The Clinton, Obama and Russert debate
February 26th, 2008 – 11:28 PM by Dennis J. McGrathThe 20th and perhaps final Democratic primary debate tonight didn’t produce any shocks — no surprise there — but it was revealing on a number of fronts and provided some interesting moments.
Early on, Hillary Rodham Clinton made an odd objection to being asked the first question, and made it even odder by referring to a “Saturday Night Live” skit. Her objection began with a protest to always being asked the first question in debates (which MSNBC later reported isn’t true). But at the same time, she insisted that she doesn’t mind it, and that she just found it curious (which clearly wasn’t the case, or she wouldn’t have made such a big deal out of it).
But then she detoured into a reference to the SNL spoof this past weekend, which had riffed on the idea that the media is soft on Barack Obama and hard on her. “If anybody saw ‘Saturday Night Live,’ maybe we should ask Barack if he’s comfortable and needs another pillow,” Clinton said, mimicking the SNL skit.
On SNL, it was funny. On stage at Cleveland State University, it was an awkward attempt at humor — at best.
A revealing moment came when Obama was asked about National of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan’s endorsement of him. Obama was unequivocal in denouncing Farrakhan and his anti-Semetic remarks, but he also clearly showed a reluctance to reject the endorsement when Tim Russert asked him if he would do so.
Clinton then jumped in and said she publicly rejected the endorsement of a party in New York during her Senate campaign under similar conditions, and chided Obama by saying “there’s a difference between denouncing and rejecting.”
Realizing that Clinton was getting the better of him, he retreated with some fancy footwork, saying that he didn’t see a difference between the two words, but “I happily concede the point and I would reject and denounce.”
Yet another curious moment was when Russert pulled a pop quiz on the candidates, asking them, “What can you tell me about [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s successor?” They both passed, even if Clinton needed a little coaching on the pronunciation of Dmitry Medvedev’s name.
Another thing to take away from the debate was Obama’s demeanor. There were plenty of times he could have flashed annoyance or anger at Clinton, but he kept cool and retained his balance even when she was getting the best of him or needling him.
What was your reaction?
21 Responses to "The Clinton, Obama and Russert debate"
Obama kept his composure throughout the debate.
Clinton is too hot headed, reactionary and emotional to be president. It’s time for her to hang it up.
Clinton appears to be desperate.
I’m glad that Senator Clinton objected to being asked the first question at each of the debates. Why? Because she gives excellent answers, showing how capable and prepared she is to be the next president, and Senator Obama rides on the coat tails of her comments. His rebuttal almost always starts with ‘I agree with Senator Clinton, and…….’ In essence, he never has to answer the question. Senator Clinton is, by far, the more capable candidate for president. She just hasn’t been given the ‘walk on water’ free ride by the press/media that Barack has.
Obama doesn’t appear to have the seasoning at times to be U.S president with the powerful demeanor one expects.
Clinton is too emotional.
I am confused..
The only thing Clinton is by far more capable of achieving than Obama were she to be elected President is further polarization of our two-party system, resulting in deadlock. That’s great, if you want to prevent Congress from advancing a national health care plan. But I believe that is not something the democratic party desires.
I am biased for Obama and incredibly impressed with his style, demeanor, and emotional balance. He has an intellectual honesty that makes her look sad in comparison.
Mrs. Clinton is recognized as the true policy “wonk” in the Senate and he more than holds his own with her. He is way more than speeches.
He grows before our very eyes.
Imagine the reception he will receive when as president he visits foreign countries.
I am 62 years old and have not been this excited about politics since John Kennedy and Robert Kennedy.
The Democrats have fielded great candidates the past two elections, both policy ‘wonks’. Both lost (well, maybe one didn’t, but…). Now we have a candidate that doesn’t show that same strength in presenting policy details, but he captures the hopes and imaginations of the nation, and I feel, can lead our country back from the failures of the current administration. Obama will be the stronger candidate in the national election.
A person real charachter is exposed during the time of adversity. I think Hillary showed how emotional she is when Obama handles it cooly and with class. Hillary incorrectly said that she has nothing to do with the “reavealed” picture of Obama in African attire. I thought she had a chance to at least “denounce and reject” the implications that surfaced with the picture.
Poor DW. Your canditate is going to lose. Get over it.
Our country is so fundamentally sexist and last night’s debate showed it. If Hillary shows that she is a tough fighter - she is too emotional. If she let’s her guard down - she is too emotional. Barack Obama, as charming as he may be, does not have the substance, experience, or modesty required to “change” our course. The Democrats screw it up every chance they get.
This is the mission statement from Mr. Obamas church. The same church he was married in, and still belongs. If our countrty is “fundementally sexist”, what do you all suppose would happen if “black” was changed to “white”, and that this was a mission statement of, say Mr. McCain?
Am I the only one who finds the verbiage odd?
When I hear about working together, these kinds of statements concern me.
Check out the recent “Trumpet Award” winner. (Louis Farrakhan)
(Trinity Church)
“We are a congregation which is Unashamedly Black and Unapologetically Christian… Our roots in the Black religious experience and tradition are deep, lasting and permanent. We are an African people, and remain “true to our native land,” the mother continent, the cradle of civilization. God has superintended our pilgrimage through the days of slavery, the days of segregation, and the long night of racism. It is God who gives us the strength and courage to continuously address injustice as a people, and as a congregation. We constantly affirm our trust in God through cultural expression of a Black worship service and ministries which address the Black Community.
It’s a popularity contest.
Clinton is the better policy mechanic, which is what we need. Obama has charisma and ‘comeback’ wit, which is what we want.
Hillary’s efforts to upstage Barrack with humor or criticism were weak and unpolished.
Obama’s line: “Fine, if it makes you happy, I both denounce and reject Farrakhan” can be represented by the cruel caricature: “Shut up, bitch”.
I think it’s just great that Louis Farrakhan has endorsed Mr. Obama.
Now if McCain can just get David Duke to endorse him, he may gain some momentum.
The Jews don’t like Farrakhan, so they call me Hitler. Well, that’s a good name. Hitler was a very great man.
Louis Farrakhan
They call them terrorists, I call them freedom fighters.
Louis Farrakhan
White people are potential humans - they haven’t evolved yet.”
Philadelphia Inquirer, March 2000
“They [the Jews] are the greatest controllers of black minds, black intelligence. They write the scripts - the foolish scripts on television that our people portray. They are the movie moguls that feature us in these silly, degrading, degenerate roles.
“The great recording companies that portray our people in such a filthy and low-rating way, yet they would not allow such a man as Michael Jackson to say one word that they thought would besmirch their reputation, but they put us before the world as clowns and as purveyors of filth. No, I will fight that.”
Meet The Press interview, October 1998
“The Jews have been so bad at politics they lost half their population in the Holocaust. They thought they could trust in Hitler, and they helped him get the Third Reich on the road.”
Saviours’ Day speech, Chicago, February 1998
“Of course, they [the Jews] have a very small number of people but they are the most powerful in the world, they have the power to do good and they have the power to do evil … Now what do the Jews do best? Well, they have been the best in finance that the world has ever known …
“They finance a lot of stuff in the world, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but they are not good politicians, they are the worst politicians because they don’t recognise really their friends and as well their enemies … ”
Saviours’ Day speech, Chicago, February 1998
“It seems like being gay or whatever sin you wish to be a part of is okay … but I have the duty to lift that gay person up to the standard to ask if they want to live the life that God wants them to or live the lifestyle that they want to live.”
Boston speech, August 1997
“I believe that for the small numbers of Jewish people in the United States, they exercise a tremendous amount of influence on the affairs of government …Yes, they exercise extraordinary control, and black people will never be free in this country until they are free of that kind of control … ”
Meet The Press interview, April 1997
“I don’t own Hollywood. Who depicted black people? Who writes the books? Who writes the plays, the songs that make us look less than human? Do you mean to tell me that Jews have never done any evil to black people? …
“Were they not involved in the slave trade? Yes, they were … and to the extent that they were involved, somebody has to bring them to account. And I believe that has fallen on me.”
Interview with New York Amsterdam News, January 1994
WAKE UP, people.
Dennis,
If you happen to see Lou Gelfand today, would you ask him if the Farrakhan endorsement has convinced him to vote for Obama?
Thanks
“Robert Grant says”… way too much. This is a man with too much time on his hands and too much fear of African Americans. Barack Obama has both “denounced and rejected” Mr. Farrakhan’s support. What more does he require.
My church in Eden Praire is white, Swedish, German, and sort of boring. What does Robert honestly expect from a church on the south side of Chicago?
Barack Obama will win the nomination and I suggest Robert try to rid himself of his irrational fears.
Lori,
I will pose this question to you.
If a white candidates church’s mission statement was worded like Trinity’s only black was replaced with white, this would be a non-issue?
Reference above.
This has nothing to do with how I feel about a particular race. It does however make me wonder how statements or mindsets like Trinity’s will ease racial tensions.
Obama has stated that Wright is his “personal advisor.” Obama can say whatever he’d like, but there IS a connection between himself and Farrakhan, directly or indirectly.
To think that this will not be a topic for discussion, regardless of the candidate is simply being naive.
Mr. Grant,
You sir, are the person with the warped perspective. It is people like you who scare me.