Local "Gaffe" Goes National
Gaffes in political debates are no longer local, can go viral when picked up by national outlets. TPM Election Central's mention of a NM House debate this morning is an example. Eric Kleefeld observes:
Wow, talk about taking right-wing attacks against Dems on Iraq to the next level. At a debate in New Mexico for the open GOP-held Second District late last week, Republican nominee Ed Tinsley accused his Dem opponent Harry Teague of wanting to cut the throats of American troops in Iraq.
Gaffes have legs when they fit with some external narrative (see earlier post analyzing gaffes). This is a gaffe for Mr. Kleefeld , I assume, because the "right wing" is mean spirited, willing to stoop ever so low.
Listening to the video I struck that in the debate context the "mistake" is less obvious than "reported," more in keeping with the heat of elections and debates. I don't expect this debate excerpt will gain traction, yet it highlights that in a world without gatekeepers, YouTube, and local media sponsors of debates (who make video available), most all political debates become fair game: Any debate, Anywhere, Anytime.
