McCain Debate Ploy in Urban Terms: A Punk Move

McCain is Punkin' Out

Let's put McCain's recent campaign in "urban context". Suspending his campaign and participation in the Presidential debate in Oxford, Mississippi is what can be called in the vernacular; "a punk move, punkin' out". With Obama leading all major polls on all issues except for taxes. McCain admittedly said through his actions, "I'm scared".

I find the activities of the Republican party absolutely puzzling. The selection of an inadequate VP candidate in Sarah Palin that is fizzling quickly after "energizing the base". While her introduction into the campaign was heralded with fanfare she is quickly fizzling out the more she speaks to the media reminding us of a Dan Quaylesque pick.

Palin's interview with Katie Couric was comical and almost not fair to poke fun at. As my grandmother used to say, "Everything that starts out thick, ends up thinnin' out in the end." When asked about Israel she responded with her noble intention of preventing a "second holocaust"? But even better she had an intensely cerebral "good guys" and "bad guys" analogy that had to make the GOP proud.



McCain's most recent decision to return to Washington to add his proverbial 2 cents to the current solution has clouded a pressing issue of resolving our countries financial crisis.

Obama called it right when he advised against bringing Presidential politics into a critical issue that is being solved in Washington and that the debate is "More important than ever".


The McCain recommended White House summit was a sham and McCain emerged as mostly silent while Obama asked Hank Paulson critical questions whether the bail out would work and he responded frankly it wouldn't.

On the streets when you have a conflict or "beef" with someone you have two choices; address it squarely or punk out. Obama and McCain have beef. They were supposed to meet in the parking lot after school in Oxford's Presidential debate and what did McCain do? He said that he had to be somewhere and pulled a historic punk move.

Can we coin the new term "Re-punk-lican". The good part is that we know Obama will be in the parking lot tonight at the debate ready to battle. Even better is that if McCain shows he's taken a hit on looking ready and is sure to get stomped.

I'll be in watching either way as the revolution continues to be televised.

Obama vs. Clinton Debate: Biased Journalism - Foul on the Play

Over the past 5 weeks, I had come to miss the energy of the campaign and the optimism that was contagious through the string of early caucuses and primaries. I tuned in to the Democratic Debate between Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton to see where the Democratic party stood regarding the field of candidates.

In retrospect it took me around 30 minutes to recognize what was happening with the line of questions and the unfortunate turn to sabotage reporting from moderators George Stephanopoulos and Charlie Gibson. That's 30 minutes before it became exceedingly clear this was an ambush rather than a debate on issues impacting the campaign. Not only were the recent issues regarding Rev. Jeremiah Wright and the "mangled" "bitter" statements stirred up but new accusations and subversive politics were at play.

Stephanopoulos and Gibson took the low road with the line of questions that segued into a viewer question that perpetuated the almost urban legend that Senator Obama doesn't recognize the flag. The moderators and producers of the debate could have taken a higher road than perpetuating myths and supporting the propoganda of ignorance.

During the course of exchanges between Stephanopoulos and Senator Clinton, all I could think about was the legendary "no look pass" in basketball. George would cue up the question and the imminently prepared Senator from New York was throwin' them down. Stephanopoulos was a strong leader within the Clinton administration and worked closely with Senator Clinton and it showed. Uniquely, I was an intern at the White House during the same time and remember seeing the Michael J. Foxesque Stephanopoulos going between the West Wing and the O.E.O.B. amazed at his access to such a global figure.

The brazen bias in the pointed questions and "gotcha" nature of the beginning of the debate reminded me that we still have a ways to go. I became concerned that these were the types of tactics and ploys that foster fear and contention to win short term gains.

I am disappointed to see the biased nature of the moderators Stephanopoulos and Gibson yesterday evening. Watching the epic campaign that has been unfolding seems historic and has engaged a generation of disenfranchised young voters. I would hope that the media recognizes their role to report with fair objectivity and supports to enrich the experience for viewers.

I've gone to great lengths to avoid the persecution of "racial bias" or victimization saying that Senator Obama was treated that way "because he's black". Race excluded, this is still an issue of subjective questioning for conflict's sake and a desire for something more noble from the media.