O'Malley was gracious about the unequal time afforded him in the debate, but I'm pissed
Last edited Mon Jan 18, 2016, 11:30 AM - Edit history (1)
Of course, you can't make a credible complaint about the allocation of time in the debate without putting the hat on the moderators. It's their show and they set the format, they set the rules. They are responsible for enforcing time limits and providing equal time.
But this debate was leveraged against O'Malley from the beginning by NBC who announced a polling threshold which was not only steeper than historically allowed, but appeared to be more about their own ratings than our candidates. What's more, they decided on the threshold just days before the event was to take place.
After allowing republicans to bring their entire clown car of hopeless hopefuls onto stage every other week, somehow having three Democratic candidates onstage was suddenly more than they could bear.
Well, Holt and Mitchell made their corporate bosses proud last night as they treated O'Malley as if he'd won his ticket to the debate in a raffle. They were barely able to contain their impatience with his presence as he robbed them of that two frame shot of Sanders and Clinton bickering over the political tussle-dujour so obligingly offered as flamebait.
With every attack, there was an expectation from Sanders and Clinton of even more time allowed to play political tag, with O'Malley waiting for his turn to speak. Is it a deliberate debate strategy from these two senators, practiced at filibustering, to natter away O'Malley's time? Nicely done, at any rate.
The network and the rest of the media horde got their screenshots. It's not as if they had to beg. This is what the two campaigns seem to believe is necessary right now. They played right into the network script, perhaps oblivious to the next day's headlines.
'Sanders lashes out at Clinton'
'Clinton and Sanders brawl'
'Clinton and Sanders duel'
'Clinton, Sanders trade barbs'
Those are the headlines this morning; that is the substance of the bulk of articles voters will see. O'Malley's appearance, once again, deliberately minimized and used as a narrative against his largely unrecognized campaign.
Well played?
= new reply since forum marked as read
What the hell do you want? People can read his shit.
I HATE when they do this. He is running he should get the time. I know he is low in the polls but he has great ideas and he is still out there fighting. I do not know why his numbers are so low. He is very passionate and has done some good things in the past. It is hard to know why it is like this. The big name Hillary and the old "grumpy" guy Bernie seem to have set up something that looks like a bigger competition? 
O'Malley seems to have everything it would take to do very well. I hope he runs again. He is not being given the chance anymore at all. I am always for leaving those who are willing to do the work in with the rest of them.
If the choice was between O'Malley and Clinton I would vote for him happily. Still firmly in the Sanders camp but have fond but upsetting memories of being a Kucinich person.
I think it is disgusting for media talking heads to decide who gets heard. This man was a mayor and a Governor elected by voters...he deserves to be treated respectfully. Mitchell had NO business asking him when he will drop out.
