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October 3, 2008 | 7:54 am

Media: Palin did good, but Biden won big

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Photo: Reuters

I was incredibly impressed by the woman who took the stage at Washington University last night. She didn’t appear to be the Sarah Palin of that disastrous Katie Couric interview; she didn’t seem to be anybody we had yet seen. And, except for her obnoxious colloquialisms and a few times when she spoke in a circle, I thought Palin cleaned the floor with the knowledgeable yet completely uninspiring Joe Biden.

Boy, was I wrong. I must have been. Maybe you were too. How else could undecided voters and the mass media completely disagree with me?

“Palin Was Fine, But This Debate Was No Contest” is the headline for Time columnist Joe Klein. (Yep, same Joe Klein.) A little bit of his column is after the jump.

She did fine, I suppose.

She was animated and confident. She displayed an ability, for the first time since her convention speech, to repeat with a fair amount of credibility, the formulations that her handlers had given her. You knew she was well prepared when practically the first words out of her mouth were, “Go to a kids’ soccer game…“ She had that folksy thing down—although I did notice, watching the squiggly lines down at the bottom of the CNN screen, that when she tried to get cutesy with her folksiness, it didn’t work.

(skip)

Indeed, Sarah Palin’s high-energy performance in the vice-presidential debate was the most glaring demonstration—since George W. Bush’s performances in 2000—of how little you can get away with knowing and still survive one of these things, especially if the rules limit the cross-examination as severely as they did in this debate. Her relentless opacity was impressive. She refused to answer the questions where she hadn’t been prepped with answers and when Biden pointed out that an early question had been on deregulation not taxes, she flashed: “I may not answer the questions the way you and the moderator want to hear, but I’m gonna talk straight to the American people.“

Talk straight she didn’t, with only a few exceptions. She talked talking points. And when the talking points concerned areas where she didn’t know diddly, she didn’t talk them very convincingly. Indeed, there were times I got the distinct impression that she didn’t understand the points she was talking about (on the vice president’s constitutional powers, for example).

Joe Biden, by contrast, demonstrated a real knowledge of the issues in question. He made several verbal fumbles—it was Syria, not Hizballah, that left Lebanon—and at times he lapsed into legi-speak, even using plague words like “amendments” and “Liheap” (the winter heating oil assistance program for poor people). But his was a solid, informed and restrained performance—although his best moments came near the end of the debate (when much of America had turned to the baseball playoffs or reruns of their favorite sitcoms on cable). He was genuinely moving when he talked about being a single parent after the death of his wife (he almost began to weep, but held it together); in fact, that moment was more real than anything Palin said all night. He also closed with a devastating point: McCain was, sure enough, a maverick on some things, but not on any of the issues that really mattered in this election—and he listed those issues, and where McCain stood on them, to great effect.

(skip)

The fact that Palin made it through the debate without running off the stage shouting, “I can’t do this!“ should not obscure the fact that there was only one person tonight whom anyone with any sense—even John McCain, I imagine—would trust as President. Biden’s performance was strong and, happily, gimmick free. He used no gotcha soundbites, no consultant-driven silliness—a fact driven home by the lameness of Palin’s snark lines like, “Say it ain’t so, Joe” and—pace, Gipper—“There you go again, talking about the past.“

You can read Klein’s column here.

Posted by Brad A. Greenberg in 15 Comments — Leave your comment

Tags: joe biden, media, president 08, sarah palin

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“obnoxious colloquialisms” interesting comment.  i find it fascinating that so many people who preach tolerance and acceptance (the mainline left) have so little tolerance or acceptance of anyone with an accent, unless it’s a New York or Boston one.  Give me a break, does me saying dude make me an idiot…or just some guy that grew up where dude was used often.

should i judge all southerners because they have long drawls?  i listen to a lot of NHL radio stuff and all those guys are canadian, are they idiots because they say ‘ya know’ a ton.

those claiming to be so accepting and so tolerant are proving to be neither.  brad, we all have our pet peeves, but picking on the way someone talks reveals less about what is true, and more about our bias against them…like the roommate who starts to annoy you and pretty soon you get all pissed off when they leave a dirty dish out.  it’s not the dishes, it’s the person…same goes with these colloquialisms.  it’s not those, you don’t like her so everything about her is scruitinized.

side note: has biden had work done? anyone else think he looks a bit pulled?

Comment by ethan on 10/03/08 at 8:37 am

It wasn’t colloquisms that bothered me. If she wants to prove she’s down with middle America, then fine. I thought her winking was a bit insipid. I think Paul Reiser said it best, “She didn’t stink up the joint.“ Am I supposed to give her points for that? She was coached. It was obvious she was coach. I firmly believe that the woman we saw in the Couric interviews was the woman she is ... UNPREPARED.

Biden’s been consistenly on his game, so I don’t agree that she clean Biden’s clock. I think she did well, but Biden had the clear, coherent answers and the facts to back up her claims, refute positions she took, and he actually answer the questions that were asked.

Her strategy is to employ the “word cloud.“ I love that term because it’s exactly what she does. Half the time, I wasn’t sure what she was talking about because the words started forming this weird fog around her and the question and the answer ...

Biden won. It was pretty clear.

Comment by Sharon on 10/03/08 at 8:48 am

E, you’re seeing ghosts here that don’t exist. I have no problem with accents in general or even colloquialisms like “cheers,“ “mate,“ “y’all” or “donnybrook.“ But in an attempt to shore up her Joe-Six-Pack street creds, Palin said things like “Ah, say it ain’t so Joe” and “doggoneit.“

DUDE ... she wants to be the top deputy of the most powerful nation in the world. Shouldn’t she sound like she is leading something other than a PTA meeting? (Not that there is anything wrong with that.)

Comment by Brad A. Greenberg on 10/03/08 at 9:48 am

Palin needs to stop the cute act.  Where Obama and Biden seek the support of the middle-class through defining clear policies on tax relief and healthcare, Sarah Palin winks at the camera and uses hokey phrases my dad uses to try to connect with the American people.  It is an insult to any intelligent American.  Shape up Sarah Palin, we see right through you. If you find yourself the Vice President of the United States of America in the near future, the leaders of the world will not respect the hockey mom act.

Comment by hilary on 10/03/08 at 10:37 am

i think you may be misinterpreting my intent.  Brad, I am questioning your credibility in making such comments.  i made a post earlier, that the closer someone comes to fanatically being pro/con something the less likely they are to be fair and balanced.

now that may be fine for the reader, but you aren’t the reader, you are the writer.  and you are wanting me to read and learn or at least provoke learning through your writing.  well, i am afraid that the more fanatic you become, the less interesting you become.

personally, i didn’t like the winks.  i also didn’t like joe biden repeating things slowly like i am retarded.  or john mccain speaking condescendingly to obama (made me feel like my grandpa was lecturing me about how i don’t do enough with my life because he fought in WWII).  i like obama’s presentation best of all, he is well spoken and very respectful of his audience.  i struggle with his vagueness; the fact that he throws out blanket political statements that are so overused they no longer mean anything (middle class, education for all, healthcare reform, lowering taxes, etc.).  They sound like they mean a lot, but they don’t; they are just the rhetoric of politics that get you elected.

but most of all, i recognize that what i watched last night was an strictly 2 politicians giving stump speeches while painting the opponent as the incarnation of the devil…all way overplayed.  contrary to the hype, it was boring, and i felt neither politician won; most of all, we all lost for having watched it.

those who say palin was ‘coached’ live in a fantasy world if they don’t think biden was equally as ‘coached.‘  now he may have been more prepared as this is his thing, but what the heck does that have to do with leadership.  i perform well in the limelight, that doesn’t make me a disciplined leader.  their experience (obama, mccain, biden, and palin) is inconsequential in light of history.

the only things i found of interest were actual policies mentioned…and there weren’t that many even though they talked for over an hour.  the tax stuff is all fluff and miscommunication; the candidates agree on most of the foreign policy, though they make it sound like they are totally opposite.

one last point, brad, like a self fulfilling prophecy you are evolving into the ‘liberal media’ right before my eyes.  and this is a misnomer, as the media isn’t really ‘liberal’ as it is ‘democratic partyesque.‘  Last night had very little true liberal thinking…who said anything leading to increased liberty in my life?  neither candidate.  both promote agendas looking to take my money in taxes and do who knows what (if they use it to pay down people’s principals i will be pissed).  but stop it brad, you have got to be more fair and balanced…make your opinion on the issues known and then judge every candidate by an equal standard against it.

Comment by ethan on 10/03/08 at 12:17 pm

I’m not sure how to respond. Two points, though, are relevant:

1. This is a blog, not a reported news article. In this forum, I’m liberated to express my biases and that’s OK. In the same vein, readers are invited to agree or disagree and to argue for or against what I am saying. The articles I write that appear in print look nothing in feel or tone to some of the posts that appear here, particularly those having to do with politics. As a news reporter, I put my opinions aside. As a blogger, I’m not supposed to, though I do try to refrain from the preaching-to-the-choir ranting that goes on at Townhall and Huffington Post.

2. I’m a conservative, so I’m not really sure what liberal bias I’m showing.

Comment by Brad A. Greenberg on 10/03/08 at 12:43 pm

There’s a difference between being coached and being prepared. Biden was prepared. I’m sure he studied and rehearsed beforehand answers and rebuttals to what he knew would be the usual McCain talking points. Palin, on the other hand, had to learn the McCain talking points.

She couldn’t handle herself against Katie Couric, and so she was sequestered and coached. She needed to be coached. And to me, it was clear that she was. She sounded like she was reading from a script, particularly when she would answer a question with some verbal reflux, and wink and smile.

Comment by Sharon on 10/03/08 at 1:18 pm

A few responses to Ethan: 

1. Obama’s Vagueness:  First of all, I feel like Obama outlines his positions quite well, and from watching his speeches/debates I have a great idea of where he stands on specific issues.  Secondly, Sarah Palin is the QUEEN of being vague. She spouts out nothing but political phrases and cliches, half of which I don’t think she even understands.  Watch five minutes of the Katie Couric interview and you’ll see her ramble on, spouting out the same phrases over and over and over again, often jumping from one to the next without any kind of specific original thought attached. (Tina Fey and Amy Poehler’s take on that interview really killed):  http://www.hulu.com/watch/36863/saturday-night-live-couric—palin-open

2. When Joe Biden said he loved and respected his friend John McCain (although, of course, he disagrees with him on many points) was I supposed to gather from that, that he thinks he is the incarnation of the devil?  I missed that.

3.  Biden and Palin:  NOT EQUALLY COACHED.  Coached? Yes. Equally?  I think you are the one living in a fantasy world if you believe that.

4.  Brad, keep doing what you’re doing.  I read your blog often enough and I find your perspective always well thought out…even if I don’t agree with it 100% of the time.

Comment by hil on 10/03/08 at 1:34 pm

Hil,

1.  I didn’t make the criticism of Obama in defense of Palin.  I agree that she is incredibly vague.  I don’t like any of the political rhetoric and it’s penchant for ambiguity.  my reason for pointing out Obama’s vagueness in particular was more in an effort to show that all of our candidates have shortcomings.  I spoke with Brad in regards to this, I am not asking Brad to not have or share his opinion; but, I respect people more when they have a standard/opinion then place all candidates equally to said standard.  I have felt that Brad is getting too one-sided and rather than offering well balanced opinion, he is starting to sound like the annoyed roommate who starts nitpicking the other roommate over silly things, simply because they don’t like that person. 

2.  Your point about Biden is well taken.  I was making a generality, which places me in a situation that is easily refuted with specific cases, as you have brought up.  I would defend that much of politicking is placing blame on the opposing party (see the economic crisis for this) and painting your party as the beacon of hope.  This I would defend, but the generality is open for attack.

3.  I would defend that they were equally coached.  And no I don’t think I live in a fantasy world.  I believe after last night, that both VP candidates gave us well rehearsed canned answers.  But yes, Biden is by far the better orater than Palin.  His stage presence was superior in my opinion, as I assume was your opinion.  We may disagree in the fact that I didn’t find Palin’s lack of perfection in oratory skills as a huge downfall.  Some of the most brilliant professors I had in college lacked the ability to communicate effectively orally.  They wrote brilliant books and could run companies without issue, but struggled when addressing a crowd.  That isn’t saying Palin can and is these things; but it also doesn’t say she is a total lost cause either.  I would have to know more about her to determine these things, and I doubt she will be in the limelight long enough for any of us to make this judgement accurately.

4.  As I mentioned before.  It isn’t Brad’s opinion that I am concerned with; it is the lack of balance (which doesn’t mean one bad comment per party or anything like that).  Getting after a candidate’s colloquialisms seemed to me petty at best and downright prejudice at worst.  I called him out on an earlier article regarding the presidential race where he made no commentary, as I felt it had no place on an opinion blog.  I love to hear Brad’s opinion, whether I agree or not; but when someone becomes petty or prejudice, they tend to become less relevant and less interesting.

I love civil discourse as much as anyone and hope this is received in good faith…as long as it stays civil.

ethan out

Comment by ethan on 10/03/08 at 3:11 pm

I’m afraid your hormones got into your head.  Palin was pathetic.  Even with 3 solid weeks of “boot camp” during which her handlers tried to train her to cover up her total inadequacy for the job, she still managed to whine on for the entire “debate” (they’re not really debates) without saying anything.  Can’t you get your head out of your, uh, you know, long enough to analyze the CONTENT, facrynoutloud?  If I had $100 for every outright lie she told, I could pay my dental bill.  The articles you quoted did a pretty fair job of pointing out the more egregious garbazhe she handed out.  The moderator gave her too much time. She also threw softballs which never addressed the more shocking aspects of the moose-skinner’s persona.  Biden should have been more aggressive, sure, but he was probably under orders to subdue the more flamboyant aspects of *his* persona.
But he was, with minor statistical exceptions, accurate in his comments, and showed he was up to the job of VP.

Comment by Janine Lee on 10/04/08 at 10:01 pm

My hormones?

Comment by Brad A. Greenberg on 10/04/08 at 10:10 pm

Referring back to the headline here of ‘Media: Palin did good, but Biden won big’, I would say first that the media are embarrassingly pro-Democratic. If Obama were white he would be laughed out of the race. I see him as an affirmative action candidate. I see anyoine who does not think so as fooling themselves. Biden had already been eliminated from the race. I heard the results better stated as ‘She didn’t lose, and he didn’t win’.

Content is next to irrelevant. These debates are some combination of fencing, chess, wrestling, figure skating. The purpose of these debates is to carry water for the ticket, to reinforce the base, to impress the undecideds, and to demoralize the opposition. Of course both sides were prepped to the gills, and both sides fired their money shots at every possible target of opportunity. Biden can do these things blindfolded, and Palin needed to focus a bit more, but I actually saw Biden genuinely smile when Palin pulled off a politicianesque turn like a fond father watching his daughter play at a recital. But in case you don’t know, every president and diplomat is also prepped to the gills when entering substantive talks.

I have prviously posted the example of JFK having his head handed to him by Krushchev early on when he went in unprepared. The missile crisis followed soon after. I also remember New York City imitate a sinking ship when John V. Lindsay thought he would work the old star quality charm on tough old union leaders and was rewarded with crippling strike after strike. Obama is not his own man to begin with and will quickly be snookered by anyone he is not already beholden to. I don’t think McCain at his age and stage has the need for approval to give a damn about the welfare of his opponents.

Comment by Ben Plonie on 10/04/08 at 11:03 pm

They made fun of Margaret Thatcher, too.

The fact is, McCain made a brilliant choice in Palin and at the debate, Palin performed brilliantly. CNN and MSNBC polls show Biden won? Well, at Fox, 86 percent of the viewers thought Palin had won. So did the undecided voters in Frank Luntz’s study group. I turned on CNN after the debate and all the pundits looked depressed. That is how I know that Palin won.

Millions of American women (and men) believe Palin is qualified and exceptionally talented. Two prominent Jewish Democratic women who recently endorsed her are Lynn Forester de Rothschild and Shelly Mandell (President of the L.A. chapter of National Organization of Women).

You should have seen the 16 thousand-something crowd at yesterday’s standing room only Palin rally in CA screaming Sa-rah, Sa-rah! There were Californians from every ethnic group (including Blacks and Israeli-flag-carrying Jews) and tons of young, college-aged voters.

Face it: if Hillary had been the Democratic nominee, the American Jewish community would be united at this moment and we would not be having this discussion.

By the way, read why Israelis are hoping McCain is elected http://weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/015/655oupxj.asp?pg=1

Comment by Ruth on 10/05/08 at 10:31 am

Interesting Palin fact. She said her dad was born in Los Angeles and lived in North Hollywood.

Comment by Ruth on 10/05/08 at 10:40 am

Excellent article, Ruth. And while we’re talking numbers, the VP debate drew a forty percent Nielson viewer share, far more than the Obama/McCain debate, and I want to see someone tell me it was to hear Joe Biden.

Comment by Ben Plonie on 10/05/08 at 11:06 am

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