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Another Perspective
Town Haul
Mitt’s best performance ever — creative, transformative, and brilliant.
Watching the town-hall debate between President Obama and Governor Romney on Tuesday night, I kept murmuring to myself: “This is unprecedented. No one has ever debated like this before.”
The moment the debate ended, the ponderous voice of one the CBS Newsasurauses came on and said: “Ladies and gentlemen, we have just witnessed something historic. The nature of Presidential debate has been transformed forever.” My daughter quickly high-fived me, as her faith in Daddy’s omniscience was confirmed. Meanwhile, the oldster on the screen - probably kicked in the shins by outraged colleagues — walked his statement back to an extent, saying only that both sides had set a new record for rancor.
Baloney! This was not historic because of both sides. This was historic because of one side. Namely, Governor Romney, or perhaps — as one questioner (intentionally?) addressed him — President Romney. To put it simply, Willard “Mitt” Romney, the Mormon guy, the starched-collar guy, the high-falutin’ guy, the out-of-touch guy, the too-polite guy, walked out onto a stage and delivered the best performance in the history of televised debates.
Yes, he was better than my personal hero, Ronald Reagan. Better by a long shot.
To say that he won the debate is to miss the point. He not only emerged victorious on the scoring card, he did it in a fashion which was creative and transformative. Let me try to sketch some of the ways in which he not only gained advantage but he did it by reimagining the possibilities of the format and adapting appropriate methodology.
First of all, he solved the age-old conflict of how to call a President a liar without seeming impudent. This conundrum had bedeviled challengers since the dawn of time. So many times in the past we have seen the Bob Doles and the McCains of the world let the lie fly by while they are too paralyzed by seemliness to take a swat.
Romney solved this with an inventive linguistic approach. Instead of saying something was wrong, he said the inverse of the inverse, something on the order of “How can this be so?”
This brilliant technique gave birth to several memorable slams: “Why the President would cancel that pipeline to Canada I cannot imagine!” “What possible reason they could have had in Fast-and-Furious to send guns to Mexican drug lords is beyond me!”
A second powerful approach, completely unheard of in such forums, was to do the thing dads do to kids who are fudging the story. Romney had previewed that notion in the first debate by comparing Obama’s attack mantras to his sons trying to repeat a counterfeit version of events over and over in the hope he would give up being skeptical. This time, he kept asking Obama to repeat the last lie.
“Are you telling us that the day after the Benghazi attack you stood in the Rose Garden and called it an act of terror? Is that what you are saying? Let’s get that on the record.”
A variation of that was to press, press, press a challenging question, so there was no place to hide. “Have you looked at your pension? Mister President, have you looked at your own pension, because it is invested in China as well, and in companies that outsource jobs?”
He even came up with a good system to defang the strategic cutoffs the liberal debate moderators have long accomplished. This time, when Candy Crowley tried to change a subject after Obama had taken a shot at him, Romney simply said: “I would like to respond to that. It was completely false.” In that way, her swerve did not prevent him from getting the message out that he had a good answer. And in self-defense, it is fair etiquette to use ‘false’ as an adjective.
Before summing up, there is one very important side point which must be mentioned. Namely, for the first time ever — EVER! — the moderator periodically allowed questions designed to benefit the Republican. “Mister President, we are told that the embassy in Benghazi had requested more security? Who in your administration turned that down and why?” “Mister President, your Secretary of Energy has stated three times publicly that it is not his job to help lower gas prices. Do you agree with that assessment of his job description and why?” Even the first question by the guy who wants to know why he can’t get a job coming out of college plays to Romney’s strength.
Trust me when I tell you this: if not for talk radio, Fox News, magazines like this one and the conservative blogs, such questions would never have seen the light of day in a Presidential debate.
All in all, I stand by my assessment. Romney turned in the single greatest debate performance since such skirmishes have been recorded by the camera. Take my advice: run quickly to Intrade and bet the house on Mitt Romney to become the next President of the United States.
About the Author
Jay D. Homnick, commentator and humorist, is a frequent contributor to The American Spectator. He also writes for Human Events. Here he speaks at the Rally for Religious Freedom in Miami on June 8, 2012.
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drudge ette obama| 10.17.12 @ 6:36AM
I am with you. What stupidity to include the contraception issue and then call treat it like a nutrition issue for middle class families. I was waiting for Obama to bring in his girls, again - he did twice - but maybe he thought the better of it.
Romney did a great job, with some errors, and he was positive, full of answers and led with ideas. Obama was sour and glum.
Joellen| 10.17.12 @ 8:07AM
Romney did do a great job, with some errors because he is human.
One more thing, Obama came across very angry and even hateful throughout the debate. So childish when he asked Candy to reiterate her defense for him. I really believe his behavior was as bad as Bidens.
loulou| 10.17.12 @ 11:03AM
I agree.
Alan Obama Fan Brooks | 10.17.12 @ 4:42PM
Ryan won the debate last night, because your ticket is moving up and if it wins (which is likely) then you have a real conservative playing second fiddle.
C. Vernon Crisler | 10.17.12 @ 9:47AM
Better than Reagan? I think Jay should lay off the weed.
Appleby| 10.17.12 @ 7:05AM
I had seen the testimony from the State Dept. and already knew who had denied the security upgrade; I heard her admit it under oath. To hear the President say that they didn't know anything about it was a joke. I knew about the enormous cuts in drilling permits offshore, because I have many friends who live in that area of the Gulf and who are out of work because of it -- and a racing team I know was sponsored by BP so I took an interest in the oil spill. But most of all, I knew the answers to those questions because I had the right kind of Daddy, who taught us never to make a statement without having research to back it up. I was one of very few conservatives in my freshman class at Bible College and later at University, and many times I was like the guy hanging on to the rigging in the pirate ship with one hand and fending off the whole crew with his sword in the other...so I knew the answers to those questions. Oh, and by the way, somebody ought to make the point, vis-a-vis contraceptives, that handing these out like candy means that when Generation Whine reaches retirement, they'll be on their own -- if you refuse to have kids, nobody will be there to look after you in old age. Ask the Japanese.
TLP| 10.17.12 @ 2:18PM
"And I saw the BEAST rise from the Sea. And he was given a Mouth, to speak Haughty and Blasphemous words. And he was allowed to exercise authority for forty two months." Revelation 13-5.
Remember - They had a different Calender back then.
PolishKnight| 10.17.12 @ 2:36PM
"if you refuse to have kids, nobody will be there to look after you in old age. Ask the Japanese."
If someone saves for retirement, then they can pay someone to look after them in their old age. On the other hand, ponzi scheme pension funds and demographic trends actually create conditions that seniors wind up being LESS cared for the more kids are produced. Here's why:
As infrastructure costs rise (more people on roads, congestion, cost of food and fuel rise) along with population, people become LESS concerned with each other including and especially of the elderly.
supremecourtlegislator| 10.17.12 @ 7:30AM
Homnick, you nailed what Romney was doing and it was effective just as you say. I am not for sure Romney was as great as you say, but he could have been. He was very, very good.
chuck| 10.17.12 @ 7:56AM
I especially liked the question from the black guy, and Romney's answer was a grand slam in the bottom of the ninth in game seven of the World Series.
I'm betting the questioner votes for Mitt.
C. Vernon Crisler | 10.17.12 @ 9:48AM
Yes, best answer of the night.
c. j. acworth| 10.17.12 @ 8:20AM
I don't have TV in my house, and I had to leave for work about 10 pm anyway, so I'm just going by what I read. I sure hope Mr. Homnicks' assesment is correct. The fate of the nation depends on it.
Burlington| 10.17.12 @ 8:24AM
I predicted an Obama collapse, which it wasn't There is no question Romney won on substance. I don't believe Obama will pick up lost ground based upon this debate.
JimP| 10.17.12 @ 8:35AM
Thank you Mr. Homnick! I don't know if this was the best performance by any Republican ever, but you saw the debate I saw last night. I awoke to the usual suspects cowtowing to the Obama administration, including the gutless, go along 'experts' on Fox news, saying that Obama had won the debate narrowly blah, blah. I thought the Obama lost and so called experts should have graded things that way. If a smooth operator lies his rear end of in a debate of just obfuscates well for 90 minutes does that mean the win? Not in the real world. Only a moron or die hard socialist thought Obama 'won' the debate last night.
JimP| 10.17.12 @ 8:36AM
I am a moron who cannot type. Apologies.
Von Mises Jr| 10.17.12 @ 9:08AM
JimP, some of us think fast and our mouths and certainly our fingers can't keep up. That is why Edison invented the recording machine. It was not to play records. It was to dictate and later transcribe.
CJW and you are 100% correct. Women and those of us trained in sales/body language are used to understanding tone and manner. Women are pressed all the time in their dating ages by obnoxious blowhards. When someone such as Obama interrupts and says something like "I gave a speech" before I went to Vegas; women cringe. Obama also kept walking up into the center stage while Mitt was speaking. When Gore did this to Bush, it was a turning point in the race.
People sense these things and emotionally respond to other's behavior. Obama's behavior was atrocious.
JimP| 10.17.12 @ 9:17AM
Thanks for the understanding, VMJr. I always enjoy and benefit from your comments and this is no exception, and not just because you helped me save a little face. As usual I agree with you as well.
Best regards.
sotto voce| 10.17.12 @ 2:06PM
JimP, you're right about the gutless media. I would really like an explanation of why they think Obama won "on the points". When all your "points" are lies how does that make you a winner? Especially when the moderator cuts off your opponent as he attempts to expose the lies.
CJW| 10.17.12 @ 8:48AM
After watching Bush 1 and 2, Bob Dole, and McCain, it is a pleasure to watch Romney. He is smart, articulate, and is not afraid to challenge Obama. Obama and Crazy Joe are so desperate they are blatantly lying about Benghazi.
Crazy Joe said nobody told them it was a terrorrist attack. Nobody in the MSM asks, why did you not ask? If you did not know then why say it was caused by a video?
Obama lied last night that he called it a terrorrist attack on Monday, right before he went to a fundraiser in Vegas. Mitt was shocked at the blatant lie, and Crowley jumped in to help little obama.
Anthony| 10.17.12 @ 10:11AM
I agree, Romney is a very impressive man on the stump, even better than the great Ronald Reagan. This man has made a believer out of me. And man is the operative word here.
Obozo is an affirmative action coward and empty suit who hides behind woman when the going gets tough.
First he throws his U.N. secretary under the bus and she has to defend the fiasco in Benghazi by blaming the video.
Then our light in the loafers president hides behind the beefy Hillary and has her taking the blame yesterday morning.
By debate time, Axelrod told the Muslim Marxist that being a girly man and hiding behind his girl team was well, less than manly.
But being that there is no shortage of lefty women who will allow themselves to be defiled by lefty men, sumo Candy came out charging for her girlyman. Thank God she wore a dress and not her sumo thong.
No matter, Obozo can't hide, America has awoken as to who and what he really is.
Romney will win this one going away.
ef| 10.17.12 @ 10:39AM
Anthony: Great re-cap. I couldn't agree with you more, especially speaking as a woman. Romney exudes true masculinity. Obama exudes effeminate childishness, not attractive in a male, especially not attractive in a President.
Gary B| 10.17.12 @ 11:14AM
Again, each of them revealed to the world the true nature of his character. I hope a majority of our precious independents have concluded that Romney really hasn't killed his mother nor eaten his own young. Romney instantly connects with anyone who has a moral compass. He will never connect with Obama's groupies, as they have none. This was the motivation behind Romney's 47% remark.
CJW| 10.17.12 @ 10:56AM
Anthony
Crowley looked like obama's mommy that jumped in to help little obama answer the tough question about the Monday Rose Garden reference to terror.
It is unraveling. Crowley thought she was helping Obama but she highlighted the issue of his lying and coverup, and focused the media on this issue. It was pathetic to hear Obama say "tell it louder Candy."
Maybe Obama needs to bring Candy with him when he meets Putin and Akminhandjob so she can speak for Obama.
In his book Obama criticized his white granny for being like a typical white person afraid of a black panhandler at her bus stop. But now he is proud of her for working and supporting him since his father abandoned him. Another woman taking care of little obama.
Al Adab| 10.17.12 @ 4:03PM
Was she the moderator or the enabler?
CJW| 10.17.12 @ 5:41PM
Her conduct to help Obama tells you she believes Obama is not smart enough to debate Romney so she has to jump in to equalize the debate. Romney beat Barack Crowley and Ryan beat Crazy Joe Raddatz.
Alan's Girl| 10.17.12 @ 10:45AM
Romney's debate demeanor vs Obama's debate demeanor-- the 'take charge' guy vs the 'take-a-chance' guy. Up to now, we have only seen this president in his stage personna. It was most interesting to see him at one moment growling & angry, then the next putting on his glib 'Biden face' behind Mr. Romney's answers. One wonders if this president is as much on a day-to-day roller coaster, emotionally speaking, as he has appeared in the first two debates. Romney has shown us nothing but stalwart statesmanship in the face of some pretty unfortunate on-camera circumstances. He has gone from being our best shot to being the best man in the race.
Alan's Girl| 10.17.12 @ 10:47AM
Oh, and as for that Candy/thong thing-- that's gonna be one difficult image to purge, thank you very much.
Kwan| 10.17.12 @ 11:07AM
When the African-American audience member asked Obama why he should vote for him in 2012, Obama unleashed his standard narrative of deception, false promises about the future, and meaningless rhetoric, that wasn't worth a warm bucket of spit. Of course Obama couldn't reveal to the fellow that the reason that his first term in office was such a disaster is that he is a Marxist fifth-columnist who is intentionally sabotaging the American economy with idiotic economic policies. His EPA is attempting to shut down power production to the point that soon we'll be like a third world country with rolling blackouts. His Energy Secretary is on record saying that he wants gasoline to be $8 a gallon. He's borrowing a trillion+ dollars to cover his out of control spending, due to the fact that the anemic economy he has created cannot generate enough tax revenues to cover the bills. Essentially since January 21, 2009 Obama has been America's greatest enemy. Why should someone vote for Obama, there's not one good reason, but there's a million good reasons to vote against him.
Gary B| 10.17.12 @ 11:22AM
I'm curious... does a robust economy help blacks? To hear Obama talk, a good economy only means blacks are being exploited. It also means blacks don't need the government as much. To Democrats, that's a disaster.
Al Adab| 10.17.12 @ 4:09PM
JFK said when he was proposing his Tax Cuts, "A rising tide liftes all boats."
Gary B| 10.17.12 @ 10:04PM
There's a lot about JFK's tax policy liberals don't like talking about. Things conservatives do like talking about.
Who Knows?| 10.17.12 @ 11:26AM
You may be right that Romney broke new ground in his debate performance. I especially liked his way of calling Obama a liar.
However, remember, not the Alamo, but the non sequitur.
Just because you, and all the “bright” guys and gals on this website, and in the conservative realm, .see it this way, it does not follow that most voters do. Intrade, indeed! It’s gone down a point or two, after the debate.
No, the smart money is on the stupid voters.
Who’s in charge? In the Clinton dark ages, TAS and many people focussed on Slick Willie and his shenanigans. However, it was always about the millions of people who supported him, not HIM.
And, NOW? It’s not Obama who’s the problem. It’s those quickly multiplying morons, the MSM and their supporters, who gave us The One, and are literally fixing (the vote) to do it again.
The tyrants in Russia and China, as well as all the other tin pot dictators elsewhere, are having their take on America confirmed. They are sitting quietly, by and large, keeping their powder dry, and letting their opponent destroy herself.
I must amend this. Obama is THEIR man, and he is getting money, illegally, from “donors” who are NOT Americans, and ARE her enemies.
How blind and stupid can most Americans be? That’s the only question.
Suicidally dumb? It sure looks that way.
Not much eternal vigilance, these days.
taibeh| 10.17.12 @ 12:43PM
You must be joking, but I suppose you're not. So depressing. Disappointed-face emoticon.
Might as well entertain your readers, tho it really won't make me feel better:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypRW5qoraTw
Drunken Sailor| 10.17.12 @ 12:57PM
That is your best attempt at political discourse? Silverman? Really? Talk about dissapointed-face-emoticon.
gene| 10.17.12 @ 1:25PM
President Obama has been exposed as a
Disingenuous Prevaricator who is SATURATED
in fornicating bovine scatology
John II| 10.17.12 @ 2:30PM
Right. But to put it somewhat more elegantly, the Professor really does exhibit the classic behavioral patterns of a momma's boy. The media have been assiduous in helping to cover up his personal background, but the details that have slipped through are all too revealing.
When all is said and done, we need a man in the While House. Or a real woman. The Left doesn't have any of those.
Trust me. Been in academia almost all my adult life, and God knows I know. That's why I call him the Professor.
John II| 10.17.12 @ 2:32PM
White House.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 10.17.12 @ 4:21PM
I like "While House", for no matter who the occupant might be, they're only going to be there for a While.
In the case of the current occupant, I hope but a little while longer (say, about 93 days).
Joellen| 10.17.12 @ 6:06PM
Ha - awesome Albert! It's funny I keep thinking of President Washington - and your answer is spot on.
sotto voce| 10.17.12 @ 2:24PM
Obama has the inherent disadvantage because he has only two choices: Defend his dismal record or distract the viewers with dishonest attacks on Romney. Romney didn't let him get away with either strategy, even though Candy (some wag pointed out that Candy is a name for strippers, not "journalists") did her level best to help Obama. I thought Romney was wonderful on the economy, especially when he eviscerated Obama's dismal record. One of my favorite moments came when Obama said "When I was President.....". If Obama's allowed to blather on long enough he always manages to expose himself.
John II| 10.17.12 @ 2:40PM
"When I was President.....".
Yeah--I noticed that. Makes me wonder whether he's already practicing speeches composed for what will certainly be a very long and longwinded retirement--at, say, a hundred grand for each speech delivered to this or that commencement exercise or civic club of well-heeled morons.
Drunken Sailor| 10.17.12 @ 2:56PM
I noticed that as well. I also noticed the hispanic lady that addressed Romney as "President" and then cast a guilty look at Obama. I think they both knew Obama should start preparing his farewell address.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 10.17.12 @ 4:30PM
What subtle moment I thought was interesting about that exchange was the woman’s first name was identified as “Lorraine” (though I didn’t catch the spelling). When it was Obama’s turn to address her, he said “Lorena” with that pretentious slight accent he puts on words when he wants to sound like he can give the native pronunciation (e.g. the way he says “Pock-ee-ston”, as if he could break out in Urdu or Pashto at any moment), and was corrected back to standard unaccented American “Lorraine”.
Drunken Sailor| 10.17.12 @ 4:33PM
Could it be she was a American Hispanic and not a Hispanic - American?
CJW| 10.17.12 @ 5:28PM
Or maybe an American?
Joellen| 10.17.12 @ 6:08PM
Right DS & CJW - when we all answer to AMERICAN only, the country will work well like it should.
BackToBasics| 10.17.12 @ 8:23PM
During and after the debate I beleived Romney did well enough although I was concerned that gullible voters wiould fall for Obam's style which was better than the first debate by far.
I agree with Jay Homnick's assessment. Ealier today, as I thought about the debate often I began to think that Romeny did even better than I originally thought. I also thought that Obam probably did not fool as many people as I was concerned about last night. I alos began to think that Crowley's incorrect intervention for Obam and against Romney on the 9-12 speech would actually be a net negative for Obam in the coming days. It will also be a net negative if Romney corrects her mistake next Monday in the 3rd debate.
This debate didn't hurt Obam but I do not think it will help him much either.
Purp| 10.17.12 @ 8:59PM
You are completely wrong. Romney was the same rude, obnoxious CEO he as the last debate - but the President was clearly the winner, by far.
On Immigration, Women, Libya, Education the President smacked Romney around.
And then Romney was stupid enough to bring up the 100% reminding the President to mention the 47% video, which was the last words said from either RomBot or the President.
The President is back, Romney stumbled and mumbled and was coming unglued - he's showed the old Romney again - you know the Romney you don't like and neither does anyone else.
Wait a week to see the effect in the polls. Right wing world is complaining and whining loudly about everything - the moderator, the questions, the setup, the time - all signs they know they LOST big time.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 10.17.12 @ 9:13PM
The Vice President's voice has been let out of the attic again.
CJW| 10.17.12 @ 9:35PM
Purpie forgot to use his phony British routine as Willie.
The Village Idiot, purpie, has returned. Were you waiting for the Soros checks to clear before you came back? If so, good move. Ask for cash up front, Obama is toast.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 10.17.12 @ 10:05PM
I think that Soros must have cut them back to part time, since they're switching their cash to TV ads in swing states, and purp had to take a day job at Starbucks (he couldn't work at 7-11 or Dunkin Donuts, because as Biden says, he doesn't have a slight Indian accent).
JmsA| 10.17.12 @ 10:28PM
Why wait a week? Here's something to ponder, fresh off the press: On the economy, CNN polling indicated that Romney beat Obama by 18%, and by 21% according to the CBS poll. On taxes and budget/debt, CNN had Romney up by 7% and 23%, respectively. As to who had a clear plan: Romney was (-1) 49/50% and Obama (-23) 38/61%. On health care, Romney bested Obama 49 to 46%; better leader: Romney 49%, Obama 46%; and giving direct answers: Romney 45%, Obama 43%.
According to PPP CO poll regarding whether view of the candidates were more positive following the debate: Romney (+9) 44/35%, Obama (4+) 40/36%. PPP CO also found a tie: 50/50% on question of who better understands people like you.
Obama did win…on likeability and who cared more about the questioners, 47/41% and 44/40%, respectively.