McCain's Campaign Clamps Tough Restrictions On Palin-Biden Debate

[WillyT]

McCain's camp worries Palin may struggle without tight debate rules
Staff, Vancouver Sun
Published: Sunday, September 21, 2008

<snip>

It's the U.S. election debate that most interested observers have been eagerly waiting for - Democratic vice-presidential nominee Joe Biden against Republican VP choice Sarah Palin - but don't expect them to get into many verbal exchanges.

According to a report in the New York Times Saturday, the campaign of Senator John McCain has fought for tight rules on how the VP debate will run, limiting the chances of anything other than short answers, and ensuring the debaters will not speak directly to one another for anything more than short periods.

This in contrast to the Presidential debates, in which Senators Barack Obama and McCain will be allowed to address each other, argue, and present rebuttals for five minutes per question, after a two-minute answer period.

The reasoning behind the tighter VP rules? According to The Times, McCain advisers were concerned that letting Palin, a relative rookie when it comes to debating national and international policy, go toe-to-toe with Biden, would leave her at a disadvantage.

The Obama campaign was reportedly not involved in the discussion, with advisors to Biden claiming they were comfortable with whatever rules were put in place. The negotiations were between the Commission on Presidential Debates, a non-partisan organization, and McCain advisors.

<snip>

Link: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=7045e68a-6627-45cc-bad1-72a017869fc4

Damn... how sexist of the McCain Campaign!

:shrug:

[ima_sinnic]

1. I am going to write the McCain campaign a very nasty message about how stupid & unqualified

their little 2-dimensional bimbo candidate is. What a bunch of dumbass LOSERS!

[LibraLiz1973]

2. I am NOT happy about this. WTF were the Obama/Biden people thinking?

If we lose, I am going to look back at this decision as the domino that started it.

BAD decision.

Just fucking awful.

[glowing]

7. Well, look, McCain's people are scared of her inexperience.. Obama's hands

are clean, and McCain is certifying she's not ready for the VP with their own admimission to controlling the rules..

[LibraLiz1973]

16. I get your point. But this means people wont SEE the inexperience.

And no matter what we say afterward, it will be too late.

You only get one chance.

Putting Joe up against that Bee-Hived hairdo Caribou Barbie was going to be GOLD.
Now, they have dumbed it down for her.
Joe will come off sounding to brainy, and no one will want to have a beer with him.

:banghead:

[GCP]

29. Her dumb-ass fans will never know that the rules were changed for her

And the others who haven't started paying attention yet, won't either.

Dumb Dumb Dumb decision.

[GCP]

28. Exactly

I'm amazed and furious that they're not in there fighting as hard as the McCain camp. They're idiots for this.

AAAGGGHHHH

[Cosmic Charlie]

3. Gwen Ifil better show due deference or she is done in Politics

:puke:

[Top Cat]

And they accused us of being sexist WTF

[Jackpine Radical]

4. Showing Palin up for the vindictive, ignorant twit she is would not be fair.

Biden would have an unconscionable advantage if people are allowed to see him as a highly knowledgeable, superbly intelligent, caring and decent human being.

[progressivebydesign]

5. Biden should refuse to debate her unless the restrictions are removed.

Fuck those people for giving us another God damned fucking George Bush!!!! I'm so pissed off!!!

[SOS]

9. Agree 100%

Biden should NOT agree to this charade!

[LibraLiz1973]

18. I totally agree. Someone tell that bitch (yes, I said bitch) to man the fuck up

She wants to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency, but cant handle a real debate????

:banghead:

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

32. No! This format helps Biden!!

This debate format will be most beneficial to Biden who often has a habit of talking too much. This will allow him to practice with Gov. Granholm how to give short and concise answers. Think about it: the short answers will save time for more questions. The more questions there are, the more time will be left to see how much The Puppet knows.

I may be the only one who is not upset with this decision because I think it helps the Obama team more. The Democrats--and this includes both Obama and Biden--suffer in debates because they give too nuanced, long-winded responses to questions. The average American voter does not understand the nuance of policies or governance. Sadly, this typically hurts Dems and benefits Republicans who have mastered the art of short sound bites and colorful language.

Remember, the Republicans often win because they try to appeal to our emotions, using fear, anger, or highly sensitive subject matter like gays, guns and abortion. The Dems tend to make the false assumption that voters think intelligently and will thus be up on the issues. Americans are not like that. They want short, easy-to-understand answers, nothing too deep. Gore, Kerry and now Obama suffer because they are often accused of being too "cerebral" or too "professorial." If Obama can work on short, precise answers to questions and provide quick responses or solutions to problems, he will win this debate.

Rest assured, both McCain and Palin will use the following words over and over again for effect: victory, win, fight, security, enemies, extremists, democracy, raising taxes, spending, country first, threats, killers, freedom, we must act, etc.

Spread the word. Let the media tell voters how they had to dumb the debate down for her because she is "inexperienced." But at the same time, this will be an opportunity moment for Biden to work on dumbing down the answers himself so that the average American can understand.

[terrya]

6. So, this tells me that the McCain people think it's hopeless.

Trying to pretend she has any experience being VP. Not if they have to resort to these kind of rules.

What are they afraid of?

[Liberal Gramma]

23. It tells me that they want to stack the deck

Of course she is unqualified. They want to limit answers to sound bites because she's good at that, with vague answers and no substance.

[liberal N proud]

8. This is no fucking time for a a relative rookie to be in politics

If she can't stand the heat of a debate with an opponent, HOW IN THE FUCK IS SHE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE A CRISIS?

:nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke:

[BlooInBloo]

10. (shrug) Obama and Biden are more than smart enough to come up with ways....

To highlight Palin's stupidity.

[Triana]

11. Awwwr. Da Witto Porcelain Pitbull is Skeeered. Bitch.

Jeesus! IF SHE CANNOT HANDLE SIMPLE DEBATE, HOW IN HELL IS SHE GOING TO HANDLE THE VICE-PRESIDENCY OR THE PRESIDENCY?! Between this, and their
insistence that she be treated with "respect and deference" by the media makes me thinks she a tad bit of a Prima Donna (to put it as nicely as possible), as well as being grossly unqualified for the job. If her qualifications matched her apparent level of narcissism, the specter of her being in charge might be simply alarming, instead of outright horrifying.

:wtf:

[Overseas]

12. K&R in astonishment at open manipulation.

They are concerned to that the RELATIVE ROOKIE would be at a disadvantage against Biden?!?!?!

That's the whole point of holding a debate. So the public can see that SHE IS A ROOKIE, unsuited to be a heartbeat away from the presidency.

ROOKIE STATUS is a fact that should not be compensated for.

[napi21]

13. WHY are there such different reports on this? See this DU post.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3501964&mesg_id=3502086

Source: WaPo

Format of Biden-Palin Debate Sets No Limit on Subject Matter

By Robert G. Kaiser
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, September 21, 2008; Page A10

Negotiators for the campaigns of Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama agreed yesterday on a format for the Oct. 2 debate between Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr., resolving an issue left open in August after the campaigns settled on the structure of the three presidential debates, according to sources involved in the talks.

Under the plan agreed to yesterday, Palin and Biden will have less time than McCain and Obama to reply to moderators' questions and discuss each other's answers. And there will be no guidelines given to Gwen Ifill of PBS, moderator of the vice presidential debate, as to subject matter, allowing her to mix in questions about foreign and domestic matters, the sources said.


<snip>
In the negotiations, Republicans wanted to limit the amount of time available for their neophyte candidate, Palin, to be questioned on a single topic. Democrats, meanwhile, wanted to be sure Biden and Palin spoke from lecterns rather than sitting at a table the way Vice President Cheney and his rivals in 2000 (Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut) and 2004 (Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina) did. Both sides got what they wanted. Palin and Biden will each have 90 seconds to respond to questions, with a two-minute period for discussion between the candidates to follow.

[stuckinlodi]

14. This Should Be Today's Biggest Story

The Republicans have nominated a VP candidate who can't even handle a traditional debate, much less take over as President.

This has to be spread far and wide. The Republicans have now admitted Palin isn't up to the task of running for VP, much less doing the job.

[gmoney]

15. Alex Trebek can moderate!

Each question can be done like final Jeopardy -- Trebek provides the "answer" and the candidates write down the "question" then reveal how many electoral votes they wagered.

"Alex, what is a giant sucking sound?"

[givemebackmycountry]

17. I like this line...

The Obama campaign was reportedly not involved in the discussion, with advisor's to Biden claiming they were comfortable with whatever rules were put in place.

They are like "fuck it" we're gonna blow her away and we AND they know that.
Give little Miss Piss Pumps a 30 yard head start, who gives a shit?
He's going to carve her up and they know that.

WEAK, weak Republicans.

[alsame]

20. I agree. No matter how many 'restrictions' they try to impose,

her canned answers and predictable responses will reveal the shallowness of her knowledge, experience and judgment when they are in direct contrast to the answers Biden provides. Plus, having this story go public is pretty much an admission by the McCain camp that she can't handle a real debate.

[xxqqqzme]

22. it's an admission they fucked up choosing

a VP candidate.

[Frustratedlady]

19. I suppose there is a rule that Biden is not to look at his opponent?

I mean, you wouldn't want to make Ms. Pom-Pom nervous, or anything like that.

I'm sure Joe is enjoying this whole scene. He will be kind until one of her little "zingers" comes out and grabs him. Then, it's all rules out the window.

Go, Joe! You have an important one-shot opportunity to expose this candidate to the masses for what she truly is. Do it with class!

[Debi]

25. Nor is he allowed to smile - use big words - say 'God love 'em'

or 'literally' - and never never is he allowed to mention the VAWA or the fact that his passport has more stamps in it than Palin has years in elected office (and not from family vacations). x(

[Frustratedlady]

26. Well, I have faith in Joe and I have my popcorn ready to go.

If you don't hear from me after the debate, I choked on the popcorn from one of the Pom-Pom Girl's inane comments. Chalk it up to "sacrificing one" for my country.

Oh, I forgot. I'm not patriotic. Well, I'll work on that between now and the debate!

[Earth Bound Misfit]

21. For someone who has publicly declared that "you can't blink"...

the "Porcelain Pitbull" sure seems to be blinking as frequently as a xenon flash lamp



"I have the confidence in that readiness and knowing that you can't blink"

:wtf: DOES THAT MEAN??????

Edit: thanks to DUer TRIANA for "Porcelain Pitbull" (post #11)
EBM

[MikeE]

24. I'm disappointed

I really wanted to see the bitch get ripped to shreds,(actually I'd like to see her ripped to shreds by a pack of hungry wolves, but I digress) but, maybe Biden knows how much of a lightweight she really is and is confident that no matter what rules they put in place, she will go down. Let's face it, she couldn't handle a softball interview.

[NotThisTime]

27. They know more than half the American people won't give a damn

[WillyT]

30. Kick !!!

:kick:

[Major Hogwash]

31. Will Joe be allowed to look her directly in the eyes?

Or has she put Prince's restrictions into place also?

[FKA MNChimpH8R]

33. This proves that this shallow, pathetic and vindictive trailer trash bitch

is even dumber than we thought she was and that thought borders on science fiction. Christ, can she put on her goddamned SHOES without help?

[faithfulcitizen]

34. Yeah umm, well Palin will leave the country "at a disadvantage" if elected.

How is it the job of the moderators to make her appear to be on equal footing and have an even advantage? UNBELIEVABLE! :grr:

[farmboxer]

35. Dems 'always" cave in

Repubs always get the advantage, to the debated, convention dates, news and right down to the Republican manufactured and programmed voting machines! Biden had Palin on the ropes but let her off! He should, at least, mention the agreement before the debate. Dems get a huge advantage, but then give it away!