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16. Government's role in stopping growth of AIDS?
C. $15B aid to foreign countries.
C. Education, public awarenes, new drugs.
E. Need to double foreign aid.
E. (Genocide in Sudan.)
E. (Diverged to general health care coverage issues.)

17. Edwards has least governmental experience in a Vice Presidential candidate since 1976. What are your qualities for Vice President?
E. Will keep people safe, have good judgment, tell people truth.
E. I still have lots of experience.
E. Experience does not necessarily equal good judgment.
E. (Otherwise avoided question.)
C. Vice Presidential qualities vary depending on President's needs.
C. For Bush, VP is a member of the team.
C. Advantage not having a VP with further political aspirations.
E. (Praise for Kerry.)
C. (Praise for Bush.)

18. Explain why you (VP candidate) are different from opponent.
C. Lots of personal similarites between VP candidates.
C. Have been in public service for a long time (compared to Edwards).
E. (Once again avoids question, brings up Kerry too much.)

19. Flip-flopping. What's wrong w a little flip-flop every now and then?
E. Kerry and I have been consistent about Iraq.
E. (Attacks Bush, avoids answering question.)
C. (Attacks Kerry, avoids answering question.)
20. Deeply divided electorate. How will you bridge that divide?
C. Continue to try to work it.
E. President said he was a uniter. But country has become very divided.
E. (Goes back to healthcare.)
C. (Responds to healthcare.)
E. (How can these candidates avoid so many questions?)

Closing Statements:
E. Bright light of America flickering. Income down, costs of living up.
E. Iraq/Afghanistan. Support middle class.
C. Cut taxes, added 1.7M jobs. Access to medical care and schools.
C. Social Security. War against terrorism.

Scoring:
1. Iraq: I support the invasion. Kerry/Edwards doesn't seem to. +1 B.
2. Gay Marriage: Constitutional ban is stupid and overkill. -1 B.
3. Style: Too much avoiding questions and personal attacks. -1 B, -1 K.

Final score: Bush/Cheney -1, Kerry/Edwards -1.

Part of the problem of this debate is that both candidates avoided way too many questions. Also they tended to repeat their arguments. Basically there was not enough substance in the debate, hence the low scores.

After two debates the score is Bush/Cheney 1, Kerry/Edwards 0.

Copyright (c) 2004 Kevin C. Wong
Page Created: October 12, 2004
Page Last Updated: October 12, 2004