With the timer
keeping track on the bottom-right part of the screen, I could
not help but notice where Obama’s lead was throughout the majority
of the debate. Though Romney was the first to answer
a question, Obama managed to get and keep the lead in
the time spent talking. The debate ended with Obama having
spoken for 44.04 minutes, as opposed to Romney’s
40.50. That’s a lot of extra time when one realizes
just how much can be said by a well-rehearsed candidate
in three minutes.
And
Obama was just that, well-rehearsed. While Romney began the debate
smoothly, directly responding to the person asking the first
question, Obama pulled out a typical campaign speech from his
bag of things-to-say if this-or-that is asked. It was clear who
was relaxed and who wasn’t.
The
debate moderator, Candy Crowley, appeared and sounded a bit frazzled
throughout most of the debate, several times seeming to have
lost control of things. However, I would not be able to say if she
favored one candidate over the other, if you paid me for my thoughts
on it.
Each candidate
had his lowest moment. Romney’s lowest point of the night
was when he spoke down to Obama in a disciplinary manner,
saying, “You’ll get your chance in a moment. I’m still
speaking.” Obama had his lowest point when he played the
wounded thin-skinned, you-hurt-my-feelings card, saying, “And the
suggestion that anybody in my team, whether the Secretary of State,
our U.N. Ambassador, anybody on my team would play politics or
mislead when we’ve lost four of our own, Governor, is offensive.”
While disrespecting an opponent during a debate only served to
make Romney look rude and mean, aiming for sympathy
votes made Obama look pathetic.
The
highs were there, as well. Romney read off his
economic plan to create such a
business-friendly environment in this country that it
would make American companies grow beyond our wildest
dreams and even attract companies from other countries to
come here and set up shop. Obama beamed with pride when he read off
what he had done in these four years, claiming to
have reined in Wall Street, created millions of jobs,
and saved an auto industry. Basically, Romney wants us to
believe that he will turn this country into an
American business utopia, while Obama wants us to believe he
has already achieved that goal.
The
question both men answered very much alike was
on immigration. They gave the usual politician’s answer:
secure the boarders, stop the illegals from coming because
many other people are waiting to come here legally, and do
something to help the children stay.
Both
men failed miserably with the ”equal pay for women” question.
Obama still believes that equal pay can be legislated.
And Romney will most likely never live down having pointed out
the obvious, that often women need more flexible
hours.
Then
there were the zingers. Each candidate only had to bring
up the other candidate’s past record to get the zingers
in, which they both did quite well.
Perhaps the zingers were the only times during the
debate that we heard what they both have in common, as well as any
truth. With that said, I have to call this debate a draw and wish
everyone happy voting, whether you cast a vote for Obama, for
Romney, a write-in, or not at
all
