Fri, October 8, 2004
What was with all the winking?—8:39 PM
Less to say about this debate, although it was very compelling. Both men had a great night. I think John Kerry was more composed, less defensive, and less hostile towards the questioners, but I greatly respect the presentation of each. Bush was much better than he was last week, though he did tend to work his jaw a lot – Kerry clearly got under his skin and made him hoppin' mad. His inability to keep a steady tone made him seem a little crazed to me, but probably works in his favor with his base. Which is fine; I respect that.
Either way, the clear hero of the whole evening was young Sarah Degenhart, with her heartfelt question about abortion. As deeply misguided as she is about reproductive rights, the sincerity of her concern was breathtaking and endearing. That pleading, misty-eyed stare (you could see it in the background all the way through the next question, too) made me want to marry her, or at least give her a big hug. If she can believe that genuinely that abortion is murder and still convince Gallup that she's undecided, she's either a terrific actress or incredibly open-minded (or incredibly sick of Bush; just as good).
Then Bush had to go and be an asshole in his 30 second rebuttal. "He says it's not that simple, but it is that simple: 'Do you want to ban partial-birth abortions? Yes or no?' He said 'No.'" YOU ASSHOLE. Kerry just explained how it's not that simple, how a necessary clause protecting the mother's life wasn't included. To stand there, and look into those sweet little eyes, and tell her that a bill comes to the floor of the Senate and simply says "Do you want to ban partial-birth abortions?" is a cruel, disrespectful lie.
And he didn't answer the final question, which wasn't about Iraq it was about his ability to admit that he's fallible. His response? Yeah, I'll admit I'm fallible in 50 years if History judges me to be. Right now? The World Is Safer (tm) without Saddam in power.
Anonymous Coward — Sat, 10/9/04 10:55pm
Then Bush had to go and be an asshole in his 30 second rebuttal. "He says it's not that simple, but it is that simple: 'Do you want to ban partial-birth abortions? Yes or no?' He said 'No.'"
The CNN transcript does not support your comment. According to their transcript, Bush is referring to Kerry's 'no' vote on rejecting a ban on partial birth abortions.
Joe Mulder — Sun, 10/10/04 4:49am
"He just explained how it's not that simple, how a necessary clause protecting the mother's life wasn't included."
Where's Paul F. Tompkins when you really need him?
Bee Boy — Sun, 10/10/04 11:09am
According to my transcript, Bush is referring to Kerry's 'no' vote on rejecting a ban on partial birth abortions! He's just oversimplifying it, the same way he did with the military appropriations bills, in order to make Kerry look like a monster. Which is nothing new, but it's Kerry's right to defend himself and say "these bills are not that simple." Because they're not. And then for Bush to turn around and pretend that they are is dishonest.
I don't understand this comment at all. Same with the one about me selling Kerry t-shirts. Lately, these Anonymous Cowards are going crazy!
Ha! Excellent point. What Sarah should have asked was, "Senator Kerry. Abortions. Dumb or Awesome?" Then we'd have gotten to the heart of the matter.
"AC" — Sun, 10/10/04 12:43pm
Are you mad?? Because HE certainly was! And ineffective too. I don't see how anyone could say it was even close. Kerry made mincemeat out of him. And best of all, I regained my long lost respect for Kerry. That's the senator I know and love!
"keypusher" — Wed, 10/13/04 3:09pm
Actually, it really is that simple. The health exception as interpreted by the Supreme Court has been steadily broadened until it essentially means "having the abortion would make the mother feel better." So, the drafters of the partial-birth abortion ban tried to draft the bill to limit the health exception to serious medical conditions. That is what Kerry voted against. A partial-birth abortion ban with a health exception that Kerry would support would actually ban nothing.