Live Blogging: McCain vs. Obama Round 2
Live blogging of the second Presidential debate from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain.
(Refresh Often for Updates)
10:35pm - Quick Recap: It was a good debate. It wasn’t that exciting but there were good points made by both candidates. I believe McCain was better than he was in the first debate. Obama, to me, seemed about the same and reiterated most of the same talking points from the first debate. McCain did a much better job of answering the questions posed. Obama did a better job in dominating the time of possession. If you watched or listened to the debate then you will very likely know who won or lost it in your opinion. I believe one network will say candidate X won and another will say candidate Y won. I would say McCain did better with the economy tonight and might have won it on his closing remarks regarding just that. There were no knockout punches.
10:30pm - What don’t you know and how will you learn it? Obama says his wife can give a much longer list (few laughs). He says its the challenges you don’t expect. He totally dodges the question and goes into a stump speech about, you guessed it, CHANGE, fundamental change!! McCain says he doesn’t know what is going to happen here and abroad about the economy. McCain says he doesn’t know what the unexpected will be but he is prepared for it. Strong finish by McCain trying to make the claim that he understands what most Americans are going through. He says he wants the honor to be President and that he will always put his country first.
And that concludes this second Presidential debate of 2008.
10:26pm - Terry asks, as a retired Navy officer, if Iran attacks Israel would you pledge troops to defend Israel or would you attack without UN approval? McCain says he would not wait for the UN Security Council. He says that Russia and China would be huge hurdles with the Security Council. I have to say the UN does remind me a lot of the IRS. Obama pledges as McCain that Iran can’t get a nuclear weapon. Barack is not saying it directly but it seems he believes in going through the UN Security Council.
10:21pm - How do you monitor Russia without starting another cold war? McCain doesn’t believe there would be another cold war. Believes in showing moral support for Georgia and Ukraine and help them get into NATO (I once learned about NATO in 3rd grade, free info). McCain is very jagged in his answer and says Russia is a challenge. Obama says that the resurgence of Russia is a central issue for the next President and that he agrees mostly with McCain. In a mind blowing statement he says we have to help finance in rebuilding Georgia’s economy. Don’t we need to get our own economy going first?
10:19pm - Sorry too much tea! Missed that last question about Afghanistan. One too many Middle East questions in my opinion.
10:09pm - Katie asks about respecting Pakistan sovereignty in tracking al Quada into Pakistan? Obama believes we have to change our policies with Pakistan. He says he will encourage democracy there and insist upon them going after this militants. He then basically says if bin Laden is there that he won’t respect that sovereignty. McCain says Barack talks loudly (carries small stick). JM believes in getting the support of the peole in Pakistan to turn around the Taliban not by attacking them but by working with them. There should never be follow-up questions. Its just more of the original answer. Although BO might have scored a couple of points in his follow-up here. McCain kind of made BO look like a kid in his rebuttal as all. The best follow-ups of the night. I knew I could jinx them into saying something worthwhile.
10:05pm - Brokaw asks for an explanation of the Obama Doctrine and McCain Doctrine in using force? Obama believes in working on concert with allies. McCain goes back to Iraq and calling Obama on the carpet about not supporting the surge that worked. McCain believes we have to do what we can to help others but only to the beneficial of our abilities. McCain is now scoring points as his experience is shining through about the “precious asset” that is American blood into dangerous situations.
9:59pm - Phil Elliot asks the boys how the economic stress will affect U.S. ability to be peace maker in the world? McCain is patriotic in his answer but I am not sure what is answer to the exact question is. Barack responds by bringing up Iraq again and not understanding why we attacked a country that didn’t attack us (Iraq). He says it was the wrong judgment. Obama believes Iraq has put an enormous strain on our troops and budget. Obama is doing a really good job answering this question and likely scoring points with voters.
9:50pm - Lindsay asks about the selling of health care as a commodity? Obama pledges to work with employer to lower costs of premium up to $2,500 a year. He pledges that if you don’t have insurance he will make it available for those to get the same insurance that he and McCain get as federal employers. McCain is standing up as BO speaks. Maybe he will stiff up if he sits too long. Maybe he wants to stay on the ball. McCain makes the claim that Obama will fine you if you don’t have insurance or your employer will be fined if he doesn’t provide it. He also believes you should be able to travel across state lines for health care. McCain believes health care in America is a responsibility. Obama thinks it should be a right to have health care insurance. Barack can’t see those lights that tell him to stop. He is controlling the stage as far as time goes.
9:47pm - Should we fund a Manhattan project to fund new energy? McCain says the government should help in early stages then turn it over to the private sector once it goes into the production stages.
9:43pm - Ingrid Jackson asks the two men what they would do to make sure Congress acts fast on economic crisis and green jobs. McCain goes first states that he disagreed with Bush firmly on the environment. McCain says nuclear power must be pretty safe because it powered the navy ships he was on. His 96-year-old mom must have drank it as well. Obama says that he is in favor of nuclear power as well. He believes that new energy can create millions of jobs to help fuel the American economy much like the computer did the past two decades.
9:39pm - Obama avoids pledge to fix social security in two years, but says he would like to in his first term. He goes back to taxes and tries to explain his position and pledge to give 95% of Americans a tax cut. Obama is scoring some points with several body shots in a row about average CEO getting a $700k tax cut under McCain’s plan. McCain says he will answer the question and that he will fix social security. He says medicare will be tougher to figure out. He wants Congress to get out of it, too many special interests there, etc.
9:36pm - McCain hits Obama on taxes and how it will kill the already dead horse economy. He makes it clear that he plans to add major double tax exemptions for children, etc.
9:34pm - Still a rather lame debate so far. Hopefully there will be some cussing and punching at some point.
9:29pm - What sacrifice would you ask of Americans to restore the American dream? McCain says he would ask Americans to eliminate some programs. Kind of the same answer Barack gave to the last question. He then singles out defense spending. He reiterates that he is in favor of a spending freeze across the board. Senator Obama brings up 9/11 and the sacrifices we made then. He is kind of stumbling around. He finally fingers energy but mentions increased oil production not any sacrifice. He kinda of sums it up in Americans serving in different services.
9:23pm - McCain believes that alternative energy, health care, and social security can all be worked on at the same time. Obama responds that we have to prioritize and puts energy at #1. He is really stealing this issue from McCain and Johnny is letting him. Health care is his #2. He then puts education at #3. No mention of social security. BO steals more of McCain’s thunder claiming he wants to look at the budget and eliminate programs one by one that aren’t working.
9:19pm - Teresa asks how we can trust either “of you with our money?” Barack continues to hit away at George W. but is not really laying out any plans. Barack is sounding more and more like McCain the past two weeks. He is even using some of lines about ceasing sending funds to the Middle East. McCain tells Teresa to look at their records and tells her that he is the biggest fighter against earmarks and spending. Overall this debate is pretty lame so far. I think its better when the candidates are having to stare each other down.
9:17pm - Obama says the economy is not going to get worse before it gets better. He says we need regulations, regulations and more regulations. He wants, as McCain, to help Americans stay in their homes. McCain says he is not sure the economy will get better before it gets worse. He thinks it depends on what we do.
9:12pm - Obama’s turn to explain the rescue package to Oliver. Great question from Oliver by the way. Neither candidate has done a good job of explaining what the plan actually does. Obama is claiming that he was warning everyone two years ago as well and painting John as “John the Maniac Deregulator.” He is prepared for this attack from McCain and attacks him right back. It is going to be fun tonight.
9:10pm - Oliver asks what in the bailout package will help Americans out? McCain goes first and makes the point that he suspended his campaign (good point?). He then goes straight to Fannie Mae and ties Barack to them. McCain makes sure to point out that he stood up two years ago to change Freddie/Fannie. He states that Obama got the second most money in “history” from Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac.
9:06pm - McCain responds that Americans are angry, upset and fearful and that he has a plan to fix this problem with energy independence. Plans to keep taxes low for all. He wants to do something about prices of homes. He wants to help people make their payments and stay in their homes. My dad has been preaching a version of this instead of the Wall Street bailout. Pledges that he knows how to get the economy working again. Barack responds then McCain does again with his crush on Meg Whitman of eBay for Treasury Secretary. Barack recommends Warren Buffet, who is one of his supporters. Obama pledges tax cuts for 95% of Americans again (only about 65% even pay taxes).
9:04pm - Barack won the coin toss and gets to go first. I missed the question but it is about the economy. BO blames it on the Bush admin and tags McCain to that as well. Step 1: Rescue package, Step 2: Rescue package for middle class to stay in their homes. Fix health care system, etc.
9:03pm - Are both candidates lefties? Lot of white baldies in the audience…could be bad news for Obama.
9:00pm EST - Looks like we are ready to begin. Welcome to all of those tuning in here tonight. Moderator Tom Brokaw announces that tonight is in fact a town hall debate. Two minutes to respond with one minute follow-ups.
Sphere: Related ContentMitt Romney “Not It”- Might a Woman be McCain’s Mate?
Mitt Romney, Vice Presidential hopeful to most, was reported by Fox News first thing this morning to not be the one who will run with McCain. Apparently he is still in his home state. Two women’s names were discussed somewhat out of the blue-Sarah Palin (Governor of Alaska- a private plane picked her and teenaged sons in Alaska?) and Meg Whitman (of Ebay and one of his three named people at the Saddleback forum that he said he would go to). Now THAT would be hip of the elderly MCcain, having a woman running mate. I would be very surprised. But either way, we should know by the end of the day.
Sphere: Related ContentObama and Clinton to Debate Again
According to ABC News, Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama will debate at least one more time, possibly twice. This will be a chance for them to take off the gloves (seeing as how the campaigns in the last few days have changed with Ferraro and Wright), if they don’t back down yet again.
Sphere: Related ContentTaking the stage for the 21st and possibly 22nd time, Sens. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and Barack Obama, D-Ill., could debate at least twice more before the critical Pennsylvania primary on Tuesday, April 22.
Both candidates have accepted an ABC News debate in Philadelphia and Obama has accepted a similar invitation from CBS News to debate at a location to be determined in North Carolina.
The CBS News debate would be their first debate of the 2008 campaign season.
ABC News hosted two debates in January — only two days after the Iowa caucuses and three days before the first-in-the-nation New Hampshire primary.
In partnership with Facebook and New Hampshire affiliate WMUR, ABC News anchor Charlie Gibson moderated back-to-back Republican and Democratic debates, at that time featuring six GOP contenders and four Dems including Obama, Clinton, former senator John Edwards, D-N.C., and Governor Bill Richardson, D-N.M.
MSNBC Democratic Debate- Clinton Vs. Obama
10:35 PM- Debate Ends- There wasn’t a clear winner, and Clinton seemed almost resigned to the fact that she is not going to be the nominee. Obama apparently only has one speech, and he keeps repeating it. Nothing to exciting, unfortunately no fireworks. Clinton did keep mentioning that she is a fighter, as Obama keep referencing himself as a uniter. Most expected Clinton to rip into Obama, which did not happen. Once again both candidates played nice, and in this situation, benefited Obama and may have put the final nail in Clinton’s coffin.
10:33 PM- Clinton says that it has been an honor to Campaign, and that it has been thrilling to be a female candidate seeking the President (because that hasn’t been done before?), She feels her experience gives her the insight to lead the Country. Clinton says she wants to help people get the chances they deserve to have.
10:30 PM- Closing Statements, Obama states that Clinton would be deserving of the nomination, and that she would be a better President than John McCain would be. Obama says that he thinks that he would be a better nominee (again).
10:28 PM- Asked question - Is there any vote that you would like to take back? Clinton states that she would take back her vote for the war. She says though there are many things that if we knew then, what we know now, then there are votes and things that she would like to change. Obama says that he would change how he voted and feels he was wrong in the Terri Schiavo Case, and that the government that should not have stuck its nose in the case.
10:22 PM- Candidates asked about Russian President Putin successor, and both Clinton and Obama feel that the successor will only be a figure head and that Putin will still be making the decisions, and that we have to be weary of Russia.
10:19 PM- Obama asked a question about how liberal his voting record is supposedly. Obama states that the way that they determine how liberal someone is, is silly. That it really doesn’t show that he is overly liberal. Obama also says that he is garnering more Republican and Independent support than anyone else (assuming that he is talking about the democratic party).
10:14 PM- Clinton states that she rejects support from anyone that says anything anti-semitic, or anti-Israel and that would not be something she would tolerate.
10:10 PM- Obama asked about Louis Farrakhan endorsing him, that he feels Farrakhan is reprehensible in his words, but that he can’t tell someone to not support him. Then asked about his preacher Jeremiah saying that Farrakhan is a great person. Obama states that he is a friend to the Jewish community.
10:08 PM- Russert asks Clinton about showing her tax records, and ask why she hasn’t? Clinton states that she will but she is kind of busy at the moment. Clinton is asked about records about her service as first lady, and she says she hopes they are made available quickly.
10:04 PM- Russert asks Obama why won’t he keep his word on public campaign finance, Obama agreed to it a year ago. Obama states that he isn’t the nominee yet and that he would try to work on a mutual agreement with McCain if he was a nominee. Russert then says “So you wouldn’t keep your word?”, Obama pretty much declined to answer.
10:00 PM- Obama is now asked about statements that he said about her taking credit for her years as first lady as political experience. States that she has to take credit for all or none of her husbands presidency, that she shouldn’t pick and choose what she did or did not do while her husband was in office. Obama continues to say that there has to be a crackdown on special interest groups.
9:56 PM- Clinton responds to the last question, and says that she was trying to have fun, but she was trying to illustrate that it isn’t going to be easy getting people to agree on things like health care and jobs, that she is a fighter, and she will fight for those things. Clinton states “Special Interests are not going to give up without a fight” and that she realizes this, and is ready for them.
9:52 PM- Clinton was meant to be able to respond to Obama’s last statement, but they come back and ask Obama a question about Clinton mocking him. He states that he gives her good points for her humor. Then talks about how he is proud of his track record on getting people health care, and tightening down on lobbyists.
9:49 PM- Obama would like to put more troops in Afghanistan, Obama says that he will reserve the right as the President to look out for the best interest for America, so if Al Qaida built a base in Iraq after our troops pulled out, he would do something about that and possibly send troops.
9:43 PM- Both candidates for phased withdrawal from Iraq
9:36 PM- Russert asks Clinton if she will actually answer the question if she thinks Obama is qualified to become President. She doesn’t seem to be answering the question, and just pointing out differences of view with Obama, how since the war has been going on they have voted the same in the Senate and talking about her accomplishments. Obama rebuttals that he was very vocal about being against the war, and that “once the bus was in the ditch” there are only so many options on the table. Obama stated that the war was a big political blunder.
9:35 PM- Brian Williams asks Obama how he would fair in the general election, running up against someone with a huge amount of foreign policy experience. Obama said that he would exploit the failures of going to war and how he was vocal against it.
9:20 PM- Tim Russert proposes a question about NAFTA. Clinton says that she is against it somewhat, and didn’t have stand on it when her husband was in office. Russert becomes argumentative about her stands, saying that she touted NAFTA as an accomplishment for her husband while in office, and her support of it when running for Senate. Obama states that he has always been against NAFTA and his record shows that point. Clinton then says that she wouldn’t necessarily end NAFTA, but would opt out of it if it didn’t get restructured.
9:18 PM- Clinton and Obama opened up the debate by arguing about their health care plans. Obama stated that his and Clinton’s plan are 95% similar. Clinton accuses Obama of attacks, Obama accuses Clinton of attacks. Once again, no detail really goes into how the “universal” health care plans would except that Clinton’s would be mandated and Obama’s would not.
Sphere: Related ContentHillary Clinton Scolds Barack Obama
Hillary Clinton has been venting at Barack Obama over some advertisements that people in Ohio received in the mail. The advertisements in question attack Clinton’s stand on NAFTA and her health care plan. Hillary Clinton, vocally scolded Barack Obama, saying “Shame on you, Barack Obama”, and that the charges in the mailers are completely false and challenged Obama to a debate in Ohio to talk about his continued dirty tactics.
CINCINNATI (CNN) – Sen. Hillary Clinton, needing wins in delegate-rich Texas and Ohio to overtake Sen. Barack Obama in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, ramped up her criticism of Obama Saturday, accusing his team of negative campaign tactics “straight out of Karl Rove’s playbook.”
Clinton addressed two mailings the Obama campaign distributed in Ohio — one that lambasts her position on the North American Free Trade Agreement, which her husband, former President Bill Clinton, signed into law, and another that criticizes her proposed health-care plan.
“I have to express my deep disappointment — he is continuing to send false and discredited mailings with information that is not true to the voters of Ohio,” she said, shaking the mailings to punctuate her remarks.
The NAFTA mailer accuses Clinton of switching her position on the trade agreement, saying the senator from New York was a “champion” for NAFTA while first lady, but now opposes it.
The mailer on health care was “reminiscent of the health insurance industry’s attack on what we tried to do the last time we went after universal health care,” Clinton said. It says her proposal would force everyone to buy health insurance, whether they could afford it or not, a charge Clinton vehemently denied.
“Sen. Obama knows it is not true that my plan forces people to buy insurance even if they can’t afford it,” she said.
The mailers are “blatantly false and yet he continues to spend millions of dollars perpetuating falsehoods. That is not the new politics that the speeches are about,” she said. “It is not hopeful; it is destructive.”
She added, “Shame on you, Barack Obama — it is time that you ran a campaign consistent with your messages in public. That is what I expect from you. Meet me in Ohio and let’s have a debate about your tactics and your behavior in this campaign.”
Obama spokesman Bill Burton denied Clinton’s assertions that the mailers were false.
Photo Source: CNN
Sphere: Related ContentClinton Accuses Obama Of Plagiarism and Then Plagiarizes
Hillary Clinton gets on Obamas case for plagiarizing, here is the famous change you can xerox line
Live Blogging The Democratic Presidential Debate In Texas
9: 44 PM: End Of Debate.
Clinton says that she has been through Crisis’s in her life and that the American people know that, but her problems aren’t nearly what millions of Americans face everyday, that the hits she takes aren’t nearly as bad as millions of other hits that people receive everyday. Whatever happens to her or Obama, they are going to be fine, and that she hopes that after the election is over, the same can be said for Americans and that is what this election is all about.
Obama says that the cumulative experience gives him good judgment now.
9:38 PM: Last Question, What was the single greatest moment of struggle in their life? Obama goes first
Obama states that people feel that the arguments in Washington have nothing to do with them, and that American people are feed up with the way Politics has been done.
Clinton says she isn’t worried about it.
9:36 PM: Question about Superdelegates.
Clinton responds by talking about Bush and his supposed fiscal irresponsibility. Look for where the money has gone with President Bush. She can get America back on track of fiscal responsibility.
Obama says he showed all earmarks, and that he wants people to be able to see where earmarks go, and he is working to do that through a website.
9:30 PM: Obama asked question about his potential scandal over earmarks and how he had $91 million dollars in earmarks after opposing them.
Obama responds that the surge is a strategic victory over a beginning blunder. that in being in the war in Iraq, we ignore most of the world, by using our money in Iraq, and that we haven’t paid enough attention to Veterans and that is because we are spending $12 billion dollars a month in Iraq. Then Obama takes stabs at John McCain.
Clinton states that the purpose of the surge has not been fulfilled, because the Iraqi Government isn’t moving as fast as it should, and that upon her presidency that she would develop a plan to start moving troops home 60 days after being elected. That it is up to the Iraqi’s to decide the future they will have.
9:21 PM: Question about the Surge in Iraq. Is Iraq today better than it was 6 months ago? Clinton answers first.
9:19 PM: Obama replies by saying that he wouldn’t be running for President if he didn’t think he was ready. Talks about keeping America safe is #1 priority for him if elected as President, and bashes Clinton for voting for the war and how that it shows bad judgment on Clinton’s part.
9:16 PM: Question is reiterated about if Clinton thanks Obama is not ready to be President, this time Clinton answers by touting her own accomplishments and seemingly refuses to answer the question. Nope, she doesn’t answer the Question.
9:13 PM: Obama respond saying that people shouldn’t pay fines, and then Clinton says that Obama has fines in his plan.
9:10 PM: Clinton answers question about Clinton implying that Obama wasn’t ready to be President, and she says that she Will be ready and prepared on day one, then rolls into health care, and saying that her and Obama don’t have a philosophical difference but a substantive one.
9:06 PM: CNN takes break
Obama talks about his health care plan, and how he and Clinton are different. He says making everyone purchase health care is Clinton, and Obama says he wants to lower cost so people can afford it , and Obama says that he isn’t leaving 15 million people out of his plan , there is just a philosophical difference. Says than Clinton’s attempt in the 1990’s was a good idea, but needed to be more open to debate.
Clinton talks about Universal Health care, and says Obama left 15 million people out of his health care plan. Talks about her moratorium on the housing crisis. Then she rolls into Her stump. Goes to a response from Obama
Obama acknowledges that he uses the line from Deval Patrick, under Patrick’s’ advisement. Talks about his speeches being “pretty good”, that rolls into his campaign stump.
8:58 PM: Questions about the Obama Plagiarism. Goes to Obama first.
Obama responds that actions do in fact speak louder than words. And that he has plenty of Actions, not words, in his careers. Fundamental Difference between him and Clinton on how change occurs. Talks about how his supporters see the reality that is going on in Washington. He is running for President to do something for the people suffering in America.
Clinton talks about how they both let voters know how they see the world different. She states that she has a record of action. She talks about how actions speak louder than words.
8:51 PM: Question about arguing going on between Clinton and Obama. Clinton goes first
8:47 PM: Finally a Commercial Break
Obama says that he believes that English should be a Unifying language, but that foreign language needs more resources to go to it, and that we don’t let children of foreign language households fall behind in school, and that needs to be worked on.
Clinton says that English be the unifying language, but encourages people to learn a second language.
8:43 PM: Question on Spanish as a second language goes to Clinton first.
Obama completely agrees with Clinton and wants to give children of illegals a chance for an education.
Clinton says that there is a smart way to protect borders and a dumb way, talks about if the fence continues to get built, it would cut off the campus UT Brownsville. She says that she would review the fence and talk to the people that live close to the border. Says that she would look to technology for answers.
8:36 PM: Another question on Immigration about border security. Would Clinton continue the work on the border fence.
Obama says that he wants to work for comprehensive reform and stronger border security, and crack down on employers that use these undocumented workers. and that people that have been here illegally are given a pathway to citizenship, but they have to go to back of the line. Work with Mexico to help them make jobs for people.
Clinton says that she believes in comprehensive immigration reform and a pathway to citizenship, and would deal with it within her first 100 days of a presidential term
8:32 PM: Question on Immigration reform goes to Clinton.
Clinton counters that agrees with Obama to close the loopholes in the Tax Code, and that the wealthy have had a president for the last seven years and that it is time that most Americans have a president that works for them. She would immediately work on the housing crisis if elected, she would apply a moratorium for 90 days on foreclosures. she would freeze interest rates on homes for five years, invest 5 billion dollars on green jobs, and that she would help scientist, by doing the opposite that Bush does and allow free scientific thought. She is then cut off.
Obama states that we should provide tax breaks to companies that don’t outsource. Improve importation standards, have people that make less than $50′000 not pay taxes on Social Security. Invest in green energy alternative projects.
8:22 PM: Question about Economy, How are the candidates different on the Subject of the Economy. Obama answers first
8:20 PM: Clinton responded that we should end the Bush way of Diplomacy.
8:16 PM: Obama’s response to this is that he would talk to them, if there were some shows of good faith, and that he would want progress first. One of the debate moderators challenged him that he had changed his view.
8:16 PM: First Question is to Clinton , and she is asked if she would meet with the New Leader of Cuba at least once– Clinton’s Response was that she would meet only if change happened and had happened before the meeting.
8:13 PM: Barack Obama is now giving his opening statement and reiterates that he and Clinton we friends before election and will be friends after election. Talks about how the war should have never been authorized, and that people who need health care, should actually get it. Both him and Clinton realize the problems that need to be dealt with. Washington is a place where good ideas go to die, yadda, yadda , yadda.
8:09 PM: Clinton going on about her achievements in Texas and her friend Ann(e) Richards. She offers a lifetime of achievement and proven results. Also, mentioning how her campaign is the people of Texas’ campaign, and she is done.
8:06 PM: Hillary Clinton gives an opening statement, as Obama wanted to go second.
8:05 PM: Candidates are on sitting and ready to go
8:04 PM: Candidates are on stage and taking pictures and receiving applause from audience
Sphere: Related ContentHillary Clinton Will Be Participating In MSNBC Debate
Hillary Clinton will be appearing on MSNBC debates, despite the comments made about her and Chelsea Clinton (her daughter) by MSNBC Reporter, David Shuster. There has been some controversy, though Mr.Shuster has been suspended from MSNBC since the remarks. The Debate will take place in Ohio on February 26th. Clinton has been essentially begging for debate opportunities with rival Barack Obama. Plus, she wouldn’t want to miss out on the free air time.
Hillary Clinton plans to participate in the MSNBC debate in Ohio later this month, even after her aides threatened to boycott following correspondent David Shuster’s remarks suggesting Clinton daughter Chelsea was being “pimped out” by the campaign.
Spokesman Howard Wolfson said in a conference call Wednesday that the campaign believes its squabbles with the network should not prevent Ohio viewers from watching Clinton and Barack Obama debate on Feb. 26.
After losing the District of Columbia, Virginia and Maryland primaries to Obama Tuesday, Clinton is banking on the March 4 primaries in Ohio and Texas to rebound.
Canceling the Ohio debate would give Clinton only one more televised opportunity to go head-to-head with Obama before those contests.
Source: Fox News
Sphere: Related ContentClinton and Obama Make Nice During CNN California Debate
After the media had set the stage for a fierce debate, Obama and Clinton looked more like lambs than the lions, during the CNN California debate. At the end of the debate, the candidates embraced and it seemed like they were reunited lovers, instead of rivals.
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. - Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton sparred, for the most part cordially, over immigration, health care and the war in Iraq in their first one-on-one debate as they faced high-stakes Super Tuesday contests that could go a long way toward determining the party’s presidential nominee.
Clinton on Thursday night emphasized that the nation needed a president ready to go to work on “Day One.” Obama responded: “Part of the argument that I’m making in this campaign is that it is important to be right on Day One.”
Clinton defended the increasingly high-profile role of her husband, former President Bill Clinton, in her campaign and his recent sharp criticism of Obama. “At the end of the day, it’s my name that is on the ballot.”
Both were asked about the possibility of a “dream ticket” of Clinton-Obama — or Obama-Clinton.
“Obviously there’s a big difference between those two,” Obama said. “I respect Senator Clinton, I think her service to this country is extraordinary.” But he said, “We’ve got a lot more road to travel” before such a decision.
Clinton agreed it was too early to discuss running mates.
Both predicted that one of them would be the next president in a history-making inaugural. Obama would be the first black president, Clinton the first female president.
Making amends for his apparent snub of her at Monday’s State of the Union Address, Obama assisted Clinton by pulling back her chair as the debate — televised on CNN — began and ended. They then embraced.
Source: MSNBC
Sphere: Related ContentReagan Library Debate or The Romney and McCain Show
They might as well have called this debate the McCain/Romney Show. It is hard to tell any of questions with McCain and Romney bickering so much. Anderson Cooper, who is normally is a good reporter, had no ability to control McCain or Romney. Total time that Huckabee and Paul got to talk was maybe 12 minutes total. We did learn that Mitt Romney has the ability to be extremely long winded without saying much. John McCain seemed to be out of it, and it was obvious that he hates Mitt(en) Romney.
Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul both did well with what time they got. Huckabee came to his own and Ron Paul’s defense at one point saying that he didn’t go to the debate to watch McCain and Romney to take swings at each other, but that he wanted a chance to take a few swings at some questions himself, and for the moderators to pay some attention to the two guys at the end of the table( meaning himself and Ron Paul). Overall, there can’t be a proclamation of a winner of the debate, because it was more like an arguing match between McCain and Romney. Huckabee and Paul definitely made more of their limited time than Romney or McCain.
Sphere: Related ContentWas Mitt(en) Wired?
When Mitt Romney was asked was he willing to do what Ronald Reagan did to save social security did in 1983 to save social security, an audible “raise taxes” came across the air, room, or from somewhere. It seemed that he was being prompted in someway when he looked like a deer in the headlights during the question. MSNBC has acknowledge that they heard it as well, but didn’t really offer an explanation for it. It could have been many things, it could have been another candidate whispering to themselves and their mic picked it up, a random person in the room, just answering the question to themselves and a mic picked it up, a Romney staffer whispering, or possibly a mic that he had in his ear that somehow got picked up by the mic that he was speaking to. Inevitably, this will soon be swept under the table by the large media outlets and no resolution will come out of it. Mitt(en) may not be guilty of anything and not even heard the “raise taxes” though, chances are we will never know.
Sphere: Related ContentNBC Says Mitt Romney Wins Republican Florida Debate, America Says Ron Paul Once Again
NBC held a Republican Debate at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida tonight, this is the last Republican debate until the Florida Primary (1/29/08) . In attendance was Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, John McCain, Ron Paul, and Mitt(en) Romney. The moderators for the debate were Tim Russert and Brian Williams.
The debate started out, as did the last debate, every time Representative Paul answered a question there were cheers and clapping. When they went to their first of two commercial breaks Brian Williams, reminded the audience that they are not to cheer or clap for the participants of the debate. After the break, candidates got to ask each other questions. That really wasn’t as interesting as it could have been, because they knew beforehand that they were going to do this and told each other who was going to ask whom, and chances are what they were going to ask them. The debate was pretty standard, each candidate repeating the same things that they had said before in their stump speeches. Romney had what will be the most quoted statement of the debate ” The idea of Bill Clinton being back in the White House with nothing to do is something that I can’t imagine.” Huckabee, who seems to be the congenial jokester of the group, had some humorous moments. Highlighted by, him saying that he wouldn’t argue with Chuck Norris, on his statement that McCain was too old, whilst he was with in Norris’ sight because he didn’t want a kick in the face.
The hot topics tonight were the economy (economic stimulus), the war in Iraq, and Hillary Clinton. It is clear that the Republicans want to run against Hillary Clinton, as opposed to Barack Obama. On the economy and economic stimulus package, all the candidates felt that it was a disappointment that the Bush Tax Cuts weren’t extended in it. Huckabee and Paul both want to abolish the I.R.S. All the candidates said that they would have went further that George Bush did on the economic stimulus package that he just approved. The war in Iraq questions basically turned into a pat on the back for George Bush and General David Petraeus. Paul separated himself from the group being the only candidate that said that the war in Iraq was not worth the money or the life lost. He is the only Republican running that wants out of the war. Ron Paul got to answer the last question of the night, which pertained to whether or not he would abandon the Republican party, and seek a third party bid to run for Presidency, in order to hurt the Republican party. He responded by turning the question around and saying that the Republican party had tried to abandon its conservative, strict constutionalist values that it had been started upon and that many of his supporters felt like the party had abandoned them and that the party needed to open itself up and embrace the displaced voters.
At the end of the debate it was claimed that Mitt Romney won the debate. Romney did do well, but so did Huckabee and Paul. It wasn’t a one-way show this time around.
MSNBC did a poll much like Fox did after the last debate and Americas choice for the debate was clear, Ron Paul won in the opinion of viewers of the program.
Photo Source: Surfacant.blogspot.com
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