Ninety minutes isn't much time to discuss the issues that are important to the nation. Seventy-five minutes is even less, which is what we got after the Tavis Smiley Show, the 15 minutes at the start of the broadcast that allowed him to pay tribute to Howard University, Tom Joyner, and, of course, himself. Candidate events such as these almost always fail to live up to expectations. There are canned answers, flubbed lines, and other annoyingly condescending comments made by candidates. However, these events are (marginally) important and here are my winners and losers.
Winners
Former Senator John Edwards, yet again, has demonstrated he grasps the issues as well or better than anyone in the race. He was particularly impressive in responding to a question on HIV/AIDS. He called for increased federal funding for a cure for HIV/AIDS and provide Medicare coverage for testing and treatment. He would appoint a redevelopment czar for New Orleans. It's too bad the punditocracy is trying to make this a two-person race.
Every day that Hilary walks off the stage without a major flub is a good thing. She didn't hurt herself and she helped herself when she noted that if HIV/AIDS were hitting white women aged 18-25 the way it is hitting Black America, then there would be hell to pay. That was an inconvenient truth that too many people want to overlook.
Joe Biden showed his willingness to be candid on issues. His comment on the need for community leadership to confront the men in the community about the need to wear condoms and the need for women to know that they can say no in response to a question on HIV/AIDS drew gasps in the room. Some will, no doubt, see his comment as condescending and I can see why (there's nothing like a White Senator telling Black folk what to do), but he's right and people need to be real about this issue. Too many Black men are being sexually irresponsible.
Losers
New Mexico Governor Richardson should get out now. He is surprisingly unprepared for these forums and seems stilted and stiff. It's as if he is not studying for the forums. Much to my chagrin, he is not ready for prime time. His answer to the question on outsourcing, which included the idiotic "What will it take to keep you here?" in reference to corporations, strikes me as supportive of corporate tax breaks that hurt workers.
Honorable Mention
Former Senator Mike Gravel. He doesn't have a chance of winning this nomination, so he's free to speak truth to power. His taking note of the abhorrent rise in incarceration rates in American over the last 35 years was certainly an eye opener. Hopefully, it will get some to think about better ways to mete out justice. Our current system is a failure, captured by "tough on crime" conservatives who couldn't care less about just and prefer to incarcerate as many people who might vote Democratic as possible. Gravel also drew applause for his comment that neither party has done much on opportunity issues. Ending the national income tax is an interesting thought, though his solution is unduly regressive. His comment that most of the other candidates don't have the moral judgment to be president may have been the zinger of the night. Gravel is gruff and of his generation, but he's also a welcome addition to the race.
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