Posted on 04/16/2008 10:07:34 PM PDT by The_Republican
This was not a good debate for Obama, period. But it wasn't a great debate for Clinton either. Of course, that may not matter to Team Clinton. In a twp-way debate, it's not about which candidate narrowly wins -- but which candidate gets pummeled in the post-debate reviews. And Obama will get pummeled because well he did get pummeled, a little bit by Clinton and a little bit by the moderators.
In the first 40 minutes of the debate, most of the questioning was on Obama's negatives (except for a lone Bosnia-sniper question to Clinton) and that's what helped create what was a near disastrous performance by Obama in those first 40 minutes. He was weak in a lot of his answers on his personal negatives. (Did he really compare Tom Coburn to a one-time '60s radical/terrorist?) Clinton, meanwhile, piled on, particularly (and surprisingly, actually) on Ayers.
Many news organizations will feel compelled to do Ayers stories in the next few days. While some may question the fairness and relevancy of the Ayers issue, it's not going to be good for Obama.
This debate is going to lead a lot of Obama supporters to ratchet up the calls on Clinton to either withdraw or tone down the attacks. Clinton supporters will point to this debate as proof that he's not yet ready for the general, that's why she should stay in, and that's why superdelegates should overturn the winner of pledged delegates.
And as we've noted in "First Thoughts" quite a few times, whenever the spotlight is on one candidate, the other seems to benefit. Tonight, the spotlight was on Obama, and for a short period of time, I expect Clinton to benefit.
(Excerpt) Read more at firstread.msnbc.msn.com ...
Obama is clever in the sense that he doesn't pile on and only states anything negative when he is absolutely forced to. On the other hand, Hillary can't complete a single sentence without launching a vicious hypocritical attack.
Today the moderators piled on Obama in unbelieveable way. It might as well have been Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly out there.
He took the blows but did what you could do with barrage like that.
He made one strong come back on Hildabeast and she was given the option to respond and she smartly passed on it.
Moderators piled on Ayers issue, Hildabeast piled on. Finally Obama said that President Klinton PARDONED Underground something Terrorist. What is more egregious?
That shut the effing witch up.
Actually, Hillary should have had an easy answer to that one. Clinton pardoned them after they had served long prison sentences. I’m not sure, but I assume they expressed regret and remorse as part of their pardon process, as is normally the case.
Ayers was never convicted, only because the evidence against him had to be thrown out. He not only doesn’t express remorse, he still says he wished he had done more.
What is more egregious?
Ayers.
Then Obama should have responded, Pandering to Puerto Rican voters didn’t have anything to do with it?
FALN Terrorists are the only ones who have shown remorse?
Obama doesn’t seem to really be very bright.
All three Dem candidates, Obama, Clinton and McCain, are thin-skinned.
Hopefully that 85 IQ number is enough for people to realize that proven traitors can not be given command again.
I am merely paraphrasing because I cannot recall the exact quotes:
Moderator: Would you distance yourself from Jeremiah Wright?
Obama: I distance myself from his comments, not the racist himself. Reverend Farrakhan, change, George Bush, yadda yadda, Chicago
Moderator: Is the DC Gun ban a Constitutional law?
Obama: Yadda yadda yadda, not sure, hope, change, troubling, yadda yadda yadda, community organizer...
Clinton: I am going to bring back the Assault Weapons Ban, and I am going to get the 'illegal guns.' (She means all guns will be declared 'assault, illegal, troubling, or evil' guns, and at least she is open about her jackbooted plans).
It is NEVER good for Obama when he is confronted by questions or shares the stage with a competitor. That may be why his political life has no achievements to show. He does not interact well with others. His strong suit is giving lectures, but as someone who went to college when there were still a few college professors who knew how to lecture, I can say that Barry is not in their league.
I hope McCain didn’t eat the Early bird dinner and sleep at 6:00pm.
Hildabeast actually said in condescending tone that yeah the commanders and generals are there but what the buck do they know.....in the end I am going to decide whats gonna happpen in Iraq.
The moderators had to ASK that is she going to IGNORE the commanders on ground?
Then she changed her tune a bit.
Obama is too stupid to jump on that.
McCain SHOULD.
However, I think McCain’s people really believe that Hillary would be easier target. So at this time they appear to be helping her by ganging up on Obama.
You are lost. Hildabeast would take 52% of the vote and annihilate McCain in Electoral Votes.
With her as Nominee, not a single Blue State would be flipped, but bunch of red would move to her column.
You are hung up on Obama’s associates, just like Limbaugh and others, and you guys are going to bring us another 8 years of Klintons.
Hopefully Obama’s cult can slay the witch.
Exactly. Nothing seems capable of getting through to the lemmings.
As I recall, the FALN terrorists didn’t even ask for a pardon, but Clinton gave them one anyway just to get votes.
With Hillary, one can fight her on the issues without being called a racist every 2 minutes.
With Obama, the Republicans will NEVER, everrrrrrrrr, challenge him on ANYTHING for fear of being called "racists."
The USA will be no more if The Black Racist gets into office.
Bank on it.
Far Worse? LOL! Women and Children burned at Waco beg to disagree.
There is NOTHING Obama can say or do to carry Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Klintons don’t lose and they certainly don’t lose to Republicans.
Giant Majorities that they would have in Congress, she is going to place her foot in every conservative’s butt, her first day in office.
Guranteed.
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