Dem Debate: Buzzed, Annoyed and Inspired
| Fri Feb. 1, 2008 3:16 PM PST
Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton went mano-a-mano during a Democratic presidential debate broadcast from the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles on CNN Thursday night. The debate left me feeling buzzed, annoyed, and inspired. Here's why:
Continues Below
Continued From Above
Buzzed:
I strongly recommend drinking scotch with your friends and colleagues while watching political debates. Nothing like a little Johnny Black—neat—to liven things up a bit. Under the influence, you realize that Hillary makes these sort of pursed-lip fish faces when she's listening to other people speak, and that Obama is a southpaw. Who knew?
Annoyed, Part 1:
I just wasn't digging Wolf. His efforts to ask hard-hitting questions—the damn Hillary driver's license question again? Sheesh, let's move on!— were like poking at embers in a dwindling fire. And how does he get his beard and his hair to look so perfect?
Annoyed, Part 2:
What was with the lame camera work? I swear, 9 times out of 10, when Obama was speaking, they would cut to a black person in the crowd to get a reaction. And every time Hillary spoke, they'd cut to a female audience member. Okay, Barack is black, and Hillary is a woman. We get it, CNN.
Inspired:
I haven't slogged through every single campaign trail debate like some of my MoJo colleagues (I prefer much less important topics like my own music snobbery), but I have to say that the debate mostly consisted of smart, healthy dialog about actual issues, with minimal bickering. Beneath all the mud we've seen in previous weeks, here was a glimmer of hope: a cordial, fairly meaningful conversation. And maybe it's his smooth delivery, or maybe I'm just a sucker, but hearing Obama talk about getting people engaged in politics again is actually kinda sorta believable.
Lastly, how about Hollywood getting all political and stuff? Man, there were so many A-list stars in the Kodak theater, it could just as easily have been a casting call for the next Terrence Malick film! Folks like Alfre Woodard, Topher Grace, and Pierce Brosnan all had their serious game faces on (well, at least when the camera zoomed in for a close-up). Hell, even Stevie Wonder showed up!
When the end of the debate rolled around, Wolf asked the two candidates if they would consider running together; and the obvious jokes were made about whose name would come first. But based on the volume of the applause in the crowd, the idea actually seemed plausible. A black man and a woman running the country for four years: I can't wait to see CNN's coverage of that. The camera wouldn't know which way to look.
Comments
While I would support a joint ticket on the idea that unity of the Dems is important, it is important that the media not be allowed to make this an issue.
People need to understand that they can not select Hillary if they want Barack's supporters to turn out in November. Obama on the ticket is our only chance to win in November, but Obama at the HEAD of the ticket is our only chance to win by a landslide. It will take a landslide to get the kind of action we need in washington. Hillary might make a fine President, but we need a great President. Obama has that kind of greatness. Of course Hillary as Veep would probably keep the independants from voting for him, for fear that something would happen to him.
Obama can talk the talk, but can he walk the walk? If you have listened to any of the debates, Hillary Clinton is one of the most intelligent people you will ever meet. Her answers are quick and decisive. She knows what she's talking about. Obama is a "nice" guy but having lived through the Kennedy era, comparing him to John Kennedy is so absolutely ridiculous. Carolyn is correct in that her father brought hope, but he also brought experience -- remember PT 109? That showed great leadership and the ability to make quick/decisive decisions. He was brought up in a political family from the time he could walk and was groomed for the part. Without the death of his eldest brother, we might not even have had John Kenneday as president. He had many more years experience in the Senate. We didn't just wish up a star and hope that someone would magically appear to solve all the problems -- and there were a great deal at that time -- but actually supported a candidate who was QUALIFIED! Even if it is Carolyn Kennedy, it is insulting to her father's memory to put Obama in the same category. And Ted Kennedy -- well, he's always been one to ride on the coattails of the rest of his family. Robert Kennedy -- he was no one's man but his own. He loved and supported Jack, but he made his own decisions. And his children have not dwelled in the past of their father but have gone out and made their own lives and their own decisions. Carolyn only knows what people told her about how her father made people feel -- well one thing she evidently hasn't heard and that's how he made us feel secure and safe in the knowledge that someone with proven strength and experience was running for President. Vote for you who want -- but make it who YOU want, based on what you know and hear and read, not because someone else you like is voting for someone. And vote from deep in your heart. Don't make the mistake again of voting because you like the man (woman), vote because you feel deep in your heart it's the right choice!
