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Managing Expectations: Team Obama Paints Romney as Best Debater in History
Townhall.com ^ | September 29, 2012 | Kate Hicks

Posted on 09/29/2012 3:49:29 PM PDT by Kaslin

For all President Obama's rhetorical gifts -- and despite the fact that he was widely viewed as the winner of all three presidential debates in 2008 -- Democrats appear to be engaged in a campaign of expectation-managing ahead of the upcoming matchups between Obama and Mitt Romney. Indeed, as the president's press team to his debate prep partern John Kerry would have it, Romney is a veritable reincarnation of one of history's greatest debaters, Abraham Lincoln himself.

Here's John Kerry opining on Romney's "mad skillz" at the podium (h/t Erika Johnsen):

Oh, please. Please, please, please. Give me 20 breaks, not just one. Mitt Romney debated against Ted Kennedy back in the ’90s. He debated one-on-one when he ran for governor. He probably turned his campaign around when he ran for governor and won the governorship because of what happened in that debate.

And listen to the Republicans, don’t listen to me, because nobody’s — I’m obviously partisan. But just this morning on “Morning Joe,” Newt Gingrich, who debated him many, many times, said that he got clobbered by him, that Mitt Romney, when he had to, down in Florida, literally turned things around; everybody saw that and knows that. …

So the fact is that Mitt Romney is a very good debater. He’s done a very good job at it. He’s practiced and practiced and practiced and practiced, and he’s been flying around with, you know, the person playing Obama on his airplane every minute. He’s gone away and done five debates in 48 hours up in New Hampshire or Vermont or somewhere. …

The president, on the other hand, has to be president every day. Just gave two speeches — I thought terrific speeches — in New York. He has been at the White House and dealing with a whole series of issues, Middle East and otherwise.

Playing up Romney's past experience, while shrugging off concerns of Obama's unprepardness, has become recurring theme in recent days as the first debate, scheduled for October 3, nears. Obama's traveling press secretary Jen Psaki gave a ludicrous answer when asked about what will happen in the matchup:

On Air Force One today, traveling press secretary Jen Psaki was asked by reporters what the worst thing that could happen to him on Wednesday night.

"Well, he could fall off the stage," she replied of the president.

"The president will have some time to prepare and he's been doing some studying, but it is certainly less than we have anticipated because of events in the Middle East, because of his busy travel schedule — because of just the constraints of governing," she added. "So it is less than we originally planned." Psaki lamented the president's "loquaciousness" and argued that Romney is the most prepared debater in presidential debate history — on account of his preparation sessions going back to May.

"Mitt Romney, on the other hand, has been preparing earlier and with more focus than any presidential candidate in modern history," she said. "Not John F. Kennedy. Not President Bill Clinton. Not President George Bush. Not Ronald Reagan has prepared as much as he has. So there's no question that he will have a lead on how prepared he is."

It's long been known that Team Obama is concerned about their boss' tendency to ramble, but this is getting out of hand. Obama has a reputation for being a masterful orator, and the idea that he's outmatched by this wide of a margin is laughable. It reads more like they're concerned about a potential bump in the polls if Romney debates well, and are downplaying a poor performance from the president with the ol' "he's been running the free world" excuse.

Becuase, really. If he's too busy for Netanyahu, and he's too busy for security briefings, and he's too busy for debate prep, then what is he doing?

Oh. Right.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: barackobama; debates; johnkerry; mittromney
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1 posted on 09/29/2012 3:49:38 PM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

“The president, on the other hand, has to be president every day.”

This is possibly one of the most dishonest things Kerry has ever said. Obama is a fundraiser Monday through Friday and a celebrity on the weekend.


2 posted on 09/29/2012 3:52:39 PM PDT by Viennacon
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To: Kaslin
People are sick of these games, but don't always recognize when they're being played.

Every time they pull this crap Romney's team should be pointing out exactly what scam is being run.

3 posted on 09/29/2012 3:56:12 PM PDT by skeeter
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To: Viennacon

Kerry was actually correct, that is what a real president; and the emphasis is on real, has to do but that arrogant pos occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania is not a real President


4 posted on 09/29/2012 3:59:35 PM PDT by Kaslin (Acronym for OBAMA: One Big Ass Mistake America)
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To: Kaslin

And Romney is busy painting Obama as the most eloquent president since Lincoln. Both sides are lowering expectations.


5 posted on 09/29/2012 4:04:15 PM PDT by Delhi Rebels (There was a row in Silver Street - the regiments was out.)
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To: Viennacon
Obama is a fundraiser Monday through Friday and a celebrity on the weekend.

Barack Hussein Milhouse Soetoro Kardashian

6 posted on 09/29/2012 4:06:09 PM PDT by SERKIT ("Blazing Saddles" explains it all.......)
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To: Kaslin

I thought Obama was the smartest person in the world . Sounds like they just set up Romney to lose the debate no matter what


7 posted on 09/29/2012 4:06:09 PM PDT by molson209
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To: Kaslin

Regardless of what happens in the debate, the scum-sucking Nazi media will declare Buckwheat the winner. Get ready for it.

And for all you gloom ‘n doom RINO FReepers who haven’t jumped off a cliff yet, please spare everyone your incessant whining and jump.


8 posted on 09/29/2012 4:10:31 PM PDT by sergeantdave (The FBI has declared war on the Marine Corps)
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To: Delhi Rebels

For the previous three and a half years you haven’t had to read very far here before running into comments that Obama is incompetent and a painful embarrassment as a speaker without a teleprompter. Now we shall see. This is as big as the big leagues get, if Romney is not at the top of his game he’s ( and we are) toast.


9 posted on 09/29/2012 4:11:51 PM PDT by RedStateRocker (Nuke Mecca, Deport all illegals, abolish the IRS, DEA and ATF.)
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To: Kaslin

So we have to DUMBED DOWN the debates as well, in order for Obama to win.


10 posted on 09/29/2012 4:21:40 PM PDT by annieokie (O)
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To: RedStateRocker
For the previous three and a half years you haven’t had to read very far here before running into comments that Obama is incompetent and a painful embarrassment as a speaker without a teleprompter

And we've all seen how painful it can be to watch an unscripted Romney launch into some extemporaneous comments. Hence why both sides are trying to downplay their candidate's chances.

11 posted on 09/29/2012 4:24:46 PM PDT by Delhi Rebels (There was a row in Silver Street - the regiments was out.)
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To: molson209

“Sounds like they just set up Romney to lose the debate no matter what”

Do you actually think the obammy “media” whores would ever say Romney won???


12 posted on 09/29/2012 4:31:20 PM PDT by jivin gene (Breakin' up is hard to do)
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To: Kaslin; All
(From the article:)
"Because, really.
If he's (Obama) too busy for Netanyahu,
and he's too busy for security briefings,
and he's too busy for debate prep,
then what is he doing?"


13 posted on 09/29/2012 4:35:32 PM PDT by musicman (Until I see the REAL Long Form Vault BC, he's just "PRES__ENT" Obama = Without "ID")
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To: Kaslin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKTej_VJZ0M&feature=related

But Romney is nowhere near as good as obama at screwing up while reading a prompter.


14 posted on 09/29/2012 4:48:55 PM PDT by Right Wing Assault (Dick Obama is more inexperienced now than he was before he was elected.)
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To: annieokie

This, or he will get the answers fed the 0bama media wnat to hear from him


15 posted on 09/29/2012 4:50:35 PM PDT by Kaslin (Acronym for OBAMA: One Big Ass Mistake America)
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To: Kaslin

Even the title made me LOL. Imagine if Newt had been the candidate; there probably would not have been “debates.”

I do hope Romney’s prep team have given him lines to criticize B.O. in a way that will “get his goat.” B.O. HATES to look bad in any manner. Perhaps he can be goaded to lose his temper, ya think?

In fact, if some great Freeper could make signs B.O. would definitely see before the debate that read, “B. O. Stinks!” he’d already be primed. He is the world’s best known narcissist.

It would make a great chant, too. “B. O. Stinks!”

“B. O. Stinks!”

“B. O. Stinks!”

“B. O. Stinks!”


16 posted on 09/29/2012 4:55:36 PM PDT by MSSC6644 (Defeat Satan: pray the Rosary.)
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To: Kaslin
Managing Expectations: Team Obama Paints Romney as Best Debater in History

Not to worry..

Wednesday Oct. 3, 2012. The presidential debate begins. The moderator is the MSM employee agreed upon,

Moderator: Gentlemen, the first question is.. On page 123 of "Dreams From My Father" . . . .

17 posted on 09/29/2012 5:25:09 PM PDT by WilliamofCarmichael (If modern America's Man on Horseback is out there, Get on the damn horse already!)
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To: molson209

That is what the 0bama media wants everyone to believe. We however know better, don’t we?


18 posted on 09/29/2012 5:29:19 PM PDT by Kaslin (Acronym for OBAMA: One Big Ass Mistake America)
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To: sergeantdave

well, liie I have said on several occations it would not surprise me if he will get the answers the media wants to hear fed


19 posted on 09/29/2012 5:32:19 PM PDT by Kaslin (Acronym for OBAMA: One Big Ass Mistake America)
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To: MSSC6644

It was actually I who said it first that Newt could beat that arrogant pos in a debate, even with him using the teleprompter


20 posted on 09/29/2012 5:36:43 PM PDT by Kaslin (Acronym for OBAMA: One Big Ass Mistake America)
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