The real fun of American politics is not the debate proper, but the post-debate scramble by both parties to drive various messages home and, in the process, get digs in at the opposition.
Also read: Cheney, Edwards clash over Iraq | Transcript
The Democratic Party had, within minutes of the John Kerry-George Bush debate last Thursday, put out a web video, which compiled the many grimaces Bush made during his 90-minute encounter with his challenger -- a compilation meant to further the image of Bush as un-Presidential.
And the DNC is at it again - within 30 minutes of the close of the Dick Cheney-John Edwards debate comes a web clip, meant to characterise the vice-president as a flip-flopper, at best, or liar, at worst.
The clip begins with a quote from Cheney, taken from the night's debate. "I have not suggested there is a connection between Iraq and 9/11," the vice president said in response to a salvo from Edwards.
The clip then compiles past Cheney statements, thus: "I think there's overwhelming evidence that there was a connection between Al Qaeda and the Iraqi government" - on the National Public Radio, Morning Edition, January 22 this year.
"If we're successful in Iraq...we will have struck a major blow right at the heart of the base...of the terrorists who have had us under assault now for many years, but most especially on 9/11" - on NBC, Meet the Press, 11/14/03.
And again, a clip from an NBC Meet the Press programme on 11/14/03, when Tim Russert asks: "The Washington Post asked the American people about Saddam Hussein, and this is what they said: 69 per cent said he was involved in the September 11 attacks. Are you surprised by that?"
Cheney: "No. I think it's not surprising that people make that connection."
Stand by for the Republican response.
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