January 31, 2008
Republican and Democratic Debate Reactions
**Cross-posted from BlogHer.com
I was in elementary school when Ronald Reagan was in office. As a fourth-grader, I cringed when President Reagan appeared on television, interrupting all the regularly scheduled programs to talk about the economy of the United States. It wasn’t until ten years later that I truly understood what the term “Reagan conservative” meant.
Now, as a 29-year-old wife and mother, politics is constantly on my mind. Never before have I been more interested in the government, the upcoming election or the debates, primaries and caucuses that have captured my attention for the last several months.
The first election I was legally able to vote in was 2000. I voted for George W. Bush because I let my disgust for Bill Clinton taint my image of Al Gore. In 2004, I re-elected Bush because I had given birth to my son two months prior and couldn’t elect John Kerry. He didn’t seem concerned with ending abortion. But in the past four years, the Republican party has failed me, and I feel pulled toward the Democratic party instead.
After watching the Republican debate last night presented at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, and the Democratic debate tonight at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles, I’m even more obsessed with choosing a candidate.
Do I stay faithful to my party and endorse a Republican? I dislike John McCain, I don’t care for Mitt Romney, I don’t know enough about Ron Paul, and Mike Huckabee? Don’t get me started on Huckabee.
While watching last night’s debate, it became clear to me that the media is insistent on creating a duel between front-runners McCain and Romney. The first half of the debate was focused on the economy, tax cuts and spending, and the second half was directed more towards the war in Iraq. McCain and Romney spent more time attacking each other’s records, often resorting to trickery to make themselves appear as the better candidate.
Noam Scheiber of The New Republic reports:
McCain also gave one of the most incoherent answers I’ve heard at a presidential debate this campaign season. Asked how he reconciled his initial argument against the 2001 Bush tax cuts, which he said were skewed toward the wealthy, with his more recent argument that he opposed them because spending was out of control, McCain just kind of rambled from talking point to talking point. First he said working class people need help, which is why he favors a stimulus. Then he talked about being a foot-soldier in the Reagan revolution. Then he careered back to reckless spending. Then he said the GOP had lost Congress because of all that spending. It was mush.
Huckabee and Paul did not receive the same question-and-answer time as their competitors, often sitting quietly while McCain and Romney bickered about who supported a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq. Moderator Anderson Cooper promised to shower the candidates with questions, but still John and Mitt ruled the table. When Ron Paul finally had his turn to speak he said [about the bickering], “Who cares? We shouldn’t have gone to Iraq in the first place!”
The Arizona senator repeated a charge he made over the weekend, that Romney “said he wanted a timetable” for an Iraq withdrawal. McCain likened Romney’s position to Democrats who were eager to withdraw, while McCain described himself as “out there on the front lines” opposing a U.S. withdrawal.
We examined this claim on Sunday and found McCain didn’t have enough evidence to back up his allegation. We noted in that item that McCain and Romney do seem to have genuine policy differences when it comes to withdrawal. But McCain paraphrases Romney’s statements in a way that leaves voters with the impression that Romney advocates a specific date for withdrawal from Iraq, which he does not.
Sheryn from All Things Anderson writes:
Worst moment of the night:
John McCain and Mitt Romney making faces at each other’s answers like they were in grade school. Let’s face it, my daughter acts more mature than the major presidential candidates. Isn’t that special?
Samantha Sault of The Weekly Standard writes:
The two [Romney and McCain] sparred over each other’s conservative credentials and stances on Iraq. Live-blogging at Pajamas Media, Bridget Johnson reports on the evening’s many “full-body slams.” Chris Cillizza has the video of the Iraq showdown and says, “McCain insisted that Romney had supported a timetable for withdrawal, while Romney bitterly disagreed and accused McCain of ‘the sort of dirty tricks Ronald Reagan would have found reprehensible.’” The showdown resulted in McCain’s major jab at Romney — that McCain led “for patriotism, not for profit.”
So who won? Political Buzz has an opinion:
McCain clearly emerged as the front runner in the race, while Romney tried his darnedest to play catch-up in a fight he’s losing. Nobody blew away the field and both McCain and Romney stumbled, but not enough to make serious waves. Huckabee looked stronger than usual, but he’s too far back and is just blatantly trying to get a slot as McCain’s Veep.
I can’t say that any of the candidates “won” the GOP debate last night, because it was really uneventful. It was the same rhetoric given by the same candidates, proclaiming that they can and will do better for the people of America, and that they will repair the Republican party. Even though Rush Limbaugh thinks Huckabee will destroy the GOP, Huckabee says he wishes Rush loved him as much as he loves Rush. Poor Ron Paul. He’s hanging on by a thread. I give him a lot of credit for perseverance.
The real excitement began with the Democratic debate tonight. As host Wolf Blitzer began his introduction, I felt goose pimples down my spine. “This is the first time a woman and an Africa American are vying for the Democratic nomination.” History in the making.
I watched intently as Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton debated the issues. Although debate isn’t the right word. It was more like a friendly conversation between friends, and I was enthralled by the way the two politely agreed and disagreed with each other. There were moments when I agreed with Barack’s plan to fix the mortgage crisis. There were moments when I disagreed with Hillary’s plan for Immigration reform.
At the end of the debate I realized I’m no closer to choosing a candidate than before. The most difficult debate wasn’t in California. It’s right here in my living room as I debate which party — which candidate, will get my vote.
What did bloggers think about tonight’s debate? BlogHer contributing editor Erin Kotecki Vest highlights some of the reactions. She and Katy Chen covered the debate live from the Kodak Theater (open thread discussion here) and you can watch more videos by clicking these links.
Stay tuned to BlogHer in the days to come. We’re covering this election full force. Super Tuesday, here we come!
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Related Links:
Stars, Activists and Snoopy See Dems Debate in LA (VIDEO)
Open Thread: Democratic Debate in Los Angeles Tonight
Earn Our Votes ’08: Let’s research and report what candidates really say about reproductive health
Welcome to the new MOMocrats! (Edwards may be out, but we’re not going anywhere!)
“Wazzzzaaaah!”
