The Liberal Media Turns on Obama

by Craig Bernthal

As I watched tonight’s debate, I couldn’t quite believe what I was seeing. Barack Obama is supposed to be eloquent, talented at debate, cool, fast on his feet: at least this is what we’ve been told for years. I never quite believed it, never saw anything that special in him as a speaker. But after being told again and again, for four years that Obama was a brilliant speaker, I questioned my own judgment about his forensic ability. Also I had never seen Mitt Romney in a debate. So tonight I expected, at best, an exhibition of inconclusive jawboning between Obama and Romney.

Instead, what I saw was Mitt Romney dismantle Barack Obama. Romney took control of the debate and Barack Obama, except for a few good moments on Medicare and insurance, was never in it. He seemed unprepared and finally, dazed. I have had those moments, playing high school football, when the other team is beating you, and you just don’t know what to do about it. Obama looked to me like he was in that kind of fog.

Worst of all for Obama were the split screen shots. When Romney was talking, looking straight at Obama, Obama was either smirking or grimacing at the floor, not looking his opponent in the eye. It was Nixonian. He looked like an adolescent being called on the carpet by his father. In contrast, Romney always faced Obama, half-smiling, but not smirking or looking nonplussed.

Romney was confident, enjoyed himself, and was superbly prepared. He made three or four clear points for each of Obama’s. Obama kept saying that Romney had not provided adequate detail about his platform, and yet, Romney’s arguments were far more detailed and well-organized than Obama’s. Using a boxing comparison, Pat Buchanan gave Romney 13 of 15 rounds. Charles Krauthammer, going to football, gave Romney a two touchdown victory. I just thought it was a blowout.

Now, when you are for a candidate, and I am certainly going to vote for Romney, it’s easy to let that sway your assessment of a debate. But there seems to be no doubt in anyone’s mind tonight, least of all that of the liberal pundits, that Obama got creamed, and this is where the story really gets interesting for me. Here are some of the comments:

Bill Maher: “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Obama looks like he DOES need a teleprompter,” and “Obama made a lot of great points tonight. Unfortunately, most of them were for Romney.”

Chris Matthews was beside himself--not an unfamiliar posture for him: "I don't know what he was doing out there. . . . I know he likes to say he doesn't watch cable television but maybe he should start. Maybe he should start. I don't know how he let Romney get away with the crap he threw at him tonight about Social Security. . . .Where was Obama tonight?!"  Watch Matthews for yourself at this link: mere quotation does not do him justice: 

Andrew Sullivan: "This was a disaster for the president and for the key people he needs to reach, and his effete, wonkish lectures may have jolted a lot of independents into giving Romney a second look. . . . Obama looked tired, even bored; he kept looking down; he had no crisp statements of passion or argument; he wasn't there. He was entirely defensive, which may have been the strategy. But it was the wrong strategy. At the wrong moment. . . . The person with authority on that stage was Romney - offered it by one of the lamest moderators ever, and seized with relish. This was Romney the salesman. And my gut tells me he sold a few voters on a change tonight. It's beyond depressing. But it's true."

Vanity Fair: "Good LORD. Obama wouldn't win a student council election against a chubby nerd with that closing argument."

Adam Nagourney: "Obama closer: 'I think this was a terrific debate.' CALLING THE FACT CHECKERS"

There is going to be more of this as the liberal media--and that's almost all of it--goes into a rage at the idea that it may have backed a loser. Read the New York Times tomorrow. Watch people try to blame it on Jim Lehrer, who apparently gave Obama four more minutes of airtime than Romney, but who will be said to have been dominated by Romney. 

The people who have given Barack Obama a pass, defaulted on investigating Obama because he was their man, the people who screamed about closing down Guantanamo when Obama ran against Bush and then shut up about it once Obama got in and couldn't close the base, those who have created an immense barrier for Romney to even communicate his views--these people were outflanked tonight. They can't spin Obama out of this one. And if Obama has another night like this, watch the press eat its own child.

Addition on October 4: 

Two-thirds of Americans who watched President Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney debate Wednesday night thought Romney won, a CNN poll indicated.

Read more: CNN Snap Poll

CBS News and GRK's knowledge panel recruited 523 uncommitted voters to determine the winner of the first presidential debate between President Obama and Mitt Romney. 46% thought Governor Romney won the debate and 22% thought Mr. Obama did. 

Read more: CBS Poll