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What you said...
posted at 2007-11-30 00:05 | Last modified 2007-11-30 00:18
Fresh from the Tavern Inbox...
On the CNN/YouTube debate:
K. wasn’t surprised Huckabee won.
“Naturally, he’s a southerner.
Go John Edwards. I think a lot of middle-aged (and middle class) native Tar Heels (and Southerners) are missing a once in a lifetime chance to support one of their own.
Obviously, I ain’t afraid of no drawl."
E. said she wasn’t sure how well anyone *but* Huckabee was doing. But one other candidate did catch her eye.
“For months, I had been wondering about Ron Paul… referring to him as “Ru” Paul – you know, the D-list celebrity cross dressing entertainer? I finally got my chance to see Mr. Paul during the debate last night …I think I sized him up right.
(Ron Paul in a wig? That’s something you might not want in your image bank. )
C. thought the format was the big loser:
"Personally, I was pretty disappointed in CNN for their questions. God, guns, abortion… Let’s just make all the Republicans look like Bible-thumping nuts.
It took almost an hour and a half for a question on Iraq or foreign policy. Where were the questions on health care reform? On the declining value of the dollar? On fixing the AMT? Reauthorization of NCLB?
Nope, we just stick to the stereotypical right wing nut issues… Maybe this is why so many people are disillusioned with politics.
J. didn’t see it that way:
"When reporters ask the questions they focus on issues that have already been reported to death (superficially). I feel like in most debates I know how the candidate will answer with their sound bites and focus group tested answers. This format allowed screwball questions which really forced candidates to answer or dance. With questions like the ones on the Confederate flag and what they believe about the Bible you get more real, unrehearsed answers."
On "DiplomaGate" (thanks, Matt...I think...)
The responses to "Who fudged more?” were a little more varied.
I heard from Moore fans like Sam Spencer…
"I don't think the resume wars matter, and I don't care who fudged their resume more. All I care about is the fact that Moore's most accurate resume makes him more qualified to be Governor than Perdue's most embellished resume.
...and Brunette, over at BlueNC:
[snip] "I think Perdue has more to answer for at this point. I don't work for Moore's campaign, but I do admit to a bit of bias based purely on what little I know about Perdue against what little I know of Moore. He hasn't offended me quite as much -- yet."
Then there were the not-fans, like J. ...
"I "went to Harvard" once. I ate in the deli across the street, listened to a guitar player in the square, and then took a picture under an arch. Guess I should have added it to my resume! And his "graduate degree" from the London School of Economics (still on the N&O "Dome" bio as a "graduate degree" even though the Dome reported it as a "diploma"!) sounds more like a glorified certificate program.
[...snip] Perdue actually has the PhD on her resume, and her thesis seems to be about both education and gerontology. I imagine she could describe her coursework fairly as either, and I definitely wouldn't expect her to announce the full title of her thesis in every appearance. "
...And the genuinely-ticked-off, like this anonymous local student:
"Mr. Moore's misleading comments on his resume bother me much more than do Beverly Perdue's. While all politicians inevitably tell you half a truth, I feel Moore's proclamations of a Harvard and London School of Economics graduate education carry far more serious consequences.
Unlike owning a business, a familial background, or even more intimate-a woman's age-all of which have no bearing on the position being sought after; a falsification of one's educational history is egregious. Educational background does have some bearing on the position of Governor of this great state and someone who knowingly misleads me into believing he may be more educated or qualified than he really is does not deserve to be my Governor.
Not all lies are created equally, and what a perfect example-I don't care when it comes time to making decisions about my education whether Mrs. Perdue's father really was wealthy and not a poor coal miner, nor do I care if she is really one year older than she says she is. I do care however that my next Governor could potentially have a stellar graduate education rooted in economics that never really was…because unlike extraneous personal details, your educational background absolutely has bearing on your competency and performance, especially when you think it's important enough to put on your resume… get over yourself Mr. Moore because I have."
I mean it.
My sincere thanks to those of you who told me what you thought. If you're wondering whether it’s a “new media” gambit, it isn’t. I ask because I have no doubt that a lot of you out there know as much as (or more than) I know about these issues. I just got lucky enough to find a job that would pay me to follow the stories I would follow anyway.
The best part of a tavern is the conversation you strike up with the person next to you. I’m always surprised by what I hear from you all. If I could manage open comments, trust me - I would. But that’s not in the cards just yet. So for now, thank you for weighing in at the inbox!
Comments? You know what to do...
