10 Things to Expect at the First Presidential Debate
With Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) portraying Mitt Romney and Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) acting as President Obama, the 2012 presidential hopefuls are crunching in their last days of prep before facing off for the first of three nationally televised debates Wednesday.
The University of Denver event, beginning at 9 p.m. Eastern time, is a domestic-policy gauntlet moderated by Jim Lehrer. Subject to “possible changes because of news developments,” Lehrer picked the topics: three parts on the economy, and other 15-minute segments on health care, the role of government, and governing.
We’ve seen and heard much from Romney and Obama on the campaign trail, but what might we hear in their first debate?
Cayman Islands
Don’t expect Obama to go Full Harry Reid and accuse Romney of not paying taxes. Obama has learned by this point that it’s Reid’s job to say crazy stuff, and it’s his job to either nod politely, nod enthusiastically, or pretend like he didn’t hear it. The Obama camp is more than happy, though, to go after tax shelters as a double-edged weapon: use it as proof to convince Congress that the rich are dodging taxes and therefore Bush-era tax cuts shouldn’t be extended for upper-income brackets, and use it on the campaign trail to try to convince the electorate that Romney is out-of-touch wildly wealthy. An unwise rebuttal would be the Ann Romney route of telling a reporter that they don’t even know what’s in their blind trust. A wise rebuttal would steer the conversation to the small-business owners who fall in those upper-income brackets and may have to cut jobs if their taxes went up.
47 percent
Obama just might as well prop up an old-school projector and loop Mother Jones’ undercover fundraiser video, because he wants to have those dim tabletop candles and Romney words branded in voters’ minds from now until Nov. 6. “As I travel around the state, I don’t see a lot of victims. I see a lot of hardworking Nevadans,” he cooed to his Las Vegas audience last night. The big question here is if Romney will be able to go on the offensive against Obama on this issue of government dependency. The Romney camp wishes the tape would disappear, but there are three debates to get through questions about the 47 percent (yep, I wouldn’t put a dropping of that digit past Obama in the foreign policy debate), and where the GOP hopeful does not want to be is on the defensive.
The Very Poor
It’s a mystery why the Romney remark you’d think the Obama camp would have plastered across TV outlets from Ohio to Florida still hasn’t been whipped out from the campaign arsenal. More than quipping about car elevators or whether Mitt’s shirts really come from Costco, you’d think they’d be cementing the meme of an elitist Romney by bringing up the months-old comment “I’m not concerned about the very poor.” He went on to say “my campaign is focused on middle-income Americans,” to which the Dem will eagerly respond “my campaign is about all Americans.” Perhaps Obama was saving it until debate time so he could try to shame Romney personally on national TV. Perhaps they’re saving it for an October surprise, complete with poor Americans to whom Romney allegedly didn’t show concern.
Southwestern flair
When asked why Obama was doing his debate prep in Henderson, Nev., campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters aboard Air Force One yesterday that “it’s a place where people care deeply about having someone in office who will fight for comprehensive immigration reform in the White House.” The hometown audience offers advantages to both of the candidates, and perhaps an opportunity to press some of the regional concerns to a national audience. Obama can tout his DREAM Act-style immigration enforcement waivers, which Romney will brand as overstepping executive bounds in the guise of prosecutorial discretion. It’s an opportunity for Romney to name-drop Fast and Furious in an area where the gun-walking scandal hits a bit closer to home at a time when it’s back in the national headlines.
RomneyCare’s biggest fan
Replay the key concerns of Romney’s detractors in the Republican primary: Since Romney offered a prelude to ObamaCare with his own health-care reform as governor in Massachusetts, he wouldn’t have much of a leg to stand on in striking out at Obama’s signature policy. More than that, Obama has been eager to mention Romney’s inspirational stand against health-care insurers at every opportunity, framing RomneyCare as the proud granddaddy of ObamaCare. Romney says he will grant universal ObamaCare waivers on his first day in office, but the subject coming up in the debates will likely not turn out too well for the former governor. It would keep him on the defensive while resurrecting the GOP primary message — which got a new life at the Democratic National Convention — of the “Mitt-flop.”
Great article, I only disagree that “Twitter will decide in a matter of seconds what the best and worst lines were, and the candidates will be at the mercy of social-media crucifixion”.
I’m sure most of these Tweets are already in databases at data centers across the country. They’ve been lovingly crafted with extra helpings of smug and snark. Every second during the debate, 1000 fake Twitter and FB accounts will be born anew to regurgitate scripted spew to the hungry masses while they’re on break at Starbuck’s.
I can’t watch the fraud anymore, Romney has my vote. I know who he is, Obama, we’re still figuring out just how radical and racists he is. That 2007 speech he made was reminiscent of Malcom X.
SO FAIR OF FACE, BUT HE COULD NOT TELL THE TRUTH IF HIS LIFE DEPENDED ON IT!
NO DEBATE CAN CLEANSE THE EVIL FROM BO’s SOUL–WE REPUDIATE HIM.
“GET THEE BEHIND US, SATAN’S SON”
[To the A$$hat We Reject as "The Won"]
What do you say, as your fame fades away,
Will you blame “fickle fate” for your loss?
What can you do, when the “faithful” you knew,
Turn away and seek some other “boss”?
You were feted and flattered–a “savior” they claimed.
“We are whom we awaited,” you cried!
With teleprompter on, and sneer firmly in place,
Few knew at first how you lied.
The lies came so fast–you were sure they must last,
After all, you had carefully planned,
To subvert and destroy the Republic you loathed,
Would be done in four years at your hand!
We all started so well, on your “highway to hell”,
You and yours set a record for fraud.
The “apology tour” was a total success!
We suspect even Satan was awed.
The lies kept improving, your policies moving,
Us closer and closer to our crash.
“Print more cash”; “run on wind”; “we’ll let everyone in”,
And those “seniors”?—sorry; just don’t have the cash!
WHEN will history say, things did not “go your way”,
“How in hell” did the “rubes” find your flaws?
With your Media Whores, you should win all the wars!
You finagled and mangled the laws!
In time we DID learn, that you NEVER had earned,
Even ONE THING you claimed to be true.
(“But I sealed EVERY record” you whispered to friends),
And no one played “RACE CARDS” like you!
Your plan’s coming apart, and you don’t have the heart,
To “regroup”, “start again” or “revise”.
The scheme’s “going to hell” so damn quickly,
You can’t even keep straight your OWN lies!
You are just so damn proud, you will NOT be allowed,
To just claim a “mistakes” and move on.
You’re dismayed at the fury of the PEOPLE YOU DESPISE;
And you’re STAGGERED your opponent’s so strong!
Guess you’ll just muddle through, till the voters tell you,
That your golfing adventure is DONE.
Get the “hell ‘outa our House” you servant of sin,
And STOP saying that you were “THE WON”.
No rights reserved. Change it to suit–have fun.
ROMNEY AND RYAN WIN BIG IN NOVEMBER –VISUALIZE VICTORY.
WE MOCK YOU, SATAN’S SON. WE DERIDE YOUR FAILING CANDIDACY; WE REJECT YOUR MEDIA WHORES; WE LAUGH AT YOUR PITIFUL “INTERNATIONAL CO-CONSPIRATORS”. We fear you no longer. “Say, Goodnight Gracy”
One last reminder to you, Pretender, Traitor, and Fraud–the day soon comes when the following scripture will apply:
Isaiah 14:16 [Speaking of Lucifer's fall at a future day]
“They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;
I love you, man, but long posts with lots of all caps and Bible verses just make us conservatives look a little nutty.
I’d like to see more political posts or comments with Bible verses actually.
Here’s an example of mine.
http://christiansocialscience.com/
@Baby Glock: That was long, but truly wonderful, an excellent effort. It ended up a quick read as it flowed so well. It was art, and each word deserved one another. References to Satan was simply part of the art.
Uh, economy… er, uh… Look a squirrel! Bain! Bain! Romney sucks! Free ObamaPhones for all Democratic voters, courtesy of SEIU!
In 2009, Obama addressed a joint session of Congress to lay out his program for health care. He unflinchingly told the assembled elected officials one whopper after another, amid a rising chorus of boos and loud grumbling. It got to be too much for Congressman Joe Wilson, of South Carolina, who shouted, “You lie!” to the president as the latter was speaking. Both political parties roundly condemned Wilson for his outburst. He was called a racist, of course, among other things, and he later apologized for his indiscretion. But Joe Wilson was right on the money.
Obama lied to the American people when he said that under ObamaCare, the cost for health care would not go up. He said that the middle class would not spend “a single dime” in increased taxes to pay for it, that ObamaCare would actually reduce the federal deficit by the cost savings it would create, that you could keep your current doctor, and that 30 million more people would have health care coverage. None of this was true. And Obama knew that when he made all these claims.
I need the Black Muslim to explain this to the American people because I feel there are millions voting this election based on this lie. Obama lied, Healthcare died.
“Obama and Romney hate each other.”
I don’t believe Romney hates anyone. It’s not in his nature. Obama, on the other hand, hates all who do not submit to him.
Yep, and yep.
Think in his soul, Romney agonizes over the CONTEMPT he feels for a man like Obama…
I think he TRIES to be a “Good Christian”… but that practiced love of fellow man, that *normally* permits fair competition and honest disagreement, morphs into sadness pitty and ultimately CONTEMPT… for such a vile, thin skinned, dishonest angry unintelligent and despicably false creature as Obama….
And I think Romney prays, every day, to understand the MEANING of this test of his good character,
and ability to truly love ALL men, even the worst of them.
Obama, you see, is a test of everyones faith.
Sometimes, God makes assholes….for a REASON.
“…framing RomneyCare as the proud granddaddy of ObamaCare…”
I’m sure Romney wants Obama to launch him into that briar patch. That credit gives Romney some authority over ObamaCare. Mitt can say, “Well, in Massachusetts, we didn’t have to steal $700 billion from Grandma’s Medicare to fund our program…”
Romney can also undercut Obama by adopting a more popular aspect of ObamaCare: Insurance for those with preexisting conditions.
Unfortunately, a lot of conservatives don’t like guaranteed issue either, and Romney can’t afford to alienate them by promising that.
Romney is trapped by a GOP base that is so far to the right that they don’t want the Government instituting guaranteed issue either. I’ve seen columns to that effect on National Review.
Romney has already laid out how he plans to address the baggage known as “Romneycare” in an interview he did a while back. I forget who it was with, but remember the takeaway.
His supposed position is that under our Constitution, certain powers were ceded to the federal government and other powers remained with the states – and that the individual mandate would fall into the category of a power that remained with the state.
Basically, he discovered the concept of federalism after the fact as justification for implementing Romneycare.
It is actually a plausible argument to make if one goes by a literal interpretation of the 10th Amendment.
Still doesn’t mean I agree with him – but:
1) It’s a defensible position to take for a candidate with his baggage,
2) It neutralizes the issue of Romneycare,
3) It expresses a greater reverence for constitutional principles than Obammer has displayed and,
4) It can even be argued that it telegraphs to the more conservative base that he is a constitutional textualist.
Most of the country doesn’t like Obamacare one bit (my own employer informed us just yesterday our deductible has gone from $1,000 last year to $2,500 this year just to keep costs affordable), and most would have just as negative a view of Romneycare – but the difference is Romney CAN point to a constitutional philosophy that explains what he did whereas Obammer can’t, despite Chief Betrayer John Roberts caving on the issue and giving Obama and the Democrats free reign to do as they please as long as they just call it a ‘tax’.
That being the case, Odumber may be making a big mistake if he decides to bring up Romneycare as an issue – and Romney may actually look forward to him bringing it up as it gives him an opportunity to explain his constitutional philosophy in a simple way that Obammer can’t match.
I’ve been defending Romney on his state’s right platform for months. I never thought to contextualize it on Constitutionality!. Great strategy for tonight!
I want to see whether Barack Obama will surreptitiously flip his opponent the bird … as he did with John McCain, Sarah Palin, and Paul Ryan. I’ll bet he does.
And Hillary Clinton
Obama has the questions already.
And has already vetoed half of them.
If Mitt feels any butterflies during the debate, he just needs to imagine both the moderator and Obama naked. I think Groucho said that.
No, not naked. Think of him as Santorum or Gingrich. That way Romney won’t think twice about destroying him.
I don’t know if the two candidates are supposed to get the list of questions in advance, but I’ll wager Obama does in either case.
I’ll wager the press has actively coached him in private in the White House
I am sure the media has the questions vetted by Axelrod and Obama. No surprise if you have advance knowledge of the questions. Good old reliable Jim Lehrer, PBS intrepid sleuth, will throw the softball to Obama and send a blazing fastball toward Mittens.
Let’s see if Mittens want to play or lean on his bat. I am bet the lean is in for Mitt.
Nevada? Please. How about Tucson or Phoenix down in Arizona, which is right ON the border? But no, wait, that would mean dealing with a governor who’s actually trying to do something about immigration reform, and a population that’s suffering the immediate consequences of our broken laws, including the Fast and Furious operation. Never mind, sounds way too inconvenient…
These are all Obama points.
Don’t you think Romney has anything?
He should have about 4 years worth. But keep in mind who’s moderating the “debate”. I’m sure the leftist moderator will keep the topics centered where Obama wants them: on Romney’s money, the dead steelworker’s wife, Romney’s dog, etc.
I’d love for Romney to say that on his first full day in office, he’d sign a series of executive orders recinding many of the executive orders enacted by Obama, giving many examples. Then, he’d implement a freeze on new executive department regulations until they pass a cost/benefit analysis. Next, he’d implement a department by department review of existing regulations to identify those that are obsolete, mutually conflicting and not cost effective. Once identified, they’d be phased out*.
*You’d want to phase them out instead of immediatelly killing them because it’ll take time for businesses to adapt to the changes.
I forgot to mention, I wish Romney would say, “And based on the disturbing information in that Univision report, I’d order a special prosecutor to fully investigate the Fast & Furious scandal.”
That would force the MSM to cover the story.
Re. the Affordable Healthcare Act, has Romney ever stated, in defense of the Mass. Healthcare, that each State should decide it’s own healthcare, not the Federal Government?
Yes, he has stated that many times.
http://www.hoover.org/publications/defining-ideas/article/126661
If i were Romney i would joke early on that everytime i hear the president say “ahh” i imagine another billion in national debt. Or something like that. Force Obama to fight that verbal tick of his throughout the debate (tick is worse when he is flustered) or have every “ahh” from now to election be a damning laugh line and reminder of the debt.
Very good Bridget. The whole way through this article I kept thinking, wish we had picked NEWT!
Romny should bring 5 more years of tax returns in a large envelope. Don’t tell anyone what is in it. If the opportunity presents itself say what is in the envelope and that he will release them right after Obama releases all his school records.
excellent idea, demand transparency from both sides.
One thing I predict. Immediately after the debate is over, the MSM commentary will have a bunch of “unbiased fact checkers”. Their role will be to read dem spin on the sir as unbiased commentary to “clarify the facts”. This fact checking will say any romney statement, especially any that really hurts obama, is a lie, and declare any obama statement, not matter hoe much of a lie it is, as absolute truth.
Further MSM commentary will depend on how the debate went. If romney is respectful and makes quietely good points without drama, they will say romney was boring, lacked confidence, and didn’t land any blows on obama. If romney passionately tears obamas arguments to shreds, he will be declared as disrespectful, mean, angry, unlikeable, and racist. Since romney will be criticised either way, I hope he takes the 2nd route, and totally ignores MSM commentary on the need to be “likeable”.
All debates as far as I am concerned,do not convince me of who I will vote for. I believe the debates are for trying to steal the independant vote. BUT, the voter that says that he or she hasn’t made up their mind is a person that will not vote or probably never voted anyway.You cannot change the mind of a democrat to switch to republican or visa versa. There are so many ignorant people that don’t even know who is running for president and there are some that don’t know who is the president today.One satistic that I would like to know is, how many people that vote never finished high school? If you cannot explain how government works, you should not be allowed to vote.
I look forward to the “Debate” between The Fascist & Fascist Jr.
It is unfortunate that so many in our electorate must rely on the main stream media and are therefore unable to recognize the Obama BS that today passes as “NEWS” reports.
The attacks on Romney are PROBABLY ALREADY WRITTEN. THE TALKING HEADS OF nbc cbs & abc &msnbc & cnn HAVE ALREADY PRACTICED THE DELIVERY OF THEIR REPORTS OF OBAMA’S DEBATE VICTORY.
THE pbs (LEHRNER)MODERATOR WILL TRY VERY HARD TO PITCH ONLY THE OBAMA ADVANTAGE ISSUES. AND HOPEFULLY,IN ANTICIPATION – ROMNEY IS PREPARED TO ANSWER BOTH THE BIAS IN THE QUESTIONS AND PROVIDE SOME INSIGHT INTO THE MESS RELATED TO THE QUESTIONS THAT REFLECT TRUTHFULLY ON OBAMA ADMINISTRATION ACTIONS AND CONSEQUENCES BOTH SHORT AND LONG TERM.
THE SIMPLER ROMNEY CAN MAKE HIS ANSWERS AND AS FORCEFULLY BLUNT AS CRITICISM OF BOTH OBAMA AND THE MEDIA PROPAGANDISTS WHO OBSCURE THE FACTS AND VALID ANALYSIS HE CAN BE – THE MORE THE MAIN STREAM MEDIA WILL HAVE APOPLEXY AS THEY TRY TO DEMONIZE HIM.
THE RESULT IF “WE THE PEOPLE” ARE REALLY INTERESTED IN THE TRUTH MAY LEAD SOME SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF VOTERS TO WONDER ABOUT THE REPORTS THEY GET FROM MAIN STREAM MEDIA .
If sufficient numbers – START TO THINK ABOUT THE ALTERNATIVE – TRADITIONAL AND FUNDAMENTALY FREEDOM ORIENTED, CAPITALIST, FREE ENTERPRISE AND INDIVIDUALLY RESPONSIBLE SOCIETY WE HAVE BEEN AS A COUNTRY- AND
HOW THE “transformation of america” agenda of redistribution to “share the wealth” will see our economy gradually decline to a point where “progressives” no longer have enough of other people’s( i.e. taxpayer’s) money to borrow more to buy votes through extended and excessive dependency upon government:
THE LESS LIKELY A VICTORY IN DEBATE CAN BE CLAIMED FOR OBAMA.
THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN SHOULD SEE A SURGE TOWARD ROMNEY’S ELECTION IN NOVEMBER!
Hopefully, we have not yet reached the tippng point where more voters take than pay taxes and the taxpayers see the error of the radical liberal agenda!