John Berman has been at ABC since 1995, and allowed to appear on television since 2001. He covered the 2008 campaign extensively, following John McCain and Mitt Romney during the primaries and then Barack Obama in the general election. He also spent more than 20 months chasing George W. Bush around the country as a producer from 1999 until 2001, earning the clever nickname, "Pain in the Ass," from our 43rd president. He is a frequent and sometimes welcome contributor to all of ABC's broadcasts.
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Obama Camp: Palin 'One of the Best Debaters in American Politics'
October 02, 2008 5:06 PM
More from the annals of shameless spin . . .
ABC’s Matt Jaffe reports that on Sen. Joe Biden’s plan from Delaware to St. Louis, Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said the following:
"Gov. Palin is one of the best debaters in American politics," Plouffe said, prompting reporters on the plane to burst out laughing.
He went on: "She is. Her 2006 debate, she knew where she wanted to take every question, and so I think she'll be relentlessly on message tonight and I'm sure she'll have any number of biting and witty one-liners."
More Plouffe: "The truth is, Gov. Palin -- I've watched all of her debates -- she's an extremely good debater. We expect that she'll have very witty, biting lines that she'll get off tonight. All of you that are like figure-skating judges will give her some credit for that, but we think that the American people who are watching at home tonight who are economically-challenged, who are fundamentally unhappy with the direction of this country, Joe Biden will do a very good job speaking to them."
October 2, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (31)
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She'll either live up to it or not.
We shall see tonight.
Posted by: TexGal51 | Oct 2, 2008 5:12:54 PM
What crap.....setting themselves up so Biden looks more appetizing. I'm hoping for some Biden gaffes and longwinded answers. Palin is so relatable and clearly, more MIDDLE AMERICA than the other three. Fifty percent of Americans flat out vote for who they like.....period, the end. Not everybody is party loyalist, platform only voters. Palin handled her state and it's 900,000 people, their security, the budget, and has THE HIGHEST APPROVAL RATING OF ANY GOVERNOR. Too bad for the Obama campaign no one really cares about Biden, and I hear he never has any press on his plane. Biden needs the same scrutiny for every gaffe and crying jag...but no, he gets the same liberal pass as BO.
HILLARY SUPPORTER FOR McCAIN/PALIN
Posted by: DLM | Oct 2, 2008 5:20:21 PM
well wouldn't you say that when the woman who clearly has no knowledge and uttered nothing of sunbstance on a single issue during her debate in Alaska...still fooled that state into electing her...and believe the 60% increase in their budget was due to her and not the massive oil revenues to the oil economy dependent state...that came off the backs of the rest of us.
seems she is a really good smiler...and smart in the art of "Conninivitivity"
she has to do something amazing in a debate to completely pull the wool over the eyes of voters.
Posted by: dl | Oct 2, 2008 5:21:26 PM
Just talk about the drive-by media & William Ayers.
Posted by: Colonel Rebel | Oct 2, 2008 5:22:03 PM
too bad the voters of Alaska are just now starting to say..
"wait a minute...this idiot was our governor...ugh"
Posted by: dl | Oct 2, 2008 5:22:44 PM
She is finished. She is being set up for the kill.
Posted by: Jayboz | Oct 2, 2008 5:24:53 PM
Biden will pop a boner and lose all focus.
Posted by: DLM | Oct 2, 2008 5:28:32 PM
Sarah will wipe the floor with dumb Biden and then the idiot Obama will have to make an excuse for him. The DemWits are in trouble this year.....
Obama = Dumb
Biden = Dumber
Posted by: Joe | Oct 2, 2008 5:29:47 PM
Biden will pop a boner and lose all focus.
Posted by: DLM | Oct 2, 2008 5:28:32 PM
LOL! Only if he has taken his Viagra! LOL!
Posted by: Joe | Oct 2, 2008 5:30:21 PM
A "Hillary supporter for McCain/Palin" is an oxymoron. The McCain/Palin ticket is the antithesis of everything Hillary stands for, everything she campaigned for, and why she's campaigning for Obama right on up until Election Day. You are ignoring completely the platform McCain/Palin are running on, and are apparently going to cast your vote simply because McCain picked a woman as his running mate. So much for using your hard-won franchise to vote for a frivolous purpose.
Posted by: nanameow | Oct 2, 2008 5:31:19 PM
I entertained a thought about NoBama this morning, and then I flushed....what an idiot!
Posted by: Joe | Oct 2, 2008 5:34:28 PM
From Sarah Palin's record:
Hired a WASHINGTON LOBBYIST for Wasilla, Alaska. Population at the time: 5000 people
As Mayor of Wasilla, started construction on a budgeted $1.5 Million ice skate rink WITHOUT first obtaining title to the land.
Incompetent much?
As Governor of Alaska, lobbyied for and received over $500 in FEDERAL EARMARKS for each and every man, woman and child in Alaska.
More pork per capita than ANY OTHER STATE in the nation.
Supported not one, but two BRIDGES TO NOWHERE. The second bridge in question was for $500 MILLION DOLLARS, and would serve go from Anchorage to a town near Wasilla!
PORK PORK PORK. PALIN loves her pork. Does she love truth telling? Not so much!
Posted by: John | Oct 2, 2008 5:34:46 PM
Oh by the way!
That $1.5 Million dollar iceskating rink in Wasilla, started without obtaining title to the land, ended up costing $15 MILLION DOLLARS.
The people of Wasilla, now with a population of 8000, still struggle under the weight of the DEBT that Sarah left them!
Posted by: John | Oct 2, 2008 5:38:01 PM
Read this... can you believe that the Republicans actually think "WE DON'T CARE IF SHE KNOWS ANYTHING, THAT SHE WILL WIN ON PERSONALITY"...Do they think the American People are actually this stupid. It is not a beauty contest...
But Lieberman stayed on the point, stating later, "I think tonight is not a kind of final college exam. I think the point is who is she as a person... Whether she can answer every detailed question, I don't think that ultimately matters to the American people so long as they think she passes those other personal thresholds."
Posted by: beck | Oct 2, 2008 5:40:21 PM
Hey Joe,
Are you one of those redneck "Joe sixpacks" that moron Palin is referring to? Then no wonder you're getting a boner for that idiot right now. Sorry, I like HOT and INTELLIGENT women, not the stripper types. I'm sure if Biden threw a dollar bill at her, she'd forget to read her flashcard and get distracted from her brilliant sentences to nowhere. Don't worry, I'm sure she'll pose for playboy for ten grand once her career is over after Nov. 4th.
Posted by: Ed | Oct 2, 2008 5:42:44 PM
At least they honor her.
The republicans put an add making fun of Biden's gaffs. So, at least democrats are more civilized.
Enough of Republicans in Power...
8 years of disgraces is more than enough.
Democrats for 09'
Posted by: Al | Oct 2, 2008 5:43:00 PM
We'll record this debate and watch one more time to make a fair judgment on "who answers the questions meaningfully?" and who has counter attacks that make sense. We do not use sex or race as a measurement becuiase we are in the 21st century. Those who are going to play sex and race cards are absolute idiots. In a civilised world, lets behave like professionals, but not thugs. By shaking hands of a number of diplomats within 3/4 days would not give anybody an experience in foreign policy. I have had read Times magazine and listened to BBC, CNN and SKY news on daily basis whilest living in 6 different countries in the globe to have a knowledge on foreign policy, but I haven't tackled issues with other countries by representing a main country.
Lets get back to the meanings of questions and the answers provide by both candidates instead of thinking "Palin is the best and she is going to rock, if she cannot answer - Oh it is the bias of the moderator". Use your analytical skills folks!!
Posted by: ramya | Oct 2, 2008 5:45:22 PM
DLM says:
"Palin is so relatable and clearly, more MIDDLE AMERICA than the other there"
--> Actually what that means is more like her ECONIMCS GRADE(D) in college to solve our econimic problem
"THE HIGHEST APPROVAL RATING OF ANY GOVERNOR"
--> Not anymore, her popularity has plummeted 15% since then and there are multiple governors who rates much higher than her now.
Who believes that the people living near the Mexican border are foreign policy expert?....who else but IDIOTS. And those same people believe Palins is a foerign policy expert because she lives in a state where you can see russin from. Oh, and the current mayor of the island of Alaska you can see Russin from rules a city of 1500 is even a bigger foerign policy expert than Palin, since Palin never actually visited that island (that mayor was interviwed in CNN last night).
And idiots described do not represent the supporter of smart lady like Hillary...so DLM don't even try to embarass the intelligenct of Hillary or or supporters by acting like on while you really alwasy have been a supporter of McCain/Plan/NeoCons
Posted by: jamie | Oct 2, 2008 5:47:51 PM
TO ALL MEDIA EXPERTS:
=====================
I just like to remind you that:Obama
CANNOT close the deal.......The race
is wide open and anything goes.....
Polls can change the last day before
the elections.......
Americans in general DO NOT TRUST Obama
as commander in chief.......
Posted by: ROBERT | Oct 2, 2008 5:50:16 PM
"Biden will pop a boner and lose all focus.
LOL! Only if he has taken his Viagra! LOL!"
Hey Joe,
What about you honey, did you take your Viagra? It doesn't look like it. You are stiff like a rock.
You need to relax...become a democrat and probably your days will see some more light. On the republican side, life is dark, cold and filled with anger, envy and desperation.
Democrats for 09'
Posted by: voter | Oct 2, 2008 5:50:30 PM
Thanks Robert,
A lot of people distrust CAIN and Apaling too. You may be surprise...
But it is true, the deal is not closed yet.
Posted by: voter | Oct 2, 2008 5:52:49 PM
Joe, above writes: "Sarah will wipe the floor with dumb Biden and then the idiot Obama will have to make an excuse for him. The DemWits are in trouble this year.....
Obama = Dumb
Biden = Dumber"
-------------------------------------
By that argument you and McCain and Falind === DUMMEST of all
...And I have credential to prove it.....FALIN's grade of D IN ECONOMICS in college....that again while switiching 8 collegest ot squeezed out a degree
Posted by: julie | Oct 2, 2008 5:53:48 PM
"Gov. Palin is one of the best debaters in American politics," Plouffe said, prompting reporters on the plane to burst out laughing.
**************************
This says it all folks.
Posted by: Joe Reed | Oct 2, 2008 5:55:46 PM
THEY COULD DEBATE MCCAIN----DIAPERS OR DEPENDS
Posted by: rodney | Oct 2, 2008 5:57:02 PM
"Lets get back to the meanings of questions and the answers provide by both candidates instead of thinking "Palin is the best and she is going to rock, if she cannot answer - Oh it is the bias of the moderator". Use your analytical skills folks!!"
-----------------------
You cannot ask this from republican parrots and sheep. Please!!
Posted by: voter | Oct 2, 2008 5:57:41 PM
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