Posted by
TwO PoUnD RaDiO on Thursday, October 02, 2008 12:00:00 AM
PALIN VS. BIDEN
DEBATE OVERVIEW: (I wasn’t so hot about the last debates layout so here is the new and improved coverage.)
QUESTION 1: Bailout bill. Worse of DC or best?
PALIN : Go to a kids soccer game on Saturday and ask them. You will hear fear. Fear regarding the few investments. Fear about college costs. Fear as small business owner. The federal government has not provided the oversight. Sarah brings up McCain’s warnings on the economy but maybe could have been stronger on this. Praised suspension of McCain’s campaign. Could have hit hard on Obama’s lax approach bit that may have back fired because the public didn’t seem to care.
Good start. Could have been better.
BIDEN : Brings up Obama’s ideas on how we can overcome the economic issues of today. Both Obama and McCain had similar ideas here. The point was good on Biden’s part but it was nothing special or dynamic.
QUESTION 2: Vice President’s Job?
PALIN : Said that John McCain's comment about the economy being strong was about and to the American workforce. She could have hit on the fact that this was part of a speech where McCain just got done blasting Wall Street. Draws on her own record of reform. Obama has voted along his party lines. Obama has shown no proof of his ability to put politics aside. Says she respects Biden’s years in the Senate, but Americans want something new.
A more solid answer than her first.
BIDEN: Attacked on McCain’s “fundamentals of the economy are strong” comment. This was about all he had on this and the American public knows McCain didn’t actually say that the way it is being portrayed.
Attack missed it’s mark.
QUESTION 3: Who's to blame for subprime crisis?
PALIN : Predatory Lenders. Palin looks extremely confident. Mentions Joe six pack/hockey moms. Says we need to say “Never Again”. This was almost a 911 style moment and it hit home. She also mentions personal responsibility. The public will love this two-pronged answer!
Response: Darn right we need tax relief. Obama and Biden voted for the largest tax increases in US history. Barack 94 times voted for higher taxes (factually correct however many of these were re-votes on the same bill). That's not what we need to bolster our economy. Our government has to be more efficient. Obama supported higher taxes on individuals making $42,000.00 per year (factually accurate even though Biden tried to deny it).
Palin ignores the next question - I'm still on the tax thing. Says she is talking to the American public and may not give the answers Gwen (the moderator) or Biden want to hear: Every year as mayor I cut taxes. As governor we suspended state fuel tax. As for John McCain --he pushed for tougher regulation. Look at campaign finance reform and tobacco. (this was sounding good, but Gwen cut Palin off due to time constraints).
BIDEN : Obama warned (really, where is the YouTube on that?). McCain "surprised." Overwhelming deregulation. Obama was talking about regulation. John calling for deregulation. Joe does not go into the fact that it was “over regulation” that lead to some of the problem. Banks were forced to give loans to people who could not afford them. The packaging of those loans was also deceptive however many would never have been given out under deregulation on this front. The point here is that we do need some regulation but we need it in the right areas.
John McCain voted 477 times to raise taxes (this could not be more UNTRUE). Points out that Sarah did not answer question about deregulation.
PUZZLING AND DISHONEST RESPONSE.
ADVANTAGE PALIN!
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QUESTION 4: Taxes: Class Warfare?
PALIN : I do take issue with this redistribution of wealth principle. Eludes to Obama’s plan being a job killer. She could have hit on this stronger (identify the workers that would be hit). “You said paying higher taxes is patriotic. That's not patriotic”. She mentions Obama’s spending promises. Somewhere in the 700 billion range.
Tepid response/ The base wants her to hit harder on this / Specifics are key.
BIDEN : Where I come from it is called “fairness”. Middle class is struggling. Claims no one under making under $250,000 will see a penny in tax increases. This is not punitive. I am pretty sure the use of the word “punitive” sent half of America to dictionary.com to find out what it means.
QUESTION 5: Health Care
PALIN : Brings up the widely held position that Obama’s health care program is universal. Makes connection that we do not want government running the health care system. Her assessment in inaccurate. Obama’s health care program would be more of a hybrid. It would force businesses to provide insurance that covers pre-conditions. The problem: Barack Obama will pay for his $50 - $65 billion health care reform effort by rolling back the Bush tax cuts for Americans earning more than $250,000 per year and retaining the estate tax at its 2009 level. So basically if your company could afford to keep you with their taxes being increased, they definitely won’t be able to keep providing health care insurance. Affordability and accessibility.
Answer was good for the viewing audience but it wasn’t entirely true. Obama’s plan is WORSE than stated.
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BIDEN : Mentions his neighborhood Scranton, Exxon-Mobile blah blah blah. I think this was one of the few questions Biden simply didn’t answer or even come remotely close. In all fairness Sarah didn’t either but at least she warned us first. Biden really blew this answer and made just about no sense in the process. Obama’s health care plan is not something they will talk about in detail at least not in the debates.
EASY PALIN WIN!
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QUESTION 5: What promises will you have to revoke?
PALIN : Says McCain hasn’t made a promise he won’t keep. In turn she hasn’t made any that involve money. In all truthfulness McCain and Palin have been masterful in their approach. Their plans do not contain money we are not already spending elsewhere. She mentions breaking up oil monopolies in Alaska and giving excess profits back to the people.
BIDEN : We will have to slow down foreign assistance. We cannot slow up on health care etc. This is better than the non-answer Obama gave in the first debate.
TIE
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