For Senator Barack Obama, Tuesday night’s debate among the Democratic candidates was to be a make-or-break situation. Either Obama gets in Hillary Clinton’s face and exposes her real agenda, or else his role as her chief contender becomes significantly eroded. Well, the debate is over, and the popularity polls average out to 45% for Hillary and 23% for Obama. Obviously something went wrong.
MSNBC’s Howard Fineman, on the morning of the debate, listed several things Obama had to do to “derail” Hillary. Among them: highlight the difference on issues between them; show she is a pawn of the special interests; and retain his “good guy” image. One of the main distinctions between them is that Obama was against the war in Iran from the very outset; Hillary voted to send in the troops, then changed her mind. Obama was so mannerly in broaching the topic that Hillary managed to soft-shoe her way out of that one.,
Before Obama could get to the issue, former senator John Edwards renewed his blunt accusation that Hillary is a pawn of the Washington establishment. Edwards, whose chances of winning the nomination are clearly fading, seemed satisfied to accept another Clinton sidestep. As Howard Fineman points out, while Hillary appeared to be defined as another “business as usual” politician, the label was stuck on her by Edwards, not Obama.
Carl Leubsdorf of the Dallas Morning News was quick to note that the questioners, NBC’s Brian Williams and Tim Russert, “mainly asked questions of Mrs. Clinton’s rivals designed to bring out sharp attacks on her.” Indeed, it seems as though Hillary had twice as much face time as any of the other aspirants, even if she appeared to be on the defensive a good deal of the time. By the time the debate ended, the differences between Obama and Clinton seemed insubstantial.
Perhaps the strongest joust against Hillary was the statement that “if people want the status quo, Senator Clinton is your candidate.” Unfortunately for Obama, it came from Edwards. Yes, Hillary at times seemed tough, often glowering at the opponent for making combative, sometimes scrappy charges against her. And at other times she appeared to be stoic, even acting, according to the Los Angeles Times, “as though Clinton seemed to be impatient for the primary campaign to be over so she could turn her attention to the general election.” In fact Hillary even boasted at one point that “the Republicans have displayed a constant obsession with me.”
So we are judging two different events here: whether Obama was true to his pledge to get tough with Hillary and score some points; and if Hillary avoided the minefields and traps set for her and thus disarmed the ordnance that could later be used against her. The answer to the first event is no, Obama did not “get tough” as he promised and, instead, appeared to be cautious and less forceful than Hillary’s other protagonists on the stage. As to the second issue, Hillary appeared to weather all of the obtrusive and hostile remarks sent her way, even when Brian Williams and Tim Russert stepped out of their roles as moderators and became contentious questioners.
At one point Russert asked Clinton whether she would “allow the National Archives to release the documents about your communications with the President, and the advice you gave?” Clinton answered she was not allowed to make such a decision now. Russert then asked if she would lift her husband’s ban on releasing their correspondence. Hillary’s reply was that Bill Clinton had asked the National Archives not to do anything until 2012, and that it remains a presidential mandate.
After all is said and done, writes Gail Collins in The New York Times, “the good news for Hillary’s side is that nobody seems really poised to take her place in the front of the field. Barack Obama continues to be a calm, measured, let’s-all-work-together presence, reminiscent of – Oh Lord! – Joe Lieberman.”
– Chase.Hamil
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6 users commented in " Is Barack Obama too nice to be president? "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackYou do realize that “niceness” and “likability” is a general election strength, right?
Obama did exactly what he said he was going to do–illustrate the differences between him and Clinton. While he was at it, he exposed her as a flip flopper, evasive, and a liar.
Obama in ’08!
Obama is a gentleman and understands that there are other candidates less incline to be a gentleman. He makes it clear that he differs from her approach to peace. He is willing to negotiate first and carry a big stick rather than wave his soword and try to intimidate. The other approach has not worked so we are bogged down in Iraq while our country is less protected. Obama talked about issues that mattered and not beat up a woman to further his ambition to be president. He is a true product for positive changes in our political system. To resist change is normal but political change is necessary. He is the only one willing to be honest about the changes he make despite the resistance.
Obama is a gentleman and understands that there are other candidates less incline to be a gentleman. He makes it clear that he differs from her approach to peace. He is willing to negotiate first and carry a big stick rather than wave his sword and try to intimidate. The other approach has not worked so we are bogged down in Iraq while our country is less protected. Obama talked about issues that mattered and did not beat up a woman to further his ambition to be president. He is a true supporter of positive changes in our political system. To resist change is normal but political change is necessary. He is the only one willing to be honest about the changes he will make despite the resistance
I agree with the other posters. if Obama went really hard negative he would lose his supporters and potential supporters. the fact that today Hillary is amping up the victim and gender game and playing ‘poor me’ is proof that his decided strategy was right.
I live in Illinois. Obama can get rough with the competition if needed. But, he knows going after Hillary hard or personal attack style would bite him back.
He decided to stick with issues and be firm with her.
Being rough would not go with his image and as such make him look hypocritical.
I think it shows his political savvy. And gathering from remarks by average people on some sites, it seems his strategy was on target.
the media is always wrong and they wanted a blood match and did not get one so they are mad but, his going after Hillary on substance did damage and did not make him look like a bully.
I am still confused about “electibility” issue. Atleast we know that clinton machinery can trounce right wing conspiracy’s, attacks and spins. Edwards lost a debate to dick cheney for crying out loud. He came out as snarly and two faced especially when he took cheap shots at dick cheneys daughter.
Obama has not even been battle tested. I was reading that he had overwhelming 80+ % of positive press coverage in initial stages (which is 49% now with remaining “neutral”) and Hillary has had 29% positive coverage. Thats only because all the republican machinery is working against her. Wait till how it will respond once Mr. Obama is the nominee. George Bush was a much bigger rock star and fund raiser than Obama can ever dream to be, yet was he the best choice? What has Mr. Obama run? What is his resume? Other than hope, which is like an olive branch too high to catch, what does he offer? He has yet to explain to me if he will be firs president to authorize nuclear war with Pakistan as he claims he would do. What next? Will he play kid gloves with iran and call all middle east leaders conference to tackle iran? How many has bush called. To the record, Bush has called6 till date, and Iran hasnt gone undiscussed in every one of those, besides in meetings with other foriegn leaders. What else would Obama do? Arguably, sanctions were the reason which kept saddam from developing weapons of mass destruction, sanctions caused libya to espouse nuclear dreams, north korea has come close to giving up its nuclear ambitions primarily because of sanctions.. What is Mr. Obama’s policy to deal with iran besides calling a conference. What is his policy on dealing with Darfur. What is his policy on Healthcare. Can he deflect republican machinery ads like “Call me harrol ford” which resonate in deep country. Its nasty in politics out there and I believe, Hillary can do a better job than frontrunners out there if she keeps it going.
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