Yes, the "Big Three" are skipping tonight's debate. That shouldn't stop you from heading over to the NB live chat and discussing the questioning or your favorite lesser-known candidates though. For a more permanent discussion, feel free to post on this thread.
2225|Shepherd: End of debate. Back to your regularly scheduled boring PBS programming.
2222|Shepherd: Williams to Brownback: "is the supreme court right to say school integration is no longer key to equal justice for all" Williams is spewing the false, biased meme the media used months ago. SEE related NB post here.http://newsbusters.org/node/13896
2217|Shepherd: Suarez asks Paul about capital punishment: "Do you think the deathpenalty is carried out justly in the United States, and do you want to see it carried out."
2214|Shepherd: Tucker to Gov. Huckabee: Gov. does the us govt have a role to play in ending the genocide in Darfur, and if so, what would that be.
2207|Shepherd: Williams acknowledges black military hero, Vernice Armour, 1st African American female combat pilot in US history. She gets standing ovation. She served two tours of duty in Iraq, Williams notes. "Today wesee a decline inblack and Latino enlistment" due to Iraq, asks what do you say to them, who are generally opposed to the war.
2158|Shepherd: Suarez rattles off statistics about health care for blacks, Latinos, asks Rep. Hunter, "What does your health care plan contain to address some of these disparities with access to care and quality of care."
2157|Shepherd: Ron Paul says he's "worried" about a national ID card, says he's positively opposed.
2152|Shepherd: Tucker asks about Republicans opposing DC vote in House of Reps, and about voter ID laws. Tucker asks Tancredo if he worries voter ID laws will harm people from voting.
2151|Shepherd: The median strip was littered with Ron Paul signs, both professionally printed and homemade. Sounds like the Ron Paul crowd are there tonight judging by the hoots and hollers to his answers.
2148|Shepherd: Smiley chides Hunter for not answering Williams' question, asks, Is there a particular policy you would support... to ensure a fairer equal justice system
2143|Shepherd: Juan Williams first question, after mentioning 'Jena Six' defendant being remanded to juvenile justice system after months in jail charged as an adult: "Name one reform, senator, that you would endorse... to assure young black and Latino Americans that they will have equal justice in America's courts."
2140| Shepherd: Technical issues have cleared up.
2138| Shepherd: we're having a few technical difficulties with the feed in the media room.
2136|Shepherd: Ray Suarez, PBS to Ron Paul: "Is it desirable, is it even practical to desire to send [12 million illegal immigrants] all home... If the next Congress passes a path to citizenship, will you sign it or support sending the 12 million home?"
2135|Shepherd: Keyes hits culture of promiscuity and "selfish hedonism"
2134|Shepherd: Hunter notes Republicans pushing welfare reform, Clinton signing the third attempt.
2133|Shepherd: Tancredo: "two things have happened...to devastate the African-American community... the welfare state.... the importationof millions and millions of low-income workers... it has nothing to do with race."
2131|Shepherd: Brownback answers Tucker's question.
2131|Shepherd: Ron Paul answers Tucker's question
2129|Shepherd: Cynthia Tucker, Atlanta Journal-Constitution to Gov. Huckabee: "In 2006 the unemployment rate of black high school graduates...was 38percent higher than for white high school graduates. What do you think accounts for that inequality."
2127|Shepherd: Keyes says it's not race but a "moral consensus" that will unify the country.
2127|Shepherd: Hunter says cutting taxes and regulation will cause a rising tide that lifts all boats, including African-American community.
2125| Shepherd: Tancredo says Reagan was good for African Americans by being good for all Americans and enhancing freedom. Says "it is destructive to only talk about the politics off race.... it really does not do a service to us as Americans and the promise of America...." Promises tto stem flow of illegal immigrants into the country.
2123| Shepherd: Right out the gate the first question bears hostility towards the GOP, puts the panelists on the defensive. Hard to anticipate softball questions given how the debate's opened out of the gate.
2121| Shepherd: The 1st question: Even though a majorityy of individuals have served as president since Lincoln have been republican... most african americans aren't able to name a Republican president since lincoln who has left a positive and significant legacy for African Americans... what positive and significant legacy, if any, will you leave for African Americans?
2119|Shepherd: Alan Keyes notes the four not present weren't at Values Voters Debate. Says that and PBS debate are two debates he's been included in. "That suggests that they may or may not be afraid of all black people, but there seems to be at least one black person they're afraid of..."
2118|Shepherd: Rep. Duncan Hunter(R-Calif.) gives opening statement: "We have a border which is on fire with a massive amount of narcotics... and people sneaking across it."
2117|Shepherd: Tom Tancredo notes he was sole Republican at NAACP convention.
2115| Shepherd: "I think it's a disgrace for our party"--Sen. Sam Brownback, apologizing for his fellow candidates not in attendance. Brownback suggests a way to fix it: urges African-Americans to register Republican in early primary states, vote for the Republican they prefer.
2115|Shepherd: Asks same of Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tex.). Paul: "I go wherever I'm invited to talk about freedom..."
2114| Shepherd: Smiley asks Gov. Huckabee to say in his own words why he showed up at the debate and what he has to say to candidates who didn't show.
2111| Shepherd: "Once again we have the opportunity to change the course of a nation," --Steele after noting historic distrust of African-Americans to the GOP.
2110|Shepherd: Fmr. Md. Lt. Gov. Michael Steele welcomes audience, notes 50th anniversary of Little Rock, Arkansas, desegration.
2105|Shepherd: Moderator Tavis Smiley says you can't lead the people without loving the people and that we'll see tonight the depth of love the candidates have for the people. Subtle hint that Smiley thinks GOP candidates don't love the American people, particularly people of color?
2105|Shepherd: Second reference by Joyner to Jena, La.
2103|Shepherd: Joyner mentioned Jena Six defendant's release, says he was held in jail for ten months for what amounted to a high school brawl.
2103|Shepherd: Joyner welcomes those viewing at home: McCain, Thompson, Giuliani, and Romney, who are not in attendance.
2102| Ken Shepherd: Host Tom Joyner gets off a good joke about Dan Rather.
Ken Shepherd and I will be covering the debate on-location thanks to the excellent work of the Media Bloggers Association. Will moderator Tavis Smiley be fair? Will Alan Keyes throttle Juan Williams? We'll bring you live reports from the debate press room and spin alley afterwards.
—Matthew Sheffield is the creator of NewsBusters and its Executive Editor.
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Perception is all there is
September 27, 2007 - 21:43 ET by Lame CherryAfter watching the debate, I was proven correct in seeing only scowling questioners and Smiley appeared in every question to have a phobia about being on stage with people of the GOP in wanting in over with.
There were situations proven in this debate that Republicans bring solutions to the debate while democrats in every response are in the first recourse spending citizen's money on problems.
Alan Keyes simply won the debate as his intellect is 40 points over the the group assembled there. His answers were well informed, out of the box and Ronald Reagan in character.
In watching Huckabee, Paul and Brownback, they simply are nothing but closet democrats. Huckabee whining about the death penalty, Paul against it along with his isolationism with Brownback's trucking kids around for schooling made Kansas sound like Selma. These 3 should be at the democrat debates as their policies and rhetoric mirror the left.
Tancredo proved a good showing, but he simply is not practiced or has no inborn ability to look presidential as he hems on questions.
Hunter was forceful enough, but when you have Keyes on the stage he is soon shown up.
This is the reason Newty has joined Keyes in driving this gathering. Hopefully Fred Thompson will polish himself to amount to something as his demeanor is capable with show stealers like Keyes and Gingrich.........in their light though voila Rudy and Mitt are going to fade fast like college kids finding out the NFL is another 10 steps up.
On a quite positive note, I actually heard a form of my doctor plan "in no taxes" being advocated in treating basic needs. Hopefully the candidates will check the back blogs and study up.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
The Great Morgan State Debate
September 27, 2007 - 23:03 ET by third eyeOk, just got back from the debate, which I have to admit, it was no where near as fun to watch as the previous debate on Fox.
Tancredo: D- was not the crowd favorite by any means, and again showed some verbal stumbling early on. Clearly lacks the charisma needed in a candidate.
Brownback: D+, Apparently hes been in jail before. Also, He showed bad form as Juan Williams managed to stump him worse than a toe in the dark.
Keyes: B+, The most relaxed candidate on stage. What can I say, he can work a crowd.
Hunter: C+, came off as less than prepared to speak in a PBS sponsered debate. Honestly, he bored me.
Huckabee: B, He gets better with every debate, which is very rare. I also notieced he does better when given a longer time to answer.
Paul: C-, Walking from my car to the debate, you would think the only one speaking tonight was Ron Paul. His supporters really have taken to the art of sign making. Clearly the most annoying supporters in the history of politics. I had a supporter sitting behind me, who felt the need to comment on everything Ron Paul said. The part of the brain that tells you other people dont care, does not appear to exsist in most Ron Paul supporters.
Disgusting Management, Some Very Good Discussions
September 27, 2007 - 23:08 ET by stratmanBoy, was I ever wrong in my optimism concerning Smiley and this debate.
First there was the sermon on the Mount by Joyner. I guess when you have the bully pulpit you might as well abuse it. Then Smiley, a malaprop of a name for him tonight, added his merde to the mix. Who cares you couldn't express your venomous hatemongering because you were on PBS and not BET. Way too much time spent getting in their potshots and connecting with their Party base. Where was their contempt for their Democrat candidates that refused to appear on FOX for a debate. Two-faced self-agrandizing whiners.
I don't recall the name of the Angela Davis wannabe who was part of the first question or the Foxy Brown wannabe the panel who oozed contempt while speaking, but their participation was a calculated move to engender as much disgust as possible. It worked. I was disgusted by the them.
Talk about hostile territory! When will the Democrats finally be subjected to this form of hostility (which I doubt FOX would engage in) and have to actually answer difficult questions (as if they ever will as the Repubs actually did)? I look forward to the end of the primaries so the head-to-head debates may commence and the phoney and unsubstantive Dem (--> Hillary) will be exposed for all to see.
As President Bush once said: Bring it on!
I do think the candidates sounded more sincere and less scripted than any one of the Dems in their debates. I really enjoyed Keyes who I had not known or recalled much about. I also appreciated the candidates that voiced the concept that America is a nation of Americans and not races/ethnicities. The longer people separate themselves and others based on race, the longer there is disparity based on race. The format of this debate lent itself to furthering racial division and a divisive America.
All in all, I think the candidates came away looking bruised but winner by TKO. Smiley and Joyner looked like petty and angry spoiled asshats who wanted their ball back.
Killing them with kindness isn't working. Time to get scrappy with the Donkeys.
Thanks for the report, stratman
September 27, 2007 - 23:17 ET by RJ....it's exactly what I expected. The front-runners would have been fools to go there, and, thankfully, they knew it.
I suspect the only reason the others went was they were hoping the exposure would raise their poll numbers.
They're either racist or STUPID
September 28, 2007 - 00:29 ET by KeithThey're either racist or stupid for not going, take your pick. If they're racist, then they're like a lot of "conservatives" who hide their racism behind a "earnest desire" (lol) to prove there's a level playing field, by taking back the affirmative action that was given to *ahem* level the playing field Or they're STUPID, oddly enough this one gets my vote! I would have assumed the former until I watched the "Values Voters" debate and these idiots weren't there either! I mean, it's one thing not to show up at a black event which is ostensibly your opponents "base". But to not show up for YOUR OWN BASE???? That's brand new baby, that took stupidity to the level of an art form. On this one, the politics of it alone would have told the average idiot that this WILL BE USED AGAINST THEM IN THE FUTURE, further perpetuating the line that Repubs are RACIST! But these republican idiots are a new breed of dummy! They not only don't need to show up to your stinkin' debate, they don't even show up at THEIR OWN!!!! ROFLMAO.
Still pretending to have voted for Bush twice, Keith?
September 28, 2007 - 09:02 ET by RJLOL! Please stick around. Having a Hollywierd dude fantasy-posting is entertaining.
Did you watch the debate? If not, did you bother reading the reports from stratman or Lame Cherry on the ideological posturing and follow-up attacks by that great, moderate, non-racist "journalist", Smiley Tavis (Remember? He's the one who called President Bush a serial killer.) and the other fair and balanced (choke) questioners?
Not attending what was obviously going to become a mosh-pit of anti-conservative hate was the most intelligent move they could have made.
Keith....the whole forum was racist..
September 28, 2007 - 09:31 ET by JayTeeNot to mention hostile and accusatory.....I'm glad the top three didn't throw themselves into the boiling water. It was a Democratic benefits party gone bad, with the no shows finding something more constructive to do.
What good is a Free Press, if it is a False Press ? David Foote GoE
Keith: You have presented
September 28, 2007 - 13:51 ET by stratmanKeith:
You have presented an unfortunate and erroneous "Sophie's Choice" for the explanation of why certain candidates did not show for the PBS debate.
After watching this dog and pony show run by the petulant Smiley and framed by the vaudevillean MC Joyner, where Liberal angst and hatemongering were given over-the-top representation at a Conservative debate, I do not begrudge those that decided to boycott this distasteful media circus event.
Killing them with kindness isn't working. Time to get scrappy with the Donkeys.
I watched the ambush last nite....
September 28, 2007 - 09:20 ET by JayTeeThe PBS Debates turned out to be 12 minutes of opending speeches….by the HOST PBS…..
PBS proceeded to Ambush the Absent Candidates by leaving empty podiums on stage as place holders for the missing, and then the very first Questions to the Candidates asked to Candidates to comment on their fellow Absent candidates. Then before any questions were asked the Jena 6 were brought up in the opening “monologues”, followed by Jena 6 Questions later in the “Debate”.
The Forum was a prime example of how the MSM thinks, with the Questions coming out more as ACCUSATIONS sometimes, than an actual Question. Tavis, the host, is a dyed in the wool Democrat of the Left ….
My kingdom for a neutral or slightly republican Debate HOST.
They did trot out a Black republican congressman to speak in the first 12 minutes, as a token Repub. The poor dumb democrats don’t even know History, with a question/accusation stating that ever since Lincoln, no one can remember a Republican who has done anything for the poor black people…and asked what would the republicans on stage do for them if elected. This statement was corrected by most of the candidates who somehow remembered history that the Accusers could not recall.
Ron Paul was the most confused candidate, with the most confusing platform (IMO). He did get some resounding applause mixed in with some quiet confusion following his answers.
Alan Keyes was intellectual and coherent, and seemed to know exactly what the problems of his black community were all about.
The most informative thing to come out (for me) was the total opposite of this Debate compared to any of the Democratic debates. A lot less sniping of other candidates, not much Bush bashing, but the similar debate format of “Quick, Say something” was always leaving the speakers running out of time and being interrupted by the host trying to run a Stop watch Debate.
A shortfall of attendees should not have been such an opening issue…..especially with all the Ambushing and sniping going on…..one can wonder if even MORE interrogation/torture Techniques would have been employed if the REAL candidates had attended.
I think the front runners did themselves good dodging this Gathering of Snipers……no wonder the Democrats won’t go on FOX, they think they will be treated like PBS treated these guys…a subtle, steady, undertone of “republicans are bad” and we’re going to talk about “why”. It wasn’t as bad as a Bush press conference……nothing can hold a candle to that forum.
What good is a Free Press, if it is a False Press ? David Foote GoE