During the second presidential debate, President Obama uttered a line so full of ignorance that, if he were a Republican, it would be all anyone talked about afterward. Mitt Romney noted that gas prices are roughly double now what they were when Obama took office. Obama replied that gas prices were so low because the U.S. economy was about to go into collapse.
Obama never mentioned the effect of supply or demand on the price. He never mentioned the effect that Middle East instability has on the price of gas. He never mentioned that the mere possibility of an energy giant like the U.S. making the public decision to get serious about energy independence can bring prices down. He never allowed that his own energy policies have had any detrimental effect.
He blamed a collapse that had not happened yet for prices that had been lower for years than they are now.
What an economic buffoon.
But he is not being called out for that remark. The moderator just let it slide.
In another part of the debate, moderator Candy Crowley stepped in just when Romney had Obama on the ropes. The subject was Libya. Romney had said that Obama failed to call the attack in Benghazi a terrorist attack for 14 days. He was right about that. But Crowley intervened and corrected Romney, saying that Obama had called the attack a terrorist attack during his brief Rose Garden remarks on September 12.
The transcript of Obama’s remarks says otherwise.
I strongly condemn the outrageous attack on our diplomatic facility in Benghazi, which took the lives of four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens. Right now, the American people have the families of those we lost in our thoughts and prayers. They exemplified America’s commitment to freedom, justice, and partnership with nations and people around the globe, and stand in stark contrast to those who callously took their lives.
I have directed my Administration to provide all necessary resources to support the security of our personnel in Libya, and to increase security at our diplomatic posts around the globe. While the United States rejects efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others, we must all unequivocally oppose the kind of senseless violence that took the lives of these public servants.
On a personal note, Chris was a courageous and exemplary representative of the United States. Throughout the Libyan revolution, he selflessly served our country and the Libyan people at our mission in Benghazi. As Ambassador in Tripoli, he has supported Libya’s transition to democracy. His legacy will endure wherever human beings reach for liberty and justice. I am profoundly grateful for his service to my Administration, and deeply saddened by this loss.
The brave Americans we lost represent the extraordinary service and sacrifices that our civilians make every day around the globe. As we stand united with their families, let us now redouble our own efforts to carry their work forward.
Obama called it an “attack” but blamed it on the movie, when he said “While the United States rejects efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others…” His team would spend the next two weeks doubling down on that meme, even arresting the alleged filmmaker.
How did Obama skate by this deception? The “moderator” helped him. Intentionally.
What an outrage.
I was initially less displeased with Crowley’s performance as moderator than than that of Martha Raddatz, the ABC reporter who moderated the vice presidential debate. Raddatz consistently changed the subject when things got too difficult for Vice President Biden, and she interrupted Paul Ryan 31 times, to interrupting Biden just 19 times. She was clearly biased.
But Candy Crowley’s bias was more insidious. She chose the questions and the questioners. She let Obama’s towering ignorance on gas prices slip by unremarked. She corrected Mitt Romney with incorrect facts, allowing Obama to escape the most dangerous moment of the entire debate. She did what she could to tilt this debate in Obama’s favor without ever acknowledging that she was doing so. She knew what she was doing.
No mainstream media figure should ever be allowed to moderate another debate. They keep stacking the deck and favoring one side over the other. It’s always the same side that they favor. They’re despicable hypocrites who keep getting worse year by year.
Crowley has given a sort-of admission that she might have been wrong, after the fact. But damage done. She skewed the debate and let Obama off the hook. Mission accomplished.
See video of Crowley’s walkback on the next page.
Update: CBS “moderator” Bob Schieffer, you’re on notice.
Update: Here’s Crowley’s walkback. She says Romney was right “in the main,” meaning on the facts, but he chose the wrong word. Pathetic.
You got it wrong, Crowley. You screwed up the debate. Own it.
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