Should Obama have answered the question with YES or NO?

[kid a]

Question from George Stephonopolous:

Did Howard Dean go over the line in saying Roberts doesn't have the heart for the job? (paraphrasing Dean - If someone has the exact quote, please post)

He wove a complicated answer of NO, but it took about 2 minutes of his vital DEM voice segment. Say NO move on to indict the bastard bush*.

[madfloridian]

1. Dean's exact words.

Did not hear Obama.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0509/09/sitroom.02.html

DEAN: My point is that John Roberts has a record. John Roberts appears to be a wonderful, decent, family person, but, again, we get back to the question about whether you really care and whether you have compassion. It's not enough to say you care.

It's what you've done. John Roberts' legal career has been about taking away every protection for young girls and women who want to participate in sports, for African-Americans and Hispanics, who want the equal same right to vote as everybody else, for taking away for women who believe they should determine what kind of health care they have, instead of having politicians do it.

His entire legal career appears to be about making sure those folks don't have the same rights everybody else does. That's probably not the right thing to do two weeks after a disaster, where certain members of society clearly did not have the same protections that everybody else did because of their circumstances. Americans are fair people and they want a sense of justice. I know Judge Roberts loves the law. I'm not sure he loves the American people.

BLITZER: So should the Senate reject his confirmation?

DEAN: Based on what I know now, absolutely, yes.

[kid a]

2. Thank you Madfloridian! nt

[blondeatlast]

3. We need to teach every elected Democrat the fine art of saying NO

and YES.

When they explain, the message is lost.

He should have said simply, "no."

Let the "journalists" follow-up, that's their jobs.

[Mr Rabble]

5. How come no-one "gets" this?

Are we the only people that recognize that being clear and concise is quite literally the most important aspect of public life?

[mtnsnake]

6. Oh how I wish they could lock you in a room with all our Dems, one by one,

so you could instill this into their heads! If they answered with a simple yes or no, it's not as if they wouldn't get a chance to explain their answer afterwards either.

[blondeatlast]

12. I wish that too; I'm known for my persuasive powers! nt

[Mass]

4. I think he should have said clearly he agreed with Dean

before he started to explain.

[ourbluenation]

7. I totally agree...just say yes or no for the folks who communicate

in simple and straightforward ways. Christ - how difficult can it be?

[win_in_06]

10. I guess one of the first things he learned in Senate Orientation School

was the art of quibbling.

[me b zola]

8. I think so too.

But I have got to say that I was much more pleased with Obama today than I have been since he was sworn in as Senator. At least today he didn't distance himself from Dean; he did not allow a wedge to be shoved in the Democratic Party. Maybe there is still hope for him ;)

[Kurovski]

9. Yes, he should have.

I voted for Obama and was proud and pleased to do so.

Having said that, Obama's appearance with Stephonopolous was more an exercise in how to be politically cautious than anything else.

It was difficult to know what he truly felt or thought about any issue discussed.

It feeds into the Republican argument that Dems stand for nothing, and with today's appearance, Obama proved that it is not an easily dismissed argument. Very disappointing.

My hope is that Obama in the future will at least leave a clear message behind after his appearances. Or at very least one that goes beyond the impression that he is planning on being all things to all people in hopes of being a president. If Obama has figured out a way to appeal to everyone, he has yet to actually make that work for him.

A gentle lawyerly response is still an avoidance of questions. The "Atticus Finch" approach to politics is not what is needed from major leaders in these forceful, frantic times where the opposition has treats us as the enemy camp for decades.

Sen. Obama is in grave danger of becoming irrelevant.

[TankLV]

11. Let us know as soon as you figure out how to push the toothpast back into

the tube!

It is done.

Can't undo it.

Obama and all other democrats should remember the one rule that will help us win:

NEVER EVER SAY ANYTHING NICE ABOUT A REPUKE!

Never!

If you are tempted, just KEEP YOUR FUCKIN MOUTH SHUT!

All any "undecided" (braindead) voter remembers is "hey - THEY like the repuke - THEY even compliment him all the time! - why shouldn't I vote for THEM? This proves the repukes can't be all that bad!"

[ProudDad]

13. I would amend this

Don't say anything nice about the repuke agenda and their policies.

Don't even mention individual repukes except the obvious -- rove, bush, delay, etc.

[howmad1]

14. One thing I'll give to Obama......

He sure learned silver tounged political speak in a hurry. Only takes about 1/2 sec. to say NO! Frankly, I was quite disappointed in the interview. I was expecting a bit of a firebrand and got a mealy mouthed wus instead.