Here is the transcript from which I based this post . ..http://www.debates.org/pages/trans2004a.html
Thanks a million for doing this. Shows just how biased Lehrer is. Did he wink at Kerry at the end. He did shake his hand. He didn't shake Bush's hand, IIRC.
Now, a sitting President should be expected to defend his positions. But Kerry has a long record of service, and he was not asked to defend his record, nor, for the most part, to defend his statements during this campaign. That's not fair at all.
Who watches the watchmen? Who can check Lehrer to see if he is balanced? No one.
I would prefer that each campaign comes up with X number of questions for the other candidate, and Lehrer just pick them out of a hat and read them. Or something.
I have a question and don't know where else to post this. In response to the question, "Has the war in Iraq been worth the cost of American lives, 1,052 as of today?", and after President Bush's response, John Kerry said, "I understand what the president is talking about, because I know what it means to lose people in combat."
It sounds to me that he is saying that U.S. servicemen were killed during combat situations that he was in, if not specifically under his command. Does anyone know if in his four or five months in Vietnam he was involved in any combat where Americans were killed? I haven't heard of any such incidents, but his comment makes it sound as though he has first-hand experience losing men in combat. I know he had one or two friends who were killed in combat (nowhere near where he was), but surely he wouldn't be referring to those deaths by saying he knows what it means to lose people in combat.
Many softballs for Kerry.
Oh my gosh! I always thought Leherer was a fair man. But, these questions are just to put Bush on the defense! Slanted to favor Kerry!
Thanks for doing this....