Tonights Debate Loser: You and Me

Following Senator McCain's "barking poodle" stroll on Washington, I was happy to see him grace the American people with his presence at this first presidential debate. The candidates stood toe to toe for nearly ninety minutes, each taking few opportunities of direct challenge, leaving it to moderator Jim Lehrer to orchestrate and re-orchestrate the interaction. The real debate is being played out right now, as pundits and viewers analyze, argue, and dissect the presentation in search of a winner. Since I don't know who the winner will be, I figured I'd talk about the loser. That would be, you and me.

In a discussion that was meant to be principally focused on foreign policy, neither candidate uttered the words "Palestine" or "Palestinian" once.

John McCain, celebrating himself as a maverick, reinventing his voting record, and name-dropping world leaders, simultaneously re-exhibited his enduring ignorance of the cultural dynamics that led to his misjudgment on Iraq in the first place. Senator Obama, at least gave a little nuanced oxygen to the conversation in his statement that Ahmadinejad may not be the most powerful man in theocratic Iran -- an often mis-advertised political and cultural evaluation.

The result is another frustrating piece of American media that is at once far too polite, and at the same time, dismissive of an American public's need to know anything beyond jingoistic self-aggrandizement.

So, now I'll go out, throw back a couple of sakes at the sushi bar, and re-play this thing in my head. I'll wonder about the state of Bill Clinton's political menopause, and the gullibility of a nation searching for a daddy. And then I'll find a way to giggle. I'd like to see a debate between John McCain and his own vice-presidential choice, were she his opponent in the presidential race. The picture I'm seeing of that exposes both as car salesmen: one of Rolls Royce's, the other of used pick-ups. Somewhere in between there are hopeful young people following an elegant professor from Harvard in belief of a better day. I want those people to win. Bottoms up. (This is not an economic pun...or is it?)

Read more reactions to the first presidential debate from HuffPost bloggers, including Nora Ephron, Bob Shrum, Madeleine Albright, Paul Reiser, Arianna Huffington, Sheryl Crow, and more.

Comments

[AmericasWarrior]

Among the things Palin hit him on during her flamatory at the RNC was saying what was politically correct. Time to take the gloves off, and dont worry if it hurts your brand, what you are up against wont take that into account, so why should you?

[dynagirl7371]

At this moment, I'm trying very hard to not see all of your talents, Sean. I'm trying only to appreciate how you've decided to be a loud voice about our nation and call a spade a spade. I too, wish that Sen. Obama had taken his gloves off and landed a combination, but I'm hopeful that there will be that golden moment in the following debates; they're not over yet.

[Anthrofreak]

Unfortunately, Mr. Penn, there are two things that would be the kiss of death for any American presidential candidate to admit. 1) That Israel has no rightful place in the Middle East and the way they have treated Palestinians is unethical and immoral. 2) Come out as an anti-war candidate. It's just not going to happen right now.

America isn't there yet. On that list would also be being openly gay, unmarried, any religion other than christian or an atheist.

[DarkandStormyNight]

As cynical is this sounds, it is unfortunately the truth. Very sad indeed.

[FreeThinkn1]

Although we've been following the campaign for months and we know Obama, a large portion of the electorate just started to pay attention on Friday and they do not know him. It would have been foolish if he overtly attacked the POW right out of the box. His tactic worked. He came off as the calm congenial leader while McCain was the unstable grumpy old man. I agree that it's hard to be patient after the past seven and a half years, but we must if we want Obama to win.

[Bobrobert]

Sorry.

My friends are now Obama supporters too.

At least in this town Obama came out on top.

[James4Hope]

I agree that we need our leaders to discuss the state of Palestine. Israel is not adhering to the UN resolution and continues to push the Palestinian people off their land.
After reading President Carter's book concerning this, I finally got a better understanding of why a majority of Arabs are so angry at the US and it's policy with regards to Israel.

[scordsdu]

I second this motion!

[JayInDallas]

Like most here, I share your pain. I desperately wanted Obama to drop the politeness and use the voice of the American people in calling out McCain for his ties to Bush and the trauma his administration has inflicted upon America. I wanted some kind of verbal retribution for all the things that have happened. Everything that has undermined the Constitution, shredded the Bill of Rights and driven the greatest country in the world to its knees. I wanted Obama to bring the reckoning that John McCain was fully expecting after his ridiculous performance and posturing that week, not to mention over the course of his campaign.

But Barack Obama is not me. And I am not running for office of the President of the United States. I am part of a collective voice that grows daily across the country I love. The voice of an America that is awakening from the Shock Doctrine inflicted upon it by an administration with a flawed and sinister ideology. A voice that one day will be unmistakable throughout this country's government in its demand for justice once the participants and their abettors in the crimes perpetrated are uncovered and brought before this country to account for their actions.

The scars this country will bear for years to come won't be easily forgotten nor forgiven.

[captainindustry]

incredibly well said. but first, foremost, and above all, Senator Obama has to win the election. This isn't a sprint, it is a marathon. I trust Obama's instincts. I don't care if he wins by a landslide or a single vote.

[Passenger57]

Let's take it easy on Obama, folks! He knows what he's doing! There are two debates left...
Remember Obama hatchet/scalpel comaprison? That's what he's doing to McCain - slowly but surely , McCain The Hatchet Man will realize this when it's too late.
Dr. Obama to the White House - stat!

[captainindustry]

Yep!! We are the loosers. but who is the winner?

Just ask McCain

“I was a little disappointed the media called it a tie but I think that means, when they call it a tie, that means we win,” McCain said


but then, he still thinks we won in the nam....

[shel3364]

He declared himself winner before he decided he'd go to the debate. WATTA GUY

[Passenger57]

McCain's been lying too much...he says the sky is blue, I'm looking out the window!
He can't exactly tell the truth and say he LOST,now,could he?

[rockyroad]

Sean,

I share your pain. However, this was the first in a series of debates (unless McCain pulls another rabbit out of his hat . . . even then, Americans are catching on to his stunts and are no longer amused).

McCain is the aged product of privilege. Obama is the product of a broken home, raised by white grandparents in white schools. Obama isn't a POW, but one can only imagine how he managed to rise above racism and poverty to become a Harvard grad and law professor. That takes some smarts and some huge fight.

McCain's got the fight but lacks the intellect and temperment. If nothing else, the debate illuminated that about McCain.

The first debate was not the time to attack. It was a time to calculate and evaluate. Palin's debate will be interesting. Obama has fangs, but he's a wiley dude.

Just wait.

[WAstateliberal]

For starters, this debate format is a joke. Debates should be cross-ex, period. And by cross-ex I mean by the moderator, not the other candidate.

Second, how can we pretend to talk about foreign policy in a 90 minute debate, 38 minutes of which were devoted to a stupid discussion of earmarks?

You know what other word wasn't uttered? Darfur. Think about that. We had 23 primary debates but only three presidential ones? That's a joke.

[quasar]

With all due respect for Sean Penn and his talent as an actor, Obama would not be where he is if he listened to Penn.

Not everything can be changed at once and it would be foolish to promise or even hint that it could be.

Children learn this that hard way but they eventually learn it or they remain frustrated as adults.

Let's grow up and move forward.

[RobtBrock]

I've got one word for you. Earmarks.

[katocat]

Keep speaking out Sean.

The right wants everyone with a voice against them to "shut up" all of the time... I think it's great when folks like yourself speak their mind.

It's what makes America great.

[PumaAnn]

I can't disagree with you more. This was a substantive debate. For better or worse, each candidate presented his position well.

It's not up to voters.

They are who they are. Both.