SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
Edwards Wins Colbert 'Debate'
Apr 18, 2008
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama both appeared Thursday night on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report."
Clinton mocked her "3 a.m." ad. After fixing a malfunctioning projection screen and having a make-up artist address the challenge of Colbert's "too shiny" forehead, the host gasped, "Senator Clinton, you're so prepared for any situation."
"I just love solving problems. Call me anytime. Call me at 3:00am," said Clinton.
Obama added manufactured political "distractions" to host Stephen Colbert's "On Notice Board."
Reflecting on debate questioning about whether he wears a flag pin, Obama added "manufactured political distractions" to Colbert's "On Notice" board list of troubling phenoms.
"I think the American people are tired of these games and petty distractions," declared Obama, to Colbert's response: "Speaking for the news media, we are not tired of it, It allows us to ask the same questions over and over again, and we don't have to do any work."
So who won?
John Edwards.
The candidate of the adult wing of the Democratic party who didn't make it to Pennsylvania -- but who looks better and better in hindsight -- suddenly appeared during Colbert's faux news report on the courting by Clinton and Obama of white male voters.
"Finally, America's white men are being heard, and the candidates are attempting to address" issues of concern to them, Colbert said, as images of Clinton downing a shot and a beer and Obama attempting to bowl.
Mocking the efforts of both remaining candidates to secure his support, the former senator from North Carolina declared, "No white male vote is being courted more vigorously than this one."
Weighing his options, Edwards noted that, on the one hand, he did not want to cast a vote that was "anti-hope." But, recalling the response of a particularly virulent Clinton backer to former candidate Bill Richardson's endorsement of Obama, Edwards said, "On the other hand, I don't want James Carville to bite me."
Restating his campaign call for a more serious focus on economic issues -- which were almost entirely missing from Wednesday night's debate -- Edwards announced that he would vote in the upcoming North Carolina primary for the candidate who best advocates for ending poverty and providing universal health care.
Failing that, he said, "I will only support the candidate who promises to make me a spy. That would be so cool."
Even Colbert was cracking up.
Easily the least defensive and most good-humored "contender," Edwards reminded everyone of what was lost when he left the race -- and of why the remaining candidates really are still campaigning for his endorsement.
John Nichols is a co-founder of Free Press and the co-author with Robert W. McChesney of TRAGEDY & FARCE: How the American Media Sell Wars, Spin Elections, and Destroy Democracy -- The New Press.
(c) 2008 The Nation
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, The U.S. is on a fast track to authoritarianism like nothing I've ever seen. Meanwhile, corporate news outlets are utterly capitulating to Trump, twisting their coverage to avoid drawing his ire while lining up to stuff cash in his pockets. That's why I believe that Common Dreams is doing the best and most consequential reporting that we've ever done. Our small but mighty team is a progressive reporting powerhouse, covering the news every day that the corporate media never will. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. And to ignite change for the common good. Now here's the key piece that I want all our readers to understand: None of this would be possible without your financial support. That's not just some fundraising cliche. It's the absolute and literal truth. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. Will you donate now to help power the nonprofit, independent reporting of Common Dreams? Thank you for being a vital member of our community. Together, we can keep independent journalism alive when it’s needed most. - Craig Brown, Co-founder |
© 2023 The Nation
John Nichols
John Nichols is Washington correspondent for The Nation and associate editor of The Capital Times in Madison, Wisconsin. His books co-authored with Robert W. McChesney are: "Dollarocracy: How the Money and Media Election Complex is Destroying America" (2014), "The Death and Life of American Journalism: The Media Revolution that Will Begin the World Again" (2011), and "Tragedy & Farce: How the American Media Sell Wars, Spin Elections, and Destroy Democracy" (2006). Nichols' other books include: "The "S" Word: A Short History of an American Tradition...Socialism" (2015), "Dick: The Man Who is President (2004) and "The Genius of Impeachment: The Founders' Cure for Royalism" (2006).
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama both appeared Thursday night on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report."
Clinton mocked her "3 a.m." ad. After fixing a malfunctioning projection screen and having a make-up artist address the challenge of Colbert's "too shiny" forehead, the host gasped, "Senator Clinton, you're so prepared for any situation."
"I just love solving problems. Call me anytime. Call me at 3:00am," said Clinton.
Obama added manufactured political "distractions" to host Stephen Colbert's "On Notice Board."
Reflecting on debate questioning about whether he wears a flag pin, Obama added "manufactured political distractions" to Colbert's "On Notice" board list of troubling phenoms.
"I think the American people are tired of these games and petty distractions," declared Obama, to Colbert's response: "Speaking for the news media, we are not tired of it, It allows us to ask the same questions over and over again, and we don't have to do any work."
So who won?
John Edwards.
The candidate of the adult wing of the Democratic party who didn't make it to Pennsylvania -- but who looks better and better in hindsight -- suddenly appeared during Colbert's faux news report on the courting by Clinton and Obama of white male voters.
"Finally, America's white men are being heard, and the candidates are attempting to address" issues of concern to them, Colbert said, as images of Clinton downing a shot and a beer and Obama attempting to bowl.
Mocking the efforts of both remaining candidates to secure his support, the former senator from North Carolina declared, "No white male vote is being courted more vigorously than this one."
Weighing his options, Edwards noted that, on the one hand, he did not want to cast a vote that was "anti-hope." But, recalling the response of a particularly virulent Clinton backer to former candidate Bill Richardson's endorsement of Obama, Edwards said, "On the other hand, I don't want James Carville to bite me."
Restating his campaign call for a more serious focus on economic issues -- which were almost entirely missing from Wednesday night's debate -- Edwards announced that he would vote in the upcoming North Carolina primary for the candidate who best advocates for ending poverty and providing universal health care.
Failing that, he said, "I will only support the candidate who promises to make me a spy. That would be so cool."
Even Colbert was cracking up.
Easily the least defensive and most good-humored "contender," Edwards reminded everyone of what was lost when he left the race -- and of why the remaining candidates really are still campaigning for his endorsement.
John Nichols is a co-founder of Free Press and the co-author with Robert W. McChesney of TRAGEDY & FARCE: How the American Media Sell Wars, Spin Elections, and Destroy Democracy -- The New Press.
(c) 2008 The Nation
John Nichols
John Nichols is Washington correspondent for The Nation and associate editor of The Capital Times in Madison, Wisconsin. His books co-authored with Robert W. McChesney are: "Dollarocracy: How the Money and Media Election Complex is Destroying America" (2014), "The Death and Life of American Journalism: The Media Revolution that Will Begin the World Again" (2011), and "Tragedy & Farce: How the American Media Sell Wars, Spin Elections, and Destroy Democracy" (2006). Nichols' other books include: "The "S" Word: A Short History of an American Tradition...Socialism" (2015), "Dick: The Man Who is President (2004) and "The Genius of Impeachment: The Founders' Cure for Royalism" (2006).
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama both appeared Thursday night on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report."
Clinton mocked her "3 a.m." ad. After fixing a malfunctioning projection screen and having a make-up artist address the challenge of Colbert's "too shiny" forehead, the host gasped, "Senator Clinton, you're so prepared for any situation."
"I just love solving problems. Call me anytime. Call me at 3:00am," said Clinton.
Obama added manufactured political "distractions" to host Stephen Colbert's "On Notice Board."
Reflecting on debate questioning about whether he wears a flag pin, Obama added "manufactured political distractions" to Colbert's "On Notice" board list of troubling phenoms.
"I think the American people are tired of these games and petty distractions," declared Obama, to Colbert's response: "Speaking for the news media, we are not tired of it, It allows us to ask the same questions over and over again, and we don't have to do any work."
So who won?
John Edwards.
The candidate of the adult wing of the Democratic party who didn't make it to Pennsylvania -- but who looks better and better in hindsight -- suddenly appeared during Colbert's faux news report on the courting by Clinton and Obama of white male voters.
"Finally, America's white men are being heard, and the candidates are attempting to address" issues of concern to them, Colbert said, as images of Clinton downing a shot and a beer and Obama attempting to bowl.
Mocking the efforts of both remaining candidates to secure his support, the former senator from North Carolina declared, "No white male vote is being courted more vigorously than this one."
Weighing his options, Edwards noted that, on the one hand, he did not want to cast a vote that was "anti-hope." But, recalling the response of a particularly virulent Clinton backer to former candidate Bill Richardson's endorsement of Obama, Edwards said, "On the other hand, I don't want James Carville to bite me."
Restating his campaign call for a more serious focus on economic issues -- which were almost entirely missing from Wednesday night's debate -- Edwards announced that he would vote in the upcoming North Carolina primary for the candidate who best advocates for ending poverty and providing universal health care.
Failing that, he said, "I will only support the candidate who promises to make me a spy. That would be so cool."
Even Colbert was cracking up.
Easily the least defensive and most good-humored "contender," Edwards reminded everyone of what was lost when he left the race -- and of why the remaining candidates really are still campaigning for his endorsement.
John Nichols is a co-founder of Free Press and the co-author with Robert W. McChesney of TRAGEDY & FARCE: How the American Media Sell Wars, Spin Elections, and Destroy Democracy -- The New Press.
(c) 2008 The Nation
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.