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PrintThe Hiller Instinct: 'Rock the Vote' Wrap Up
With the candidates introduced like runway models, this debate was different from the start. The key moment came quickly, Howard Dean forced to defend saying he wanted, "to be the candidate for guys with confederate flags in their pickup trucks."
Howard Dean (D) Presidential Candidate
"We have had white southern working people voting republican for years and they have nothing to show for it."Al Sharpton (D) Presidential Candidate
"You are not a bigot, but you appear to be too arrogant to say 'I'm wrong' and go on."Sen. John Edwards (D) Presidential Candidate
"Governor Dean still has not said he was wrong. Were you wrong, Howard? Were you wrong to say that?"Howard Dean
"No, I wasn't John Edwards."
This debate also featured videos from the candidates. Most were conventional… So Joe Lieberman's, with just music, stood out and Wesley Clark actually sounded cool.
Wesley Clark (D) Presidential Candidate
"I don't think Outcast is really breaking up. Andre 3000 and Big Boy just cut solo records. All right."
The most amusing question and answer during the debate...
Question
"Senator Kerry, you're the manager of the Boston Red Sox. It's game seven of the ALCS against the NY Yankees."
Sen. John Kerry (D) Presidential Candidate
"Every single one of us ought to celebrate the Marlins beating the Yankees... And the reason it's extra special is that's the first legitimate victory out of Florida since 2000."
The worst question…
Question
"It's not quite boxers or briefs... but Macs or PC’s?"
And, finally, the line that sewed it all up…
Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D) Presidential Candidate
"If you want to rock the vote... you have to rock the boat."
This debate was energetic, entertaining, even enlightening and while there was no winner, Howard Dean was surely the loser. Dean was gang tackled, compelled to clarify positions and, talking about the confederate flag, he sounded stubborn. As he admitted during the debate, "I've taken a lot of buckshot out of my butt."