Clinton wonders about the debate process

On national television Tuesday night, Hillary Clinton seemed to wonder if she's being picked on -- by debate questioners.

And, in an offbeat moment sure to be replayed, she went on to refer to a skit on "Saturday Night Live" that (no doubt to the show's supreme delight) her campaign aides have previously sought to spotlight.

Clinton squared off with Barack Obama in Ohio and the two Democratic presidential contenders quickly engaged in a lengthy debate on their healthcare plans (16 minutes, according to moderator Brian Williams). Neither gave an inch -- each insisting their respective plans were superior and that a panoply of experts agreed. Presumably, it now will be up to voters in Ohio and Texas to vet this dispute in their closely watched primaries next Tuesday.

Clinton was asked to comment first on the issue, given that she harshly accused Obama over the weekend of unfairly representing her healthcare plan.

Turning to their next major dispute of late -- the North American Free Trade Agreement -- Clinton again was asked to comment first, given that during the early 1990s she seemed to stand foursquare behind her husband, President Bill Clinton, as he pushed the controversial pact through Congress.

Before focusing on the topic, she said she found it "curious" ...

that, according to her, at the "last several debates" she seemed to be targeted for the first question.

We can't recall if she's right about that. But we're pretty sure the matter will have been thoroughly vetted by morning. It also will be interesting to see if Clinton will be seen as standing up for herself or acting a bit petulant.

It all might have been mainly a ruse to work in that reference to the SNL spoof that showed Obama being fawned over by media types. Here was the entire Clinton remark, when the NAFTA query was kicked her way:

"Well, could I just point out that, in the last several debates, I seem to get the first question all the time. And I don't mind. You know, I'll be happy to field them, but I do find it curious. And if anybody saw 'Saturday Night Live,' you know, maybe we should ask Barack if he's comfortable and needs another pillow."

It was a jarring transition and, judged by an absence of crowd response, landed with a thud.

--Don Frederick

Comments

[Tim]

FYI, Hillary got all the questions first in the last debate because she lost the coin toss... which was stated by the moderators prior to the beginning of the CNN debate.

[SecularVoters]

Obama completely won that debate. Hillary lost on basically every point,k she looked petty and desperate. The biggest challenge that Obama had was the Farakan question, which he struggled with, but then ended with an overwhelmingly good retort.

[Andrew Benjamin]

I think just saw the last wheel fall off the HRC wagon.

[Chris Mannoia]

Interesting comments by Senator Clinton; when she was winning by double-digits, there was no problem with the order of the questions. Now, with Senator Obama leading, she doesn't like them (the questions). I think however, she has a point.

The commentators really need a fair system (maybe a coin toss like in the NFL) to determine who gets the first chance to answer questions.

Chris Mannoia

[Liz]

Congratulations on a job well done Mr. Obama. This debate proved that you are leagues above your opponent in professionalism, character, maturity, intelligence and most importantly leadership. It is not a contest anymore - it is a given that you should be our next President.

[Robin Werner]

Senator Obama clearly is an intelligent, thoughtful, articulate, posed, consensus building person who shows a reasoned intelligence on the ideas placed before him. He, like Ronald Reagan, will have the knowledge, fortitude and lack of arrogance which will allow him to always recruit the best advisors and ensure his thorough preparation on issues which may arise. Senator Clinton, with all her hysterics and unfounded accusations, could learn a lot from him.

[Taylor]

Enough lies and hypocrisy. Not only did Senator Clinton not reject Ann Coulter's endorsement, see gushingly accepted it. Ann Coulter, who derisively called John Edwards a "faggot", Christians "perfected Jews" and the widows of the 911 victims "harpies".

[Steve]

Obama truly looked like the President of the United States tonight while Hillary seemed like a child looking to pick a fight with nothing to back her statements up. We need to unite behind Obama and stop giving McCain free shots by allowing Clinton to stay in the race and thereby distracting Obama from his inevitable opponent.

[James]

The debate helped me and the wife decide. We liked Barack, but Hillary gave much more detailed responses. I also prefer a fighter in the white house. Our main complaint with Barack was that he chairs an important sub-committee on Europe (since Jan 2007) and has not held a meeting at all???? His answer that he was busy campaigning is just arrogant. We pay him for that - he should have handed it to a colleague. We just looked it up and somehow Hillary manages to keep up with her meetings. So - looks like 2 more for Hillary Clinton here in beautiful San Antonio.

[Ben]

The Farrakhan question was a setup. Since he has been accused of being a Muslim and says he is a Christian who praises Jesus, it makes sense that Obama would repudiate any positive remakrks by Farrakhan since that would help cement the argument that he is Muslim. Accepting Farrakhan's endorsement would only give more credence to the Muslim attacks. Hillary held her own. Smoothness and oily doesn't necessarily mean better.

[Jamie]

How can you say that Obama was better than Clinton when he knew nothing whatsoever about the new Russian president and just said, I agree that Hillary has characterized him correctly. Didn't you see how he looked over to her to take the question first? The guy clearly hadn't a clue. That said, there were moments in the debate that he was better than she was. I think there is truth to how each is characterized. He is very inspirational, and she is very knowledgeable. The question is: can she inspire? And the question is: Can he learn what he needs to learn? I say yes to his learning, and I am not sure about her ability to inspire...

[Kane]

She is completely right, and she had every right to point it out. Why did MSNBC 'accidently' play that clip of Hillary mocking Obama? They hate her, and are still fawning over Saint Obama.

Obama lost the debate. He just sat back and reworded everything Hillary had just said. She was well-informed and didn't hesitate to divulge details on her plans and her history.

[C Shaw]

I guess Obama called her bluff, he not only met her in Ohio for the debate. He punched her ticket back to New York.

Her body language during the debate was very negative

Obama 2008

[PulSamsara]

Way to go Barack !

Barack Obama for President of the UNITED States of America.

[Chad]

Comment to James: FYI, Hillary was the only candidate absent for a very controversial recent Senate vote regarding telecom immunity. Her skipping of this extremely important issue has most appropriately been labeled "cowardly."

Google "Hillary telecom vote" if you want to look a little bit better informed for future comments.

[dang]

It comes down to this:
The male vs female advantage is much too great. America is much more willing to elect a black man w/no experience than an incredibly qualified white woman. Their policies in the grand scheme of things are very similar. M vs F. We won't have another woman even remotely close to the white house in a very very long time.

[Brian Jenkins]

Although I was not able to watch tonights debate, i think an important point has to be made about the last debate which I did watch. In the last debate and over the last few weeks considerable criticism has been publicized about the authenticity of Barack Obama's speeches. I think the point needs to be made that this is a horrible excuse for politics. Politics is supposed to be about issues, and the American people deserve more than "change you can xerox" type comments. This is a prime example of politics as usual for the Clintons. If the honorable senator had read the press releases about Barack's co-chairman and contributor to his speeches, this would not have become an issue.

The point remains that a debate, is supposed to draw distinctions between candidates on issues. Debate is not a time for slander or libel. A Debate is not a mud slinging contest. It is time we reject swift boat politics, especially in debate! Senator Clinton should take responsibility for distracting Americans from the issue at hand-who is the best person to lead the free world.

It is time we, as a democratic party, stand up and set an example for all politicians that slander will not stand. That debates are not tabloid-TV. That politics is not a soap oprah. We are electing the leader of the free world, an icon of democracy and freedom-we cannot afford to be distracted by sound-bite speeches and ridiculous, groundless accusations. WE DESERVE MORE. We deserve more than desperate political mud slinging...we deserve a Barrack Obama.

[Shami]

She's the one who wanted to debate everyday. And now She's complaining about the debate process?

Obviously the media will support Obama at least 4% more than Hillary just like the rest of the country. The educated groups also seem to understand Obama better.

[captbilly]

I saw a comment here favorably comparing Obama to Ronald Reagan, what a horrible insult to Obama. Ronald Reagan was an embarrasment to this country. Ronald Reagan should have been impeached and found guilty for the whole Iran Contra deal. Ronald Reagan was suffering from Alzheimer's for much of his presidency and served primarilly as a talking head. Ronald Reagan canceled all the alternative energy research that had been started during the Carter administration, which left us more dependent on foreign energy than we were during the oil embargo. Ronald Reagan was a joke around the world, much as Bush is today (well maybe not that much of a joke). Ronald Reagan left us with the biggest deficit and increase in the deficit of any President in history (even worse than Bush I believe). What is it that people see as the posiitive side of the Reagan administration?

[chris vant]

Senator CLINTON is clearly the person with the skills. I didn't appreciate the way TR kept interupting her to make his own point, like he didn't know he wasn't in the debate too. She shouldn't have to jostle with a moderator. Then she got cut off and told to hold that thought, but they came back and didn't pick up where they left off. Aside from being slightly patronizing to Sen Clinton as a woman, patting her on the back, Obama has excellent manners.

Clinton has the knowledge, Cinton thinks quickly on her feet, Clinton has my vote.

[S Clark]

As usual the Group Think is in play tonight for the O'Bamba population who are fawning over their boy. It makes sane people want to OBAMIT.

[john]

what disgusts me is that Barack's PASTOR held Ferrakhan in such high esteem and Ferrakhan, an anti-white, anti-jew Nation of Islamd leader, endorses Obama. Obama weasled his way out of the question and it took hillary, for him to make a "rejection." However, he didn't express rage or disgusts about the beliefs of his pastor or ferrakhan, more embarrased that it was publicized. Instead he tried to say oh I LOVE YOU JEWS VOTE FOR ME instead of addressing the question. He should of right out said, " my pastor is wrong, and Ferrakhan is ignorant, please, I do not want their support or votes." Instead he says he rejects Ferrakhans endorsement in a monotone voice, knowing that Ferrakhan, his racist followers, and the racist pastor would all still vote for him. Also Barack's Pastor's church preaches soverignty to Africa and his church is a separatist church that believes in black power.

how barack sees the working class http://youtube.com/watch?v=Kw0zr9hn01E

barack lies: http://youtube.com/watch?v=kExctvzrIvI

[nannie turner]

The reason for asking Senator Clinton the questions first,is that Senator Obama dosent have an answer and they know it.They ask Hillary first so then he just says "I agree with Hillary" and proceeds to expand a little on what she says.The expression on his face when Russert asked her about the new Russian president,was a dead giveaway.He basicly said the same thing she did.If winning is copying then I guess you could say he won.Senator Clinton is knowledgeable on all of the issues that the American people are concerned about.I do NOT want a president who has to steal someone else's words.Also I do not think he was being honest about "denouncing" the endorsement of Lewis Farrakan,nor was his answer to the question as to the veiwes of the pastor of his church.He was very cagey and uncomfortable with these questions.More proof that he has been given a free pass by the press and journalist.Do you people want another George Bush??If you elect this guy that is exactly what you are getting.Some people never learn.Another four years of the same and we will no longer have a country.You can pat yourselves on the back for being cult worshipers.

[jmn]

dang

It comes down to this:

We saw a petulant, angry female that seems to believe that this man is taking away something she somehow deserves.

This is not presidential behavior whether exhibited by male or female.

Democracy is rather messy isn't it? But not to worry Hillary has many ideas on how to take care of that.

[PDW]

Hillary has the experience, tact and poise needed to become the next president. Barack Hussein Obama may fit the bill in about 10 - 12 years - after he gets some experience in Washington. I am very tired of media coverage that presents a political smoke screen for Obama's ineptitude. For once, I would like to see accurate, informational reporting that is politically unmotivated and presents BOTH candidates' platforms (and perhaps even CVs) for voters to consider.