Final debate moderator Bob Schieffer is a longtime John McCain fan, as this video from the Jed Report shows:
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OK, this worried me before the debate. But Bob Schieffer actually tried to keep McCain on subject (without great success, but he did TRY.) If I hadn't read this article before the debate, I would never have known that he was a big McCain fan. In my opinion, he did a very good job of being impartial and fair.
Yeah - but he did give McCain 7 out of 8 wrap-ups, a bit of a favor, perhaps, to his friend, but to no avail.
Also did not admonish McCain for interrupting Obama, or throwing in one of McCain's passive aggressive stingers.
I agree completely. I did not read the article before the debate and thought this was the best moderated debate thus far.
Well, I guess we all know why the Ayres conversation came up. McCain didn't want to bring it up himself so he had Schieffer do it.
Given how it all came out that is a break for Obama. If McCain tries to blame the moderator, he loses one of his few remaining friends in the media (less Fox, they aren't really media - more a PR firm with cameras). If he doesn't blame the moderator how does he explain bombing THIS time?
It's time for all the old, white men to go and rest and retire - new, younger blood is needed in this country to lead us into the future ! President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden are just what we need! Vote as soon as possible!
Yes! You said it.
Amen, Schieffer, Gibson, Brokaw, Buchannan, Matthews, Bennett, Will, Cokie Roberts, are a good start among the geezers.
Hang on, now! Some "old white men" offer important wisdom to guide that new, younger blood. My dad is 84 and a former Republican, STRONGLY supports Obama because he understands the need for intelligent leadership. My father remembers the depression, served in WWII, became a successful businessman, raised a family, and still serves others as a volunteer. We should value that kind of history and wisdom alongside the fresh new ideas and energy!
And besides, Joe Biden is no spring chicken! Palin is relatively young, but that's not a good example of what we need in political leadership!
I agree hopefully the original poster means old school minded; I meet older people all the time that are sharp wonderful, full of wisdom and yes ideas many think that Warren Buffet's wisdom is financially needed while I for one have reservation with the 36 year old that Paulson has tapped.
back to point not all oldsters are ancient in thought
Amen. I know several "old white men" who have told me that Sen. Obama reminds them of JFK and summons the same sense of hope.
That man is a true Republican! My Father was as well. He voted for Kennedy.
The fact that current Neo conservatives actually prefer stupidity.
McCain in this debate parsed Obama's words, making eloquence into a nasty word.
In the last ten years we have watched America dumb-ed down considerably!
Smart people have better honed perception filters, that makes them harder to manipulate than the ubiquitous Joe-Six-Pack. I remember when that term was derogatory.
Of course, they are both old white men... each feels the inevitable pull of the grave.
Schieffer is so out of it, he should be put down, just to spare him any more embarrassment. Aren't there any broadcast hacks under 50 who could read the prompter as well as Schieffer/??
Hey...I'm an old white man too. I like Obama. I wasn't counting, but it seemed like Schiffer allowed McCain to interrupt Obama at will and allowed McCain the closing comments on almost every issue that he raised. Seemed biased to me.
I noticed it, too.
Nothing wrong with old men, no matter the race.
But you're not running for president, right?
I agree, this was biased and McCain sort of talked on and on...but it did work against him.
Thank you!
I'm an old white woman married to an old white man and both of us are pro Obama all the way. (Well I had to talk my husband down from Hillary in the primaries.
Please don't throw us ALL out! We take it back about all the slacker smack talk.
As to Scheiffer's bias - good! Gives the Repugs nothing to complain about, it guts the campaign-t
As my son-in-law would say, "Dude!" (I don't always know what he means, but he generally sounds happy when he says it.)
This is a 1965 Voting Rights Act radio commercial sponsored by president Johnson. Civil Rights struggles are universal.
http://cur
Shucks. Another idiotic McCain video...wi
No one is favorable to Obama this idea that everyone is in the tank for Obama is a MYTH. Schiffer was better than the other two but I didnt care for his questions about Obama saying McCain is earratic and losing his bearings. McCain has been erratic Obama is not the only one that says so and he has flip flopped Obama isnt the only one that says so and to use that and compare it to Palling around with terrorist well thats just absolutely LUDRICIOUS. He wanted to bring that Ayers thing up for McCain's benefit so he shoved Obama in with the negative character attacks when its absolutely hogwash.
Carol
This is true. McCain lies (repeatedly--even after the accusations have been dealt with over and over) in his attacks on Obama. Obama just states what is obvious to anyone who's been watching about McCain.
I think Obama WANTED the opportunity to address the accusations very publicly. Remember, Obama and Biden basically dared McCain to bring it up. McCain took th ebait, and swallowed it whole. The issue has now been put effectively to rest for most undecideds. The rabid right will never change their minds!
Joe Biden loves McCain, but that doesn't cloud his judgement that McC's policy decisions are just plain maverick crazy.
J S M c C a i n:"I am no B u s h",I am B u s h cloned!
Bob did a splendid job. Far better than last two moderators.
Agree. He controlled the debate instead of letting McCain take over as the others did.
Almost as dismissive of Senator Obama as Senator McCain was. At the end of the debate, he clasped John McCain's hand and patted him on the arm; his brief handshake with Barack Obama was very perfunctory.
don't sweat it - BO needs Schiffer like a deer needs a hat-rack.
Obama will be in New Hampshire tomorrow morning...
Is New Hampshire in the Northwest?
Sarah Palin: "What's New Hampshire and golly, where's the Northwest?" Isn't that back East somewhere? When I'm elected vice president I'm going to move the Whitehouse to Wasilla so that I can keep a better eye on Putin!"
With the guy at the top of the ticket thinking that Spain is in Latim America and not a member of NATO, you guys are lucky she didn't think she was talking to ex-pats located in Canada.
GOD LOVE HER, BUT SHE'S LAME.
Can you see Seattle from there?
I thought Bob Schieffer did a fine job. I felt this debate was kept much more on topic than the previous debates. And I'm an Obama voter.
I agree he was the best moderator of all the debates.
If that were the case, why would he question Barack Obama about Ayers and Acorn and not ask John Macain about Sarah Palin's ties to the AIC or about 'troopergate". Totally one-sided I thought.
Very good point. Schieffer is another old horse from the past and should have stayed out to pasture.
Well, let's see ConcernedC
Bob Schieffer promised he would keep the candidates on subject.
Obama largely stuck to the question at hand.
McCain kept going all over the place talking about so many different things I couldn't keep up with him.
Yet not once did Scheiffer say, "Please, you are way off topic." Now I watch this video and know why.
Shameful!
By the way, the press isn't crying about his bias like the did in the previous debate!
McCain came pretty close to being as incoherent as his VP pick....an
And Schieffer consistently gave McCain the last word. Even with support from the moderator, McCain still lost the debate.
With someone like mccain and palin you give them all the rope they want and let them hang themselves. They speak and everything they say comes out the wrong end, thats the republican way.
Maybe especially with support from the moderator.
These guys think that they are still making sense! The rest of us - not so much. If the debate had run another half hour McCain and Scheifer would both have been yelling at clouds.
Birds of a feather. I'm sure her similar combative style was a major reason he chose her. But, yeah, regardless of whatever advantages McCain had as a friend of the moderator, it did him no good. Both McCain and Palin are good at self-destruction.
It was obvious that he was partial to Mr. McCain as he let him rebut every question and be the last one speaking before he went on to the next question in all but one opportunity if I counted correctly.
It would have been less obvious if when McCain started to answer, Obama answered, McCain responded and Obama rebutted with a final answer. Too many times this was a McCain, Obama, McCain discussion or an Obama, McCain, Obama, McCain discussion.
What was that about?
Not objective on Mr. Shaefer's part me thinks.
And I agree he should have recused himself.
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The Huffington Post | Rachel Weiner
First Posted: 10-15-08 08:42 PM | Updated: 11-15-08 05:12 AM