbook.
O
Read this analysis of her “no actual bias”.
You are confusing the press with the electorate. Two completely different entities.
Thruth be told, liberals do control the media, and do advocate liberal ideas, both those coming from the Republican Party and the Democratic Party.
Neither of these parties is particularly conservative, in case you hadn’t noticed. Do we need to look any further than the recent bailout for proof?
RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
I’ll just do the livethread here, in between supper and practicing. Hope the server doesn’t crash.