S.A. Miller and I, reunited after covering the last Democratic debate, have our take in today's paper this morning.
PHILADELPHIA — Sen. Barack Obama was treated like the Democratic front-runner for the first time in a debate last night — fielding hard questions about his ties to a 1970s domestic terrorist, his racially divisive church and his electability.
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton charged her rival has failed to fully explain his longtime ties to the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., calling it deplorable that Mr. Obama didn't leave the church after his pastor made disparaging remarks about the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
"There were so many different variations on the explanations that we heard," said Mrs. Clinton, adding that as a New York senator, she was personally offended by Mr. Wright"s saying the attacks were "America"s chickens coming home to roost."
"I have to say that … for Pastor Wright to have given his first sermon after 9/11 and to have blamed the United States for the attack, which happened in my city of New York, would have been just intolerable for me," Mrs. Clinton said. "And, therefore, I would have not been able to stay in the church."
Read our full story here.
Obama campaign manager David Plouffe weighed in with a statement after the debate:
"Tonight we saw a real choice between the old politics of point-scoring and distraction and a politics that focuses on bringing us together to actually solve the challenges we talk about every single election. Continuing the theme of her campaign, Senator Clinton used every single opportunity she had to launch misleading attack after misleading attack against Barack Obama, which is why polls show that most Americans think she's running the most negative campaign and don't believe she's trustworthy. Barack Obama spoke about the issues that actually matter in people's lives, like how he plans to end the war in Iraq, cut middle-class taxes, help people stay in their homes, and provide a secure retirement for our seniors. That's why more Americans are putting their trust in Barack Obama to bring about the change we need in Washington."
Team Clinton announced in an e-mail last night: "Hillary's Reviews Are In: 'The Winner,' 'Strong Presence,' 'In Her Element.' "
The release noted Clinton won this local focus group:
The Clinton release also features favorable quotes from pundits and bloggers, including a zinger from NBC's Chuck Todd that Obama "did not have a good night."
Obama's David Axelrod said on Morning Joe today the personality-driven questions robbed voters of a substantive debate. A Kos blogger agrees, and compares Clinton to the Republicans.
Last night Markos Moulitsas himself blogged he felt the debate was embarrassing to the moderators, and urged Kos readers to call ABC.
— Christina Bellantoni, national political reporter, The Washington Times
Comments (10)
I was so happy ABC finally asked Obama serious questions (good for you!). I'm sure the Obama supporters are upset it was clear Obama was way in over his head.
He will never win the Presidency. I will expect the Super Delegates that have pledged to back up Obama to explain to the rest of us why they neglected to do research on a man that they are asking to step up to the most important job in the United States.
This whole process has been a blessing in disguise, it sorted out the Democratic Party by the people that don't care enough to ask serious questions and the Democrats Super Delegates that waited until the Obama Hope Smoke cleared.
I used to look up to Senator Richardson, I lost all respect for him as a politician. Shame on you Mr. Richardson I hoped you watched last nights debate Mr. Richardson.
Sent by a democratic voter that will vote for McCain if Obama is nominated. (first time in my lifetime I switched parties or ever considered voting for a republican, especially under the circumstances).
Posted by CD | April 17, 2008 11:25 AM
I believe the moderation was very poorly handled. For almost an hour, it was a retread of sensationalist trivia, mostly directed at Obama (Wright, "bitter," Ayres) but also at Clinton (Bosnia...but no Penn/NAFTA). With the huge participation increases in the primaries and the historical implications of this election, ABC's staff dropped the ball. Awful. Disgusting. Junk journalism.
Posted by jimmymac | April 17, 2008 12:16 PM
CD has been a republican for years. Back to the same old tired tactics of wasting peoples time with questions about every non-issue known to man. I thought I was watching TMZ not ABC!
Posted by S Morris | April 17, 2008 12:20 PM
I am not upset at ABC for asking non-issue, non-policy, non-questions about guilt by association to Obama. (although at one point I got confused and thought Wright was running for President).
What I am upset about is the unpresendented so-called "rebuttels" offered by a democratic opponent and colleage. To personally insult someones love of country, and personally attack their love of religion was one of the ugliest thing I have ever witnessed by a Presidential Candidate, of either party.
If there has ever been this kind of assassination done between opponents, the candidates have always (and properly) stayed out of the gutter.
Clinton could not even pretend to have grace or dignity. She did not prove herself to be leader. She did not prove herself to be a fighter. She only proved that she must resort to name-calling and personal attacks, which means she has no substance. That she is a bully.
At the very least this was the most unprofessional I have ever seen anyone display while applying for a job.
I am ashamed that as a society we have fallen so low out of the realm of civility that many would applaud this kind of behavior on a National stage from one of our leaders.
As far as I am conerned the story is not about ABC's combative questions. The story is not about whether or not Obama was on his game. The whole story is about low a presidential candidate can go in a national forum.
When Clinton was called on her Bosnia lies, Obama did what any decent person would have done which is to say, please can we talk about important things like the war, economey, healthcare crises or any of the other million things that are wrong today.
Posted by LCohen | April 17, 2008 1:11 PM
I thought the debate was a debacle. As an independent who isn't sure who I want to vote for I wanted an opportunity to hear about issues. The first hour was an insult to anyone with a working brain. I'm concerned about the price of gas, the recession, the 100 year war in Iraq, the housing crisis. Call me crass, but lapel pins, aging hippie terrorists, ranting preachers and bittergate are great issues for you political wonks who have no life...but for those of us who don't have tons of time to play political games, I really want to hear the issues discussed. Who wears a flag pin isn't gonna have a bearing one whether I have a job in a few month, get it?????
The real loser of this debate, in my mind, was the American citizen. It once again demonstrated that media and economic elites in this nation think that the US voter is a brain dead moron who is fixated on drama filled issues that have no real bearing on their day to day life. I hope if nothing else, that in this election, the people start to take the process back, away from the elites.
And if we as a nation get confused that lapel pins are the real issues facing us this day, then we really deserve to become a second rate nation owned in whole by China and Saudi Arabia
Posted by Tessla | April 17, 2008 2:33 PM
It was about time that the media asked the questions that all Americans have been asking: who is really Barack Hussein Obama and what does he stand for?
We americans deserve answers to all the questions that were asked, because after all, Obama is running for the United States Presidential seat or the Chief in Command. We americans have questions and need answers about all those close relationships Obama has cultured with "radical" characters that hate and damn America.
The main question still remains:
Does Obama love or hate America?
Posted by Manolete | April 17, 2008 7:26 PM
Last night's debate once again showed how unsubstantial, how weak, and how empty Barack Obama is. I mean, I reaaly can't believe it. Any serious questions that Obama can't provide a good answer, he'll label it "political silly season". Well, Barack Obama, how about you show us some "non-silly" and "real" stuff, besides your empty howling of "hope and change"??
Posted by Cleareye | April 17, 2008 7:35 PM
MY FELLOW �BITTER�, STUPID, WORKING CLASS PEOPLE :-)
If you think like Barack Obama, that WORKING CLASS PEOPLE are just a bunch of �BITTER�!, STUPID, PEASANTS, Cash COWS!, and CANNON FODDER. :-(
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think Barack Obama with little or no experience would be better than Hillary Clinton with 35 years experience.
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think that Obama with no experience can fix an economy on the verge of collapse better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) led the greatest economic expansion, and prosperity in American history.
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think that Obama with no experience fighting for universal health care can get it for you better than Hillary Clinton. Who anticipated this current health care crisis back in 1993, and fought a pitched battle against overwhelming odds to get universal health care for all the American people.
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think that Obama with no experience can manage, and get us out of two wars better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) went to war only when he was convinced that he absolutely had to. Then completed the mission in record time against a nuclear power. AND DID NOT LOSE THE LIFE OF A SINGLE AMERICAN SOLDIER. NOT ONE!
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think that Obama with no experience saving the environment is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) left office with the greatest amount of environmental cleanup, and protections in American history.
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think that Obama with little or no education experience is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) made higher education affordable for every American. And created higher job demand and starting salary�s than they had ever been before or since.
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think that Obama with no experience will be better than Hillary Clinton who spent 8 years at the right hand of President Bill Clinton. Who is already on record as one of the greatest Presidents in American history.
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think that you can change the way Washington works with pretty speeches from Obama, rather than with the experience, and political expertise of two master politicians ON YOUR SIDE like Hillary and Bill Clinton..
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think all those Republicans voting for Obama in the Democratic primaries, and caucuses are doing so because they think he is a stronger Democratic candidate than Hillary Clinton. :-)
Best regards
jacksmith... Working Class :-)
p.s. You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you don't know that the huge amounts of money funding the Obama campaign to try and defeat Hillary Clinton is coming in from the insurance, and medical industry, that has been ripping you off, and killing you and your children. And denying you, and your loved ones the life saving medical care you needed. All just so they can make more huge immoral profits for them-selves off of your suffering...
You see, back in 1993 Hillary Clinton had the audacity, and nerve to try and get quality, affordable universal health care for everyone to prevent the suffering and needless deaths of hundreds of thousands of you each year. :-)
Approx. 100,000 of you die each year from medical accidents from a rush to profit by the insurance, and medical industry. Another 120,000 of you die each year from treatable illness that people in other developed countries don�t die from. And I could go on, and on...
Posted by jacksmith | April 18, 2008 1:15 AM
DON'T BE DUPED !!!
Large numbers of Republicans have been voting for Barack Obama in the DEMOCRATIC primaries, and caucuses from early on. Because they feel he would be a weaker opponent against John McCain. With Hillary Clinton you are almost 100% certain to get quality, affordable universal health care very soon.
But first, all of you have to make certain that Hillary Clinton takes the democratic nomination and then the Whitehouse. NOW! is the time. THIS! is the moment you have all been working, and waiting for. You can do this America. �Carpe diem� (harvest the day).
I think Hillary Clinton see�s a beautiful world of plenty for all. She�s a woman, and a mother. And it�s time America. Do this for your-selves, and your children�s future. You will have to work together on this and be aggressive, relentless, and creative. Americans face an even worse catastrophe ahead than the one you are living through now.
You see, the medical and insurance industry mostly support the republicans with the money they ripped off from you. And they don�t want you to have quality, affordable universal health care. They want to be able to continue to rip you off, and kill you and your children by continuing to deny you life saving medical care that you have already paid for. So they can continue to make more immoral profits for them-selves.
Hillary Clinton has actually won by much larger margins than the vote totals showed. And lost by much smaller vote margins than the vote totals showed. Her delegate count is actually much higher than it shows. And higher than Obama�s. She also leads in the electoral college numbers that you must win to become President in the November national election. HILLARY CLINTON IS ALREADY THE TRUE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE!
As much as 30% of Obama's primary, and caucus votes are Republicans trying to choose the weakest democratic candidate for McCain to run against. These Republicans have been gaming the caucuses where it is easier to vote cheat. This is why Obama has not been able to win the BIG! states primaries. Even with Republican vote cheating help.
Hillary Clinton has been OUT MANNED! OUT GUNNED! and OUT SPENT! 4 and 5 to 1. Yet Obama has only been able to manage a very tenuous, and questionable tie with Hillary Clinton.
If Obama is the democratic nominee for the national election in November he will be slaughtered. Because the Republican vote cheating help will suddenly evaporate. All of this vote fraud and republican manipulation has made Obama falsely look like a much stronger candidate than he really is. YOUNG PEOPLE. DON�T BE DUPED! Think about it. You have the most to lose.
The democratic party needs to fix this outrage. Everyone needs to throw all your support to Hillary Clinton NOW! So you can end this outrage against YOU the voter, and against democracy.
The democratic party, and the super-delegates have a decision to make. Are the democrats, and the democratic party going to choose the DEMOCRATIC party nominee to fight for the American people. Or are the republicans going to choose the DEMOCRATIC party nominee through vote fraud, and gaming the DEMOCRATIC party primaries, and caucuses.
Fortunately the Clinton�s have been able to hold on against this fraudulent outrage with those repeated dramatic comebacks of Hillary Clinton�s. Only the Clinton�s are that resourceful, and strong. Hillary Clinton is your NOMINEE. They are the best I have ever seen.
�This is not a game� (Hillary Clinton)
Sincerely
jacksmith... Working Class :-)
Posted by jacksmith | April 18, 2008 1:17 AM
I personally think Hillary Clinton is the best candidate out there.
I have watched Obama in areas where we salute the American Flag and he never put his hand over his heart, all true and loving Americans put there hand over there hearts when the pledge is being said. I have also noted in the debates that Hillary leads the way on the enviroment, economy, health insurance and the war and he comes back with "I agree with Senator Clinton", but never hear any thoughts of his own, Only what Hillary has said from the very beginning of her campaign. Who is going to lead him if he wins?
I do not agree that Clinton-Obama should be running together, I am from Indiana and I know that Evan Byah would make a great Vice president.
I am also disgusted that they keep bringing Bills Personal life into the debates and editorals as I think Hillary was a very strong woman to lift her head up and go on. Many people especially men that dislike him for what he did have probably been guilty of such and would have lied to thier wives. Most people have secrets they would not like to have displayed to the general public.
I guess another thing that irrates me is Obama saying "MY Whitehouse", as far as I know the Whitehouse belongs to the American People.
My Vote is for Hillary Clinton
Posted by Sandra Owen | April 24, 2008 12:04 PM