Sarah Palin Takes Joe Biden in Vice Presidential Debate
Very soon during the Vice Presidential debate it became apparent that Sarah Palin has learned how to deliver death with a smile. On taxes, a source of vulnerability for Democrats, Palin said, "Now, Barack Obama and Sen. Biden also voted for the largest tax increases in U.S. history. Barack had 94 opportunities to side on the people's side and reduce taxes and 94 times he voted to increase taxes or not support a tax reduction, 94 times." On energy and tax breaks for big oil companies, "Sen. Biden, you would remember that, in that energy plan that Obama voted for, that's what gave those oil companies those big tax breaks. Your running mate voted for that." On Iraq, "Your plan is a white flag of surrender in Iraq and that is not what our troops need to hear today, that's for sure. And it's not what our nation needs to be able to count on. You guys opposed the surge. The surge worked. Barack Obama still can't admit the surge works."
This was not the Sarah Palin who was made to look foolish by Katie Couric. Joe Biden's denials, delivered with a kind of forced smile of a man who has been hit in the gut but is too polite to get angry were unconvincing.
And here was something that must have made a certain former President, in whatever after life he dwells in, smile, "Say it ain't so, Joe, there you go again pointing backwards again." If Sarah Palin becomes Vice President, that line will be quoted forever.
Joe Biden, while he clearly struggled not to lose his cool, did not commit any obvious gaffes, but did constantly mangle facts. Whether it was misrepresenting the Constitution (Article 1 deals with the Legislative not the Executive Branch) or the costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (three weeks in Iraq do not come anywhere near to equal seven years in Afghanistan) Biden misrepresented facts. Sarah Palin, by and large, let them slide, perhaps her sole mistake.
In any case, Joe Biden looked old and kind of tired, but on the verge of crankiness. Sarah Palin, on the other hand, was warm, funny, and self assured, not stumbling in any of her answers and being capable of taking a punch before delivering it right back.
Sarah Palin clearly won the debate, both on points and on style. Will it be enough to drive poll numbers? The next few days will tell.
Source: Transcript of Palin, Biden debate, CNN, October 3rd, 2008
Published by Mark Whittington
Mark R. Whittington is a writer residing in Houston, Texas. He is the author of The Last Moonwalker, Children of Apollo, Dark Sanction, and Nocturne. He has written numerous articles, some for the Washington... View profile
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17 Comments
Post a CommentCorrection......Can't SEE past your breasts
rose....you are so off base on this its laughable. You are obviously a leftist and can't past your breasts to make such sexist comments. Why don't you try and attack her on her record....oh I forgot you can't, because her record speaks for itself. Oh, I get it...lets just touch her up on her looks, her accent, her hair. When someone like obama speaks off the cuff, they hemhaw all the way through because of fear of saying something wrong. Sarah speaks clearly, conscisely, without stuttering, she speaks her mind, one of the things my dear you are sorely lacking.
I don't want sweet...I want knowledgeable and strong. She is using that winking and obviously trashy female act to impress people. Sorry I want a VP not a beauty queen with ignorant behavior. Again well written but so out there.
Palin did very well for someone who only had three weeks to prepare for the debates. The question that lingers in my mind is "Will she be ready at the time of inauguration to preside over the Senate and take over as President if necessary? Most VPs have had Senate experience and are well versed on international issues due to time spent debating them in Congress. Most Presidents became familiar with the major issues during the two or more years they spent winning the nomination. Sarah Palin does not have either benefit. She has less than three months to gain the knowledge that most others took years to learn. I think she was a good choice for a popularity contest. I think she is exceedingly bright. But I don't think she will be ready in January for either position.
The writer is sadly confused. Unfortunately there are way to many people suffering from the same delusional thinking.
Biden looked like he had tight shoes. Or like his makeup had caked. Funniest thing was when he made that stupid and false remark about how we'd teamed up with the French to kick Hizbollah out of Lebanon. The Obamanites are counting on "st;upid" and stupid is winning. The economy tanks....translated into the Language of Stupid means "Vote for Obama."
It seems that the country is okay with a mixed-race person with no experience but won't yet accept a female person with gubernatorial and life experience. Well, the Barracuda took a slice out of O'Biden and swam away. Ain't no changing that.
What debate did you watch, Mark? Palin talked in generalities. When she spoke specifics, Biden mopped up the floor with her. If people would just stop looking at the beauty queen glitz, they'd be able to see that the woman simply is not ready to be vice president, let alone commander-in-chief (if the opportunity presents itself). She sounds like the politician on "The Beverly Hillbillies," speaking in jingoistic platitudes and stock phrases, sounding good and saying absolutely nothing. My take: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1081836/no_hits_no_gaffes_no_errors_in_palin.html
I agree.
She did great. Nancy, read fact check, and you will see that Biden messed up, too. He distorted a lot of McCain's record. My question is still how can he run with Obama and keep a straight face after saying, "He is not ready to be president." They all lie, distort, kiss butt and do whatever to be in power. Let's get real.
Did we both watch the same debate? I saw it this way : http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1081601/who_won_the_vice_presidential_debate.html