Poor Joe. Ann Curry is concerned that the senator from Delaware was the victim of a double-standard during last night's debate that caused him to hide his light under a barrel. The Today show co-anchor [subbing for Meredith Vieira] expressed her misgivings this morning to Obama supporter Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.)
ANN CURRY: But he restrained himself to some degree. I mean, she called him "Joe," he called her "Governor." She attacked him, he didn't attack her. Do you think there was a double-standard at play here? Did Joe pull down his full game, and did that hurt him last night--and his ticket?
View video here.
CLAIRE MCCASKILL: I think he was being very careful. I think he was in a no-win situation. If he was too smart, he was condescending. If he was too nice, he was patronizing.
Perhaps the first recorded instance of anyone suggesting that Biden could be in danger of being too smart. Be that as it may, Ann's concern for Joe was certainly affecting.
For the record: Though Palin did ask Biden when they first met on stage if she could call him "Joe," the trancript reveals that she only exercised the prerogative once, and even then in the context of using the old Black Sox line: "say it ain't so, Joe."
BONUS COVERAGE: Lauer Suggests Palin Rattled Biden
Speaking earlier with Tom Brokaw [I've flipped the bits in the video clip], Matt Lauer had another possible explanation for Biden's less-than-stellar showing: Palin had him rattled.
MATT LAUER: You've watched Joe Biden a lot over the years. Did you think that he was a little rattled by her? That he was expecting in some ways to be standing across the stage from the same person he saw in Katie's interview last week, and when he didn't see that, he didn't quite know how to handle it?
TOM BROKAW: Well, going in, I think he was very mindful of the fact if he over-powered her, if he seemed to be condescending, that would go south on him in a hurry. I was very surprised when she said "you're raising the white flag of surrender" he didn't come back at that point talking about her policy for getting out of Iraq.
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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Oh, poor Joe Isuzu!! He had
October 3, 2008 - 07:33 ET by motherbeltOh, poor Joe Isuzu!! He had to restrain himself!
And who said he wasn't condescending! That smarmy smile was on his face the whole time she was talking!
Made me want to slap him two ways!
Uh-oh, excuse me. I think the Secret Service is at the door! ;-)
OMG, Joe Isuzu, that’s it.
October 3, 2008 - 08:17 ET by USA4freedomOMG, Joe Isuzu, that’s it. I have been telling my wife Biden reminds me of someone.
Ohh, I can just see him now, dripping with fake sincerity: You have my word on it..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDK8BYS2d9s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6OpDGpekkg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snzyJ2ymgOE&NR=1
and Joe is back..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnfAha9HEzE&feature=related
Ronald Reagan, 1962: I did not leave the Democratic party, the party left me.
Insert: your name, 2008, and the Republican party.
»→ And Shirley Temple
October 3, 2008 - 08:23 ET by Cool ArrowYou can close your eyes and hear this:
So yes, it was Joe Isuzu -vs- Shirley Temple.
Kill Bill II - Stop the bailout
I love it. Joe Isuzu.. the
October 3, 2008 - 10:18 ET by USA4freedomI love it.
Joe Isuzu..
the sky is a little bluer today..
Good job there Palin!!
Ronald Reagan, 1962: I did not leave the Democratic party, the party left me.
Insert: your name, 2008, and the Republican party.
Say it ain't so, Joe
October 3, 2008 - 07:39 ET by ConLosRepublicanosNoSay it ain't so, Ann.
Obama: "No, if we're going to ask questions about who is promulgating negative ads that are completely unrelated to the issues at hand, I think I win that contest pretty handily"
I think Biden came across as
October 3, 2008 - 07:40 ET by SmartypantsI think Biden came across as a fairly knowledgeable, but pompous arse. He was indeed condescending and downright angry at times. If anything, I think McCain and Palin have both held back in their debates. They could certainly attack the Democrat talking points more directly, since there is little basis to them (i.e., giving a tax cut to 95% of the country; blaming Bush for everything that's ever gone wrong anywhere on earth, etc.)
»→ How sweet
October 3, 2008 - 07:47 ET by Cool ArrowDon't you feel a little bit squeamy watching the liberal press licking Joe Biden's wounds for him?
This one is even more sick with Claire McCaskill throwing in excuses for Biden because he had to debate a girl.
Kill Bill II - Stop the bailout
Wait a minute....
October 3, 2008 - 07:51 ET by ForbusI thought Biden WON! Isn't that the MSM's spin? If so, why all the hand wringing?
Good point, Forbus. A
October 3, 2008 - 08:08 ET by ThisnThatGood point, Forbus. A winner doesn't whine -- a winner simply moves forward.
___________________________________
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
Did any one catch the second best Palin line...
October 3, 2008 - 07:51 ET by c5thenA little more than halfway through, she referres to him as "Senator Obiden". I was laughing and they showed Biden even had a big grin on his face. He never said a word about it.
Maybe he was remembering his "Bosniacs" goof.
BIDEN was the victim of a "double standard"?
October 3, 2008 - 07:56 ET by goldenthroatLet's see - it had nothing to do with Gwin Ifill being a pundit and in the hip pocket of the Osama Bama campaign banking on a windfall with her book that comes out on inauguration day about his lordship!
Double standard? Yeah, right. C'mon, Ann - you are sending what credibility you have left as an MSM talking head right into the dumper.
"Don't crush that dwarf! Hand me the pliers!" - Firesign Theatre
Palin gave Joe the same
October 3, 2008 - 07:57 ET by play21cwPalin gave Joe the same respect that Obama gave McCain, come to think of it she gave him more respect than obama did McCain, she remembered his name the entire night.
She won that debate, and its clear, but the MSM isnt going to allow that, they wont admit it.
"Palin had more edge over Biden, but biden still won the debate" -MSM
Palin caught "Joe" off guard
October 3, 2008 - 08:15 ET by ThisnThatPalin asked Biden if she could call him Joe. He said yes. What's the big deal? He could have said no; or, he could have also said "I think that would be great. Can I also call you Sarah?" But he didn't.
I think Palin really caught him off guard right then and there, and kept him off guard all night. I'll bet he really didn't want to be called "Joe" during the debate -- he is far and away her senior in age and presidential politics, and I'll bet he was fuming about this all night long.
I also think this was a planned campaign move, based upon McCain's evaluation of Joe Biden, and was very smartly carried out by Palin. I'd love to know more about the behind-the-scenes discussions on that topic. I'll also bet it was a move designed to bolster Palin's confidence a bit, too.
___________________________________
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
»→ TNT
October 3, 2008 - 08:16 ET by Cool Arrow»→"Can I call you Joe" was just an early setup for a prepackaged "Say it ain't so, Joe"
Brilliant.
Kill Bill II - Stop the bailout
CA
October 3, 2008 - 08:23 ET by well99Did you hear CLAIRE MCCASKILL on Fox last night trying to spin it.I think I saw her before.It was in 5 mark alley.She must be related to Begala.Her lies are so obvious and ticked me off bigtime.
»→ Missed it well99
October 3, 2008 - 08:27 ET by Cool ArrowI can't look at Claire McCaskill after the cheap campaign ad Michael J. Fox did for her.
I hope Ms. McCaskill was mad enough to spit nails.
Kill Bill II - Stop the bailout
CA
October 3, 2008 - 08:31 ET by well99Just constant lies.You didnt miss anything.These people have no pride.
In the Tank
October 3, 2008 - 08:59 ET by TuariWhy don't they just it over with and change their names to follow reality:
NBC = National Barack Channel
CBS = Cheering Barack Station
ABC = Adulate Barack Channel
MSNBC = Most Supreme National Barack Channel
have their morning shows follow: Today in Obama, Good Morning Obama, The Obama View, etc. It would make it just so much easier if Chairman Obama wins to have his national morning, evening, and night television programs of Hope n' Change to doublespeak to the people.
All kidding aside, I've never seen the media so in the tank, and it just keeps getting worse and worse. The libs keep saying that Fox is too far right, well I guess if you're so far left, the center does look like it's far right.
Biden could of totally cracked last night and sang a bar room chanty, they'd still say how great he was and how he won with such a moving rendition of "99 Bottles of Beer".
Tuari
October 3, 2008 - 09:10 ET by well99The msm is pretty pathetic.They dont even try to hide it any more.
dissing
October 3, 2008 - 09:09 ET by MazziWhen she asked if she "could call him Joe" he replied affirmatively. He then had the first response and called her "Governor", and she caught it. Smart Girl!
She is quick enough to know that calling him "Joe" would have been semi-disrespectful. But I think that worked in her favor, because it was pretty clear that Biden snubbed her, AND possibly tried to set up a "gotcha".
Remember, many of the people she appeals to are people who were raised to be polite. An adult asking another adult if she can use his first name is polite. If that that person then calls her by title it sends a subtle message of superiority (elitism). I don't think that was lost on middle-Americans.
And they both called Ms. Ifill "Gwen". I'm surprised she didn't scream racism. I have known many black professional women who insist on being called by their title at all times.
"I've now been in 57 states -- I think one left to go." ~ Barrack Hussein Obama ~
"You cannot go to a 7-11 or a Dunkin' Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent.... I'm not joking." ~ Sen. Joe Biden
Double standard?!
October 3, 2008 - 09:30 ET by Joe C."Do you think there was a double-standard at play here? Did Joe pull down his full game..."
Pull down his full game! Biden has no game! He is the consumate elitist. Dumber than a box of rocks, but thinks he's Thomas Jefferson. He has the reputation of being the perfect barometer of what NOT to do on any issue. I thought he did well just not to set Gwen Ifill on fire and melt his botox.
Where?
October 3, 2008 - 09:38 ET by The DistributistWhere was this sad waif when c0mmander Zer0 referred to McCain as 'John' throughout the entire debate? Was THAT a double standard? Poor wench - I think there's a run in her stocking.
"Modern man is staggering and losing his balance because he is being pelted with little pieces of alleged fact which are native to the newspapers; and, if they turn out not to be facts, that is still more native to newspapers." -GKC