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DEM DEBATE: Edwards, Not Obama, Hits Clinton Hardest, Smartest
thenation ^ | 10/31/2007 | John Nichols

Posted on 10/31/2007 6:38:19 AM PDT by milwguy

It was supposed to be the night Barack Obama took Hillary Clinton down.

But, when all was said and done, Obama was a bystander.

The opening question in Tuesday's Democratic presidential debate was a softball pitch from NBC's Brian Williams to the senator from Illinois. Noting Obama's interview in the Sunday New York Times, in which the senator from Illinois promised to get tough with Clinton for acting like a Republican, Williams asked him detail the votes and statements from Clinton to which he objected.

Obama should have been ready to knock that one out of the park. Instead, he swung and missed.

"Some of this stuff gets over-hyped," said Obama, who then tried to tell a boxing joke before rambling on about his support for "big meaningful change."

Finally, the Illinoisan suggested that Clinton had flip-flopped on trade, torture and Iraq -- moving in each case from bad positions to better ones -- while admitting that her evolutions might have been "politically savvy."

Asked for a rebuttal, the frontrunner seized the opening, noted the many attacks on her by GOP presidential candidates and then delivered a classic debate one-liner: "I don't think the Republicans got the message that I'm voting and sounding like them."

Touche!

Were it left to Obama, Clinton would not only have escaped the night unscathed, she might actually have come out ahead.

But this is a multi-candidate race. Where Obama was unfocused and ineffectual, John Edwards landed plenty of blows. The former senator from North Carolina began by suggesting that "it's fair" to talk about essential differences between the candidates. Then he highlighted a big one. "(Clinton) says she'll stand up to George Bush," argued Edwards. "In fact, she voted to give George W. Bush the first step to war on Iran..."

(Excerpt) Read more at thenation.com ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: clinton; democratdebate; edwards; hillary; obama
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To: milwguy

“I don’t think the Republicans got the message that I’m voting and sounding like them.”

well well... so she IS putting on a fake mask.


41 posted on 10/31/2007 8:20:33 AM PDT by Ancient Drive
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Obama will not “hit” Clinton hard at all. He wants to be her VP choice and can go only so far because of this restraint. He’s really a no-hope empty suiter who is a creation of the Chicago Machine, the MSM and the Hollywood Left, A Hollywood Left that, in the end, will come home to the Clintons. And his VP hopes are in vain: Clinton will feel she needs someone more “centrist” to balance her leftish views. Obama is the most extreme left-wing ideologue to run for President since Henry Wallace.
42 posted on 10/31/2007 8:20:55 AM PDT by Godwin1
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To: milwguy
The other day Matthews was composing a speech Obama should give to attack Hillary and gave it on TV.

Newsweek had a piece about the Clinton Library's secrecy and stonewalling of documents on the Clinton White House years and particularly anything involving Hillary...so Russert didn't have to do any homework, but at least the story didn't die totally ignored.

43 posted on 10/31/2007 8:23:28 AM PDT by Verginius Rufus
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To: Godwin1
Obama is the most extreme left-wing ideologue to run for President since Henry Wallace.

With the possible exception of Gus Hall.

44 posted on 10/31/2007 8:24:52 AM PDT by Verginius Rufus
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To: ought-six

N. They didn’t call her “The Beast,” but almost every answer was used as an opportunity to take a swips Hillary.

Not sure how much more you can ask for from Lizzie Edwards husband, or the clean and articulate one


45 posted on 10/31/2007 8:25:05 AM PDT by wilco200
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To: milwguy
Obama puts me in a coma. How in the world do people find him fascinating? Michael Reagan said this morning that he’s just trying out for 2012 or 2016.

From Rush: Obama: All Buzz, No Substance; Hillary Stuck at 46-49% in Polls
46 posted on 10/31/2007 8:25:59 AM PDT by Miss Didi ("Good heavens, woman, this is a war not a garden party!" Dr. Meade, Gone with the Wind)
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To: wilco200

the white house records will never be released by her because she is a criminal and will protect herself til the bitter end.


47 posted on 10/31/2007 8:26:09 AM PDT by television is just wrong (deport all illegal aliens NOW. Put all AMERICANS TO WORK FIRST. END Welfare)
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To: kabar

You must admit though, that if we have to have a democrat in the White House (And I pray that doesnt happen) I would prefer Hitlery over Obama & Edwards. They would turn this country upside-down & inside-out! Wait, so would she - never mind.


48 posted on 10/31/2007 8:26:42 AM PDT by wingsof liberty
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To: tioga

Obama scares me the most. I think he is the ultimate multi-culturalist. Clinton and Edwards will, if only for expedience, stay the course for awhile. He would be another Jimmy Carter.


49 posted on 10/31/2007 8:28:05 AM PDT by RobbyS ( CHIRHO)
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To: wingsof liberty

I would prefer Obama or Edwards over Hillary. She is far more cunning and devious and would do a better job of “selling” these changes to the public. Hillary is a socialist through and through.


50 posted on 10/31/2007 8:31:18 AM PDT by kabar
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To: milwguy

do the Democrats realize they are not running against Bush?


51 posted on 10/31/2007 8:33:48 AM PDT by Ancient Drive
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To: milwguy
Maybe Russert’s conscience is bothering him. By his own admission he watched the entire 4- 5 hours of tape, that Lisa Meyers and her crew shot when they interviewed Juanita Broaddrick. Russert was very upset by what he heard and no doubt is convinced that Bubba did indeed rape this women.

He also must have seen some of the documentation on the illegal Chinese money coming into Clinton WH. He knows about the dirty pardons, and the rest of the Clinton corruption. Russert is forced to suck up to these people, but he knows the Clinton’s are despicable human beings, really fetid.

Love to see him really go after her with the real damaging information. Read back Robert Ray’s words to her, that he was convinced she lied about her role in the travelgate firings, but did have enough hard evidence to prove it in a court of law. Tell her he looked at the Broaddrick interview, he found it disturbing - Does she believe her husband sexually assaulted Juanita Broaddrick. Ask her about her questionable negotiations with businesses that would have profited from her health care plan she oversaw. Read her what Brad Delong said about working with her on that project - she was a failure as a leader, proved to be so incompetent.. etc.. So much there Russert or anyone could throw in this bitch’s face...

He won’t do it, because his bosses would fire him. Maybe someone else will, but I’m not holding my breath. She will take no tough questions on her past scandals or her husband’s slimy past...

52 posted on 10/31/2007 8:48:10 AM PDT by Beatthedrum
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To: milwguy

Obama is still holding out for the VP slot.


53 posted on 10/31/2007 11:59:46 AM PDT by Sig Sauer P220
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To: milwguy
Even Prissy Mathews had fun at her expense after the debate when he was laughing about her illegal immigration drivers license answer. I think the guy is a shill for the Dems, but at least he was smart enough to recognize that if she comes out in favor of driver’s licenses for illegals, there is no way she can win a geneal election.

So he's being a little hard on her out of love? Just wants to toughen her up some? With the MSM so full of shills, you might just be right...

54 posted on 10/31/2007 12:10:45 PM PDT by GOPJ (When it makes you mad -- "ping & grrrr" -- Freeper:pandoraou812)
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To: wingsof liberty
No, it should be anyone but Hillary. Dems wouldn't even considered her if it wasn't for her husband. And the press? They want Bill Clinton so bad they can taste it... (no pun intended)
55 posted on 10/31/2007 12:13:20 PM PDT by GOPJ (When it makes you mad -- "ping & grrrr" -- Freeper:pandoraou812)
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