Democratic Presidential Candidates Debate in South Carolina Aired January 21, 2008

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to the Palace Theatre here in Myrtle Beach. We're here in South Carolina five days before the first Democratic primary in the South. And it's no coincidence that we're holding this debate on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, along with our partners, the Congressional Black Caucus Institute.

This state will provide the first significant test of support within the African-American community in a historic Democratic contest that has confronted issues of race and transcended them.

As you can see, the candidates are not yet on the stage. The traveling press pool, though, is here waiting their arrival and what will be a big photo opportunity.

From the transcript (it appears Clinton’s position has changed again):

BLITZER: Senator Clinton, do you want to respond to Senator Edwards asking you whether you’re ready to commit to all combat troops being out of Iraq within a year?

CLINTON: What I have said is that I will move as quickly as possible. I hope to have nearly all out within a year.

We don’t know what we’re going to inherent from President Bush, but there is a big problem looming on the horizon that we had better pay attention to, and that is President Bush is intent upon negotiating a long-term agreement with Iraq which would have permanent bases, permanent troop presence. And he claims he does not need to come to the United States Congress to get permission, he only needs to go to the Iraqi parliament.

That is his stated public position. He was recently in the region, and it is clear that he intends to push forward on this to try to bind the United States government and his successor to his failed policy.

I have been strongly opposed to that. We should not be planning permanent bases and long-term troop commitments.

Obviously, we’ve got to rein in...

(APPLAUSE)

... President Bush. And I’ve proposed legislation and I know that members of the Congressional Black Caucus are looking at this, as well. We need legislation in a hurry which says, “No, Mr. Bush, you are the president of the United States of America. You cannot bind our country without coming to the United States Congress.” This is a treaty...

(APPLAUSE)

... that would have to be presented and approved, and it will not be.

I watched some of the debate and the resulting commentary by Wolfie and Larry King.

It really was funny when Larry Elder told Larry King that the Democrats were not taking conservative candidates seriously and was making a big mistake constantly accusing Republicans of being racists.

Larry King came unglued as Elder talked and kept butting in confirming that the Republicans were racists.

All three black panelist agreed with Elders statement so Larry suddenly switched subjects.

Everyone of the panelists on CNN somewhat agreed that no real substance came out of the debates.

One commentator stated that it was a shame that little time was spent on the economy by any of the candidates.

I'm telling you that after listening to Clinton, Obama and Edwards spin for an hour makes our republican candidates look like conservative hawks.

That must have been pretty funny, I’m almost sorry I missed it. Larry King is like an older, lamer (if possible) suspender wearing version of Dennis Kucinich.

Every time I happen to catch King’s schtick, I think how do they pay this guy to ask these stupid questions.

Seriously, one good thing out of all this is that maybe, just maybe, African Americans will see through the hypocrisy and total pandering of the Dems and the Clintons. It’s disgusting.

The prospects of 4 to 8 years of Hillary reminds me of that old Creedence Clearwater song Bad Moon A Rising.

I would have laughed at Larry King but was at first stunned that a national commentator would actually defend the Democrats so strongly and openly.

Lets see the PMSNBC is the Osama Obama Network and CNN is truly the PCNN Propaganda Clinton News Network.

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