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The Winner of the GOP Debates Is ...

Republicans so busy sniping, they help Obama shine: Barnes

By Neal Colgrass, Newser Staff

Posted Dec 10, 2011 5:09 PM CST

(Newser) – The GOP presidential debates have distracted Americans so badly with their primetime drama that Republicans have created an unlikely winner: President Obama, sighs Fred Barnes in The Weekly Standard. "The GOP candidates have reduced themselves to supplicants whose weak points are probed by media questioners," Barnes writes. "Meanwhile, they’ve given President Obama a free pass to set the terms of the 2012 campaign."

Obama's failed economic policies are getting little airplay because Americans are too hyped up about the next GOP debate, says Barnes. Meanwhile serious Republican ideas—like Jon Huntsman's tax reform plan—get "minimal attention." And the official "winner" of several debates, Mitt Romney, is behind in the polls. As for Gingrich: The showman "was expansive and had nothing but praise for the other candidates," which made him "the big winner of the debate sweepstakes. Along with Obama." (Here's what to look for in tonight's GOP debate.)

US President Barack Obama speaks during an unscheduled appearance on December 8, 2011 in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC. AFP PHOTO/Mandel NGAN (Getty Images)

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Showing 3 of 52 comments

sheepletheyeducatedu

Dec 11, 2011 9:56 PM CST

RON PAUL 2012 RON PAUL 2012 RON PAUL 2012 RON PAUL 2012 RON PAUL 2012 RON PAUL 2012How can anyone on earth in reality vote for obummer after seeing what is happening in this country and the blatent disregard for doing things in the best interest of this country and its people.Anyone supporting obummer and this administratio must be living in a hole in the ground ,blind,stupid and baffled by the bull and tell you what you want to here propaganda just to con you fools into reelectiong them so they can kick you in the can and take advantage of you some more while they make you feel like your the smart one ,glutons for punishment.Cant we have a inteligence test before voting so we can stop them from using idiots that believe anything to vote for them and keep them in office/controll,dumb a$$e$ should not be allowed to vote and make the rest of us suffer for their ignorance.WE CANT AFFORD TO MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE TWICEMWAKE UP!

dungbeetle

Dec 11, 2011 9:24 PM CST

Hell, the winner of the debates would have been Daffy Duck, had he been sitting in the oval office. If nothing else the debates clearly illustrated the fact that no serious Repug will allow his name to be put forward knowing the inevitable results, while the cockroaches of the party are all happy to race around the kitchen picking up morsels. Let the dead bury the dead! Just quotin' . . .

dungbeetle

Dec 11, 2011 9:19 PM CST

Are we really to believe that the majority of American TV watchers were all het up waiting for the next ":debate"? Or did they continue to watch their favorite shows and ignore the debates. Fred Barnes has head up his journalistic ass as usual.

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The Winner of the GOP Debates Is ...

Republicans so busy sniping, they help Obama shine: Barnes

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

debates • Republican presidential primaries • President Obama • Newt Gingrich 2012 • Mitt Romney 2012 • Jon Huntsman 2012

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More Newser Stories

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Even though Santorum didn't bow out until April 10

Negative Attacks Souring Colorado Voters on GOP

'Anybody but Obama' not enough for crucial independents in swing states

GOP Hands 2012 to Obama With Loser Lineup

Voters don't want Barack, but they really don't want these guys: Bret Stephens

In Iowa, Expect the Unexpected

...And a lot of spin afterward

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He says he'll 'reassess' campaign if he doesn't

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