Debate Pact Lets McCain and Obama Spar - Free-flowing format but special arrangements for Palin (NYT

[jefferson_dem]

September 21, 2008
Debate Pact Lets McCain and Obama Spar
By PATRICK HEALY

The Obama and McCain campaigns have agreed to an unusual, free-flowing format for the three televised presidential debates, which begin on Friday, but the McCain camp fought for and won a much more structured approach for the questioning at the vice-presidential debate, advisers to both campaigns said Saturday.

At the insistence of the McCain campaign, the Oct. 2 debate between Gov. Sarah Palin and her Democratic rival, Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr., will have shorter question-and-answer segments than those for the presidential nominees, the advisers said. There will also be much less opportunity for free-wheeling, direct exchanges between the running mates.

McCain advisers said they had been concerned that a loose format could leave Ms. Palin, a relatively inexperienced debater, at a disadvantage and largely on the defensive.

The wrangling was chiefly between the McCain-Palin camp and the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates, which is sponsoring the forums.

Commission members wanted a relaxed format that included time for unpredictable questioning and challenges between the vice-presidential candidates. Last week, it rejected a proposal from advisers to Ms. Palin and Senator John McCain, the Republican nominee, for few if any unfettered exchanges. Advisers to Mr. Biden say they were comfortable with either format.

Both campaigns see the four debates as pivotal moments in a presidential race that is not only extraordinarily close but is also drawing intense interest from voters; roughly 40 million viewers watched the major speeches at the two parties’ conventions. The upheaval in the financial markets has recast the race in recent days, moreover, which both sides believe will only heighten attention for the debates.

A commission member said that the new agreement on the vice-presidential debate was reached late morning Saturday. It calls for shorter blocks of candidate statements and open discussion than at the presidential debates.

McCain advisers said they were only somewhat concerned about Ms. Palin’s debating skills compared with those of Mr. Biden, who has served six terms in the Senate, or about Mr. Biden’s chances of tripping up Ms. Palin. Instead, they say, they wanted Ms. Palin to have opportunities to present Mr. McCain’s positions, rather than spending time talking about her own experience or playing defense.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/21/us/politics/21debate.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin

[Democat]

1. Affirmative Action for Palin in the debates?

I thought Republicans were supposed to be against changing the rules of the game to accommodate certain people who may be at a disadvantage?

[calmblueocean]

3. Is she ready to lead the country or not?

That's the question, and it looks like not even McCain's own people believe that she is.

[DangerousRhythm]

16. Heh, that is EXACTLY what I keep saying.

Affirmative action, feminism... my how the tables have turned. :rofl:

These people are so ridiculous. If she can't handle a debate, oh MAYBE she shouldn't even be on the damned ticket... did they ever think of that? Just wow.

[pdxmom]

2. And we're supposed to think she's ready on Day One, when she has to

have training wheels for a debate?

[PermanentRevolution]

4. "Advisers to Mr. Biden say they were comfortable with either format."

As well they should be... only one campaign running scared that I can see.

[rockymountaindem]

22. Yeah, it's good to be smrt

I mean smart. That way you don't end up going to a debate with the goal of NOT TALKING.

[eshfemme]

5. Why is it affirmative action whenever Obama LEAPS over the impossibly high standards set for him

but it's not affirmative action whenever Palin steps over the impossibly lowered standards set for her? As a woman, I'm so fucking pissed off about this treatment because she's such a fucking lightweight.

How is it that asking for Palin to be given a much easier time at the debates because she's a completely nobody is a valid excuse and yet when Obama came on the scene, he was fucking HAMMERED until he became the cool man of steel we see today?

Such hypocrisy.

[Whalestoe]

12. It's called white privilege.

[AtomicKitten]

6. She's still using training wheels.

[fugop]

7. Might be a good thing in Biden/Palin

In some ways, this could be good. My big fear with the VP debate is that she'll be looking for any way to position herself as being intimidated/patronized or condescended to by Biden. If it's allowing for less freewheeling confrontation, my hope is that the entire focus will be on their knowledge of policy. And we all know who's going to win that battle, barring any ridiculous style bullshit (he was intimidating her! He was being sexist! He was being mean!).

[billyoc]

8. Presidential debates must be turned back over to the League of Women Voters.

I'd like to have heard THEIR reaction to Republican pleas for special treatment for MILFy McMooseburger.

[tekisui]

9. "Ms. Palin, a relatively inexperienced debater, at a disadvantage and largely on the defensive

THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO TELL EVERYONE!!!!! Thanks for finally admitting it, POW Camp.

[ebdarcy]

10. Ugh. Palin is such a freaking insult to anyone with a working brain.

If they feel the need to protect her from Joe Biden, how the hell can they say she's ready to step in during a crisis? Stupid bastards.

[jefferson_dem]

11. Halperin says "Palin Shielded by Debate Format"

http://thepage.time.com/2008/09/20/ny-times-palin-shielded-by-debate-format/

At least the training wheels haven't gone unnoticed.

[nc4bo]

20. New political term: The Palin Handicap. nt

[jezebel]

13. Does Palin get a special pillow? Or maybe Hannity can come out to fluff her again midway. nt

[BumRushDaShow]

14. "McCain advisers said they had been concerned that a loose format could leave Ms. Palin

a relatively inexperienced debater, at a disadvantage and largely on the defensive."

Tough shit! Then don't bother.

EPIC FAIL

[nc4bo]

15. Oh, well.... we won't get to see the extent of her wide range of knowledge IOW?nt

[jillan]

17. McCain just wants to shut Biden up because he knows once Biden starts speaking

Sarah is going to look like a moose that was just shot.

[1corona4u]

18. Structured?

What, so she has the questions already, or they can just wisper the answers in her ear....what a crock of shit. Regardless, she will not upstage Biden. I don't care what she does.

[jwirr]

19. Yes, even if they wire the old guy and failing palin our guys are so

smart they will walk away with the ribbons.

[firedupdem]

21. That is such bullshit! I wish they wouldn't have agreed to anything!

They are going to let her stand there and lie over and over again and never get called on it! Such bullshit!! fuck it!

[Inuca]

23. I think this is all good

no matter the reasons they arrived at this compromise. The more direct interchange between O and McCain will probably work to O's advantage. He will be reasoned, knowledgeable and cool under pressure, while it is very likely that McCain will turn into McNasty, trying to score cheap points followed by that creepy smile that gets weirder and weirder.

As to Palin vs. Biden, sa somebody else mentioned up-thread, a more structured format would leave less room for outcries of how mean that old Washington insider was to the fearless reformer. And as he said, Biden will do more than fine no matter what the format is. Not engaging directly will allow Palin to regurgitate memorized talking points through her lipstick more freely, but I am sure Joe will have a chance to rebut. And after watching a few minutes of her Hannity interview, I am not sure she is able not to make a fool of herself even when regurgitating. The little that I saw was almost as embarrassing in spite of the much more friendly environment as the ABC interview. When allowed to talk for more than a minute, the words that come out of her mouth stop making sense. And I am not referring to the validity of the argument, simply that the words do not form logically sound sentences. She has a very superficial type of smarts, but just a little bit under the surface she is far from bright.