Fox News
Expand
Browse All Video
Watch Live

You're watching...

Special Report Online: 10/3/12

Details

  • Description

    Importance of first debate for Romney, Obama campaigns

  • Duration 26:33
  • Date

Clips

Also in this playlist...

Editor's Picks

Auto-advance: ON

Auto-advance
View All

Transcript

This transcript is automatically generated

Welcome to another edition of special report on line I'm -- there.

If you haven't been here before.

Welcome this is a place where you can type in a question or comment we can interact with the panel.

Much more relaxed.

And obviously freewheeling on line we didn't think we -- going to do one of these shows tonight because we have a lot going on but we said.

We have to do it for on line faithful.

What do you call ourselves blogger -- Anyway.

We lost -- Downey with the New York Times he had to go file for his paper but we still have.

Brit Hume and Jonah Goldberg and -- back in Washington.

OK guys we have a lot of people typing -- already.

A bad ass we'll have a different panel tonight yes of that Britt will be here and Joseph Trippi Charles Krauthammer will join us tonight.

For debate coverage as well as Chris Wallace -- Kelly.

I think that's it wouldn't cover the waterfront OK -- You were saying that the how President Obama a lot has been made about governor Romney's.

Persona and how he handles this debate and and what how what.

How he comes into the debate and how he treats you know attacks perhaps from President Obama but you were mentioning that -- prison Obama has his own issues with.

Thin skin.

Thanks for Obama you -- are in some ways just as high because in the end and his task is a little tougher.

People or who've decided they're gonna vote for Obama decided that -- vote for Obama anybody who hasn't decided that.

At this point almost as as a fact of logic is really open to the idea of voting for Mitt Romney.

-- people know who Barack Obama is this is why.

The undecideds -- the late decider is tend to if something doesn't always happen to tend to break.

A sometimes 23 -- one for the challenger because people are looking for a reason to vote for the challenger we think there's something about the got the incumbent they don't like.

If Barack Obama gets up there and reminds a lot of people about why they had.

Have misgivings for voting form.

That's a real problem if Mitt Romney reassures those people you could see something better than just your typical.

First debate -- fleeing for the challenger you could see Mitt Romney actually.

And making real headway in at least in the national polls whether it is and counter -- everything.

In places like Ohio where Romney's been slaughtered with these negative ads is a different question.

Blue eyes in Tampa Britt says -- needs to hit it out of the park tonight.

Do you agree with -- lines well -- the he needs a home run whether he -- -- whether it gets hit by -- -- or whether some stumble occurs.

Doesn't matter very much what matters is that it -- that the debates as a set of events.

Leave him wouldn't.

Standing higher and public's estimation then he seems to now.

It as we talked about earlier that can happen in a number of ways.

-- from California says I love when -- says back to you -- -- says thanks Brit.

Yeah I love that two -- years of fun -- one Val can cause that and just hours of enjoyment.

-- -- -- -- the other -- -- here this video that comes out last night you know daily caller and was on Hannity.

From 2007.

There's a video today that surfaced in 2002.

Where -- -- then.

Even before you senator.

Before it was staged sit there he's giving a speech in and Chicago.

These tapes are going to come out on probably both sides what what do you think they do to this election -- We know the 47%.

-- did for Mitt Romney nothing good.

On being in a sense the latest 2007 tape for Obama.

He's also a negative for him because I think more than anything else.

It showed that the or reminded people how he threw.

Reverend Wright under the boss I -- there he was in this video.

Talk about what -- Powell.

Reverend Wright and then counselor.

And then -- we all know a couple years later was like well Reverend Wright is not my friend.

So I thought that might might hurt him a little bit but it's marginal.

Com you know it's gonna take a lot more than that this -- even.

The southern 2002 video.

To shake the results of -- -- in Cincinnati agrees he says no one cares about the 2007 table political junkies John do you agree that.

For the most part yeah I mean we knew that he fakes a southern accent when he speaks in black churches -- does Hillary Clinton.

You know this is a guy who's running from southern Hawaii to who comes up with his crazy southern accent.

But I do think -- interest saying it that you know for all the talk we've been hearing from the mainstream media about these racist dog whistles from the Republican campaign.

The only real examples of -- of racial dog whistling.

Come from Democrats we here -- you know and they admittedly a little tape it.

What Barack Obama is doing -- doesn't say race specifically but you know exactly what he's doing.

John Lewis of the Democratic Convention basically said that a vote for Mitt Romney is a vote to put bring back Jim Crow which I thought was outrageous.

And suddenly it I think -- -- thing but in some ways it's more of an indictment of the mainstream media.

Then it is of of Barack Obama clearly a lot of people factored in already.

I think when it comes to these old videos and keep up I think Mitt Romney is more vulnerable to them and President Obama -- the reason why these things from a candidate's past books.

There are important.

-- because they tell the devious clue of abilities might give you a clue as to how that person would be as president.

Hope Barack Obama has shown us for four years how he will be as president.

We've got that -- the stuff that happened before he got elected as much less important than it is the case.

It would was a case for years ago when he was running for the first time and that is the case now -- Mitt Romney who's trying to get the job and we know -- kind of people trying to figure out what kind of president he would make that's why the bush.

Military service story this CBS for -- should.

Pursued and Dan rather came to grief over -- was in my opinion such a waste of time.

President Bush had been an office for four years he didn't commander in chief for better -- for worse people had an opinion about that didn't care anymore in my judgment about his military service way back when.

But -- there are some conservatives out there who say.

That's fine but the president was really never vetted before he was elected.

Understand so the media never did its job before the 2008 election so if something pops up that.

Was invented back -- then.

You know what I pointed out on the show -- you covered.

That -- Back in 2007 -- June of 2007 what was Special Report with Brit Hume right and the reason we only have a short clip of it I found out today.

Was because our tape came from what's called an -- affiliate.

It was a -- statement sent CNN shocked that right AB's.

There affiliate what he was it would only 2007 election year hadn't begun and when he made the comments about Reverend Wright which I think is chuck suggested what might be the most.

Potentially damning part of that -- We didn't know who Reverend Wright was only them but we like that until later but we only have my point is we only have a short -- -- pizza and we ran the clip that we had.

And and what we ran you know said that he expressed concerns in the raise some eyebrows about how he said it there and that was that was it coming as early in the thanks so.

Anyway.

I agree it's a proud American sugar -- chuck final word on this will move up.

Well I I think that one of the most interesting segments.

Speaking of old things in your past career tonight will be health -- segment.

Because that's when Mitt Romney is gonna have to once again.

Fence with his own record on health care which isn't you know from his point of view uncomfortably similar to the program that President Obama.

Enacted and to be very interest you is that -- the trickiest part of the whole debate for him.

Is how he maneuvers around that issue that she's had to do so many times during this campaign but never in -- setting where the states are.

Are as high tonight.

As as they are tonight.

-- -- Go ahead.

-- Just thinking about you can't make one point about this deal.

President Obama famously said that in his second term -- a lot more flexibility and there are a lot of people out there who think that basically Barack Obama.

But the real -- Obama's closer to the guy in this video then in fact the guy who's been president and that -- a lot of his presence he's been geared towards getting reelected.

And -- is basically just been running the entire time there is a case to be made that.

Unfettered from the responsibility or the ability to run for office again he might revert more back to be.

The Barack Obama of Chicago in the states senator the most left wing president most left -- member of the Democratic Caucus in the senate.

Than the one guy we've seen on this first term whether that's -- or not -- not I don't know but you can make that argument.

Dan and Georgia asks who has the most to lose from the debate tonight.

Well the person is ahead usually has the most to lose President Obama seems to be ahead so he probably has the most to lose.

But Mitt Romney -- it you know the need to have something happen to.

-- -- -- the way things are going out a lot of ways I can happen it might not be a debate the debate is a big potential opportunities so.

Obviously as opportunity to lose but I think doesn't territorial news.

The president has more round loses he's got more evident the moment.

Ryan in Virginia asks are there any bell warnings for dog owners tonight.

-- now there are not that's -- reference to the bells that we had in the primary debate.

We had thousands of emails back then when we use the bell for the time.

From dog owners who said when we hit the bell when the time was up for the candidate to finish their cancer that the dogs thought it was the doorbell.

And that they start -- talking at the door.

But -- and -- it was really Romney's time was up back when I was doing some of this threat.

I was the one on one of the bills while -- was a little.

The reason why you don't wanna have to be the time -- -- -- -- -- attracted to beat senator senator or president charmed scripts people other that we had zero problem yes I did in so the bill was a neutral but sort of a non player that -- gets you off the hook not for Florida are about to start verified via.

Now.

-- thing that's interesting about this -- is.

These segments this is new.

For this presidential debates -- 615 minute segments starts with a question that two minute answer for each which will be probably.

You know you assume.

Triggers talking points.

But eventually you get to a discussion on that topic up for the rest of the fifteen minutes so it.

You know there's at least a potential.

For a real lively discussion on each -- I think that format if I -- -- guess does not favor of the press recruit for two reasons.

One that he does tend to speak in kind of elongated curly -- sentences.

And there's -- a little bit too much running room.

For him here he can kind of fall into that bad -- he sometimes has -- over answering.

Questions.

On and that you know is a pure appearance matter may be trouble for him.

As I said before I think the biggest.

Trap potentially out there is the health care segment for Mitt Romney.

The size of government I guess is a segment on sort of the role of size of government actually I think that's the tricky one for President Obama because.

Like it or not that's how the public is if it's skeptical that anything about him it's that he wants to make government today.

And he's got to find.

A way to explain his philosophy on that concisely.

That's not -- off putting and and I think that's there's there's going to be an opportunity in that segment for Romney makes some sort of high altitude general points.

On that -- may be affected for.

There's a question I often gets.

Eric says where is doctor okay.

I get this question all the time on Twitter and on -- show when Charles is not on.

I am not his schedule -- but I do you know where is he's giving his speech in Arkansas.

But he will join us later on -- debate coverage and he will join us from Little Rock believe -- or not.

For analysis of the debate tonight so we hope you tune in for doctor Krauthammer it is amazing following the charles' hands.

Has.

Gathered over the years because of his time on special report I would think and is -- he's by far the most prolific I think columnists out there.

Well he has he is the only one column -- week.

But it is one that I think a great many millions of people trying very hard not to miss.

And I think they try for the same reason not to miss the special report program and the panel.

Because of the fact that he's nearly always on these numbers -- of the tremendous star.

You know and on paper you might say well he's not really a man -- you'd imagine -- be great TV star but it shows you the power of his mind in the -- The substance of what exists and we should point out that he was on special report -- before he was on -- -- or anybody else -- it's true he was a threat with detectives is out this is his home yeah.

I don't know what about that format back to that previous question -- more questions about the format.

The fifteen -- six segments you think it favors.

-- around yeah I would.

Think it would you know Mitt Romney comes from the world where you're supposed to be able to make an elevator pitch.

You know your Christmas be able to do a PowerPoint presentation your explain your ideas succinctly.

And I think they're -- could be something of a rope a dope strategy here in that Mitt Romney if he keeps his answers short and -- clear.

And then let's.

Barack Obama is -- -- just sort of -- the room he just keeps going.

It could at that at the end of the -- -- -- and Al Gore moment where it -- Gore's sighing.

You just say -- the win back effect is really taking taking it taking its toll on Obama.

But think it's weird the one thing that the Obama campaign keeps leaking is that.

Obama has been practicing keeping his answers short.

What -- you think is a very weird sort of thing deliberately put out there is it makes people really attentive to the problem.

Yeah that's right I mean we must have heard that I think five times from different people and needed done has been working with President Obama and in every article -- read it's about.

Trying to keep his answers short like he's -- just by accident that I think the idea is now the idea is this is a man but who -- stroke of his experience experience now and divisional -- Who knows so much.

That he must discipline himself so that he won't pour out to hold his encyclopedic awareness and knowledge of all decision.

I have -- think probably what they think will look at it but I I'm I come a long time I'm more inclined to remove John as -- got as big aspect and he's got to keep it under control.

-- and permission -- will Jim -- present fairly tonight.

No no Jim I talked to -- about this he's really really concerned about.

About working this -- fairly and and and trying to do.

To be fair tonight and top of my two cents in -- before -- ask.

Q -- next few -- I can't imagine -- moderator.

For tonight's that he's a Jim Jim Lehrer is a straight arrow.

He's obviously.

It has a long track record on PBS and being -- -- -- I think if there's any concern -- of viewer have about Jim -- as moderator as you might be a little too passive than a little bit.

Two are reluctant to.

Four vote.

The candidates mean it there is an opportunity in this format because it is it is -- so much time for each topic.

For them to -- mix it up a little bit whether in a spontaneous -- error as part of the program.

And I sort of hope that -- Jim Lehrer we'll see that as part of his role in and obviously respectful appropriate way -- to kind of provoked them get them.

In to some and -- some productive exchanges.

Well I think we all like and admire Jim Lehrer.

He's been kind of America's moderator now for a number of cycles and -- you senate well there are a lot of them.

I would citizen -- Jim I don't think.

I don't think Jim is a conservative.

I don't think he's a guy who would I think he died before he would let any liberal views he may hold show in his own way of looking at things.

But.

Somebody not a lot of conservatives who might have been chosen as moderator for this debate will once liberals.

And it would be interesting -- to see.

How it would go -- a true conservative.

Journalist not some opinion just your opinion Spencer by the conservative journalists -- -- and got a chance to moderate one of these.

Of these fall presidential debates.

I think it it would be very -- -- There's always when he succeeds as always it's always trying to succeed Joan -- your thoughts about them operators and they.

Yeah I'd like to descend to say Jim -- owes me money he's a terrible guy but the III think he's a good guy.

But I I'm entirely with a Brit I mean.

In -- it is a problem -- a lot of conservatives have about understanding I think liberal media bias -- -- isn't necessarily all mustache twirling.

You know attempts to sort of propaganda -- for the cause of you might get that from MSNBC and time and time.

It is often just in terms of those those unspoken assumptions about what's relevant what's news what's important.

That this sort of -- inflection to whatever is on the front page of the New York Times is that that must therefore be the most important thing.

And I think that Blair comes from.

A milieu that that has a lot of those assumptions what's in those tap water at PBS news hour is just simply different and at some other institutions and so.

I'm not saying the -- do a bad job but he's gonna have to compensate.

To sort of figure out now what would what would an equally fair question.

Before Barack Obama and I I think so -- see some things fall by the wayside -- once in a fast and furious in any of these debates.

They're there's -- some things that they don't.

That he may not want -- he just in his own perfectly legitimate judgment not consider all that newsworthy that someone else might.

Richard in flyover country says O Reilly would be -- who does a moderator.

Yes he would.

I just don't think you could ever get the the answers there.

I'm not.

No I don't he said himself he's that I could never.

Get through what I've had -- -- what he would it would build on it would have felt with his if you get financially so spins he noticed -- that he would jump in because that's what he does say that and so that's been and I don't wanna hear that so -- let's get our it would be interesting yeah it would be instantly be fun to watch.

A couple of questions one is where does this -- story Joseph does it to have become a really big problem that he did every day.

We seem to be breaking something or it continues to go on -- I think in the head of -- lot of stuff.

The story is proceeding on two tracks one track is the story which is now I think being more fully covered by -- major over into the mainstream media that says.

Basically tells US.

It just was an intelligence and security failure.

Of some major proportions.

Second story that is similar but importantly different is.

Whether the administration engaged in -- politically motivated cover up of the facts saying things for the first week -- so.

After this thing happened that's it that.

-- administration basically knew not to be true.

And did so for the purpose of protecting the president -- political and that is the story that I see less pursuit of.

Chuck well.

Really -- the last couple days we've -- stories all over the media.

The press papers secret meetings are taking place at the White House.

About what to do in Libya -- I I must say this couldn't resist laughing if they're secret if it is why they -- on the front page.

Of the paper so obviously a story is now being put out right we're on top of us.

Word getting to the bottom of this and we're gonna react to this discussion lead to you know discussion about.

Strikes that may be coming and so forth.

What that tells you is that.

That it may believe that this was -- big failure and there was some comic cover up for misleading but the president still has control of this agenda.

Because it is within his power to do something in the next few weeks over there and Libya.

That constitute some kind of a strike back at the people who were responsible for this.

So if he if he can find out who did it and fire -- drone strike at that camp.

Then that's a good story and may even be a good thing to do substantively.

So it's true Brit says this is kind of -- right now is kind of a slow bleed for the White House.

But unless and until some kind of really bad smoking gun emerges like somebody produces a document or -- leaking.

That yes we were consciously aware that this was a terrorist attack and smothered that story.

Politically unless something really -- that -- a negative story comes out.

Obviously game changer for the campaign.

Good job.

Yeah I think that's -- right although I was much more skeptical of this whole it's a cover up its Watergate style though you know.

I've campaigned to hide the facts and they didn't go out actually actively lie about any thing.

But as these as a story develops it's feeling.

More moral like a cover up to me and it's getting a little creepy here and when he start thinking about.

The MO of of this administration has Steve -- -- a very good he's in the weekly standard.

Not too long ago about how.

This is always -- response.

They always command say it's an isolated incidents at the lone gunman there are no connections to terror.

Whether it was the Fort Hood shooting whether it was the underwear bomber you go down a long list.

And it's and it seems more moral plausible to me that.

They basically just turned on their normal PR operation and said deny this is terrorism.

Don't call this terrorism because what we're trying to do is have that no drama Obama approached these things and downplay on the war on terror it's it's a law and order issue thing.

And they tried -- one time too many you sort of like a game of musical chairs and they got caught with the real problem on their hands because they really did cover up.

What was now obviously a terrorist attack.

Whether it was as venal or or anything like that as some mates might claim I don't know but it it just it's thinking more and more good news.

Price really -- this isn't right yeah weekend is it is just the real that's all horrible story for them because.

That was five times on the record saying not a terrorist attack that's hard for them to get to get -- Yeah you can go to special report.

The home page and see that whole timeline that we did that we ran it on Friday night I think it's like nine minutes long and it goes from beginning to end I recommend you check that out on the home page may see it.

You can pull up the the video and watch -- from beginning to -- I'll just say that when Robert Gibbs started did say that Libyans were.

Marching in the streets in support of the US and yet the FBI can't get -- to the city of big Ghazi and the Washington Post today.

-- sensitive documents at the consulate.

From the ambassador.

I mean it's mind boggling to me.

How this is all happening and why can't our FBI provide its own protection.

To do the investigation.

And yet the Washington Post and CNN that you can secure -- I haven't secured sodomy and did the cleaning crew has been through their more times I mean it's.

It's it's really something heart -- thing yeah I want to wrap up.

Sandra one point on this I do believe that Mitt Romney would be in a much stronger position today.

Two take advantage of this issue if you had not overdone it at first.

The public in a crisis tends to rally around the president -- and wrong you know -- that around that.

-- we can go around that whole deal again and again I mean it -- in the White House -- that Cairo embassy.

Press release it was literally to his choice for him to jump on it if he waited -- just waited three days could be much better position politically.

Political.

Class that headline tomorrow if you had to guess this is on lines of give it -- -- -- Romney Obama.

Engage in spirited debate in Denver.

Real I mean I mean that molested her but that's just a percentage call that's awaiting -- -- -- -- yeah I -- The headline is a tough one to predict because I think that.

You know Obama could go out there and and endorse.

The Muslim Brotherhood and the New York Times have called a draw I mean I don't I don't think but at the same time.

I think that that the takeaways is -- Romney beats expectations that's my expected.

Shock well I didn't get I'm gonna go out on women say.

-- Romney endorses Obama reelection -- -- it'll be it'll be something like with -- then beat the media headlines will.

Play it as safe as possible.

It'll -- sir well into the morning before I think it does alternative narratives the riskier takes sort of -- -- -- the way it usually develops on the on the day after.

All right John I chuck nice from Washington Brett appreciate it's time to grab some different -- -- a big show tonight at 855.

John meg and Kelly and named -- Joseph Trippi doctor Charles Krauthammer will be here as well.

Chris Wallace and they have great show for as you look because the crowd gathering inside the hall.

-- -- -- -- -- -- --

Load More