Fact Checking the VP Debate

Interestingly enough I switched from CSPAN to MSNBC as soon as the debates were over thinking that Chris Mathews was gonna give us a pretty good assessment about the debates.

In awe I saw him and Joe Scarborough practically take Edwards and throw him off a cliff. Saying nothing short of he got has ass handed to him.

I noticed a different debate but after watching MSNBC I actually felt like well maybe its just my bias. I thought the debate was fantastic and it really got to a lot of substance on both sides. I thought Edwards handled himself extremely well, with anecdotes and taking a bold stand on the Gay Marriage issue. I was proud that he made very bold statement on this issue. Democrats are notorious for following polls and whimpering over issues, balancing or choosing words to describe their position when in the end we find they really have no position.

John Kerry is a victim of his own fate on this alone. However, Edwards sat there and said:

"But we also believe that gay and lesbians and gay and lesbian couples, those who have been in long-term relationships, deserve to be treated respectfully, they deserve to have benefits.
For example, a gay couple now has a very difficult time, one, visiting the other when they're in the hospital, or, for example, if, heaven forbid, one of them were to pass away, they have trouble even arranging the funeral."

Granted he also said that marriage is between a man and a woman. But gays just want rights, not religious rights. The same rights our government gives our man and woman married couples, tax breaks, next of kin privileges, adoption benefits... etc.

Anyway, I wanted to make this post short because I think the NY Times did a fine job of fact checking this whole thing.

Fact Check by the NY Times

One major blunder by Cheney was when he was confronted with the Halliburton claims. He stated that everyone should go to http://www.factcheck.com which is George Soros' website (a multi-billion dollar liberal).

Funny. Either way both had their share of distortions of fact however, Cheney had most of them.

This debate was loaded with real issue debate. Cheney was stern and looked presidential (how fitting since he is the guy running the country and hiding intelligence from the UN), Edwards looked and acted down to earth, homely, and had a command of the facts and policy matters.

Which is maybe what the pundits missed. People are always talking about how Kerry is too smart too intellectual, doesn't connect with the people. Edwards last night was deliberately playing to those people who don't understand Kerry. He is the communicator that may be lacking in Kerry. He is the antithesis of Bush on the Kerry team.

Let us not forget that Edwards was indeed the second leading guy during the primaries. He has great ideas on policy in this country. Together with Kerry they are not bad guys to lead the country. Cheney's last words were filled with what he does best, fear, terror.

Maybe Bush can scare his way into the White House like he scared his way into Iraq.