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Tonya
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Tonya
Post Number: 5361
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 27, 2007 - 02:55 pm: | 
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Politics
Analysis: Dems Keep It Cordial in Debate
(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., left,
shares a laugh with Sen. Hilary
Rodham Clinton, D-NY prior to the
start of the Democratic presidential
primary debate of the 2008 election
hosted by the South Carolina State
University in Orangeburg, SC., Thursday,
April 26, 2007.
By NEDRA PICKLER, The Associated Press
Apr 27, 2007 9:01 AM (5 hrs ago)
ORANGEBURG, S.C. - It was less of a debate and more like a polite first date where the Democratic presidential candidates wanted to avoid any fast moves that risk turning off voters.
Front-runners Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were on the receiving end of a couple jabs, but the Democrats vying for the White House were downright complimentary, calling each other by their first names more like friends than rivals.
Offered a chance to rebut Obama on his plan for Iraq, Clinton said: "I think that what Barack said is right." Asked who else on the stage could win against a Republican presidential candidate, Delaware Sen. Joe Biden said: "I'm looking at a bunch of winners right here, number one. And whoever wishes for Hillary is making a big mistake."
Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd praised Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich for declaring his commitment to abortion rights. "What Dennis just said is extremely important," Dodd said.
In short, they mostly pulled their punches and played it safe in their first debate.
"No runs, no hits, no errors," said Democratic consultant Erik Smith. "Nobody made any significant mistake, but nobody distinguished themselves."
After their Thursday night face-off at South Carolina State University, the candidates planned to hang out another day in the state that holds the important second primary next January. They all were to attend the state party's biggest fundraiser Friday evening, then party together at a fish fry thrown by Rep. Jim Clyburn in a downtown Columbia parking garage.
The candidates spent most of their time in the 90-minute event broadcast live Thursday night on MSNBC explaining how they would lead the country and defending against their biggest criticisms.
Clinton said the fact that most of the public doesn't like her is actually a form of flattery because it shows she stands up for what she believes in. Obama, questioned about whether he's light on substance, laid out a three-point health care plan.
Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards said even though he gets $400 hair cuts, he remembers what it was like when he was a kid and his father couldn't afford to pay for the family to eat at a pricey restaurant. And when the notoriously long-winded Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware was asked if he had the discipline to be a player on the world stage, he replied with uncharacteristic brevity. "Yes," was all he said to laughter in the hall with 850 viewers.
"The candidates did more testing of themselves and their own messages than against each other," said Democratic consultant Stephanie Cutter. "Very few issues separated them, and very few moments distinguished them. As these debates go on, that will change."
Their biggest target was President Bush. The candidates universally condemned the failures in Iraq and said they would bring troops home. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said he would end the war on his first day as president, coupled with diplomatic efforts to rebuild the country.
Edwards showed he was ready to challenge his rivals on the war from his first chance to speak in the debate. "Senator Clinton and anyone else who voted for this war has to search themselves and decide whether they believe they've voted the right way," Edwards said. Dodd, Biden and Edwards also voted for the Iraq war resolution, although all three have said they regret it.
Clinton responded that she did as good a job as she could with the information she had at the time and said the focus now should be on how to get out of Iraq - which she said she would do as president if Bush doesn't do it first. Even though she was the front-runner, it was the only time she was called on to rebut a challenge.
The differences between Clinton, Obama and Edwards were on display at one point when moderator Brian Williams set up a familiar scenario of two U.S. cities attacked simultaneous by al-Qaida and asked the three how they would respond. Edwards and Clinton said they would swiftly retaliate. Obama did not mention retribution for al-Qaida but instead spoke about how he would make sure there was an effective emergency response, correct intelligence and a conversation with global allies.
Obama later got a chance to talk about how seriously he takes threats to the United States, after liberal longshots Kucinich and former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel said Obama's declaration that all options are on the table with Iran amounted to a threat of war.
Obama responded that it would be a mistake to initiate war with Iran, but the country's nuclear programs pose a major threat to the United States. As Kucinich and Obama talked over one another, Gravel jumped in to complain that the United States has refused to disarm its nuclear weapons.
"Who the hell are we going to nuke?" Gravel shouted. "Tell me, Barack. Barack, who do you want to nuke?"
Obama smiled to cool the heated exchange. "I'm not planning to nuke anybody right now, Mike, I promise," he said to laughter from the crowd.
"Good," Gravel said happily. "We're safe then, for a while."
Nedra Pickler covers the Democratic presidential race for The Associated Press.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
http://www.examiner.com/a-698297~Analysis__Dems_Keep_It_Cordial_in_Debate.html |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 8451
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 27, 2007 - 03:18 pm: |
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Well it was a lot about who was the wittiest and who could best think on their feet. Most did pretty well. Any of those on the podium would be preferable to what the Republicans have to offer. |
Chrishayden
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 4264
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 27, 2007 - 03:33 pm: |
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So who won? |
Tonya
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Tonya
Post Number: 5364
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: 
Votes: 2 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 27, 2007 - 04:14 pm: |
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Hilary did more than just stand her ground. I was impressed. Her voice was at a decent level; She looked confident and in control; and she gave the right answer to that "terrorism" question, while showing how stern, even hawkish, she could be, and without sounding like a warmonger or a nut..this was key. At that juncture it was clear she had won. The others couldn't even recover.
PS, I had no problem with Bush fucking up Afghanistan, Iraq was when he lost my 911 support, so Hilary didn’t sound hawkish at all to me. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 8462
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 27, 2007 - 06:12 pm: |
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Well, most of the news mavens seem to agree with you, Tonya. |
Tonya
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Tonya
Post Number: 5369
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 27, 2007 - 09:14 pm: |
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It was so obvious...mainly because Obama and Edwards made it worse when they tried to clean it up. This only underscored it. They should have revisited the question without announcing that revisiting the question is what they were doing. I mean really, they're seasoned politicians; ain't like they can’t turn ANY question without apology or reason into their own little impromptu manifesto. They could have spun it a lot better. |
Robynmarie
Regular Poster
Username: Robynmarie
Post Number: 431
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 28, 2007 - 08:29 am: |
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Excellent analysis Tonya. If I were Hilliary, I would stand back and let the men fight it out. HC could be the last woman standing.
Barak will have to step up his game. At the debate he seemed somewhat insincere and got testy when Dennis Kucinich interrupted him.
Still I am torn. I want to see a man of color as President as well as I would like to see a woman.
White men have really messed things up. |
Doberman23
Veteran Poster
Username: Doberman23
Post Number: 979
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 28, 2007 - 08:53 am: |
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i will vote republican if hilldawg is the democratic rep for president. unless mccain is the republican rep ... i will not vote at all and take my golden brown arse to canada for a while  |
Chrishayden
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 4278
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 28, 2007 - 10:18 am: |
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I heard that guy from Alaska actually won it but nobody is going to report it because he is not cleaving to the party line. |
Tonya
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Tonya
Post Number: 5378
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 29, 2007 - 06:16 pm: |
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Dude MG makes too much sense to ever win The White House (atleast now). He's like that saying: Too much like right. But I was loving the hell out him tho---loved it!
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Robynmarie
Regular Poster
Username: Robynmarie
Post Number: 432
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 30, 2007 - 11:05 am: |
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Tonya-
Here's my take.
Barak Obama has got to step up his game. Watching Senator Obama on the crowded stage during last week's Democratic debates, I was yelling at the screen, fight, Barak, fight! Senator Obama played it away too safe, like a tennis player who relaxes after winning the first set and later loses the match in a tiebreak. By blending in so much and making no waves, Senator Obama came off as kind of, well soft. This was especially evident after the moderator asked the potential Presidents what they would do if two U.S. cities were attacked. Obama demurely said something about having an emergency system in place. Hillary Clinton, on the other hand,-hardcore as ever-said if she were President, we would retaliate. Good answer! The talking heads afterwards praised Senator Clinton to the heavens, calling her "tough" and "Presidential." At least in that one instant the white males who dominate what passes for political discourse these days, were willing to suspend their disbelief-and hatred- and envision Hillary as Commander-in-Chief. Barak Obama, on the other hand, most commentators agreed, fell short. These were the same mouths, mind you, that only hours early were saying it was "Senator Obama's debate to lose." And, as much as many in the media and Middle America detest Hillary and all she represents-polarizing, rehearsed and lacking in charisma and riding Bill's jock-Americans of all stripes despise weakness more. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3096434/
I saw an Obama '08 bumper sticker on an expensive sedan the other day Carson California. My heart skipped a beat to know that this early, in a small town out West, Barak Obama has inspired so much hope and willingness to seek and embrace change. Barak Obama is a fresh face, representing in his words, "a new kind of politics." That's cool. But if Senator Obama wants to take the planet to places we have never gone before, by inspiring a radical shift in American hearts and minds as the first black man ever elected for POTUS, he has his work cut out for him. He will be tested in every way imaginable, from so-called supporters to Swift- boating opponents, who would die before seeing an African American in the Oval office. He has got to be prepared to do serious battle. So far I have yet to see the pugilist side of Senator Obama.
Martin Luther King, Jr's strength and commitment to purpose inspired an American revolution. Ghandi's ascetic life and implacable deeds changed the world, and so did Nelson Mandela. Barak Obama has got to be as bold and fearless as the heroes who've gone before him if he is going to become the next Leader of the Free World. To win an election that is eighteen grueling months away Senator Obama must become a master of old school, retail politics while fighting off the many minefields being laid for him this very minute. The key for Senator Obama is to strike the right balance between being no-nonsense and being non-threatening. It will take more than a thousand watt smile, Myspace spin and passing the hat to millionaires accomplish this monumental task.
Like Deval Patrick, the recently elected governor of Massachusetts, Senator Obama is as a new kind of African American leader. Neither man carries the unsightly baggage of the Civil Rights movement to make white folks feel guilty. I am glad these two have crossover appeal and are being talked about in such, respectful and lofty terms. Senator Obama, however, should take a lesson from another man of distinction whose grit against the grain makes people uncomfortable. Keith Ellison the Congressman from Minnesota, the first Muslim ever elected to the U.S. House of Representatives forever changed the face of the American ruling class by battling with the haters and standing his ground.
Hopefully, Senator Obama will take to heart the words of the greatest fighter, of all time, Muhammad Ali who said, "at home I am a nice guy, but I don't want the world to know. Humble people, I've found, don't get very far."
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Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 8483
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 30, 2007 - 03:06 pm: |
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An excellent analysis in regard to Obama having his work cut out for him! |
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