Toobin on Borger's claim that “the bar is ... on the floor” for Palin in VP debate: "[W]ho are we to say where the bar is?"

Written by Matt Gertz

Published

On CNN's Late Edition, Gloria Borger claimed that “the bar is ... on the floor for Sarah Palin” in her upcoming debate with Sen. Joe Biden. Jeffrey Toobin replied, in part: "[W]ho are we to say where the bar is?" He later said that “we sort of create these expectations” that “it's not our job to do.”

On the September 28 edition of CNN's Late Edition, senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin responded to senior political analyst Gloria Borger's assertion that “the bar is, first of all, on the floor for [Gov.] Sarah Palin” in the upcoming vice presidential debate by saying that “it's not our job” to “sort of create these expectations.”

Borger claimed, “Well, the bar is, first of all, on the floor for Sarah Palin. She -- you know, so I'm looking to see how she goes toe to toe with [Sen.] Joe Biden, who's very experienced in foreign policy, and how he handles her.” Toobin replied: “But I don't think the bar is on the floor. I think the bar is the same place it is for Biden. I mean, who are we to say where the bar is? I think this is their job to say whether she's capable of being vice president and president of the United States.” Borger countered: “But people don't expect a lot. You know, look, if she performs fine, it will be better than fine for her. Do you know what I'm saying? That's what I see.” Toobin said: “They should expect a lot. I understand your point, but I just think we sort of create these expectations that are just not our job -- it's not our job to do.”

From the September 28 edition of CNN's Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer:

BLITZER: Gloria, what are you going to be looking for Thursday night?

BORGER: Well, the bar is, first of all, on the floor for Sarah Palin. She -- you know, so I'm looking to see how she goes toe to toe with Joe Biden, who's very experienced in foreign policy, and how he handles her.

BLITZER: But he's pretty capable of having a gaffe himself.

BORGER: Right, he is, and that's why this debate is going to be so interesting because these people are going to look at each other this time. And --

TOOBIN: But I don't think the bar is on the floor. I think the bar is the same place it is for Biden. I mean, who are we to say where the bar is? I think this is their job to say whether she's capable of being vice president --

BORGER: But people don't expect --

TOOBIN: -- and president of the United States.

BORGER: -- a lot. You know, look, if she performs --

TOOBIN: Well, they should.

BORGER: -- fine --

TOOBIN: They should expect a lot.

BORGER: -- it will be better than fine for her. Do you know what I'm saying? That's what I see.

TOOBIN: I understand your point, but I just think we sort of create these expectations that are just not our job -- it's not our job to do.