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.
