One of the main criticisms I've seen of President Obama's debate performance -- which, again, has nothing to do with substance and everything to do with style -- was how timid he seemed. There was no fire, no engagement, no aggressiveness. The president was calm, the argument goes, to the point of detachment.
A half-day later, Obama spoke to supporters in Denver and showed the fiery side that clearly wasn't on display on stage last night.
For those who can't watch clips online, of particular interest were these comments:
"Now, last night, we had our first debate. And when I got on stage, I met a very spirited fellow who claimed to be Mitt Romney. But it couldn't have been Mitt Romney -- because the real Mitt Romney has been running around the country for the last year promising $5 trillion in tax cuts that favor the wealthy. But the fellow on stage last night said he didn't know anything about that.
"The real Mitt Romney said we don't need any more teachers in our classrooms. But the fellow on stage last night said he loves teachers -- can't get enough of 'em.
"The Mitt Romney we all know invested in companies that were called "pioneers" of outsourcing jobs to other countries. But the guy on stage last night, he said he's never heard of tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas. He said if that's true, he must need a new accountant. Now we know for sure it wasn't the real Mitt Romney -- because he seems to be doing just fine with the accountant he has.
"You see, the man on stage last night – he doesn't want to be held accountable for what the real Mitt Romney's been saying for the last year. And that's because he knows full well that we don't want what he's been selling for the last year. Governor Romney may dance around his positions, but if you want to be President, you owe the American people the truth.
"So here's the truth: Governor Romney cannot pay for his $5 trillion tax plan without blowing up the deficit or sticking it to the middle class. And we can't afford to go down that road again. We can't afford another round of budget-busting tax cuts for the wealthy. We can't afford to gut our investments in education or clean energy or research and technology. We can't afford to rollback regulations on Wall Street banks or big oil companies or insurance companies. We cannot afford to double down on the same top-down economic policies that got us into this mess. That's not a plan to create jobs. That's not a plan to grow the economy. That's not a change -- that is a relapse.
"Denver, we've been there, we've tried it, and we are not going back. We are going forward."
He also openly mocked Romney's call to cut off PBS: "Thank goodness somebody is finally getting tough on Big Bird."
If you're thinking, "Where was this guy last night?" I think it's fair to say a lot of Obama supporters are asking that same question. But I also believe the president sees the debate as a mistake -- one that he intends to correct.
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i think Obama's reserve was a starck contast to Romney's bluster - style and substance over Romney's uncouth behavior and sneers. Romney was a big turn-off.
I think Obama's tone and debate style were strategic. Strategic in that he was stepping back to allow Mittens to dig his own grave; last night was about Obama letting Romney do the work for him. Now what I am hoping will happen is during the next two debates is that Obama will come with the dirt to bury Mitt in the Grave he just dug. Mitt made millions putting people out of work and destroying companies when he was president of Bane, how can a man with a track record like this care about creating jobs? And how can a man like this care about jobs for the working class when he said "it's not my job to care about those people" that he identifies as "victims"? He can't! He's lying through his bleached teeth. Hopefully Obama will offer up this information at the next debate, this stuff needs to be put into context and contrasted against Romney's impromptu fairy tales.
"But the guy on stage last night, he said he's never heard of tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas."
Romney even put his twenty-five years of business experience behind his absurd claim. Nice to see that the President's campaign won't let Romney get away with that one. It's a flat-out lie and easy to prove.
First question: Was the Emperor (Romney) really wearing new clothes, and wasn't this the picture he was trying to convey –- a new plan, where there was none?
Second question: Can this be called a debate when Romney attempted to demonstrate his business skills to the audience by firing the moderator?
Third question: Could this not be called a sleight-of-mind that suggested something happened, which didn't . . . like "winning"!
I don't want anyone on the left to play nice anymore. We need to hurt the other side.
Because they sure as hell want to hurt us.
It is obvious that the President did not do as well as we expected from him in last evenings debate. It is simple; the President seemed as if someone told him to look more conservative then Mitt Romney. Well, my President was stiff and he made Romney look animated.
So what does that mean to me? Well other than watching my team leader fall behind in this one game, it had no affect because I am in it for the whole season. When I think of what is a stake, I know to keep this in perspective. Romney said again he is for helping his rich friends and he is unapologetic for it. When he took on PBS – the Public Broadcast System, it is another example of his elitist attitude towards education that is geared to teach various life episodes in history and in the future by wanting to cut or destroy Public Television.
I am not aware of how the debate prep went for President Obama, but being an ‘old school’ Westside, I just wished one time he would have looked at him and said “whoa dude, why are you standing up here lying to the people”. For me I would have said, “You keep lying like that, and I will slap the taste out of your mouth”. Then again, I am who I am and President Obama is the man he is, and I choose his style over my much more confrontational approach. However, just one retort “you are lying man”, would have served me well.
Make no mistake about it; I am in it to win it for the sake of this country and the world. Mitt Romney is not what we need. I am for President Obama and I do not waver. I am telling you this, as you may pass the message on to your friends and to make sure you do not waver in your support for the President.
We can let the pundits score these debates up and down, but this really is not a game. Each time I let my hope faultier, I realize how much I am in the 47% and I get charged up again. My President needs me and I hear his call.
When I read your post, I recognized these are the words of my own heart, mind and soul as well. Thank you. I will share your post.
So... he should have asked: Who are you? you are not the guy who said... and ... but he did not - so he should ask Mitt next time, which Mitt is here tonight the one who said? or the one who said this? Or the one who will say anything?
First question: Was the Emperor (Romney) really wearing new clothes, and wasn't this the picture he was trying to convey –- a new plan, where there was none?
Second question: Can this be called a debate when Romney attempted to demonstrate his business skills to the audience by firing the moderator?
Third question: Could this not be called a sleight-of-mind that suggested something happened, which didn't . . . like "winning"!
If you watch the speech in Denver this morning vs his debate performance, they are essentially the same in terms of pacing and hard-hitting. Obama comes off better in print than he does in person, taking time to let his words sink in. This doesn't play well in the fast paced arena of a live debate. The town hall format should allow for more interruption of lies.
I get the feeling that people were expecting Obama to be a mudslinger and were disappointed when they realized he didn't come there to be that kind of debater. Romney had something to prove, a chip on his shoulder where Obama could sit back and play it cool. Still, it wouldn't have taken much forcefulness on his part to have come out ahead.
well definitely lost the debate but i want to see this obama on the next debate not the timid guy i saw last night
OK, back on track! I'm feeling better already. If he asked, I would tell the president to just think of the debates as campaign rallies. Get fired up!
To put a more Machiavellian spin on things - Mitt spewed an abundance of lies, abandoned the Far Right and general tea-baggery, and promised very specific impossible things.
Obama remained cool, calm and factual, some would even say "Presidential" and Obama now has 32 days to expose Mitt's blatant lies, flip-floppery and empty promises. And he has two more opportunities to allow Mitt to dig even deeper holes.
I was disappointed, too when all the chattering was over last night. But what if it WAS all a very careful strategy.......? Something to think about - at least for me.
So the Pres. had a bad night that's six years preparation of lies,mis-steps, flip-flops,choosing a running mate who introduced himself to the nation and the world as a liar, co-authored Akins legitmate rape bill, who doesn't have time to share the facts and Romney flipping so much he can'tkeep track of what his facts are supposed to be on any given day. I'm sticking with the President. One night won't change that.
It's about time, I thought Mitt wouldn't score one point. However, I do not think this one debate will erase all the lies and multi-Mitt's weekly remakings of himself to find out what works, even as he did in the debate last night, will matter. The American people are not on the same moronic level of your average GOPer.
I agree that the performance of the President last night has nothing to do with the substance, which on the other hand our "reinvented governor" was lacking through and through... When analysts trying to rate the "victory" of the debate, that should have rewind the tape again (applied for both democrats and republicans) that Romney blaming repeatedly all the "disasters" happened during the 4 years Obama administration?!!!. The "Never mind" policy of Romney should remind Romney that his strategy and principles (of his 18 month campaign and Rep)do not take overnight decision to harvest a "debate victory".... Being enthused and faking the smile, does not show how much Romney "care for the poor" or "he likes coal " or cetera... Romney should remember that if he comes to the office, he won't inherit the "the disaster" of 8 year disastrous tenure of his Rep. party". I bet it would have it easy because of the "his experience with democrats" cleaning up after the Rep. tenures.... So I do not call his debate a "victory" I would call "blindness" . For Obama Supporters I would say that their President and the guy of the next door was there! How? Because it could not be a better presence and attitude towards this guy... who is trying to adopt others ideas in 40 min. debate, and trying to insult the intelligence of the President of the US.. and why not of the American people. Give me a break! Romney has not clue... what it means to be poor, and struggle.... and US is United States of America, not the states of America.. BTW, Romney FYI the Massachusetts is not your " reinvented wheel" and only governed by you once upon the time..., you know the history... Do not claim the credit of good schools, health and programs. in Mass.... Go and have a beer..! and you will understand what poor means... and howm much you like coal....
I saw in President Obama a man who very quickly realized the debate was out of control (it took me 15 seconds to realize Lehrer would not be able to control Romney). Mitt was a steamroller, not a winner last night. Steamrollers take control when they don't feel secure. The president decided to do what he was there to do, state his case, stay away from anything that would make Romney even more nuts with the strange energy. He didn't push back because there is a difference between taking on a fight with a man, and a fight with a person with the emotional maturity of a teenager. He made the call he would make, and it was the right one for him. Last night will barely make a difference in the polls. Romney did not win, he overplayed.
There are times I wish all of you, as pundits, would just plain shut up until you looked at what happened and thought for a little while. Rachel, especially, count to a hundred next time you feel compelled to let off steam in the moment - you, Chris Matthews, and Ed really ticked me off last night.
Romney looked and acted insane last night.
Well now. . . the President could had said something about that last night at the debate, but he did not, now did he?
I see the president's performance last night as a well-thought-out strategy. Lay back in the weeds and see what the other guy has. Romney blew his wad last night. He's got nothing left. Now, the president has two more opportunities to blow Romney out of the water. ... And, judging by his post-debate comments, he will!
Obama does look susiciously upbeat today...hummmm.
This is clearly the man that should have been there last night. I never want to see the man that was on last night never ever again. The next two debates Mr. President you need to come out more fiery than what you did today and VP Biden you need to do the same. You better not come out as timid as Mr. President. I was so upset after last nights debate. First I did not like how the host let Romney get away with talking when his mouth should have been shut and then he would not even let the President recant at what Mr. Romney was saying. Word of advice Mr. President start watching cable; start watching MSNBC. Like you Rachel, I was speechless, dumbfounded and angry how last night went. These next 2 debates that the President is in and the one that VP Biden is in they both need to come with both barrells and start firing. They can not, they must refuse, any kind of bulleying from the other side and do the bulleying themselves.
Halfway through the debate, the lyrics of the Temptations song "Smiling Faces Sometimes" rushed into my mind. Google them, it is just so appropriate. That pathetically insincere grin pasted on Mitt's face, is EXACTLY what they were describing in the song. Since our President has quite the lovely singing voice, perhaps he should open the next debate with a short rendition of the song!
Mittens needs to be careful what he wishes for. He spent 90 minutes giving the Obama campaign material they've already cut into commercials. I believe the President handed Mendacity Mitt the opportunity to go on the record denying everything he's been running on. This is getting very interesting.
While I really wanted to see the President last night be like he was today at the rally, I did think it was interesting to hear Romney. There is a reason he did well at the debate as he's a good "salesman" or else he couldn't have led Bain to such great success in buying out companies and making huge profits. If any good has come out of the first debate, it's that we now know that Romney's plan is one that depends on his audience at any given time. Last night it was to talk to those "47%" who he previously had written off as not worth the time.
i would like my fellow Liberals & Progressives to CHILL OUT...!!! Dems are NEVER about style and ALL about substance...!!! Mitt Romney NEEDED to be aggressive and he did but he added nothing new. The President on the other hand, refused to get into a backyard brawl, maintained his composure & repeatedly laid out his plan to those who matter: THE INDEPENDENTS...!!! There are 30 states actively voting right now. and the Democratic base is notorious for staying home. And if the blogosphere & the pundits are hailing a clear, decisive victory for the President, guess what: many of them WILL STAY HOME...!!! Yes, the President could have been more combative but that was NOT his job. We NEED to see the larger picture and understand our base! with just over a month left, we need to keep the base engaged while swaying Independents. Romney won the style war but independents are not impressed by his bullying, aggressive manner...and he STILL lacks specifics...!!! He's confident, buoyed by success and he'll find a way to put his other foot in his mouth. He can't help it. Stay tuned...!!!
The people have until Nov. 6 to decide how they want to vote. Romney made this debate out to be a campaign rally while the president stayed with the debate mode and really fires up his base at his rallies. Much of debate is about the veracity of your references and the truth of your own statements. Most independents are closet democrats and I do not think they like the idea of so called clean coal, mining and drilling on public lands, cut backs on alternative energy, and not being able to send their kids to a decent university. This is not your father's kind of campaign. This is a new kind of performance and stellar acting on the part of the President. I believe Barack Obama was acting and he will not let us down. Romney thinks he has Obama on the ropes and the President will come out swinging.
I agree, Gaz, with everything you say above, except that Bill Clinton was the style exception.... Clinton is a wonderful performer in the best sense of the term, he knows how to seize the moment and say what needs to be said with the right feeling, and he does so sincerely. I also think that Barack Obama has immense style, but he is an introvert and can't always muster it. Compare his style to people like Dukakis, Mondale, Gore, or Kerry and he comes out as a rock star most of the time, we know that. He's savvy, he didn't need to prepare for this, he doesn't like being around Romney, and he wanted to go celebrate his anniversary. It'll be okay.
I too was surprised at the seeming lack of fight Obama had last night. But my experience in life is that lying (and Mittens did a lot of lying last night) takes a lot more work than telling the truth. Hopefully, Obama will now use his own sluggish performance and Romney's aggressive performance to his own advantage and turn this loss into a rope-a-dope experience.
And Romney now has to defend all these lies out in the public. And if he truly has "pivoted to the center" then how does he defend that to his tea-party base? Remember: beware of unintended consequences!
The President has the truth and the facts on his side. For whatever reason, he was too calm and too polite at the debate. Let's hope that THIS President, the one who is fighting for the middle class and those who don't have a voice, every single day is the one who comes to the next debate. The President who spoke in Denver today is who he really is. I hope he brings his energy, compassion and A game to the next debate, which is a town hall, which is much more conducive to his personality. He seemed frustrated with the format last night...frustrated with the softball questions, the 2 minute limits (really ridiculous), Jim Lehrer's inability to control the debate AND Romney's jaw dropping flip flopping. Now he sees what he's dealing with on that stage, so hopefully he's going to come out strong in the next two debates and on to four more years.