Obama won the debate.
Last night was billed as Senator Clinton's last shot and Barack Obama gave his best performance. He gave excellent answers on foreign policy, the economy, and health care. He was thoughtful and in command of the material. He managed to stay above the fray and was, at times, complimentary of his opponent. Senator Clinton did a good job, but Barack Obama was better.
Now, the Clinton campaign has a decision to make in the wake of this loss. I suspect they feel that the Saturday Night Live skit that Senator Clinton (awkwardly) referenced became a reality and she got much tougher questions. Should the Clinton campaign go after Tim Russert and NBC? First of all, Russert threw gotcha questions at both candidates. The fact is Obama neutralized them better than Senator Clinton. **The question about Louis Farrakhan was one gotcha question for Obama that could have turned the race, but most people don't remember it because Obama handled it so well. The second point to consider is the Clinton camp would lose valuable time they could be focused on Obama.
Obama also benefited from a technical error. Coming back from the first commercial break, Williams and Russert clearly intended to open with a question for Senator Obama. NBC played a clip of Senator Clinton in error. It was a break for Obama and he capitalized on it by showing how he can rise above the fray by complimenting Senator Clinton's sense of humor.
The Clinton campaign could also argue that the debate at times was between Russert and Clinton. The best example the Clinton campaign can site was when Russert said, "in my hometown of Buffalo, New York" in the context of an economic question. Buffalo is not in Ohio. New York already voted in the primary. How is that relevant to a debate? Well, it is relevant because the central theme of the Clinton campaign is that it is her experience in office that makes her more qualified to be president. It is the central thesis of her campaign. That question was an opportunity for Senator Clinton to tout her experience and she dropped the ball. I suspect it was that exchange which was most devastating for Senator Clinton here in economy focused Ohio.
There is still a week to go, but as an Obama supporter I feel good about the debate.
*This sentence was quoted on today's Morning Joe with Joe Scarborough
Now, the Clinton campaign has a decision to make in the wake of this loss. I suspect they feel that the Saturday Night Live skit that Senator Clinton (awkwardly) referenced became a reality and she got much tougher questions. Should the Clinton campaign go after Tim Russert and NBC? First of all, Russert threw gotcha questions at both candidates. The fact is Obama neutralized them better than Senator Clinton. **The question about Louis Farrakhan was one gotcha question for Obama that could have turned the race, but most people don't remember it because Obama handled it so well. The second point to consider is the Clinton camp would lose valuable time they could be focused on Obama.
Obama also benefited from a technical error. Coming back from the first commercial break, Williams and Russert clearly intended to open with a question for Senator Obama. NBC played a clip of Senator Clinton in error. It was a break for Obama and he capitalized on it by showing how he can rise above the fray by complimenting Senator Clinton's sense of humor.
The Clinton campaign could also argue that the debate at times was between Russert and Clinton. The best example the Clinton campaign can site was when Russert said, "in my hometown of Buffalo, New York" in the context of an economic question. Buffalo is not in Ohio. New York already voted in the primary. How is that relevant to a debate? Well, it is relevant because the central theme of the Clinton campaign is that it is her experience in office that makes her more qualified to be president. It is the central thesis of her campaign. That question was an opportunity for Senator Clinton to tout her experience and she dropped the ball. I suspect it was that exchange which was most devastating for Senator Clinton here in economy focused Ohio.
There is still a week to go, but as an Obama supporter I feel good about the debate.
*This sentence was quoted on today's Morning Joe with Joe Scarborough
By Kyle - 2/27/2008
25 Comments:
I forgot to mention that Obama gave excellent answers on the war in Iraq. I haven't been able to find much response out there from the Clinton campaign.
Justin......
KYLE & STAFF
YOU QUOTE AND NAME WERE JUST READ ON MSNBC "MORNING JOE"
THE TIME WAS 10:52AM EST
JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW!!!
The question about Louis Farrakhan was one gotcha question for Obama that could have turned the race, but most people don't remember it because Obama handled it so well.
I think he handled it poorly. My impression? He was totally afraid to initially "reject" the support from Farrakhan. Why? Because he wants the nation of Islam's vote. He tried to "denounce" Farrakhan's anti-semetic attitude, but at no time "denounced" OR "rejected" the support. That is, until Hillary called him on it.
Sometimes you have to say, "Thanks, but no thanks."
Other than that, all I heard was two people touting the same plans with a few different nuances.
I found it interesting that both Obama and Hillary would return to Iraq if a withdrawel resulted in Iraq turning into Al Quaeda Central.
Russ,
I disagree with you. He completely distanced himself from Farrakahn and his anti-semitism. He admitted the black community needs to rediscover the debt they owe to the many jews who helped the Civil Rights campaign.
The thing that befuddles me is how some on MSNBC last night claimed HRC showed her expertise in foreign affairs...huh? While I have been critical of Obama in the past, his answers were substantive. He answered the hypotheticals with a decisiveness that I was impressed by. He essentially said he would target Al Quada no matter what country they were in.
the farakhan question was designed by NBC to give him the opportunity to disavow farakhan. It seemed like a "gotcha" but it was really a chance for obama to look stronger. unlike the tax return question to hillary, where russert knew she would say no.
I Was Too Busy Running for President
by Fleaflicker
In last night's debate Hillary mentioned that Obama was Chair of the subcommittee that has oversight over NATO. And that while Chair of that Subcommittee Senator Obama held not a single substantial meeting. Not one. When confronted with this Obama's excuse was that he had only been Chair since 2007 and he has been busy running for President since then. Hmmm... we have soldiers dying in Afghanistan and Senator Obama is too busy running for President to hold a single meeting? Did I miss something? Surely I need a hearing aid. He didn't just state that the reason he hasn't held a single meeting of oversight was because he was too busy out raising money and running for President.
Say it ain't so O!
While searching through the web I have read some of Obama's supporters come to his defense with the typical bait and switch.
"Well Hillary hasn't done anything while she has been running for President." Oh really? What about The Dignified Treatment of Wounded Warriors Act?
Just what has Carl Levin said about Hillary's legislative accomplishments?
Noting Senator Clinton's leadership, Senator Carl Levin (D-MI), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today noted that Senator Clinton has introduced more legislation to address the problems facing wounded servicemembers than any other Senator.
And somehow Hillary managed to do this in 2007 when Obama was too busy running for President to spend any time holding oversight meetings of NATO while our young women and men were being killed in Afghanistan. Too busy!
From last night's debate:
SEN. OBAMA: Well, first of all, I became chairman of this committee at the beginning of this campaign, at the beginning of 2007. So it is true that we haven't had oversight hearings on Afghanistan. I have been very clear in talking to the American people about what I would do with respect to Afghanistan.
Yes, he has been very clear in TALKING with the American people. What he hasn't been so clear about is what he has done as a United States Senator that is a Chair of the Subcommittee that has actual oversight over the process. Lots of very clear talking. Action, not so much.
Illinois' disabled veterans are at "rock bottom" -- "dead last" -- in benefits and claims processing of applications for disability. But Illinois' veterans take a back seat because their junior senator is running for president. And that senator, Barack Obama, has missed an astonishing number of hearings and meetings of the Senate Veterans committee.
But Obama has skipped 19 of 37 VA committee meetings in the 109th congress. Obama's attendance record was the second worst of all Democrats on the committee. He attended just 18 of the committee's 37 meetings in Washington D.C.
But he really cares and has given lots of speeches to prove it. But that showing up for work thing, the thing he was hired to do (and is paid by the taxpayers to do) he isn't so good at.
On the campaign trail, Obama stresses the importance of providing "the best care" for veterans and their families: "Providing the best care for our service members, veterans and their families is one thing about this war we can still get right."
* But Sen. Obama has continually skipped hearings on the veterans budget. Chairman Craig opened a hearing Obama missed and said, "we will consider today ... legislation touching on veterans insurance, housing, burial, compensation, and employee benefits." Obama also missed all four committee hearings in a series that focused on the President's proposed 2007 budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Ranking Senator Akaka noted during the hearings that "we must learn a lesson from last year's budget crisis and do everything we can to ensure that veterans and their family members have access to health care and benefits they have earned." (From the GPO on 6/23/05, 2/28/06, 3/2/06, 3/7/06, March 9, 2006.)
Gosh, it seems that Senator Obama had a problem showing up for work in 2006 when he wasn't running for president too. What's up with that?
Obama stresses the importance of veterans health care: "Long as there are wounded service members receiving substandard medical care, we have failed in our duty to honor the commitment of the brave men and women who chose to serve. We must provide our returning heroes and their families with every resource they need to rebuild their lives," Obama said in a press release on April 10, 2007.
* But Obama skipped a hearing about expanding veterans' health services. Craig opened, "We also have legislation before us to specifically address the demand for long-term care. As the veteran population ages, the demand for long-term care has increased accordingly." Akaka added that the committee would consider legislation that would encourage "creative ways to help alleviate the burden on caregivers while expanding services to veterans." (From the GPO, May 11, 2006.)
* Obama also skipped a hearing to create insurance benefits for veterans in rehabilitation. Craig announced that the committee would "hear testimony about the traumatically injured protection under service members' group life insurance benefit." Akaka declared that "this insurance program helps ease the financial burden" on a hospitalized service member's family. (From the GPO on September 7, 2006.)
Now if you haven't lost your eyesight or maybe just need to clean your glasses take a look at the dates above. Seems Mr. Obama just has a problem with showing up for work. He enjoys the money I'm sure. And the exposure he gets while being able to tell people he is a United States Senator must be very rewarding to his ego. But actually doing work? Real Harvard men don't work. Don't believe me? Read on:
* But Obama skipped the hearing on improving veterans' health care access. "In many cases, VA's facilities are located where veterans used to live, not where they now live," noted Chairman Craig. The legislation under consideration was "designed in part to address the changes in the demographics of our veterans' population and follows America's medicine's transformation from hospital-centric to patient-centric delivery of care." (From the GPO on April 6, 2006.)
* Sen. Obama also missed an "exceedingly important" nomination hearing for the VA's Undersecretary for Health. "Dr. Perlin [has been nominated] to serve as VA's Under Secretary for Health," announced Chairman Craig. "This is an exceedingly important position. The Under Secretary, in effect, serves as CEO of the VA's entire health care system, the largest integrated health care system in the United States. Dr. Perlin, this is a big, big, big job." (From the GPO on April 7, 2005.)
Or how about this:
* Sen. Obama missed the vote to eliminate requirement that severance pay be deducted from disability compensation: Obama did not vote for the Levin, D-Mich., amendment No. 2019 to the Levin substitute amendment No. 2011.
(The Levin amendment would establish a Defense Department and Veterans Affairs Interagency Program Office to implement a joint electronic health record system and eliminate the current requirement that severance pay be deducted from disability compensation for disabilities incurred in a combat zone. It would authorize $50 million for the treatment and rehabilitation of service members with traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder and create common disability ratings to determine those eligible for care. The substitute would authorize $648.3
billion for defense programs in fiscal 2008, including $127.5 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It also would authorize $143.5 billion for operations and maintenance; $109.9 billion for procurement; $122.9 billion for military personnel and $74.7 billion for research development, testing and evaluation.
(The Senate vote results: #246, Amdt. 2019 to HR 1585, Passed 94-0: R 48-0; D 44-0 (ND 39-0, SD 5-0); I 2-0;
7/12/07; HRC voted yea while Obama did not vote.)
* Obama missed a vote to provide $109.3 billion in fiscal 2008 for the Department of Veterans Affairs: Obama did not vote for passage of the bill that would provide $109.3 billion in fiscal 2008 for the Department of Veterans Affairs, military construction and military housing. The bill would provide $87.5 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs, including $37.2 billion for veterans health programs. It would provide $41.2 billion in mandatory spending for veterans' service-connected compensation benefits and pensions. The bill would provide $9.8 billion for military construction, $2.9 billion for military family housing and $8.5 billion for the latest round of base
closures. As amended, the bill would provide $100 million in emergency funding for the Homeland Security Department to reimburse state and local law enforcement entities for security and related costs associated with the 2008 presidential candidate nominating conventions. (From Vote 316, HR 2642 (Fiscal 2008 Military Construction-VA Appropriations), Passed 92-1: R 47-1; D 43-0 (ND 39-0, SD 4-0); I 2-0, 9/6/07; HRC voted yea while Obama did not vote.
Sure seems to me as if Senator Obama has a problem showing up for work. He has a real problem. If it were you or I we would have been sacked. But Mr. Obama isn't like you or me. He feels that he is entitled. He feels that he doesn't have to show up for work because, well, he is Barack Obama and he gives a good speech. He has no problem telling people how much he cares about them but when it comes to actually doing something about it he is nowhere to be seen. Or better put, he is out raising money and campaigning for a higher office. And this guy has the audacity to believe that he is qualified to do the job even though he isn't doing the job he was already hired to do. You and I would expect to lose our jobs if we didn't show up and do them. Obama believes he deserves a promotion. Those are some pretty big brass ones. Audacity indeed.
And what about the Walter Reed scandal? Where was Obama then? He sits on the Veterans Affairs Committee but for some reason was totally unaware what was going on. Even though the media apparently wasn't. Of course someone in the media probably showed up for work. The Washington Times was not amused.
The senators' call for simplifying paperwork, hiring more caseworkers and improving their training, requiring more oversight from inspectors general, improved reporting to Congress, establishing facility-repair timelines and increasing psychological counseling. It pains us to cry cynical politics because these measures would be worthy and welcome, but they are too small-bore and reactive to make a significant difference. This is classic scandal legislation which makes the sponsor look good but does little to solve the issue."
Get that? It makes the sponsor look good but does little to solve the issue. Sound familiar?
And just what happened to this proposed band aid fix that Obama touted last night that he passed and everyone should be so proud of him for? Just so happens that the proposal was referred to the Armed Services Committee where it was crafted into better more substantial legislation. You know the stuff, doesn't make anyone look particularly good because that isn't the purpose of it but it actually helps the people it is intended to help, and that substantially.
And who was it on the Armed Services Committee that actually provided substance to the much need legislation? That would be Hillary Clinton. Remember her? She is the one that actually does work. When it came time to pass the Wounded Warrior Act where was Senator Obama? He sure wasn't in the Senate doing his job. He didn't vote for the legislation he takes credit for passing. Nope, Barack was out of town telling folks how great he is and how much he cares about them. I am sure he didn't mention that while he was telling them how great he is and asking for their money he was missing voting on extremely important legislation that he would eventually take credit for. No, they probably wouldn't have liked that. And they probably wouldn't have given him any money. Or any votes. So the subject never came up.
Barack Obama has made a decision that it is more important for him to be out raising money and telling people how great he is rather than stay in Washington and do the job he is being paid by the American people to do. The Sub-Committee he Chairs is responsible for U.S. involvement with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), relations with the European Union (EU), and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Matters relating to Greenland and the northern polar region are also the responsibility of this subcommittee. The Sub-Committee is also responsible for all matters within the region under its jurisdiction with respect to terrorism and non-proliferation, crime and illicit narcotics, U.S. foreign assistance programs, and the promotion of U.S. trade and exports.
Sounds like pretty important stuff to me. But apparently not to Barack Obama.
Now, I always reserve the right for the president -- as commander in chief, I will always reserve the right to make sure that we are looking out for American interests.
So he reserves the right as Commander in Chief but not as the Chair of the Subcommittee responsible for oversight? How can we trust this guy to do something as Commander in Chief when he has not demonstrated a single instance of oversight when it HAS been his responsibility?
Senator Obama has made it the central issue of his campaign that the problem is politics as usual in Washington. But the problem isn't politics as usual, the problem is that the people that are hired by the American electorate are not doing the job they were hired to do. But then again, maybe that is the politics as usual that Obama is talking about. And he is right.
I leave you with a video from someone that is actually qualified to be our Commander in Chief because this person doesn't just tell people that she cares, she takes action and accomplishes it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsIV5keA3yk
I am no fan of Hillary but fleaflicker makes some great points. However I am sure the issue in your post that relate to Obama will be dismissed.
flea-flicker don't waste your time trying to reason with the obama-bots, they are all too high from the "hope-dope" to have a brain
Fleaflicker: I think I am in love~!
Oh wow, after every Obama-bot on this site proclaiming him the victor, none of Barack Hussein Obama lovers on this site are making any attempt to refute flea.
Hmmm
I had heard this, and found the quote. So I thought I'd share. This is from November, 2004:
Calling it as "a silly question," Sen.-elect Barack Obama (D-IL) pledged "he would resist any overtures to run for president or vice president before the end of his six-year term as a U.S. senator," the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Said Obama: "I was elected yesterday. I have never set foot in the U.S. Senate. I've never worked in Washington. And the notion that somehow I'm immediately going to start running for higher office just doesn't make sense."
Yeah. So Obama has had to campaign hard to get name recognition. His last name isn't Clinton, he didn't move to a powerful democratic state so he could fill a senate seat. He doesn't have an ex-president spouse on the campaign trail for him.
He sees himself as a man of better judgement than HC. He sees himself as more of a uniter than his divisive opponent. He sees himself as more likely to beat McCain.
So sure, he missed some votes in an attempt to keep her from getting the nomination. And that is exactly what is going to happen.
Now as for the severity of your charges, why isn't Hillary hitting him harder with this stuff on the campaign trail? Could it be that she too misses votes? Could it be that the passage or defeat of these votes didn't depend on Obama being present on the floor?
I have no idea why we aren't hearing this out of Hillary on the campaign trail, but until I do, and until I get a chance to hear Obama's response, I won't judge him on any of this.
Russ, don't you think that was a silly question to ask just one day after he had been elected to the Senate?
Maybe Fleaflicker can share some of Hillary's positive traits. Like Hillary's mailings, all fleaflicker does is bash Obama. That doesn't tell me why I should vote for her. If she deserves to win, she should present that information. But instead, it's negativity as usual.
Statue of Liberty,
Flea's post is great, it's cited and informative. But it is a well researched article he wrote for his blogsite, not a comment that has anything to do with the post here on TheChiefSource. It would be kinda like me busting in on this thread citing ass-loads of trade and economic statistics that support my very liberal stance on free-trade. No one here would be prepared to answer to the charges without spending significant time researching my sources, as well as counter-arguments. We aren't paid journalists, nor or we paid campaign workers. This is a classic thread hijack.
None of the staff of TCS could answer to these charges anyway, not without having an excellent behind-the-scenes understanding of the goings-on on the senate floor, as well as an understanding of the NATO oversight commitee. Nor can any of us get into Obama's head to know what he was thinking. There is only one person who can answer to these charges.
I find it quite humorous how people such as the poster "Statue of liberty" are now using the "Husein" part of Barack Obamas name, and it's quite clear and obvious what they're doing.
They're trying to paint him out to be Islamic, which he is not, he's Christian. People are trying to play off the ignorance of so many Americans, and I find it disgusting and racist. Thats the best you can do? You can stop his momentum, so all you can throw around is his middle name (a name which he was given, he didnt chose it) and imply he's a muslim who hates all jews and hates Israel?
It's quite pathetic, and Hardball just had a full length conversation about it and Conservatives seem to think it's ok. Props to McCain for not capitalizing on the remarks of Bill Cunningham and saying he doesnt agree with the tactics.
As far as the Farakhan question, the question was pure bull shit. What did it have to do with the campaign? What issues did it touch on? None, and Russert made himself look bad in my eyes for asking the question. What did he expect Obama to say? You cant tell some one not to like you. Obama denounced his support, and Hillary being the piece of shit that she is insisted he answer the question because lets face it, Farrakhan has huge support in the black community.
So in closing, "Statue of Liberty", think about what you're saying, and why you're saying it, because you're painting yourself out o look like a racist jackass.
Those of us at The Chief Source who support Barack Obama are flattered that MyDD bloggers are taking the time to cut and paste their articles into our comments. It is an indication that the eyes of the nation are on Ohio and consequently our blogs. I truly appreciate the comments because, despite Annie's great work, we don't have too many Hillary supporters in the Ohio blogosphere.
It is funny being called Obama-bots. You are about three months late on the robot reference.
oh right I am a racist because I called someone by their name? whatever Obama-bot. Just because I don't support your lover Barack Hussein Obama, doesn't make me a racist, nor does calling someone by their name.
keep smoking your hope dope
fuck you statue of liberty
This is something Ohio constituents need to know about before they vote on March 4th!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LtbLEKHsi0
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080227/dems_nafta_080227/20080227?hub=TopStories
Fleaflicker,
Thanks for the comment or thesis or whatever. For those who only skimmed it, I can sum it up in three words:
Obama missed votes.
This criticism is fair (Well, it's fair if we are applying it to all the candidates at the height of their own heated campaigns).
Since it is such a reoccurring theme I will be putting up a post on it where we can give it the examination it needs.
See you there?
OH BIG SHOCK WHERE ALL THE OBAMA-BOTS DEFEND THEIR LOVER BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA!!!!
Statue of Liberty,
I did. I just responded to fleaflicker yesterday with a full post on his issue of attendance/participation in Washington during campaign season.
I know I was being sarcastic-by the way I will kick the lincoln memorials ass
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