Accounts as to who won last night’s vice-presidential debate between current VP Joe Biden and Congressman Paul Ryan, running mate to Presidential candidate Mitt Romney, are split, though CNN polls showed Ryan winning by a slim margin over Biden, 48% to 44%.
So, in the interest of fairness, I’ve pulled two differing opinions as to who won last night: One from the National Journal’s Michael Hirsh, and one from The Stranger’s Paul Constant.
First, Mr. Hirsh:
What the 69-year-old vice president needed to do in this debate was to use his vastly greater experience in public office—four decades’ worth—to show up his 42-year-old rival’s inexperience, especially in foreign policy. But Biden at best battled Ryan to a standoff. In particular, Biden was not terribly effective in countering the anticipated Republican script, which involved a move to the moderate middle less than a month before the election. Ryan, who for much of his young career has been a hero to conservatives, managed to successfully portray himself and Romney as defenders of the middle class and responsible stewards of foreign policy who would not get America into another war
And now, Mr. Constant:
Joe Biden creamed Paul Ryan. He laughed in Ryan’s face and left him speechless. He shook Ryan’s ideas until they fell apart like the crepe paper and chicken wire that they truly are. (It’s important to note that Martha Raddatz’s fine moderation held Ryan to the truth, too. Republicans are surely going to target Raddatz in the next few days, as they do all “uppity” women, but Raddatz should be proud of the fact that she reminded America what a great debate moderator is supposed to do.) Biden clearly stated his beliefs as a Democrat. He argued that America cares about Americans, and he fact-checked Ryan at every turn. (I was particularly moved by Biden’s personal opposition as a Catholic to abortion, but his commitment to the fact that, as an elected official, it’s not his job to impose his will on the American people.) Biden out-argued, out-spoke, and out-thought the smartest man the Republicans have to offer, and he did so armed with the courage of his convictions.
Personally, I don’t have an opinion as to who won this debate. Ryan asserted himself well, though a few outlets noted that Ryan used Politifact’s 2010 Lie of the Year when referencing the changes that the Affordable Health Care Act (Obamacare) will have on healthcare as we know it. Biden, by virtue of being Joe Biden, didn’t pull any punches and, in the eyes of many observers, came across as an arrogant old man — plus, there’s the matter of him claiming that the White House had no knowledge of requests for more security by the American embassy in Libya, when there’s sworn testimony to the contrary, which Mitt Romney has rightfully taken and run with.
Either way, like next week’s town hall match-up between Romney and President Barack Obama, it’s just another part of the undercard leading up to November 6th’s main event.
This article appears in Oct 11-17, 2012.
It wasn’t even close. Ryan looked like an overearnest little Michael P. Keaton up there, getting taken to the woodshed by someone who knows whereof he speaks.
Biden looked like the old bitter idiot grinning and interrupting like “Grandpa without his meds”, he was a total fool and YES his points were totally Democratic – which is why I’ll be voting for Anybody but Democrats.
Biden was disrespectful, unrepentant, pugnacious, and (simply) a jerk – laughing like a jackass and guffawing like a hyena – all while highly serious debate was on the table concerning the deaths of Americans and the painful, deteriorating economy that has consumed the lives of tens of millions of Americans. So, what was to laugh about? What chills me is the heartbeat-away access this idiot has to the nuclear button – I’ll take the diatribe, youth, and inexperience of someone with more than half a brain, the respect, courtesy, and manners of a Paul Ryan – at least his brain isn’t laced with the worm-tracks of dementia like “Walter”
I’m sorry, but conservatives live in a (Foxie News – Rush Limbaugh) alternate world that often speaks untruths. I believe that they are, for the most part, on their way out of the political system within the next ten years. George Bush top down trickle-nomics goes all the way back to Ronald Reagan when our economy started to suffer from NOT INVESTING IN US – and turned into investing in the CORPORATACRACY, and the most wealthy. Why are the wealthy doing better and better over this period, while the middle class shrinks? Job growth is deplorable and wages are down, as the rich gain more and more wealth and power. For the past 30 years we have seen a moral downslide of US, as a nation (indivisible, with justice for all) into not investing in education, not caring for people in our health-care system (which, before Reagan, used to be much more affordable and NOT owned by corporations)…. where we used to have one justice system (for rich and for the poor) and a news media not acted out by filthy – rich moneyed interests. Romney’s CORPORATIONS ARE PEOPLE is a sick slap in the face to WE THE PEOPLE, and the conservatives are blind, numb and comatose to what is really going on in the lives of the poor and those who are suffering. Even Ryan’s Catholic nuns are against his Ayn Rand -I’VE GOT MINE philosophy. That’s why Biden laughs and snickers. It’s gotten to the point of absurdity. Romney and Ryan want to etch-a-sketch their way into the undecided voter — say anything, say whatever you have to, whatever it takes to win.
One thing for certain. Biden’s behavior lost votes, and that’s what really matters.
Ryan was all smoke and mirrors. No specifics. He will destroy social programs like medicaid for those who have no where else to turn. Joe Biden was smart, passionate, and factual. Ryan to me is more disrespectful to Americans because he does not have the truth, he has no real facts. Look up – fact check – what they have to say, both party’s sides, and you will see who is disrespectful, and who is telling the truth.
Hilarious to read wingnuts complain about how “disrespectful” Biden was, especially after how many kudos Newt Gingrich got for his “feisty” behavior during the Republican primary debates. You don’t think we remember that, you phony pearl-clutchers, you?
I listened to the debate on the radio, so I didn’t see the smirks. But I found myself laughing at Ryan’s malarky, too. He is an amateur debater and a poor liar. I thought Biden defended himself and the administration well, without telling the upstart Ryan what we all really think of him.
I’m a libertarian so I probably swing more right than left. My wife an independant thought the second most powerful man in the world looked like some one she does not want to represent her. While she was undecided prior to this debate she is now voting the Romney ticket so I guess as a guy that is voting for Gary Johnson I should thank Joe for swinging my wife to the conservatives?
As I have said, Biden is a rude, inconsiderate tool who reminds me of Jeff Dunham’s Walter. The debate cannot be called a debate, Biden interrupted 89 times in 90 minutes. He was constantly whining about not getting time to rebutt, but he spoke 4 minutes longer. I think Ryan may have been able to get his point across, assuming he had one, if Joe wasn’t so busy mocking him. Even the moderator caught Biden in at least one of the campaign lies. I didn’t find Ryan lieing as often as Biden, but they are both skilled liars as all politicians. I really didn’t expect much from either and was not surprised.
I liked what I heard someone say last week. Those who only heard it on the radio thought that Biden won. Those that saw it on TV thought that Ryan won.
The voters won this debate…they got live info on both of the
runners from the two lagest minority parties.
This debate make me lean to a YES vote for Prop 121 which will
give voter to equal acces to be on ballots and to vote ballot as
they choose.
A YES for 121 will also encourage all political parties to
support only the best to run for office. Ryan did his
supporters well…but Biden with all his advertised skills,
acted without class.