Debates are fun, but post-debate spins are even more fun especially with Sean Hannity's tiny pea-brain memory. During last night's debate, Chris Wallace asked Newt about his campaign staff quitting en masse. Newt was not very happy about the question.
Wallace pointed out to Gingrich that, in June, he suffered a huge staff exodus.
"How do you respond to people who say that your campaign has been a mess so far?" he asked.
Gingrich was highly displeased by the question, and he turned on Wallace.
"I took seriously Bret's injunction to put aside the talking points," he said, referring to a request Wallace's co-host Bret Baier had made at the outset of the debate. "And I wish you would put aside the gotcha questions...I'd love to see the rest of tonight's debate asking us about what we would do to lead America...instead of playing Mickey Mouse games." [h/t Huffington Post]
And of course, Sean Hannity was appropriately concerned for poor Newt, but evidently that concern obliterated his short-term memory.
HANNITY: You know, I don't mind hard questions. I think they're important. As I was watching tonight's debate, you know what ran through my mind? In all the time that President Obama ran, he didn't experience one of these moments that I can really think of. So the double standard is clear.
Sean, Sean, Sean. Obviously you can't really think of these moments because you don't think. Or pay attention. So let's take a walk down memory lane to April 15, 2008 and the debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in Philadelphia. And let me refresh your memory, courtesy of the divine Ms. Heather who made this wonderful mashup at the time.
[h/t Heather]
Here are just a few of the questions directed to then-Senator Obama. You should watch the whole mashup for the full impact. It's five full minutes of fail. Five full minutes of fail in ONE debate.
Do you think Rev. Wright loves America as much as you do?
Voters don't believe you're honest or trustworthy. Are you?
Why don't you wear a flag pin?
It was so bad everyone forgot the debate and just went full-tilt after ABC. Here on Crooks and Liars, we had Steve Benen's roundup of journalists' horror, and Nicole Belle pointed out that George Stephanopoulis got debate tips and marching orders from -- wait for it -- Sean Hannity. Seems Sean gave George a few question suggestions on his radio show earlier that day. Like these:
1) Ask Obama about his relationship with Ayers and WeatherUnderground and Axelrod's comments, "They're friendly"
2) Ask Obama why he attended the Million Man March
There's a double standard, all right. Hannity's.
