Democratic Debate Part III

Obama ends with a bit of a reverse "moment"...praises HRC...says she's a "magnificant" campaigner... taking away her chance to land a last-minute punch....saying he looks forward to working with her...."there's no doubt that Hillary Clinton would be a much better president than John McCain..."

HRC does know Medvevev's name but has trouble pronouncing it, while Obama brings it back to Bush...

Russert's "Gotcha question"... the name of the President-would-be is Dmitry Medvedev , btw.

Obama bashes National Journal, which judged him the most liberal Senator...

HRC notes that she rejected the support of a third party in NYC that was anti-Semitic...by way of contrast to Obama. "I was willing to take that stand..." Obama concedes the point.

Russert moves on to Rev. Jeremiah Wright.... Obama talks about wanting to rebuilding the relationship between the Jewish community and the black community....

Obama: "I have been very clear in my denunciation of minister Farrakhan's anti-Semitic comments." It is "not support that I sought. We're not doing anything formal or informally with minister Farrakhan."

HRC: "The American people who support me are bankrolling your campaign."

Russert to HRC: "Why won't you release your tax return" so the Am people "can see who is bankrolling your campaign?"

Russert: "You may break out of public financing? You may break your word?"

On public financing: is Obama waffling? "Why won't won't you keep your word in writing?" Obama: "When I am the nominee, if I an the nominee, then I will sit down with John McCain and make sure that we have a system that is fair for both sides..."....mentions McCain's maneuvering within the system so far... "What I want to point out more broadly is how we approached this campaign from the beginning..."

Obama: "There's nothing romantic or silly..." about getting the American people "activated" for change.

HRC: "I know it takes a fighter. It takes someone who will go toe-to-toe with the special interests...." Explainer her "celestial choirs" comments.... "The special interests are not going to give up without a fight."

What? They played the tape in error? Softball? "How did you take those remarks when she said them? Obama: "I would give her points for delivery."

HRC: after a commercial, NBC plays the "celestial choirs will be singing" riff that HRC went on over the weekend... Obama: "sounds good" ....

HRC goes after Obama for not holding hearings as a Foreign Relations subcommittee chair on Afghanistan....

Both candidates refuse to say whether they'd go back into Iraq if it "went to hell" after withdrawal....

Comments

Strong point by Hilary. Skirting the next question didn't enforce her experience though - sounded like she was having a bet both ways.

Posted by Phil | February 26, 2008 9:59 PM

Hillary is getting bashed, but she's made some major goofs of her own. Sticking with health care, keeping the focus on issues - not intangibles.

Debate liveblog;
http://political-buzz.com/2008/02/26/cleveland-democratic-debate-liveblog/

Posted by matt | February 26, 2008 10:01 PM

HRC: Drone on, make minor dig, drone...
BHO: Rebut dig, take too long doing it, make a point that's been lost on the audience...

Rinse and repeat.

Posted by Steve K | February 26, 2008 10:05 PM

Let me see if I get the logic here.

Obama has steadily climbed in the polls nationwide and in every state for the past few months. The only time Hillary catches up is when she gets sympathy for being picked on or attacked unfairly (a phenomenon idiots like Williams/Russert tell us about on a daily basis).

So Williams and Russert go out of their way to pick on and unfairly attack Hillary in the last debate.

Therefore.... they are in the tank for Obama?

Posted by Tractarian | February 26, 2008 10:11 PM

Gawd, they are awful.
Does anyone seriously believe that this is going to be helpful in the general?

Posted by linda | February 26, 2008 10:12 PM

"He renounced. He didn't reject."

Somebody just checked their watch and realized there wasn't much time left to attack!

Posted by Steve K | February 26, 2008 10:18 PM

Wait, Senator Clinton was willing to take a stand against an Anti-Semitic third party in New York?!?! My goodness, the political and moral courage that must have taken.

Posted by Joe | February 26, 2008 10:24 PM

Note: Obama did not "concede the point." Obama clearly states that he both denounces AND rejects anti-Semitism in all its forms.

Posted by F. Kafka | February 26, 2008 10:28 PM

They both look terrible. Clinton is petty, Obama is just looking clueless tonight.

Say hello to President McCain.

Posted by CTDem | February 26, 2008 10:28 PM

Hmmm... In the pre-Super Tuesday debate I cheered. I thought, "Wow, whoever our nominee is our party will be well served."
At the end of this debate I'm thinking, "Don't I have some laundry to do?"

Posted by Steve K | February 26, 2008 10:36 PM

They both looked tired. I can't wait for this thing to be over.

Posted by Abby | February 26, 2008 10:41 PM

Marc, I think you've gone senile. Why don't you go back to moderating "The Table" where you don't have to have say a word and let the smart people do the talking?

HRC: "The American people who support me are bankrolling your campaign."

Really? 'Cause when I was watching, she said "The American people who support me are bankrolling MY campaign"

Posted by Mark | February 26, 2008 10:42 PM

I thought they both sounded superbly thoughtful and intelligent despite the travesty of the moderators. She is clearly as scary smart as they say about government and policies and what she wants to do. He is very thoughtful and articulate and understanding of difficult nuance. Nothing bad here. Just the final in a great series of debates.

Posted by Jammer | February 26, 2008 10:43 PM

I agree with CTDem. This February primary debate has absolutely sealed the deal for McCain. Why would anyone vote for either of these candidates in November, considering this lackluster debate performance? Might as well throw in the towel right now. I mean, 8 1/2 months is just not enough time to turn things around...

Posted by TIGHT | February 26, 2008 11:02 PM

On the "reject" vs "renounce" point I think Obama did make Hillary look a little tedious and petty.

That being said, the point is Obama clearly hesitated on that whole question and gave the impression he didn't really want to answer the question at all. As Hillary demonstrated, the only correct answer was "Yes, I reject his support."

On Medvedev at least Hillary was familiar with the name (even though she had trouble saying it), and was quite familiar with the situation. Obama just basicalled said "Yeah, what she said." I'll bet anything Obama never heard the name before.

On the debate in general the moderators were dreadful and were much, much, much tougher on Hillary. Obama only got a first, tough question once (on Fahrakhan). It was almost like watching the SNL skit.

Posted by Tim K | February 26, 2008 11:07 PM

My observations, of course, are purely objective. Even though I sound like a blithering idiot for the Clinton campaign!

Posted by Tim K | February 26, 2008 11:21 PM

Barack Obama clearly won the debate. He was Presidential - completely stayed above the fray even when he had the right to attack (Hillary's hyperbole, Hillary's hugely distorted mailers, etc.). He beat her on most foreign policy matters and it was roughly a draw on economic and other issues.

Posted by Clint | February 26, 2008 11:49 PM

First of all, it's Dmitry Medvedev, not MEDVEVEV or whatever nonsense you said and repeated in your incredibly objective, evenhanded, totally unbiased assessment of the debate (never mind the fact that you were the only person in Punditville that maintained the debate was close). Second, saying a world leader's name (or, in her case, butchering it) does not connote a good understanding of anything; it simply betrays mental acuity. Third, can you try being less biased? I mean, you're a middle-aged white male... Aren't you supposed to be for Obama?

Regardless, keep it objective and keep it correct. All of this pro-Clinton spin I keep on reading on this dismal, somewhat informal, and recently very kvetchy, very defensive blog of yours, Mr. Ambinder, is frankly giving me vertigo. I'm sure I'm not alone on this.

Posted by Pedro | February 27, 2008 12:43 AM

Barack Obama has had the kitchen sink thrown at him, throwing out his middle name in a negative way, accompanied by a picture of Obama dressed in Somali garb, at the same time being endorsed by Farrakhan -- it's called "Got-Cha" politics, which is the worst kind of politics which only tends to divide and incite fear, it's called divide and conquer.

However, Obama can be of use to America by addressing the need of some to sow divisions and exploit our differences, instead of building on that which unites us, and "The world can use him too, with his reach to the Muslim nations and his middle name making it impossible for the US to walk away from one of the biggest foreign policy blunders in history. A restructuring of this overall policy is due after the demolition of the World Trade Towers. Some people think it's cool to be cynical. They deride those who show overt respect, admiration, and optimism. Those who still believe they can make a difference. Those who know they have power. This campaign has proven that cruelty is no longer desired as political style in the United States. The people now have a choice. A choice between magnifying the negatives or using the positives. I will say this. Obama has the potential to be one of the greats, but only if the people participate in molding his leadership. That's the task at hand. He, himself, invites others to recognize his faults not letting them interfere with the work. You can see how the people's support has molded him already in his quick evolution from weak debating events to the beautiful, strong, elegant, debate he delivered last night.." From: Blogger, J.M., Raging Universe.

We cannot afford to continue to alienate our allies and friends in the Middle East by insinuating that to have the name Hussein means that you are evil or are to be feared. There are many good and decent people with the name Hussein in the Middle East, some of which have been our allies such as King Jordan Hussein. We cannot continue to incite hatred and hostility, with the result of no end of wars in sight. America the world is watching.

Hillary Clinton, a consummate actress, represents the old-time party politics, the politics of distort, smear, tear and division. She likes to Fight while Barack likes to Unite. Through this whole campaign, Camp Clinton has been Denounced for being Karl-Rove Republican like which she now tries to throw off on Camp Obama. We all know who has engaged in a destructive, divisive and negative campaign. After 20 debates, and over 4 years, Tim Russert finally got her to come close to apologizing about her 35-year experience Yes vote for the Iraq war. Mature individuals apologize and take responsibility for their mistakes. Mature individuals after losing a primary, apologizes to their winning opponent. America, it is about the Past (fighting, distortion and division) or the Future (uniting, goodwill and truth), that is our Choice!

Posted by Angellight | February 27, 2008 10:16 AM