CNN's Gergen: Many Americans 'Horrified' by GOP Debate
CNN's political analyst David Gergen remarked Monday that many Americans were "horrified" at what they heard from the Republican presidential debate, co-sponsored by the Tea Party Express and CNN. "I was getting notes about they ought to keep this people locked up and not let them out. Don't let them do anything to the country," Gergen remarked.
Gergen's comments came in the post-debate analysis and during the 10 p.m. EDT hour of Anderson Cooper 360. He mentioned that Tea Partiers "loved the debate" and pitted them in contrast with the many on Twitter who expressed their disgust with the debate.
[Video below the break. For audio, click here.]
He referred in particular to a hypothetical scenario given to candidate Ron Paul by debate moderator Wolf Blitzer, which asked whether the state should be responsible for someone who chose not to buy health insurance and was subsequently in a coma. Paul maintained that people should be responsible for themselves without the interference of the state, and can be helped by neighbors and charities -- and many in the audience audibly agreed.
A few voices shouted "Let him die!" and scattered laughter ensued, but there was no widespread audience reaction to those comments.
Gergen used the Tea Party's glee and the disgust of other Americans to buttress his argument that the nation is becoming increasingly polarized. "So, this race is increasingly, I think, bringing to light and once again how divided and how splintered we are and how hard it's going to be for anybody to govern when this is over," he stated.
A transcript of the segments, which aired on September 12, are as follows:
CNN
TEA PARTY REPUBLICAN DEBATE
9/12/11
9:58 p.m. EDT
ANDERSON COOPER: John, thanks very much. David Gergen, clearly to Gingrich, Santorum, Herman Cain – got some of the probably louder applause lines of the night. That does not necessarily translate, though, into any kind of bump in the polls. And clearly, a lot of folks were gunning -- were looking to try to take on Perry. Did they succeed? Did they succeed maybe, in lessening his poll numbers a little bit? Certainly we saw that from Mitt Romney. We saw that from Santorum. We saw that from Michele Bachmann.
DAVID GERGEN, CNN senior political analyst: I don't think so, Anderson. I will tell you that this hall is crackling with excitement. These Tea Partiers loved this debate. They liked the fact that the other candidates had a chance to get in more evenly. But just as they loved it, there were many, judging from what's been on Twitter tonight, who were horrified. So the country is still very divided about this.
In terms of the dynamics of this race within the Republicans, it's no question that Romney and Perry remain the front-runners. Romney has a better command of the facts. He's a more practiced debater, gave one of the best answers of his entire campaign when he was asked how he would balance the budget.
But Perry has the command presence. And even though people took shots at him, as you said, he deflected reasonably well. He came and he was a better debater. And he was more even this time.
He still talks a lot of Texas. He's going to need to move beyond Texas to get a national focus. And he clearly is going to have to beef himself up on the international side. But I would have to tell you, I think Rick Perry walked in here as the front-runner tonight and I imagine he walked out as the front-runner.
(...)
CNN
ANDERSON COOPER 360
9/12/11
10:23 p.m. EDT
COOPER: David, what do you make of what Representative Wasserman Schultz just said?
GERGEN: Oh, I think that she made a point that resonated back home with a lot of people on the question of the 30-year-old who was dying being allowed to die, and the kind of response in the hall. You'll recall in that last debate Governor Perry made this point about executions in Texas and there was this big applause and it got a lot of commentary. My sense is that exchange also will get some comment out there, Anderson, because what I find so interesting is that people in this hall really did groove on much of what they heard.
This is what they wanted to hear from these candidates. There are a lot of people around the country who are just like the folks in this room. And yet there are a huge number of people, an equal number of people, who I think were horrified by what they heard in this room. I was getting notes about they ought to keep this people locked up and not let them out. Don't let them do anything to the country.
So, this race is increasingly, I think, bringing to light and once again how divided and how splintered we are and how hard it's going to be for anybody to govern when this is over.
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Comments
Yeah, David. We are all
Submitted by michael lofrano on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 8:19pm.
Yeah, David. We are all hiding under our beds and won't come out until this question is answered: Is it November 7th, 2012 yet, and has that incompetent pretender began removing his personal belongings from the White House?
I'm so sick of these.......
Submitted by BEGRUNT on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 8:12pm.
"Elites" pontificating to all of us "rubes"........"lock us up".....Really!??! What "Gestapo" are you sending for us David??!! These idiots exist only on the coasts....I know, living in loony land L.A......with the senile bald man as governor, and the "La Raza" mayor, who cant put two words out without saying "uh" a thousand times....I think he and O-Blame-o are kindred spirits!!
"A nation can suffer it's fool's, but cannot survive the traitor"
Cicero
Mayor Reygosa can say four words without stuttering...
Submitted by NascarShizzle on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 8:43pm.
WE CLEAN YOUR TOILETS!!!
Very True, NascarS.........
Submitted by BEGRUNT on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 10:05pm.
The one time he didn't say "uh" a thousand times was this:
http://michellemalkin.com/2006/04/15/the-toilet-brush-campaign/
"A nation can suffer it's fool's, but cannot survive the traitor"
Cicero
Hey about that, I have a question.
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 10:19pm.
Is it possible to have an organization named La Raza which means The Race and that that organization not be racist by definition?
hhmmmm....
Submitted by MidAmerica on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 8:15pm.
GERGEN: I was getting notes about they ought to keep this people locked up and not let them out. Don't let them do anything to the country.
Kinda makes you wonder exactly who Gergen (a 'Republican') is wired to...
Hey Gurgle . . .
Submitted by ConservaSerb on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 10:57pm.
I was getting notes, too . . . from a lot more people saying that no matter who gets nominated by the Republicans . . . even if some three-toed sloth crawls out of some jungle and gets picked . . . the three-toed sloth would be smarter and less damaging to the country than the Kenyan Communist.
A wise & frugal government, which shall leave men free 2 regulate their own pursuits of industry & improvement, & shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government. T. Jefferson
This just in: www.attackwatch.com -
Submitted by drsamherman on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 8:15pm.
Ear Leader's narcissism is in full malignant phase. Any time he is not lauded as heaven-sent, it will appear on that site.
Cue eye-roll now.
Scared?
Submitted by Mister Orange on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 8:19pm.
Don't you just hate when a politician finally decides to fight back? Lies can only take a candidate so far.
Lies
Submitted by Unsane on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 8:57pm.
Like what?
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
You are kidding Orange, right?
Submitted by drsamherman on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 10:25pm.
The narcissist-in-chief comes up with a website named "attackwatch" that is provocative enough on its face value and then people are urged to report "attacks" on him? What constitutes an "attack" to a narcissist? In psychiatry, the answer is very simple - anything that the narcissist disagrees with is an "attack".
Orange, a reasonable question is why you are here if you are not a conservative? Or are you just playing one in your mommie's basement?
Orange is like bad LSD
Submitted by Blonde on Wed, 09/14/2011 - 12:56am.
Flashback.
Over and over and over and over.
(Hearts, Man of the Century, too).
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
woohoo!
Submitted by kata on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 9:17pm.
one more seat in the circular reference committee.
And I am still horrified
Submitted by djwolf12 on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 8:15pm.
that David Rodham Gergen STILL uses a comb-over to convince people he is not bald.
never...
Submitted by Rackie on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 8:36pm.
trust a man with a comb over - he's just fooling himself - so sad, but it is funny
Good point
Submitted by Mister Orange on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 8:17pm.
There is a reason some of the more extreme candidates won't stand a chance.
Bachmann- Her complete and utter disgust for all liberals and all things liberal immediately eliminates her from the running. You can't hate the Americans who are going to elect you.
Romney- Yo, conservatives! Do you remember yet why you wouldn't vote for him last time around? Me too.
Paul- Yo, conservatives! Do you remember yet why you wouldn't vote for him last time around? Me too.
Newt- Um. Okay.
Bachmann- Her complete and
Submitted by motherbelt on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 8:43pm.
Bachmann- Her complete and utter disgust for all liberals and all things liberal immediately eliminates her from the running.
Then how is it that Barack Obama, with his complete and utter disgust for all conservatives and all things conservative got elected?
HMTS, the BIC
Submitted by Unsane on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 8:56pm.
Your love, His Majesty The Shahinshah, the Basset-In-Chief, hates Americans who voted for Him, or not. He flat out hates this country. How did He get elected?
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
Seriously do you post out of the side of your
Submitted by gmaniac1 on Wed, 09/14/2011 - 10:30am.
patootie or something? Do you know what site your on? This isn't the HuffPo or Daily Cosa Nostra... the only thing extreme is anything liberal, get it! The most extreme president in our history is in the White House right now and he isn't conservative. The one next to him was probably Jimmy Carter in more modern times and guess what smart guy? He isn't conservative either.
The closer one gets to the constitution is considered to be more and more conservative, not liberal. Liberals like to wipe their junk with the constitution and treat it as silly puddy.
You and David Gurgle both need an extreme lesson in civics and keep your extreme politics out of common sense discussion.
If you're gonna keep posting on here you better not come half cocked with a bunch of garbage. I dunno beauxdog might have you but then again I'm not sure about that clown's affiliation regardless.
Tell it like it is, CNN, the
Submitted by jessieH on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 8:22pm.
Tell it like it is, CNN, the only ones upset are the liberal socialist Wusses, who want to change our Constitution to fit their small percentive of treasonous agenda.
Of course nobody Gergen knew
Submitted by deerjerkydave on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 8:31pm.
Of course nobody Gergen knew voted for Reagan, so his circle of friends isn't all that important in what they think.
------------------------
"The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the Federal Government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State Governments are numerous and indefinite. -James Madisonnice try
Submitted by michiganruth on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 11:41pm.
nice try on the phrase, but it doesn't really work here: Gergen's a Republican. however I'd agree that his circle of friends is limited.
Gergan
Submitted by grammajane on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 8:43pm.
show all the notes of your 2 buddies or was that remark a bold face lie?
"Many" Americans are
Submitted by motherbelt on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 8:45pm.
"Many" Americans are "horrified" by what Barack Obama is doing to this country!!
Are you concerned about that??
Those With The 'Higher' Moral Standing
Submitted by MinneMike on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 8:49pm.
No, no problem having garbage ran on the alphabet channels with Playboy and other humping programs. Let's lock up the ones we don't agree with. Say, isn't that where Stalin got his footing.
I'm confused...
Submitted by Unsane on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 8:54pm.
Was there a debate?
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
Gergen
Submitted by Curly on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 8:58pm.
David, David, David, how many is "many?" Just the four or five of you drones in the studio? You are a despicable dipshit!
Nobody sawthis debate.
Submitted by Maestroh on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 9:20pm.
Nobody sawthis debate.
that high pitched ear
Submitted by jkwtrading on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 9:21pm.
that high pitched ear splitting scream is just another liberal getting scared. By the time the election rolls around only dogs will hear their pitch.
David Gherkin Pickle says:
Submitted by Trix Rabbit on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 9:49pm.
David Gherkin Pickle says: "...how splintered we are..." He is very correct.
The splinter is his Royal Highness, obama, and American got it in the buttocks while it rapidly slid down the economic banister.
For the MSM: In your pomp and all your glory, you're a poorer man than me. As you lick the boots of death born out of fear.
Ian Anderson "Wind up"
Notes?
Submitted by rgallegos on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 10:12pm.
Hey David are you in 5th period math? Getting notes? I have notes that most Americans:
1. Wonder when you shaved your mustache Sgt. Taggert!
2. Think you are Gerald Ford.
3. Think you are Homer Simpson.
4. Think you are an idiot!
Getting notes indeed.
Just remember folks
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 10:22pm.
This is only the beginning. We're just coming into the Lying Season. We will see and hear the most vile lies tossed at any GOP candidate that can beat the O (that's probably most). They have nothing of substance to run on so all the have is to marginalize any and all opponents. That is the message that needs to get passed around EVERYWHERE and OFTEN.
Gergen
Submitted by GerryC on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 10:43pm.
Not much I can add here, other than the fact that liberals believe only they have a voice.
God forbid, citizens, not affiliated with any party (Tea Party) actually voice their opinion that the gov't has become too large, is ineffective, and demands more of the same carp daily. Not to mention they have sparked this nation to vote out liberals by the ton (2010), and hopefully will again in 2012
People like Gergen only knows one way, his way. He was Carter's main man (The 2nd worst president now). He is lost in the space of someone trying to being relevant again, when his party is in deep decline, and possibly near extinction.
I thought Gergen died. I
Submitted by buddyc on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 10:49pm.
I thought Gergen died. I guess they have been holding him back for 2012. Gergen, the "republican" who can't think of one republican in the past 15 years that he could vote for or a republican position he could support.
Gergen is the kind of guy who would put on a dress and pretend to be a woman if there was money in it for him.
No rational conservative watches CNN. Anyone tweeting Gergen at CNN is a liberal. He lives in an echo chamber of liberals.
You want to be horrified
Submitted by exLib on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 11:34pm.
Read the comments to almost any story on CNN.COM.
The station with the lowest ratings attracts the worst trolls, making some of the nastiest comments on their site.
I am sure if the average American read what the average cnn.com/cnn viewer thinks about his fellow conservatives or anyone who would disagree with them and disagree with Obama, I think they would be horrified at that.
I'm horrified at what Obama's
Submitted by rbosque on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 11:40pm.
I'm horrified at what Obama's done to this country. The damage is great and increasing every day and I'm sure there is plenty more we're not privy to.
He NEEDS to be fired for the good of this nation.
horrifying
Submitted by michiganruth on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 11:44pm.
I work at a liberal university, and was talking to two of the most liberal people in my office today. both of them watched the debate, and while they kidded me about watching it "for comic relief" neither one of them was the least bit horrified.
one of them even mentioned she could see potentially voting for Romney.
Define many Americans...where is the facts to support his claim?
Submitted by gruyere cheese on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 11:44pm.
"I was getting notes about they ought to keep this people locked up and not let them out. Don't let them do anything to the country," Gergen remarked.
Getting notes from whom, the White House? If you are making a point, give the facts to back it up. This dude needs to look up the definition of the word "innuendo". I think the liberals have it listed as one of their commandments.
Be afraid
Submitted by Bodini on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 11:51pm.
David ... that nasty old Tea Party is gonna kick your butt come November 2012 ... and you and your Marxist pals will be forever relegated to the trash heap of liberal journalism!
David Killing the Rich and the Old is ObamaCare's Reason
Submitted by Avitar on Wed, 09/14/2011 - 1:32am.
Collecting all of the lovely estate taxes and cutting pension plans off early is the reasons for National Health care plans. Maybe we could get you a program or a guide so you would not become confused as what the goal of play was. The Tea Party defends Americans and there families and the Progressives attack those things. If Americans are poorer the Progressives are winning and if Americans are richer then the Tea Party is winning.
Yes, many Americans were horrified
Submitted by richb313 on Wed, 09/14/2011 - 2:42am.
Yes, many Americans were horrified by the debate and all of the were liberals who know thier goose is cooked.
Give me my Section 8 housing, food stamps, welfare, bus tokens
Submitted by DontFeedTheTrolls on Wed, 09/14/2011 - 5:31am.
Liberals believe they don't have to feed their own children, because the state should do that. Pretty horrifying.
I'd bet
Submitted by HockeyKid on Wed, 09/14/2011 - 7:04am.
that more Americans are horrified by Gergen than by Monday night's debate.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
Treatment
Submitted by Granite on Wed, 09/14/2011 - 9:52am.
Americans are noted for their eagerness to help the hurting. Wake up Gergen and smell the roses.
You look up "opportunist" in
Submitted by marpel on Wed, 09/14/2011 - 10:31am.
You look up "opportunist" in the dictionary, and you see David Gergen's face. He's so transparent and phony, he makes my skin crawl.
"Deep within my heart lies a memory. A song of ol' San Antone..."