Journalists Slam ABC Debate Tactics

Was it really that bad?

It was that bad if you are an Obama supporter. Obama easily turned in his worst performance of the political season, and seemed totally unprepared to address questions reflecting the political headlines since the last debate: his relationships with William Ayers and the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, and his "clinging to guns and religion" comments.

Why his team didn't appear to forecast these questions is anybody's guess. They seemed to be totally off his script.

I think he was fortunate that George Stephanopoulos and Charles Gibson were the moderators, myself. My guess is that Tim Russert or any number of moderators may have been even tougher and would certainly have addressed these headline events, whether people think they are the most substantive issues or not.

I look at these debates as interviews for the most powerful job in the world. You have got to be prepared for the worst and the most obvious questions you might have thrown at you, and sometimes they are the same!

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I know, I didn't say anything about Mrs. Clinton above. She seemed to be a little excited that Obama was getting some hard questions, to a point that she became a little wordy answering questions where "yes" or "no" was the desired answer.

She was asked a "yes" or "no" question that she did not want to answer, about whether or not she thought Obama could beat John McCain. She had to concede a "yes" after listening to herself talk for a minute or two.

It's always good to see your young man backed up against the ropes, when he's been picking off the old fighter with elegant jabs and using pretty footwork all through the bout.

Continuing in boxing terms, Obama is the talented newcomer. Every coach likes to see his man get a lesson and caught by a few good punches . It wakes the kid up. It toughens the kid up for the future, when he gets to fight for the title.Even Clay got caught a few times (before he was champion ,he was knocked flat on his back by Henry Cooper). The youngster, if he's any good, learns from the experience. He won't get caught again.Eventually he'll be as good a counter-puncher, and as crafty, as Archie Moore, but before that he'll give the opponents a bit more respect and learn to take the pressure (and not forget his corner's instructions, either).Whatever the talk of Rove tactics from the Republicans, Obama should be ready and wiser next time. This was a good work out, however unpleasant. It'll have done him a lot of good for later.

It's as well that Clinton really isn't that hot and the interrogators are in so late in the bout when the kid is well ahead on points and can clear his head in time.

Good to know that, once the event got around to politics (about round nine!), Obama has shown no command whatsoever of capital gains taxation. Now there's a subject which is of importance to working class voters without jobs, living in some desolate small town that's lost its factories Such ignorance is unforgiveable in one of the elite !