Digby Weighs In on Last Night's Debate

[illinoisprogressive]

Digby of Hullaballoo has thoughts on last night's debate:


I thought this was actually a much more substantive debate than what we've seen --- none of the silliness we had with Matthews and Blitzer. Good for Tavis Smiley and Howard University for hosting a dignified event. The questions were interesting and all the candidates got a chance to answer. In the end I was reminded once again how superior our field is to that freakshow they're putting up on the Republican side.

If I had to pick a winner, I think tonight was Obama's night. He seemed loose and comfortable and in charge. He certainly had the best laugh line --- after Joe Biden inexplicably felt the need to reveal that he and Barack had both been tested for AIDS, Obama played the "husband on the hot seat" perfectly, hurriedly explaining that he'd been tested with Michelle when they were both in Kenya. Big laughs. He's good.

But all these people are so much better than the non-sequitor dribbling absurdists on the Republican side that every time I see them I feel a little bit better about the future. If any of the Dem contenders make it, we will have a president who speaks normal English, in complete sentences and responds to questions fluently and with real meaning. I can't tell you what a relief that will be after these last six years of alien gibberish and bizarre, robotic responses that everyone has been pretending are normal ways of speaking.

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/

[tired_old_fireman]

1. I don't get that Obama laugh line.

I spent too much time trying to understand what was the joke. I thought he was saying he got tested with his wife instead of Biden because he didn't want to like he had a gay relationship with Biden. When I first heard him say it, I actually thought he came across as homophobic. Since no one else seemed to take it that way, was there another meaning? Was he saying he got tested with his wife because if he got tested without her it would seem like he was cheating on her?

What is wrong with me? Am I now too old to understand jokes that everyone else understands? What do I know about comedy? My favorite comedian was Dom Irrera.

[durrrty libby]

3. Your instincts were correct. The line came across as homophobic

[JNelson6563]

7. Only to the hyper-sensitive IMO

Just sayin'

[durrrty libby]

9. Well maybe it doesn't bother some, because they are ignorant

or completely insensitive

Just sayin

[Peregrine Took]

8. It was very strange and embaressing for all concerned. n/t

[RaleighNCDUer]

6. 2nd interpretation was correct --

he was joking about the potential of having another Democratic president who can't keep it in his pants. But it was just a joke.

The reality was, they were on an AIDs awareness mission in Africa and they both got tested to help dispell the myth that it was the testing that causes AIDS - a common myth in some parts of Africa, probably promulgated by...well, I won't go into that. It is, however, one of the two deadliest myths, the other being that sex with a virgin can cure AIDS.

[illinoisprogressive]

2. no. He was alluding to people thinking of some relationship other than with Michelle.

male or female.

[tired_old_fireman]

4. I still don't get it.

Is he implying that having an AIDs test is the equivalent of a sexual act?

[MrPrax]

5. Perhaps if

you still don't get what Digby or IllnoisProgressive is telling you, then maybe you should spend more time reading some of the diverse opinion here at DU, before you post?

[tired_old_fireman]

10. Is your condescending post a better use of this message board?

[FrenchieCat]

11. I agree that Obama had an overall better performance than any of the others......

He was relaxed and provoked more thought with his answers than others. An example was the issue asked about New Orleans. Obama made the statement that we must ask why New Orleans was were it was prior to the Hurricane. Why did so many believe that in the case of an emergency all everyone had to do was to get into their SUV with their Sparkling water and go check into a hotel. In other words, we, the United States are unprepared to care for those who don't have what is required to survive when emergencies hit, and that shouldn't be. Obama made one realize that this is the root of the problem in reference to what happened during Katrina.

[ShortnFiery]

12. Kick!

:dem: