Mere Words

Senator Barack Obama and Senator Hillary Clinton are meeting in their first debate in 6 weeks. This is a critical debate just weeks before the Pennsylvania primary.

7:02: The debate begins with Charlie Gibson introducing Obama and Clinton. Funny anecdote about the race being in the 15th round of a 10 rounder.

7:03: Opening statements.

Obama: “I’ve been struck by the frustration of Pennsylvanians with jobs, healthcare, and the special interests dominating in Washington. This election offers us a chance to change that.”

He leads off reiterating his usual talking points, as expected. Great job heading off the question about his comments about Pennsylvanians being “bitter”, explaining their frustration.

Clinton: “I’m running because I know we can meet the challenges of today, to fulfill the dreams set out by our forefathers.”

More of the same from Clinton.

7:08: First question by Charlie Gibson, “…with such broad support from very select group, why not fight to the end, but agree whoever loses will be VP?”

We’re tired of this question Charlie, its just not going to happen. Obama dodges the question, saying its premature, but says we will have a unified party in August.

Clinton says: “I will do whatever it takes to make sure one of us will be President in January” but hedges at making a promise of Obama as her VP.

7:11: Charlie asks about Obama’s bitter comment, “bitter voters cling to their guns and religion”

Obama: I understand why people were offended, and its not the first time I misspoke, nor will it be the last. The point I was making was that when people feel like Washington’s not listening to them… when all they are seeing false promises…. then they vote on issues that they can count on, what is always true, religion, gun rights…. when the focus is on those issues the important economic and social issues get shuffled under the mat…. I’m running to help end these frustrations, to make true on the promises of Americas future.

Clinton: I’m the granddaughter of a factory worker, of a deeply religious man. I don’t think people cling to guns and religion when Washington isn’t listening, “that’s a fundamental misunderstanding of their views”.

7:18: Question to Clinton: Can Obama win?

Clinton: Yes, but I think I can do it better.

Obama: In the last few days, Clinton has been calling me elitist, condescending, and patronizing. How can I patronize people of faith when I’m a man of faith? I supported Clinton when she was called elitist for responding to concerns that she shouldn’t be so active in her husbands presidency saying “should I be home baking cookies?”. I think she learned the wrong lesson, because now she’s using the same tactics as the conservatives that attacked her then.

Clinton: I was talking about his remarks, not amount the man. Everyone else was saying it, not just me….typical speech about changing the country…

7:23: Charlie, why did you take so long to denounce your pastor even though you removed from doing your invocation a year ago?

Obama reiterates the same points he made on his excellent speech on race.

Clinton: I would have left after hearing his comments on 9/11. They were terrible and disgusting, and no amount of good would make me stay.

Obama: I didn’t hear about them until much later, and wasn’t there that day. I myself take offense. The church extends beyond the pastor, it is a community much bigger than one man.

George: Obama, do you think that Reverend Wright loves America as much as you do, and what would you do when they play these videos if you are President?

Obama: If it wasn’t this, it’d be something else. If Clinton was President, videos would be played about her. I have faith in the American people, that when they judge my character and my plan for America they will stay behind me. Americans are smarter than to get caught up in these distractions, comments I didn’t make, comments I disowned. Wright is a former Marine, I know he loves America, but that he is upset over all the injustice he’s seen in his long life.

7:32: George: Hillary, polls show 6/10 voters don’t think you are trustworthy, what do you have to say about this and the Bosnian sniper issue?

Clinton: I’m not dumb. I misspoke, I apologized, and I made a mistake. I am proud of my trip to Bosnia, it was a war zone, things were dangerous, and I know I’ve misrepresented things accidentally on a couple occasions. But I do stand by my experience that will make me ready on Day 1.

7:35: George: Obama, Do you think Clinton has been truthful?

Obama: Both of us are working as hard as we can to deliver a message to the American people, but being recorded 24/7 we are bound to make some mistakes. I think Senator Clinton is allowed to make some from time to time. I know I have. But we can’t get caught up in these distractions, we must remember we are a critical crossroads in our history, we must focus on the important issues facing us today, instead of small errors.

Barack hits a homerun with his response to this question. Given an opportunity to attack Hillary, he decides to be a unifier, not a divider. He transcends the petty politics and lives up to the politics of hope by giving Hillary a pass, while at the same time insinuating the same courtesy should be done to him. 

7:38: Obama, Do you believe in the American flag?

Obama: I have long revered and respected the flag. I believe in showing my patriotism through my service, my support of veterans. Sometimes small things like flag pins become a substitute for true patriotism, and that was the point I was trying to make. This idea that I’m not a patriot is a “manufactured issue” in no other nation on Earth could someone with my background have these opportunities I have had.

Does Obama believe in the American flag? I mean, what the hell? After months, this is what ABC wants to talk about? At nearly 50 minutes in we have yet to have a question about anything substantive.  No questions on Iraq or the failing economy, the two most important issues facing our country today. So far the only winner of the debate has been John McCain.

7:52: Question to Clinton: How can you promise to bring the troops home without knowing the situation on the ground in January?

Clinton: I will begin to bring the troops home as soon as I am elected President. I believe it is in the best interest of voters, America, and even the Iraqis. Until we end the “blank check given to the Iraqis” they will not take responsibility for their security. I’m sure that our staying in Iraq is a mistake. It is no way to maintain our standing in the world.

Obama: In 16 months after I am elected we will be out of Iraq. It is not the generals job to set the mission, it is the Commander in Chief’s. It is the Generals and troops job to execute that mission. I will take their views under advisement in regards to policy, but as to the mission the buck stops with the President.

8: 05: George: John McCain says you will raise taxes on the middle class and the rich, will you pledge not to raise taxes on the middle class?

Clinton: Even if the economy is weak I will roll back Bush’s tax cuts on those making over $250k. I will not raise takes on those making less. I actually have a plan to offer 100 billion dollars in tax cuts for the middle class.

Obama: I would pledge not to raise taxes on the middle class as well. I would roll back the payroll tax on those making less than 75k, and would roll back taxes on senior citizens social security payments. This will boost our struggling economy. I will fund this by closing tax loopholes for corporations sending jobs overseas, and rolling back Bush’s tax cuts on the top 1%.

I want a fair tax system that allows us to invest in our schools and invest in health care. You can’t take out a credit card, you must pay as you go. You don’t raise taxes without closing other loopholes or finding revenue elsewhere. You don’t increase spending without paying for it or cutting elsewhere.

8:19: COMMERCIAL BREAK

Thus far in the debate we’ve seen more of the same from the candidates. They’ve been reiterating the same talking points we’ve heard for the last year and a half. Few real issues of contention have come up between the candidates, since the moderators are so focused on the non-issues of the candidates few slipups. Obama’s handling of the recent issues (the bitter comments, the Bosnian snipers, etc.) was superb. Given the opportunity to attack Hillary  on her trustworthiness, instead he gave her a pass because they all make mistakes and knows Senator Clinton is a good woman. Given the same opportunity regarding Obama, Clinton was not so passive, attacking Obama both on his former pastors and his “bitter” comments. Just more and more evidence why Clinton will do anything to become President, even if it means destroying Obama and helping the Republicans win in November.

8:24: Question on guns… In the past you’ve been in strong support of regulations on guns, and now you don’t talk about that on the campaign trail. Why?

Clinton: I will work to reinstate the assault weapons ban, work to lower crime in our streets. I will give police departments the tools they need to track illegal guns. I believe we can balance the rights of the gun owners and the need to keep those guns out of the wrong hands.

Obama: I believe in the right to bear arms, but governments have a right to restrain those rights. I believe we can offer common sense approaches to prevent criminals from using the guns on the streets. We can track them. We must get beyond the politics of this issue and figure out what is working.

Neither candidate will flat out say if they favor licensing and registration of guns… They are very careful not to offend Pennsylvania voters.

8:33: How would you change affirmative action?

Obama: I think the basic principle is that we make sure we are providing ladders of opportunity to all American youths. However, we must take these issues in context. An affluent black child, like my daughters, should not get preference over a poor white child. I think we must look at the whole person. We can’t have quotas.

Clinton: We have a real gap in achievement and income in Americans. I would invest in our young people, and give the opportunity to go to college, I would change No Child Left Behind… Etc…

8:36: What will you do about gas prices?

Clinton: I would investigate the situation, and stop market speculation and people raising prices unfairly. I would also quit putting gas in the Strategic Oil Reserve and release some oil to drive prices down. I would tax large oil corporations.

Obama: Decade after decade we talk about reducing dependence on foreign oil, but nothing ever happens. I agree with Clinton, we must investigate market manipulation, put a windfall tax on oil companies, invest in alternative energy, and raise fuel effiency standards on cars.

8:46: The final question: The nomination will probably come down to the superdelegates, how will you make the case as to why you are the better candidate?

Clinton: We need a fighter back in the White House. I have a plan to fight the special interests, take the money away from the special interests and give it back to the middle class. I’ve spent a lifetime trying to bring people up and to give our children the future they deserve. Generals have endorsed me and I will lead us out of Iraq. I will fix this struggling economy. I have demonstrated over my lifetime that you can count on me.

Obama: We are at our defining moment in our history. The nation is at war, our planet is in peril, our economy is failing, and citizens have lost faith in their government. Americans are tired of the politics of tearing people down, but want a politics that bring the people up. I’ve refused money from lobbyists and special interests. The American people have responded to this message of hope, and I’ve brought new voters into the process. I would tell the superdelegates we need a new coalition to address the issues and have a real chance at changing Washington. I am the man for the job.

THUNDEROUS APPLAUSE FROM THE CROWD.

Thats the end of the democratic debate in Pennsylvania. Who won? Like most of the debates thus far, it was extremely difficult for either candidate to stand out. After the terrible moderation refusing to ask the questions Americans really care about until an hour into the debate, I think I would have to say John McCain was the victor.