Thursday, November 29th 2007

4:27 PM

John Edwards wins last night's Republican Debate :)

Music: "Paint It Black" - The Rolling Stones

LEROY BROOKS: Hello, my name is Leroy Brooks. I am from Houston, Texas and my question is for all the candidates. Whether this flag right here represents the symbol of racism, a symbol of political ideology, a symbol of Southern heritage -- or, is it something completely different? COOPER: He's talking about the stars and bars. Governor Romney? ROMNEY: Right now, with the kinds of issues we got in this country, I'm not going to get involved with a flag like that. That's not a flag that I recognize so that I would hold up in my room. The people of our country have decided not to fly that flag. I think that's the right thing. (APPLAUSE) My own view is that this country can go beyond that kind of stuff, and that instead we can do as a party what we need to do, which is to reach out to all Americans. Every time I listen to someone like John Edwards get on TV and say there are two Americans, I just want to -- I just want to throw something at the TV, because there are not two Americas. There's one America. We are a nation united. We face extraordinary challenges right now. And Democrats dividing us and tearing down this country are doing exactly the wrong thing. We're succeeding in Iraq. We've got tough challenges. We can overcome them. But we do not need to have that kind of divisive talk. And that flag, frankly, is divisive, and it shouldn't be shown.

...So, Willard agrees with Edwards that a) the Stars and Bars shouldn't be flown, and b) we need to build One America. Got it.

Edwards Campaign Statement On Romney "Two Americas" Attack In GOP Debate Chapel Hill, North Carolina – Today, John Edwards for President communications director Chris Kofinis released the following statement in response to the attack on Senator Edwards in tonight's GOP debate by Governor Mitt Romney:

"In the debate tonight, Governor Romney was caught being deceptive about his own record. He is also being deceptive about whether there are two Americas – one for the most powerful and one for everyone else. News flash, Governor: The 98% of Americans who were not born to great wealth or who have not been given special privilege in our country struggle every day to make ends meet and provide opportunities for their families. No small part of their struggle is because the game has been rigged to protect those on top. It is not surprising Governor Romney proposes additional policies to assist the crowd on Easy Street. Unfortunately for him, the millions of Americans who live and work on Main Street know much more about the reality of where we are as a country."

Great diary on Daily Kos by grannyhelen: Edwards: 1, Republicans: 0

transcript by grannyhelen:

Undecided Voter: "I wouldn’t vote for Fred Thompson now I didn’t like him on TV so I don’t like him in politics either I could not find anybody on there, I just really, maybe Hunter, Congressman Hunter, he’s the closest..." Moderator: Earlier in the break you had said you would maybe lean toward John Edwards, though, and he’s not a Republican. Undecided Voter:...yes, but at least he has opinions these guys keep saying the same things over and over again. Moderator: So he’s the strongest one for you even though he’s a Democrat? Undecided Voter: Yes.

transcript for the second clip:

[ANDERSON] COOPER: Now, Erica Hill was in the same room in Tampa with those undecided voters that we just -- that Joe was just talking about. She -- the ones with the meters in their hands, doing the dial testing. She joins me now. Erica, did anything they heard tonight actually help them make up their minds? ERICA HILL, HEADLINE NEWS ANCHOR: Well, let's get a show of hands. Of -- for our 24 undecided Republican voters, are you leaving here tonight as a decided voter for January 29? Anyone? So no hands raised and a lot of head shaking, Anderson. And some interesting answers when we asked that question a little bit earlier. Sharon, you said you may have decided but probably not a choice that people expect. Who was that maybe? Do you have your... UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have my mike. I'm sorry. Well, I think if the Democrats have John Edwards, I'd vote for John Edwards. HILL: So you would consider -- because nothing you heard tonight convinced you that any of these eight men are the right choice for you? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There's maybe three that could possibly be the right choice. But I'm really going to have to look a little closer at the three that -- I had thought about -- I had thought about Giuliani. I'd thought about Mitt Romney. Also Fred Thompson. I don't care for his TV shows, but you know, I thought maybe him being an actor, that was just a facade, and it's not. HILL: OK. So none of them really worked out for you tonight. So it will be interesting so see what you actually do on January 29.