By the magic of TIVO, I joined the debate fun a few hours after all the hoopla had already been wrapped up. For while in the world of us politicos Thursday was a big day – akin maybe to the dual characteristics of sloppiness and potential that define NFL Training Camp or Baseball Spring Training – it also marked the 56th Annual National Day of Prayer, something that for me put all the political stuff in its rightful context.
Up in my neck of the woods, a great event marking the occasion was organized by two local conservative leaders, Dan Kirby and Peter Amundson – Councilmembers of Monrovia and Arcadia respectively. The guest speaker was my friend Captain Tim Escobar, fresh back from flying attack helicopters and training Iraqi forces. I had forgotten what a commanding speaker Tim was, and found myself pleasantly captivated by his weaving of history, storytelling, and offering a compelling message, all seamlessly.
Tim offered his take of why we’re there, why we can’t leave until the job is done, and how America is changing perceptions of the West and of Christian nations by giving the Iraqis something they’ve never had: hope.
Coming home from such a great event, I couldn’t have then been more disappointed in the debate. In the candidates ya, but far more so in the coverage of the event.
As I fast-forwarded through the Pre-Debate coverage, I was simply stunned to see someone actually decided Ariana Huffington would make a good commentator. Clearly it must’ve been her expert insight into the minds of conservative Republican Primary voters. Keith Olberman too. Huh? At the Republican Debate at the Regan Library, it should come as an embarrassment to MSNBC that Joe Scarborough was the only Republican talking head they could drag out there.
For the debate itself, as the first nationally televised cattle call, it ought to have been an opportunity for the candidates to introduce themselves to a national audience. Romney the Harvard JD/MBA CEO with talk of vetoes, Ted Kennedy, and the Olympics. McCain about pork and Iraq. Rudy about New York and 9/11. Brownback about life. Tancredo about immigration… You get the picture.
Instead, we got “What do you dislike most about America?” Really. Did someone really think anyone running for President of the United States was going to dignify that ridiculous question with an answer?
And if that singularly were just an accident, one question that slipped through the cracks, it could’ve been overlooked. But, oh, it wasn’t. Single moms in prison. One to Tancredo about reproductive rights that followed a lengthy discussion of abortion. Opinions of Bill Clinton back in the White House… In a format where 10 candidates and 3 moderators had to cram their show into 90 minutes, far far far too much was wasted on trivial blatherings.
Despite a lot of the Spin Room action, I really didn’t think the candidates did much better. Granted, I didn’t think it was their fault. They’ve each been campaigning for months or years already, giving their pitch in 10 or 20 minute blocks. Consolidating that into 30-second bites will take time for them to perfect. They got their points across, but not as crisply as we’ll surely see in a few months. In addition, when thrown such absurd questions, and being forced to pivot from whether they trust the mainstream media or Scooter Libby’s pardon to get in their bit about the Olympics, being on the National Terrorism Commission, or their position on Iran, they can’t really be faulted for the awkwardness.
If MSNBC is to host any more debates, I’d like to offer them a couple of tips. First, just one moderator – and maybe one who actually speaks Republican. Second, if the candidates feel like attacking one another, fine. But for Chris Matthews to try to instigate things between the front-runners and the also-rans was just poor form. And third, fire whoever allowed those glorified “What’s your favorite color?” questions to make it into the debate.
In the meantime, I think MSNBC owes an apology for screwing up what easily could’ve been a great event to every Republican who regularly watches their station. All three of them.