Liveblogging the vice presidential debate, 10/11/12
Thanks for joining us! Carolina Journal and John Locke Foundation staff members will provide live commentary on the debate between Democratic Vice President Joe Biden and Republican nominee Paul Ryan.
As always, any opinion expressed belongs to the writer.
Rick Henderson - 10:40 PM
Thanks again for joining us. We’ll be back for the second presidential debate, a town hall, Tuesday night!
Rick Henderson - 10:38 PM
My take: Biden was aggressive, speaking over Ryan and sometimes Raddatz. If that’s what Dems wanted, they got it. How it’ll affect undecideds is anyone’s guess. Ryan was civil throughout and not too wonkish. Was he persuasive? No idea. He got in some good lines in the end about Obama failing to live up to his promise and promises and that Romney/Ryan would not blame their predecessors if they ran into trouble.
On Twitter, lefties loved Raddatz because she interrupted the candidates. Conservatives loved Lehrer because he let them talk. Interesting.
Barry Smith - 10:33 PM
My take: Biden’s performance definitely outpaced Obama’s from last week. He was more forceful, possibly overly-so. At times he appeared arrogant and didn’t come across we’ll when he laughed while Ryan was talking. His interruptions were irritating.
Ryan was more respectful and listened intently when his opponent was speaking. I should noted that he did his share of interruptions also. His answers were more concise, and did a good job at drawing distinctions between the Romney/Ryan ticket and the Obama/Biden ticket.
Dan E. Way - 10:33 PM
Ryan closing statement: Obama had his chance, and his ideas are not working. “This is not what a real recovery looks like. You deserve better.” They’re offering real reform for everybody. Romney “uniquely qualified to get this done.” Romney proven job creator, and that’s what is needed in White House. Right now we have stagnant economy that’s leading to more government dependency. Will not try to replace founding principles will reassert them. They won’t blame others for their failure to make things happen, but will take responsibility.
Becki Gray - 10:32 PM
Closing statements:
Biden: Have a problem with the way R/R treats the middle class. Playing field is level and everyone has a shot. That;s what this is all about.
Ryan: Face a big choice. What kind of country will we be? Obama;s had his chance, it;s not working, you deserve better. Romney and I want to earn your support. Need a job creator in the WH. We’ll take responsibilities. Choice is clear and it rests with you.
Dan E. Way - 10:31 PM
Biden closing statement: Said he’s frustrated with opponents attitude towards American people. When they talk about 47 percent, they’re talking about his mother and father when he does that, talking about the people who built this country. President and I not going to rest until that playing field is leveled, they have a clear shot, can tell their children it’s going to be OK.
Becki Gray - 10:29 PM
Personal character?
Ryan: Honesty. Getting people out of poverty and in the middle class
Biden: My record stands for itself. Treating wall street and main street the same.
Dan E. Way - 10:29 PM
Biden: My record stands for itself. I say what I mean. His whole life has been spent trying to give middle class an even break. “they’re the people who grow this country.”
Dan E. Way - 10:28 PM
Ryan said we’re not getting people offering solutions to problems. That’s what Romney will do. Proven, pro-growth policies, putting ideas on table. working bi-partisan
Becki Gray - 10:27 PM
Decorated soldier comments on negative ads and tone of this campaign…
Biden: equip those who serve and take care of those who come home. Outside groups in campaigns are “an abomination” Then proceeds to make negative comments about Romney/Ryan.
Ryan: Thank you for your service, we’ll give resources to our military. Obama is no longer hope and change, broken promises on taxes, deficit and other stuff. Leaders run to problems to fix problems – not getting leadership from Obama.
Biden: Ryan budgets would eviserate the middle class – increases tax cuts for the very wealthy.
Dan E. Way - 10:27 PM
Closing question. Are candidates embarrassed about the tone of campaign rhetoric?
Biden: only one truly sacred obligation of the government, to equip military properly and bring them home safely. Military personnel shouldn’t be thrown into 47 percent of those not paying taxes (another jab at the Romney quote). Biden hits PAC money and “scurrilous” things they say as an “abomination.” Romney takes care of only the wealthy, and not middle class. “There are things that have been said in campaigns that I think are not very appealing.”
Ryan: Obama promised hope and change but has delivered attack blame and defame instead. “you see if you don’t have a good record to run on, then you paint your opponent’s campaign as something to run from.” Obama has 12 of 21 tax increases hitting middle class under Obamacare. He promised to cut deficit in half but has piled up four consecutive trillion debts. We are heading to fiscal crisis. Obama has put forth no credible plan to prevent debt crisis. Under Obama get speeches, not plans. Obama broke his biggest promise of bringing country together.
Rick Henderson - 10:27 PM
Ryan using the great line that Obama didn’t offer a budget, he offered a speech; when the CBO was asked to evaluate the plan, it said, “we can’t evaluate a speech.”
Barry Smith - 10:22 PM
Ryan: Unelected judges shouldn’t make the decision on abortion. Elected legislators should.
Biden: Next president will have one to two appointments on the Supreme Court, and Roe v. Wade hangs by a thread.
Becki Gray - 10:21 PM
Catholic question – how does your religion factor in, position on abortion.
Ryan: can’t seperate faith from who you are. First born Liza (bean) made him understand when life begins. Oppose abortion except in case of rape incest life of mother. opposes regulations in ObamaCare thae impose on religious freedoms.
Biden: his religion defines who he is, formed his social doctrine – take care of those who can’t help themselves, life begins at conception but won’t impose it on others.
Ryan: unelected officials shouldn’t make decisions on legality of abortion. Biden says next president will appoint Supreme Court judges who won;t overrule Roe v Wade
Dan E. Way - 10:20 PM
Ryan said exceptions of rape, incest and life of mother are inherent in Romney policy.
Rick Henderson - 10:20 PM
Raddatz asking both how their Catholicism played roles in their positions on abortion. Good question.
Ryan goes after religious freedom infringements in Obamacare. Hits Biden for his “not second guessing” China on one-child policy.
Biden: I refuse to impose my religion’s position on abortion on others. Re: Obamacare — there’s no infringement on religious freedom. Said “my friend” again.
Barry Smith - 10:20 PM
Social issues coming up. What roles have your religion played in your view of abortion?
Ryan: “It’s not simply because of my faith.” “I respect people who don’t agree with me on this.” Administration would oppose abortion, with few exception. Ryan hits on Obama administration about attacks on religious freedoms.
Biden: Accepts church’s position on abortion for his personal life, but not for others. Says no churches have to pay for contraception.
Really? You mean they’re going to be free?
Dan E. Way - 10:19 PM
Raddatz asks what role their personal, Catholic views have on abortion. “Please talk personally about this if you could.”
Ryan: “I don’t see how a person can separate their personal life from their public life.” He’s not pro-life only because of his Catholic faith. But also due to reason and science. When saw 7-week ultrasound of their baby 10 years ago they were happy. He believes in sanctity of life, and life begins at conception. Obamacare assaults religious liberties of the country, “they’re infringing on our first freedom. . . our church should not have to sue the federal government” to protect religious liberty. VP went to China and said he wouldn’t second guess their policy of forced abortions and one-child only and that is “pretty extreme.”
Biden said Catholic social doctrine talks about taking care of those who can’t take care of self. He supports in his personal life life begins at conception. But refuses to impose that on others. He said no religious institution has to refer contraception, pay for it, or be vehicle to dispense contraception in any policy they provide.
Barry Smith - 10:14 PM
Ryan again hits on America’s credibility. “We should not have waited for Arusha to give us the green light.” It’s got to be in the national interest of the American people for intervention.
Dan E. Way - 10:14 PM
What happens if Assad does not fall:
Ryan: U.S. will lose credibility, Iran will maintain it greatest ally. Should have worked with dissidents in Syria early on instead of calling Assad a reformer, shouldn’t have waited for Russia to give us green light to do anything. Embargos and sanctions would be effective.
Becki Gray - 10:13 PM
Questions about Syria..
Biden says it’s bigger, heavily populated, wrong people get control could cause regional war. Attempting to identify who deserves help. Last thing we need is another war in the middle east. Romney says he wouldn’t do anything different.
Ryan says no one is proposing to send our troops to Syria. The longer it goes on, the worse it gets, more Syrians are dead.
Biden says all our allies on the same page, reset is working.
Dan E. Way - 10:12 PM
Civil war in Syria now on the table.
Biden said war there would seep into regional war. If it blows up and wrong people gain control, will have dangerous consequences. “Assad will go” as leader. He called it “loose talk” by Romney and Ryan that U.S. should be doing more. Would need to be ground war to make a difference. “Are they proposing putting American troops on the ground . . . if they do they should say so.”
Ryan: “Nobody is proposing to send troops to Syria, American troops.” Assad not reformer by killing his own people with Russian weapons. Syria turned Hillary Clinton aside when she came there. Now more foreign fighters are flooding into Syria. Lack of a better plan in working with allies, giving veto power to Russians, has resulted in tens of thousands more Syrians dead. We shouldn’t have gone through U.N. while killings took place.
Barry Smith - 10:12 PM
Why not treat Syria they way we did Libya?
Biden: “Because it is a different country.” Then he uses the phrase “loose talk” again.
Ryan: “Nobody is proposing to send troops to Syria, American forces.” Ryan says we would not go through the UN.
Rick Henderson - 10:09 PM
Ryan chiding Biden for leaving Afghan troops instead of U.S. forces in hot spots. Afghans are shooting U.S. soldiers.
Becki Gray - 10:07 PM
Biden and Raddutz arguing over surge and withdrawal of forces in Afghanistan.
Ryan steps in, fighting season is in warm weather, fewer people to hot spots, putting out troops in danger. Biden says it’s Afghans’ responsibility, not ours.
Barry Smith - 10:07 PM
Ryan criticizes pulling troops out.
Biden says that was because the Afghanis have been trained to fight.
Becki Gray - 10:04 PM
Afghanistan now…
Ryan says what they’ve accomplished is amazing, can’t lose ground. 2014 transition must be successful so terrorism does not grow again. Commanders must have what they need to be successful. Shouldn’t put a date on the calender for our enemies to be emboldened.
Biden says it’s up to the Afghans to take care of their own security, We are leaving in 2014 period. It’s their responsibility, not ours.
Is taliban taking advantage of us? Biden says we have to step up and leave.
Dan E. Way - 10:03 PM
Biden says without a timeline, others in the region won’t step up. “That’s the only way it works,” is by demanding Afghans stand up and take accountability.
Rick Henderson - 10:03 PM
Ryan: We don’t want to broadcast a departure date and let our enemies wait us out. Biden: We’re leaving. Bank on it.
Dan E. Way - 10:02 PM
Ryan said they don’t want to go beyond 2014. But don’t want to put date on calendar to allow enemies to wait out the timeline, emboldening them.
Barry Smith - 10:01 PM
Biden: “We are leaving in 2014, period.”
Ryan: “We want to make sure 2014 is successful.”
Dan E. Way - 10:00 PM
Question moves to Afghanistan. More than 2,000 dead. Is it worth more American lives to stay there?
Ryan said don’t want to lose gains that were made. Troops have done “an incredible job.” Are skeptical about negotiations with Taliban, especially when they are shooting at U.S. troops. Don’t want to see Afghanistan become launching pad for terrorists again.
Biden said we went to Afghanistan for one reason: to get al Qaeda and eliminate bin Laden, while helping to train Afghan security. Have agreed to gradual drawdown by 2014. Romney-Ryan want conditions on withdrawal, Obama-Biden say it’s Afghan problem and responsibility to solve. “We are leaving in 2014, period.”
Becki Gray - 9:57 PM
On to defense.
Ryan says cuts to defense invites weakness. Don;t cut it by a trillion dollars
Biden says this was part of a debt deal. Joint chiefs of staff said they wanted a smaller, leaner military.
Barry Smith - 9:57 PM
Biden is trying to be more aggressive, possibly to compensate for Obama’s lackluster performance last week.
Not sure it’s working.
Dan E. Way - 9:56 PM
Question now defense. Ryan said if Obama defense cuts go through our Navy will be smallest it’s been since WW I.
Biden said Obama doesn’t cut defense budget.
Becki Gray - 9:55 PM
Ryan running circles around Biden on tax policy.
Biden says numbers don;t add up. Ryan says they do and explains how it works. Biden laughs.
Biden says millionaires don’t need their money – middle class does – give it to them.
Ryan says their taxes affect millions of small businesses, families making 0,000.
Biden laughs.
Barry Smith - 9:54 PM
Biden says that the more wealthy “do not need” their own money.
Bit it’s their money, Joe.
Dan E. Way - 9:54 PM
This is starting to sound like Crossfire, or one of those annoying screamathon shows, not a vice presidential debate. Biden won’t let Ryan talk, talks over him, not allowing this to be a debate.
Rick Henderson - 9:53 PM
Raddatz: What would you propose besides higher taxes on the rich?
Biden: That’s pretty much it.
Barry Smith - 9:53 PM
Ryan talks about bipartisanship, telling Biden that they aren’t used to working in a bipartisan way.
Dan E. Way - 9:53 PM
Biden said Romney won’t cut loopholes. He said health care deduction, mortgage tax deduction will be eliminated to meet Romney budget plan.
Dan E. Way - 9:50 PM
Ryan said 28 percent tax on families and businesses is enough. Obama thinks 48 percent is enough. There aren’t enough rich people and small businesses to tax to pay for all of their spending. . . Watch out middle class, the tax bill is coming to you.” Average tax in industrialized world is 25 percent. Obama tax will cost 710,000 jobs and doesn’t pay for 10 percent of proposed deficit increases.
There are several studies that disprove Biden’s continued reference to a trillion tax cut, as well as campaign managers admitting it, Ryan said.
Ryan said Romney has plan that six studies verify the math will work out.
Becki Gray - 9:49 PM
Taxes now.
Biden says middle class will get tax breaks. R/R will have tax cuts for “super wealthy” and tax increases on the middle class.
Ryan’s plan will create jobs, leave small business income in small business, quit spending so much. Don;t raise the deficit.
Biden continues with the smirking and laughing. Out loud.
Barry Smith - 9:49 PM
Biden says the middle class will pay less in taxes and the rich will pay more.
Does anyone really believe that the middle class won’t pay more taxes? What about the Obamacare mandate?
Ryan says they think that the government taking 28 percent of income is enough.
Rick Henderson - 9:49 PM
Ryan: Obama wants to raise tax rate on successful small biz about 40%; most other countries tax at 25%.
Rick Henderson - 9:48 PM
Biden: Tax cuts for wealthy are unconscionable.
Ryan: If you tax top earners at 100% you still can’t balance the budget. Tax bill will come to you if tax rates go up.
Dan E. Way - 9:47 PM
Biden said middle class will pay less and those making million or more will pay more under second term. 0 billion of continued tax cuts go to those making million or more. Want to extend permanently middle-class tax cut, but Republicans “are holding hostage the middle class tax cut to the super wealthy.”
“The middle class got knocked on their heels, the great recession crushed them” and rich don’t need more tax cuts.
Becki Gray - 9:45 PM
Biden says they made system solvent til 2033. Will not be part of any voucher program – won’t keep pace with health care cost. Or privitize social security.
Ryan says no changes for seniors now, phase in changes for those in 40s now.
Biden looks at camera, asks who ya gonna trust? Laughs some more.
Ryan says we’re not going to jepordize the program.
Biden laughs.
Dan E. Way - 9:45 PM
Biden effectively talking to people by staring directly into camera and inviting seniors to listen to him.
Ryan said “we are not going to jeopardize this program.”
Rick Henderson - 9:44 PM
Ryan running against Mediscare tactics, and Biden keeps trying to interrupt. Coming off like a jackass.
Barry Smith - 9:43 PM
Ryan wants younger Americans to have choices, such as in Medicre.
Biden says it will cut benefits.
Rick Henderson - 9:43 PM
Ryan: Using one of Obama’s statements from 2008 about stale ideas against Biden.
Biden keeps trying to interrupt. Don’t know how that’s playing with the public.
Dan E. Way - 9:43 PM
Ryan said Obama’s own words were if you don’t have fresh ideas you bring out old scare tactics, hitting Biden on his remarks.
Dan E. Way - 9:42 PM
Why not raise Medicare age by two years, slowly as Ryan suggests, Raddatz asks Biden.
Biden said won’t be part of any voucher plan for Medicare or privatization of Social Security.
Becki Gray - 9:41 PM
Ryan explaining reform of medicare and ObamaCare. Says there is democrats’ support.
Biden laughs.
Biden says seniors aren’t losing choices. Laughs.
Becki Gray - 9:40 PM
Biden says ObamaCare extends life of medicare to 2024, more benefits for seniors. Says Romney/Ryan plan is a voucher plan. “Folks folllow your instincts” says Biden. In other words, let government take care of you.
Ryan comes back with figures on R/R proposals to fix medicare.
Biden laughs.
Dan E. Way - 9:39 PM
Ryan said Obama’s own actuary said 1 of 6 hospitals and nursing homes will go out of business under Obamacare. Biden keeps interrupting and Ryan calls him out on it. Biden looks bad.
Rick Henderson - 9:39 PM
Ryan: They got caught with their hands in the cookie jar, taking money from Medicare to Obamacare.
Biden trying to talk over him.
Dan E. Way - 9:38 PM
Biden said seniors have more benefits today than before, and Romney-Ryan wipe that all out.
CBO said ,400 more per year will be paid by seniors under voucher system, Biden says.
Who you going to believe? Biden asks.
Regarding Social Security: We will not privatize. “Their ideas are old and their ideas are bad.”
Barry Smith - 9:38 PM
Biden brings up “that death panel argument.” Then he talks about AARP supporting Obamacare.
Yeah they did, and they have a financial interest in it.
Rick Henderson - 9:37 PM
Ryan: Rather have 50 million seniors determine their medical plans than 15 bureaucrats.
Dan E. Way - 9:36 PM
Question is whether Medicare and Social Security will have to change to survive.
Ryan says “absolutely.” But they need reform to survive. He said his family has benefited from them. “We will honor” them, he said. People close to retirement will not lose Medicare. Obama will rifle 6 billion from Medicare, and will install board of 15 people who aren’t even required to have medical training who will make decisions for healthcare. Ryan says people should be able to choose plans: choice and competition. Should have 50 million seniors choosing their own care, not 15 unelected people on a board telling them what their options are.
Becki Gray - 9:36 PM
Ryan talking about medicare, helped family members, have to reform so it will be there in the future and seniors now. Cites harm to medicare in ObamaCare, Wants choice and competition to make it better.
Biden laughs.
Barry Smith - 9:36 PM
Ryan: “Absolutely” Medicare and Social Security will have to change. He advocates reforming it for his generation. Ryan says Obamacare board will figure out how to cut Medicare more.
Rick Henderson - 9:36 PM
Now it’s on to Medicare: Ryan bring up 6 billion, IPAB, inevitable cuts in Medicare if system goes broke. Focus on reforms for younger people.
Becki Gray - 9:34 PM
Ryan talking about wasted stimulus money, cronyism. Biden laughs, accuses Ryan of asking for stimulus $, laughs some more. WIndmills in China, borrow from China, good ideas? Biden says it created green jobs, laughs again.
Dan E. Way - 9:33 PM
Ryan asks whether it was good idea to borrow money from China to pay for stimulus, and pay for projects overseas with that money?
Dan E. Way - 9:33 PM
Biden scores on point that Ryan asked for stimulus program money for state of Wisconsin.
Barry Smith - 9:33 PM
What Joe? No evidence of cronyism.
Ryan admits to advocates for stimulus money for constituents.
Dan E. Way - 9:32 PM
Ryan said Obama-Biden had control of both houses of Congress for two years, passed the plans it wanted and they promised would fix economy, and it hasn’t worked.
Becki Gray - 9:31 PM
Ryan says Romney is a good person. Says Biden, if anyone, knows sometimes the words don’t come out of your mouth the way you intended. Biden and the audience laugh. First time Biden’s laughter is appropriate.
Rick Henderson - 9:31 PM
Ryan: Dems controlled everything for the first two years they were in office and look what happened.
Dan E. Way - 9:31 PM
Biden said he’s never seen two people more down on the U.S. than Romney and Ryan. Insists Obama saved auto industry. “Show me a policy where you take responsibility.” Says Ryan voted on tax cut for wealthy, two wars on a credit card, prescription drug plan that blew budget out.
Dan E. Way - 9:29 PM
Ryan said unemployment in Biden’s hometown went from 8.5 percent to 10 percent since Obama took office. Economy growing at 1.3 percent, which is slower than last year, which was lower than year before. 15 percent of Americans living in poverty. Deficit and debt need to be brought under control. Don’t raise taxes in recession. Ryan said Romney is a car guy and knows about Detroit. “Mitt Romney is a good man,” and cares about all Americans. Ryan gets big audience chuckle in responding to Biden’s 47 percent reference”I think the vice president knows sometimes the words don’t come out the right way.”
Barry Smith - 9:29 PM
Ryan: “I think the Vice President very well knows that the words don’t always come out the right way.”
Rick Henderson - 9:29 PM
Good zinger from Ryan: The vice president knows, sometimes the words don’t come out of your mouth the way that you seem.
Barry Smith - 9:27 PM
Now on the economy.
Biden brings up the 47 percent comment. He says it’s about time they take some responsibility.
What has the administration taken responsibility for?
Biden butts-in again.
Ryan says, “The economy is barely limping along… This is not what a real recovery looks like.”
Becki Gray - 9:27 PM
Biden saved people’s homes and the automobile industry. Going off on the 47% comments, Romney’s taxes and taxing the middle class – he rehearsed this one – more than once.
Ryan says unemployment is worse now than four years ago. Biden says unemployment is going down and ready? laughs.
Rick Henderson - 9:27 PM
Ryan: Unemployment rate in Biden’s home town is worse than it was when Biden took office. Biden keeps laughing at Ryan. Wonder if that’ll play like Gore’s sighs did in 2000.
Rick Henderson - 9:26 PM
OK, who had Grover Norquist mention in 1st 20 minutes of debate?
Meantime, Biden pulling out all the Dem talking points in one response. Impressive.
Dan E. Way - 9:25 PM
Question is whether can lower unemployment to under 6 percent.
Biden says economy was in freefall when they took office. Rescued GM, cut taxes for middle class, helped people refinance their homes. He brings up the Romney 47 percent quote. He said elderly people pay more effective tax rate than Romney. Said he’s had it up to here with talk about people not paying their fair share.
Becki Gray - 9:24 PM
Moving on to jobs. Waiting to see if Biden thinks the economy is as funny as he thinks national security is.
Rick Henderson - 9:24 PM
Whoa. Raddatz dropping the 6% line on Biden and Ryan (projected by Obama in 2009).
Biden saying ‘we inherited a huge mess.’
Barry Smith - 9:23 PM
Biden keeps trying to butt-in. Ryan doesn’t let him.
Biden says was should be a last resort.
Dan E. Way - 9:22 PM
Ryan says Obama administration displays equivocation, which gives encouragement to ayatollahs to continue.
Becki Gray - 9:21 PM
Again with Biden and the big smirks as Ryan talks about real threats to our country’s security. Biden apparently thinks nuclear threats are a drinking game or a big joke.
Bibi has been Biden’s friend for 30 years so…not to worry, everything’s okay. Biden tells everybody to settle down.
Dan E. Way - 9:21 PM
Biden says ayatollahs see world united in opposition against Iran, and that he and Obama have met with Netanyahu several times. Iran more isolated today than when Obama took office.
Rick Henderson - 9:19 PM
Biden: Obama’s spoken to Bibi as much as he’s spoken to anybody. Fact check?
It’s a bunch of stuff. Irish call it malarkey.
Dan E. Way - 9:18 PM
Ryan said ayatollahs moving faster towards nuclear weapon, see administration watering down sanctions in Congress, see president going on talk show instead of meeting with PM Netanyahu, hear president talking about putting space between U.S. and Israel, so they don’t take U.S. threats seriously.
Rick Henderson - 9:17 PM
Biden promises not to disclose classified info during the debate, which may be a sound idea.
Dan E. Way - 9:17 PM
Biden says “we feel quite confident we could deal a serious blow to the Iranians.” But military intelligence says Iran “a good bit away” from having nukes. “There is no weapon that the Iranians have at this point” and Israel agrees, he said. “We will not let them acquire a nuclear weapon, period.”
Becki Gray - 9:17 PM
Ryan is very serious about his responses in how to prevent war.. Biden smirks, laughs, goofy grins as Ryan answers questions in thoughtful manner. Ryan is the guy I want in charge if there is a crisis in this country.
Biden “can’t talk about classified information” Who the hell would tell this guy any secrets?
Barry Smith - 9:16 PM
On Iran and nuclear weapons:
Ryan says the administration has delayed sanctions and “has no credibility on this issue.”
Biden refers to the Republican Congress. Doesn’t he realize that the Senate has a majority of Democrats?
Dan E. Way - 9:15 PM
How effective would military strike be against Iran, is the quetion. Ryan said sanctions against Iran total 7, Iran closer to nukes still. Ryan said he’s pushed in Congress for higher sanctions. Administration says all options on the table, but send mixed signals. Goal is to change direction peacefully, but administration watered down sanctions and lacks credibility because mullahs don’t believe U.S. will use military force.
Dan E. Way - 9:13 PM
Ryan says U.S. knew 9/11 anniversary was a high-risk date, that Libya was a haven for al Qaeda, and yet Obama administration rejected appeals for more security.
Barry Smith - 9:12 PM
Ryan says Obama is making us look weak.
Biden says it’s “a bunch of malarkey.” Then he says Ryan’s budget would cut security.
Biden says the intelligence told the that it was a protest. “We did not know they wanted more security.” Then he says “we will get to the bottom of this.”
Ryan says yes we should apologize for desecrating corpses, but not for our values.
Rick Henderson - 9:12 PM
Ryan: This was the anniversary of 9/11, we knew there were AQ cells in Libya and we didn’t give our ambassador more support.
Dan E. Way - 9:12 PM
Raddatz hammers Biden on why Obama administration stuck to the video excuse when it was apparent from the start there was no protest. Biden blames intelligence community, and Obama administration only passed out what they were told by intelligence officials. Said Romney took political advantage of a situation when the country should have been coming together.
Rick Henderson - 9:11 PM
Biden: We weren’t told the embassy wanted more security. We said what intel community said they knew. We made it clear what we knew when we knew it.
Dan E. Way - 9:10 PM
Biden said Ryan cut embassy security 0 million less than Obama administration wanted, so Ryan shouldn’t be lecturing. He said he doesn’t understand what Ryan refers to as weaknesses in foreign policy, and that Obama has repaired relations around the world.
Rick Henderson - 9:09 PM
Ryan: It’s never too early to speak up for our values. Romney was not out of line for putting out a statement when he did.
Biden: That’s a bunch of malarkey. It’s all inaccurate.
Barry Smith - 9:08 PM
Libya is the first question. Was it a massive intelligence failure?
Biden briefly somewhat addresses the question, but spends most of the time talking about Iraq and bin Laden.
Ryan hits on the initial government report saying it was because of the YouTube video. It took two weeks to acknowledge it was a terrorist attack. “It’s indicative of a broader problem.”
Dan E. Way - 9:07 PM
“It took the president two weeks to acknowledge this a terrorist attack,” Ryan said. Obama went to U.N. and six times blamed the YouTube video, now blaming Romney-Ryan ticket for the Libyan disaster. Biden grins goofily over Ryan’s remarks. Ryan said we owe gratitude to military. Said he and Romney agree with 2014 timeline, but don’t want to project weakness. Obama foreign policy is unraveling, and making Americans less safe, Ryan said.
Rick Henderson - 9:06 PM
Ryan: Obama blamed video for two weeks, including before the UN. First they blamed YouTube for Benghazi, now they’re blaming us.
Dan E. Way - 9:05 PM
Raddatz goes for the gold right from the start. Asks Biden if this wasn’t a policy disaster. Biden says it was a tragedy. Will find those responsible and get them, make clear to American public that whatever mistakes were made won’t be made again. President’s most important job is security of country, he says. Biden says Obama got us out of Iraq. Will get us out of Afghanistan. President made getting Osama bin Laden highest priority. Romney was on wrong side of all those issues, Biden says. He says Obama has steady hand and clear vision, and insinuated Romney a warmonger: “The last thing we need is another war.”
Rick Henderson - 9:05 PM
Raddatz begins with Libya. Biden up first. Wasn’t this a massive intel failure?
Biden: True it was a tragedy. Two commitments: 1) We’ll bring perps to justice. 2) Wherever facts lead us, we’ll level with the American public. Obama ended war in Iraq.
Biden not answering question but reading laundry list of Obama’s FP accomplishments.
Dan E. Way - 9:02 PM
Martha Raddatz lays out the ground rules for the debate. Foreign and domestic policy, 9 segments.
Rick Henderson - 9:01 PM
OK, my suggested drinking game: Take a swig every time Biden says “Joey,” and every time Ryan reflexively reaches for a white board eraser.
Barry Smith - 8:57 PM
We’re ready for another debate, this one between the two men who aspire to be a heartbeat from the presidency. I’ll listen, blog, and on occasion sneak a peak at the MLB playoff game between the Orioles and the Yankees.
Rick Henderson - 8:40 PM
A lot of pre-debate comparisons with the 1998 Bentsen-Quayle debate, with the roles reversed: the elder Biden is considered the Quayle in this contest. That’s wishful thinking by conservatives. Biden has performed well in earlier debates, even though he’s been factually challenged. If anything, the demeanor of the candidates may determine the winner, at least in the eyes of those who don’t follow presidential politics obsessively.
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