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It’s over. Obama won.
Time and again, McCain seemed close to completing an actual argument, only to pull back.
Not only did McCain mispronounce the name of “Joe the plumber” in his opening anecdote (Wurzelbacher, not Wurzelberger), but he forgot the punch line. The whole point of the story was Obama’s promise to the plumber that he'll “spread the wealth” once elected. That quote was everywhere today, including page one of the New York Post, but somehow McCain neglected to mention it for the first five minutes, leaving you wondering what the hell he was talking about.
It was a feeling that stayed for the duration of the debate. Time and again, McCain seemed close to completing an actual argument against Obama, only to pull back at the last moment and meander off onto another point. It was weird—almost as weird as the creepy smile Obama maintained as McCain attacked him.
But the strangest moment of all came when McCain raised Rep. John Lewis’ slur against him. If someone called you a bigot, likened you to George Wallace and the Alabama church bombers, would you describe him, non-ironically, as “an American hero”? Yes, Lewis behaved honorably during the civil rights movement. But the sad truth, known to virtually everyone in Washington, is that Lewis is a mediocrity as a congressman, and has been for many years. It would have been nice to hear a little straight talk from McCain on that subject.
Incidentally, if you think that’s an unfair description of Lewis, tune into to C-SPAN some time and listen to him speak for 20 minutes. Then ask yourself an honest question: Is this man really smarter than Sarah Palin? He’s not.
Not that any of this matters for the purposes of the election. It’s over. Obama won.
Check out other opinions on the debate from The Daily Beast team.
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Paul Schrodt is a writer living in New York City. He has contributed to New York magazine, Radar, and Esquire.com.
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As vice chairman of Public Strategies and president of Maverick Media, Mark McKinnon has helped meet strategic challenges for candidates, corporations and causes, including George W. Bush, John McCain, Governor Ann Richards, Charlie Wilson, Lance Armstrong, and Bono. McKinnon is co-chair of Arts & Labs, a collaboration between technology and creative communities that have embraced today's rich Internet environment to deliver innovative and creative digital products to consumers.
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Tucker Carlson is a contributor to the Fox News Channel. He previously hosted The Situation with Tucker Carlson and Tucker on MSNBC after working for CNN.
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Tucker Carlson is a contributor to the Fox News Channel. He previously hosted The Situation with Tucker Carlson and Tucker on MSNBC after working for CNN.
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Tucker Carlson is a contributor to the Fox News Channel. He previously hosted The Situation with Tucker Carlson and Tucker on MSNBC after working for CNN.
wahooligan
Wow. OBAMA's smile was the creepy one last night? Really?
McCain's shit-eating grin could terrify the blind. Don't even get me started on the facial tics, the eye rolling, and the lip-licking. Gross.
jack5350
The only creepy thing was John McCain's constant blinking, and the goofy look that stayed on his face all night.Tucker, I feel sure you find it painful to say Obama won, I bet you were drunk or crying when you wrote that.You said it, I give you credit for that.
Bookplatemaven
Dear Tucker ,
Most of the time, we are in we have different points of view but I wanted to let you know (as an MSNBC viewer ) that you are missed .
Lew Jaffe
Http://bookplatejunkie.blogspot.com
S0UTHPAW
I'd just like to know when it was mandated all the debates be run through a Ralph Steadman, acid-flashback illustration filter before getting to my tv?
Fear and loathing hardly describes the current pitch. Glad Gonzo's not here to see it... tho he is probably wailing over it all somewhere...
Barry won alright... but have either of these birds turned out really looking like a winner?
As for John Lewis... coming to you from Atlanta, Tucker, I have to say thank GAWD someone in the national media has finally identified this pitiful little opportunist of lo these many decades as the intellectually bankrupt, empty-headed charlatan we've known down here all along.
roooth
Obama's smile is creepy? Really? This from the middle-aged man with the clothes and haircut of a 12 year old prep school student who actually enjoys attending the afternoon teas his mother makes him attend.
Tucker, find a mirror, and a real friend to make you take a good look in it.
shaxxx
rhymes with tucker.
what a douche.
michaellittell
Agreed... McCain's the one with the frighteningly creepy smile. Add to that the constant blinking, winking and the overuse of the phrase, "My Friends", which now justs sounds like an evil, "Trust Me" everytime I hear it, and all I can think about is that creepy stalker character he played "oh-too-well" on SNL...
... sneaking up behind me, lifting my retirement from my back pocket, unzipping his fly, and taking his jolly turn forcibly violating my civil liberties over and over again like Bush before him... all along yelling "My Friends, My Friends!", just-a-grinning and winking over at his greedy, soulless, GOP/corporate puppet-masters hiding in the shadows, egging him on, and counting what's left of my cash.
vankuyk
And rightly so.
Mc Cain behaves like an immature schoolboy and bully at the age of 72 or whatever his age is. He is not wise or balanced or reassuring like a man of his age and with his kind of experience should be.
I would hate to see such an unbalanced character lead the world through our current global crisis!
I am glad that the American people are wiser than that.
hrothgar
wahooligan, you forgot the laughing at his own jokes. alone.
Tandalyn
Tucker,
No need to denigrate Rep. Lewis. I feel his statement was misinterpreted by many however, it was relevant .In essence his message was words can lead to violence.It came after a week were Gov. Palin, was saying Obama "pals around with a terrorist" and the use of Hussein was linked to this statement.We all know the response from the crowd... "kill him" etc.Words can lead to violence, and the fact that it came out of candidates mouth is truly deplorable. Tucker, because of your age you have not experienced the violence that once was in our country because of racism. Rep. Lewis was remembering a past time and was trying to remind Americans of the consequences of toxic words.
Current-User
Tucker, I miss your reasoned conservatism on MSNBC. The Network is making a long-term mistake investing in the short-term ratings of Olbermann. Notwithstanding Mathews' lack of a filter, he sucks Chris' childish enjoyment of politics, matches "Bill-O's" arrogance in spades, and now, with the present lineup, even a Democrat like me can't take the hours of sycophantico. If smart, MSNBC would put Rachel in Keith's chair (oh the irony!), send him back to sports, and bring you back on for balance.
But here are the two questions I have for you. 1.) I am a CPA. Do you really think that income distribution doesn't already exist and is unavoidable? Isn't Barack Obama suggesting a different distribution? I do understand that studies show that cuts in the capital gains tax increase investment, jobs and government revenue and I am willing to accept that. But it seems that Obama poses not the difference between Big Government and Small Government but Big Government and Corporate Governance.
Second, why do the Republicans favor federal control over Republican limits and state control over Republican freedoms? Isn't this strategy of front door/back door obvious to anyone paying attention?
Perhaps you will follow up with a posted response.
wisconsinboy
Okay, this was the last shot. Last time Senator McCain had my attention. Now it is gone. Honestly I have been a Democrat my whole life and McCain had an uphill climb for me. His problem is that he doesn't know where the hill is! My 401k is in the dumpster like many others. Only one of the debaters gave me any hope that they will try to dig it out before it goes to the landfill. Thankfully the garbage workers in my area are just coming off a strike so service is iffy, we have a little time. One final thought...Really...Joe the Plumber! My entire life savings has been eliminated and I should worry that this dude may have to pay a little more tax because he crossed over the $250,000 threshold. I got excited last weekend because my local discount grocer put ramen noodles on sale. The kids eat for another week, yipee!
lindasmaggie
Hey Tucker! I to miss you on msnbc. I am a democrat who loves a good debate. Nice to see you are honest for a change.
texdem
Hey Tucker,
I like your new haircut. I would dance with you any day!
deanpaul1
The fact of the matter is that Lewis's comments made perfect sense regardless of anyone's opinion of his performance in Washington. McCain and Palin especially have made many comments geared towards riling up the stupid, the ignorant and yes, the racist. Denying this makes Tucker's babble irrelevant..
Thank you.
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