The AP keeps posting feeds that claim, “Rivals Gang Up on Dean in Debate.” After having watched it, I have no idea what the AP is talking about.
I’ve watched every single one of these debates, going back to the first one seven months ago in South Carolina, and last night’s forum had to be the least confrontational — and least substantive — debate of them all.
Dean’s rivals didn’t “gang up” on anyone, except for maybe Ted Koppel, who was cover-your-eyes bad at moderating this debate. I understand that Koppel wanted to avoid the usual soundbite-answers to traditional policy questions, so to help shake things up a bit, he decided to get into more political/horserace kind of questions. It may have seemed like a good way to keep the candidates on their toes, but it made Koppel look ridiculous.
Koppel began by asking all the candidates about their thoughts on Gore’s endorsement of Dean, followed by a series of questions about Dean’s electability, followed by a bunch of questions about poll numbers and FEC filings for the various candidates. As Atrios noted, it took Koppel a full 19 questions into the debate to ask a question that was even remotely substantive. So much for a serious exchange of ideas about the issues that affect the lives of real Americans…
Kudos to Kucinich for effectively telling Koppel to stuff it.
“Ted, you know, we started at the beginning of this evening, talking about an endorsement,” Kucinich said. “Well, I want the American people to see where the media takes politics in this country. We start talking about endorsements, now we’re talking about polls, and then we’re talking about money. Well, you know, when you do that, you don’t have to talk about what’s important to the American people.”
This response not only drew the longest and most sustained applause of the night, it was the most coherent thing Kucinich has said in any of the debates so far.
Kerry also scored some points with disgust for Koppel. At one point, Koppel asked Kerry if there’s “anything to be learned” from Dean’s campaign, considering his standing in the polls.
“Well, Ted, I’ll tell you, there’s something to be learned from your question,” Kerry said. “And if I were an impolite person, I’d tell you where you could take your polls. You know, this has got to stop.”
The crowd loved the answer, and just as importantly, even Dean applauded Kerry’s comments.
Actually, Dean’s support for Kerry’s answer was typical for the entire evening. I’m not going to bother with a play-by-play of the debate; it was just too dull for that. But it seemed that no one wanted to go out of their way to criticize anyone, which I suppose means that Dean won the debate by default.
Kerry: “I agree completely with Governor Dean…. [A]s President Kennedy made clear to the nation in Houston in 1960, we cherish as a country the separation of church and state.”
Dean: “I agree with Wes Clark, the president is not fighting terrorism.”
Kerry: “I agree in principle with what Carol is saying.”
Dean: “I think John Edwards is right, the people will decide, not Al Gore or anybody else.”
Kerry: “I love John Edwards.”
Dean: “I think we need to bring in foreign troops. I think Senator Kerry is right.”
If anyone tuned in looking for heated debate among bitter rivals, they probably fell asleep half-way through.