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Friday, October 12, 2012 12:03 AM Who won the vice presidential debate? Biden, Ryan face off for voters By Corey Friedman | Times Online Editor An aggressive Joe Biden defended President Barack Obama’s economic record and attacked Paul Ryan’s budget proposals in the 2012 campaign’s first and only vice presidential debate Thursday night. Wilson County’s Democratic and Republican leaders offered opposite takes on the debate’s outcome, but both agreed that the candidates stood in sharp contrast. "I think undecided voters reacted better to Biden tonight, and I think that’s because he’s real,” Democratic Party Chairman Asa Gregory said. "He showed that he’s a real person, a regular person just like them.” GOP Chairman Gary Proffitt said Ryan’s debate performance would likely help Republican nominee Mitt Romney win the presidency. "The house is sold,” Proffitt said. "Joe Biden offered the White House for sale, and Congressman Ryan has bought it. It’s sold.” Pundits said Biden was on the offensive from the outset of Thursday’s debate, held in Danville, Ky. He and Ryan traded jabs over health care reform, tax policy, job creation and national defense. Both candidates gave opponents opportunities to analyze their body language. Gregory said smirking during Biden’s remarks made Ryan look disingenuous. "As the other one was talking, both of them had a quirk about them,” he said. "Biden sort of chuckled a lot and I noticed Ryan had a smirk.” Proffitt said Biden’s laughter made light of the severity of America’s challenges. "Joe Biden is a laughing joke,” he said. "I’m going to try to get him a job on ‘Saturday Night Live.’” Gregory said Biden was well-prepared for the debate and gave thoughtful answers to moderator Martha Raddatz’s questions. "He was prepared to answer anything that Ryan brought up that was slightly off the truth,” Gregory said. Wilson County’s top Democrat thought Biden also scored points with middle-class voters on taxation and budget issues. "Biden is the foreign policy guy, Ryan is the budget guy,” Gregory said. "Even on the budget, I feel like Biden had the upper hand.” Proffitt said expectations for Ryan were high after Mitt Romney scored what many commentators called a decisive victory in his first presidential debate with Barack Obama. "Ryan is probably going to have his work cut out for him to represent Romney like Romney spoke the first time,” Proffitt said before the debate. Proffitt said Ryan’s addition to the Romney ticket energized conservatives locally and nationally. "The morning after Ryan was added to the ticket, headquarters became busy, and we’ve been busy since,” he said. Biden, 69, represented Delaware in the U.S. Senate for 36 years before becoming vice president in 2008. A native of Scranton, Pa., he ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1988. Ryan, 42, represents Wisconsin’s 1st congressional district and is chairman of the House Budget Committee. A darling of the tea party movement, the Janesville, Wis. native has submitted federal budget proposals that would slash spending and reduce corporate taxes in hopes of creating more jobs. corey@wilsontimes.com | 265-7821 |
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Just wondering said...
@Admin....Will there be an article on last night’s debate?
Wednesday, October 17, 2012 at 9:05 AM
Debate said...@Admin....Will there be an article on last night’s debate?
Wednesday, October 17, 2012 at 9:05 AM
The VP debate was entertaining, which in the end, is all we can hope for in a VP debate.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012 at 9:34 AM
The debates are not an American Idol or reality program, where performance determines a "winner". I really don't care about performance, oratory skills, etc, in a debate. As to substance, I know from experience that Medicare is far better than any Republican insurance voucher program (of note: insurance companies are dropping long-term care policies because they're too costly....whereas Medicare's hospice program gave my progressively worsening father a certified nursing assistant (CNA) every day for 15 months. Yep...every day, including holidays, someone came to bathe him, provide oral care, shampoo his hair, diaper him, shave him, etc. A nurse came once a week and stayed at least an hour checking on him and talking with the family. A nurse & doctor were on call 24 hours each and every day. A chaplain came periodically; a social worker came as well. Two volunteers came weekly to provide time for family caregivers to get out. There is not one health insurance company that would give dying seniors this level of care - not one. Nor will there ever be, as offering these benefits would put them out of business. Obama is not cutting Medicare benefits - he is cutting waste. I really don't care about who won the debates. Medicare wins for seniors and I'm in that category. The Romney team might seem to win debates, but their willingness to replace Medicare with vouchers is unbelieveably offensive.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012 at 10:43 PM
Ryan won on style , substance and clarifying his and Romneys psition. Biden won on rudeness, arrogance and smugness. most media outlets except MSNBC scored it for Ryan.
Monday, October 15, 2012 at 8:34 AM
Seriously, I am like you why would parents want to send there kids to a better school to get away from gangs, drugs, and hoodrats. I know they make the schools diverse and deadly. I prefer that for my kids. How else will they get skreet cred, no what i sayn...
Sunday, October 14, 2012 at 8:21 AM
