Reader responses to Joe & Sarah, Sarah & Joe debate

October 3rd, 2008 at 09:35am Chuck Sweeny

After Thursday night’s debate, I received many comments from readers. We couldn’t run all of them in the print version, so I’m sharing them here:

I think the polls today will show that Biden won, but I don’t think it will give the Democrats much of a bounce, because Palin performed better than expectations.  Of course, performing better than expectations simply meant (mostly) talking in complete sentences, not saying anything substantive.  I’m no fan of Joe Biden, but he only evaded one question outright and danced around another, while Palin only answered a couple directly.

Ifill blew it as a moderator.  It’s fine to have slightly different versions of the same question for each candidate, but you don’t announce both at the same time.  When she would do that and then go first to Palin, Biden generally answered Ifill’s version of the question for him; but when she would go first to Biden, Palin would either kind of answer the version for Biden or she would switch the subject altogether.

Both did far better than their running mates, which should actually HURT McCain-Palin more than Obama-Biden, because the debate did nothing to convince people that Palin is ready to be president, so it will actually raise doubts about whether McCain is ready, if she could do better than he.

Scott P. Richert

Executive Editor

Chronicles: A Magazine of American Culture

 

Did not get this to you last night for your deadline!  Thought that that Palin did a great job of handling questions from moderator and in response to Biden.  Biden looked old and tired and just not sure what to do with her.  She on the other hand, looked into the camera with confidence and did extremely well in that setting.  Her answers under pressure were mostly good and clear responses with a good handle of the issues.  Joe was “Joe” with the same Washington response with several incorrect answers or statements about voting records and positions that, after you say things long enough and often enough, you start to believe what was said, even though they are incorrect!   Palin certainly did herself proud and Biden just was there to rip McCain apart along with the Bush presidency.  Audrey Johnson

 

Here are my observations on tonight’s debate.I thought Gov. Palin did a credible job, overall. She was a little rough around the edges and seemed a little nervous at times, but that’s to be expected. I did like the fact that, while addressing the economic condition of the country, she was the first of the candidates that I’ve heard actually say that the American people are partly to blame for what’s happened and that we need to do a much better job of living within our means, not going out and spend, spend, spend. That’s refreshing. In other words, we need to show some personal responsibility.

Sen. Biden also did a very good job, as expected. I was impressed by his laying out certain programs that he and Sen. Obama support that they would delay in light of the current economic situation. Gov. Palin, on the other hand, said there was NO program they supported that should be delayed. That’s unrealistic. Biden was very cordial and was able to stay “on point” through most of the debate. He answered the questions well and was able to attack Sen. McCain and Pres. Bush fairly effectively. Palin was on the attack, too, but sometimes sounded “programmed”, as if she were simply reciting a memorized sound bite.

The interaction between the two of them was mostly polite and cordial, I thought. Biden seemed much more relaxed than Palin, but again, that’s to be expected as he has many more years of experience. There were a couple of instances where Palin ignored the question and spoke on a previous topic. Biden answered most of the questions put to him and was fairly effective in countering many of Palin’s claims about Obama, as she was with most of his claims about McCain.

The one thing that’s hard to counter in these debates, at least for the general public, is whether the facts as presented are actually true. Each has their spin. Yes, the candidates voted for or against a particular matter, that’s true, but there’s hardly ever any discussion on WHY they voted the way they did. Palin hit Obama on voting against more money for troops, Biden countered that he and Obama voted that way because there was no timeline for withdrawal, the measure was open-ended. Biden said McCain also voted against a bill for more money for the troops because it DID have a timeline, which McCain did not support. Just saying one voted for or against something is misleading unless you know “the rest of the story”.

I liked Biden’s answer to the question on how their administration would treat same-sex partners. It was very reasonable, giving them essentially the same treatment in all aspects as married couples. Palin immediately turned the question to a redefinition of marriage, which was not what was asked. She kind of stumbled around with her answer, eventually saying she would generally support giving the same treatment to same-sex partners as long as it did not change the definition of marriage as one man-one woman. Biden also stopped short of calling for dropping the definition of marriage as one man-one woman.

Overall, they both did OK. My gut reaction, though, if I had to choose only between the two of them and not taking into account their running mates, is that I would vote for Biden over Palin. I can’t really put my finger on exactly why, but based strictly on the performance tonight, I think he would do a better job.We’ll see what happens from here on out.

Gary Tiffany

 

I liked the debate because I had the opportunity to distinguish who is standing on its own convictions. All along the campaigns have been focusing if Obama has the experience to run the country and at this time I realize more than ever that he does.  Mr. Biden was very professional and to the point of what the people of America wanted to hear, on the other hand Mrs. Palin was very “foxy” and less  inhibited in comparison to other tv interviews but she seems not to be talking   with an individual passion, coviction, and knowledge of the issues.  Mrs. Palin has her own experience  as a Governador of Alaska but here in Washington she has to be careful with the big dangerous wolves.  I felt that she is like a cheerleader who is going to stand by her team no matter what!! But lacks of her own opinion and experience in the complicated issues that our country is facing.  It would it be too sad for the USA to elect a president that  has short life time and his successor still wondering what type of lipstick she has to put on a pig!!!

Cristina Gloria, MA

 

 

 

 

 

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