Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton duel (briefly) on late-night television

Hillary Clinton takes center stage on ABC's "Nightline" tonight (more on that later).

What's Barack Obama to do?

Go head-to-head with her (at least for a few seconds) by personally offering a Top Ten list of surprising facts about himself on the "Late Show with David Letterman" on CBS.

The Obama campaign kindly released the list -- apparently willing to risk that readers of this blog and others now can tune in exclusively to Clinton ... or perhaps suspecting that true political junkies will be stiffing both shows for "The Colbert Report" on Comedy Central (at least in those markets where all three programs conflict).

Anyway, here's what Obama reveals about himself:

10. My first act as president will be to stop the fighting between Lauren and Heidi on "The Hills."

9. In the Illinois primary, I accidentally voted for Kucinich.

8. When I tell my kids to clean their room, I finish with, "I'm Barack Obama and I approved this message."

7. Throughout high school, I was consistently voted "Barackiest."

6. Earlier today I bowled a 39.

5. I have canceled all my appearances the day the "Sex and the City" movie opens.

4. It's the birthplace of Fred Astaire. (Sorry, that's a surprising fact about Omaha)

3. We are tirelessly working to get the endorsement of Kentucky Derby favorite Colonel John.

2. This has nothing to do with the Top Ten, but what the heck is up with Paula Abdul?

1. I have not slept since October.

He certainly may be sleep-deprived since Monday morning, when the Rev. Jeremiah Wright let loose at the National Press Club.

As for Clinton's interview on Nightline, she does not back down from her comment last week that, as president, her administration would "totally obliterate" Iran if it used nuclear weapons against Israel. That remark prompted some criticism in the U.S. and, this week, was blasted by Iran as "provocative, unwarranted and irresponsible."

The Iranian response proved the perfect setup for Clinton.

"Well, that's kind of strange coming from a provocative, irresponsible regime, as we have currently in Iran," she said.

And she reiterated to Iranian leaders that "were they ever to be so reckless as to launch an attack against Israel or a nuclear attack against any of our friends and allies, they would face massive retaliation."

So, to sum up, while Obama cracks wise, Clinton talks tough.

-- Don Frederick

Photo credit: Associated Press

Comments

[Rhys]

I don't get it.

[Core Democrat]

Obama,
Your top 10 facts!
You forgot to mention
your "animosity to your mother's race."
Remember your books and your antiwhite racial comments all the way through them?
And how it was Wright that "inspired you" and you named one of the books ,The Audacity of Hope, after a Wright sermon that had inspired you?
And these are your OWN words. So also list that you cannot denounce your OWN words even if they sound EXACTLY like the hate words that Wright used and you "don't agree with." or did not know about!

WHAT A FRAUD AND DIVIDER YOU ARE!

[Glen]

NOT ONLY IS HE NOT PREPARED TO BE PRESIDENT, HE'S NOT PREPARED TO BE FUNNY, EITHER.

[Gene]

Obama '08... and '12.

[Wilhelm (US Citizen)]

Wow, we have some rather nasty comments here that again seem based more on speculation, bias and misassumptions than any fair look at the candidates. You'll offer your opinion of the gist of a book as gospel and hope it can influence how others read it just like the GOP handpicked some quotes from Rev Wright. It amazes me that no one will even touch whether the USA did anything that might have made people in the Middle East the least bit mad or frustrated as if this is a taboo blocking free thinking. From all I've heard, there have been positive, constructive things Rev Wright has said and if he's said a few politically incorrect things, remember his calling is to be a prophet (in the sense of deciphering the times) not a politician. Sometimes he goes overboard to make a point - Jesus did a few times too like when he said if you're eye or hand causes you to sin you should pluck/cut it out/off.

Now none of this justifies the terrorist attacks. But if we refuse to look at what we've done that might bulid up anger in Muslim lands, we do so at our own risk. It does not mean pandering but thinking what can cause resentment that we can stop without going against our values. For example, using the word 'Crusade', siding with Israel in a clearly unfair situation, trying to get our most decadent things into countries that have very strong purity laws, not listening to well-meant advice, not paying attention to historical or even current unfairness and disparities and pandering to wealthy dictators with little sign we care.....

Barack has a message that is getting waylaid in a wIay I think is unfair. He can't control his preacher and to like some things about a man while being disturbed by others is called reality. Choosing when to sever is a tough choice since there can be positive influence in staying, but I think the recent choice was good timing because the previous segments shown did not do justice being out of context.

Now I've seriously defended some seroius attacks in was apparently to be a more jovial occasion. As one person posted on Hillary's blog, it is a good thing in our country that some laughter is allowed in a serious time like this because elsewhere in the world it'd be totally inappropriate.

[TRICIA]

Barack obama has good ideas so does hillary its all up to congress now!!!!!!