Obama: "it took us 45 minutes before we even started talking about a single issue"

[sabra]

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/04/obama_dusts_self_off_from_deba.html#more

Obama dusts self off from debate


Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., jokingly dust off his shoulder as he speaks at a town hall-style meeting in Raleigh, N.C.,Thursday, April 17, 2008.
(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

<snip>

"Last night, Sen. Clinton and I had our 21st debate of the year," he said triggering a few boos, but not because he meant to say 21st of the primary campaign. "I will tell you, it does not get much more fun than these debates. They are inspiring events. I mean, last night, I think we set a new record because it took us 45 minutes before we even started talking about a single issue that mattered to the American people. It took us 45 minutes."

...

"They like stirring up controversy, and they like playing gotcha games and getting us to attack each other," he said. "And I have to say, you know, Sen. Clinton, you know, looked in her element. She's, ah, you know, she was taking every opportunity to get a dig in there, you know."

...

"Look, I understand that because that's the textbook Washington game. That's how our politics has been taught to be played," he said. "That's the lesson that she learned when the Republicans were doing that same thing to her back in the 1990s."

...

"When you're running for the presidency, then you've got to expect it, and you know, you've just gotta kind of let it," he said, pretending to dust something off his shoulder. "That's what you gotta do."

...

"The American people, I think they're saying all across the country: not this time," he said. "This time, we're not going to be distracted. We're not going to be confused by a bunch of bamboozling and hoodwinking. Not this time. Not this time. This time, this time the American people are serious because these are serious times."

[Ichingcarpenter]

1. Video is up on DU and Youtube

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=120066&mesg_id=120066

[tishaLA]

36. Great video. I especially love the

"Amen chorus" that crowd is giving him. You can tell he was feeding off their energy.

[kentuck]

2. I loved these quotes...

"When you're running for the presidency, then you've got to expect it, and you know, you've just gotta kind of let it," he said, pretending to dust something off his shoulder. "That's what you gotta do."

...

"The American people, I think they're saying all across the country: not this time," he said. "This time, we're not going to be distracted. We're not going to be confused by a bunch of bamboozling and hoodwinking. Not this time. Not this time. This time, this time the American people are serious because these are serious times."

[Kaylee]

3. That's right.....brush it off!

We've got your back.

[Maribelle]

4. Since when have Obama and his followers wanted to discuss real issues?

Or is this just a joke?

[book_worm]

5. Oh, shut up.

[sabra]

6. my question to you is - what do you consider a real issue?

[uponit7771]

8. She's a flag pin type person, doesn't have to work any more so real econ issues don't matter

[uponit7771]

7. Since Clinton wanted to concetrate on "getting up" from Wrights church

[bowens43]

15. Have you been living in a cave?

Obama , unlike your blathering idiot of a candidate , has done nothing but talk about the issues. Your candidate however preferred to drag this thing into the sewer where she feels more comfortable. America has had it with her and her kind of bullshit. She has made a fool of herself and of you.

[Buzz Clik]

16. Here's a joke: Knock knock!! Who's there? Maribelle.

buh bye in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1,,,

[Leftist Agitator]

18. Your Queen admitted to being a liar on national television last night.

Spin that, Hill-o-tron.

[Blue-Jay]

26. Start a thread about a "real issue", and we'll discuss it.

Pick one:

Insurance
Guns
Iraq War
Mortgage Industry
Economy
Jobs
Pollution
etc....

Unless you think that flag pins are a burning topic.

[kenny blankenship]

9. I wasn't watching, but maybe I would care, if only...

if only you or the other one, whatshername, would take a deep breath, look the moderator in the eye, or better yet look right past them into the camera, and say "You know, they've had us up here for 45 minutes now and haven't asked a single substantive question of us yet. Not a one. None of this stuff has anything to do with healthcare, or with extricating the United States from the worst foreign policy blunder in modern times, nor with preserving American jobs, nor promoting access to a better way of life for the struggling workers and jobless poor of this country. It's all been a frivolous, sickening, cynical waste of your time and mine."

[mnhtnbb]

11. That's what John Edwards said many debates ago. Look what happened to him

The Kennedy's, Kerry, and other major Dems ganged up and told him to get out of the way.

Obama is STILL repeating something someone else said earlier--but didn't have the chutzpah to say himself
to the camera.

[barack the house]

10. Hell yes! Not, this , time. =)

[Texas Hill Country]

12. actually, they were issues. Issues of character and who is going to have the hardest time in the GE

and he was teh fail.

[GarbagemanLB]

17. Agreed. Lying about being shot at shows deep character flaws. Glad we have an alternative!

[Texas Hill Country]

21. yeah, the guy that lied about 6 other things...

[bowens43]

19. Complete nonsense.

There is no doubt that Obama has a better chance then Hillary in the GE. Hillary, next to bush, is the most hated politician in the country. She would have no chance against McCain just as she has no chance against Obama , especially if the issue is character.

[Zodiak]

22. Well, I think right now it is a toss-up

Between Clinton and Leiberman

[Texas Hill Country]

23. i truly believe that McCain will SHRED obama... but that is my opinion and i respect yours.

[superkia]

25. Do you think McCain will shred him up because the American...

people are still asleep at the wheel and their lives haven't been negatively affected enough to warrant actual doing something and making change? Thats the only way I see McCain having a shot, as long as the media pushes for him, which they already are and as long as the American people are a stupid as you take them for. I actually believe more and more Americans are waking up to the typical washington politics bullshit and want someone to talk to them not at them like they are all idiots.

So what is it that makes you think McCain will shred up Obama, what is it with the American people that will make them go out and vote in McCain? I am hoping you come back with something with substance, otherwise it just makes you look like one of those "my team or no one" people and we don't need anymore of those scum walking around.

I am really curious because I don't see it happening unless the GE is stolen again.

[Blue-Jay]

27. Hoo hoo hoo! "teh fail"!

Internet Coolness +1

You're an internet-elitist, aren't you?

[frylock]

37. too bad the post was teh s uck

[Buzz Clik]

13. This is THE MAN. This is who I want for my president.

Gobama!!!

[Bensthename]

14. I love that guy.. He will sweep the floor with McCain,

[SeaLyons]

20. Spin it, Obama!!

Spin, spin, spin. You're the only bamboozling and hoodwinking!

[DemGa]

24. This guy, Obama, is a pure charlatan

"Look, I understand that because that's the textbook Washington game. That's how our politics has been taught to be played," he said. "That's the lesson that she learned when the Republicans were doing that same thing to her back in the 1990s."

Obama and his campaign have been engaged in the very thing he accuses of Clinton -- I've never seen such a shady character. Why some of you are falling for it - I just don't know. Perhaps you are projecting onto the "blank screen."

[PVnRT]

28. Really? What non-issues has he been bringing up about Clinton?

[DemGa]

32. They've smeared Clinton as a liar since this began -- that's character assassination

and as low as it gets.

But what's the use -- if one just calls Hillary a liar and says it's justified. Then it becomes a circular argument.

[frylock]

38. clinton smeared herself when she ADMITTED to lying..

for fucks sake, you guys make this so easy. fucking fish in a barrel.

[PVnRT]

40. LOL Lying is a non-issue?

Amazing.

[GarbagemanLB]

29. It really pains you to see Hillary be challenged, doesn't it? You really thought this was a

coronation, didn't you?

[BeyondGeography]

30. That picture will be a source of frustration from Camp Clinton to Capital Gain Gibson Hill

Fuck 'em, with grace and a smile.

Beautiful.

[Major Hogwash]

31. So much time was wasted talking about Rev. Wright and flag pins,

That I thought that Obama had been considering naming Rev. Wright to be his vice president!!

LoL

That debate was a joke, but then so is George Stephanopoulous.

[Zachstar]

33. He Handled it extremely well!

The video of him brushing it off will go well in the GE!!


GOBAMA!!

[spanone]

34. he's absolutely correct this was not a debate it was a debacle

[Zachstar]

35. It was complete BS hopefully by tonight even ABC will agree!

[LWolf]

39. I don't recall Obama being too concerned

last August, when DK didn't even get to answer a question for the first 26 minutes of the CNN debate, and that was only to give the quick one word (he used 10) answer to a question for everyone.

He didn't even get an actual question to answer, outside of the group question, until 32 minutes into the debate. Did Obama mind?

The closing question of the night went to Clinton, and asked her preference for diamonds or pearls; certainly substantive. Did Obama mind?

More on that one here:

http://www.democrats.com/node/14906

How about the MSNBC debate in October, when the most substantive question Russert could think of to throw at Kucinich was about UFOs? Did Obama, or his supporters, show any outrage over that?

Does anyone really care about the quality of political debates in the U.S., or does it only matter because Obama is perceived to have gotten the treatment this time?

I don't remember much protest last summer, or last fall.

I find the outrage at this late date to be rank hypocrisy.