Debate, II
February 21st, 2008 at 8:08 pm
After the break, King again tries to stir the pot.
King: Are you saying your opponent is all hat and no cattle.Clinton: I have said that about President Bush and I do think our next president has to be a lot less hat and a lot more cattle.
Clinton balances on applauding a largely civil campaign while teasing out differences. “I do offer solutions,” she says. Implicit is a criticism that maybe Obama doesn’t.
Clinton: There are differences between our record and accomplishments.S
he brings up poor state Senator Watson again.I do think words are important and actions speak louder than words.
Obama is not going to defend Watson. He just jumps into his accomplishments. Sen. Clinton has said let’s get real. The implication that the people who are voting for me and supporting my campaign are in some way delusional…The thinking is somehow they are being duped… I think they are seeing the reality very clearly. The reason this campaign has done so well. It’s because people have understood that it is not just about putting together policy positions.He makes the case for the importance of inspiring people.
Ouch. Big hit, I think.
Campbell Brown stirring the pot. They’ve accused you of plagiarism?
Obama: The notion that I have plagiarism from one of my national co-chairs that gave me the line is silly.This is where we get into the silly season of politics… What I have been talking to in these speeches and I have to admit is that some of them are pretty good.
Goes into more proposals. Tax credits for college. Ending war in Iraq. Health care. These are very specific, concrete detailed proposals. Sen. Clinton has a fine record so do I. What we shouldn’t be doing is spending time tearing each other down. We should be lifting the country up.
Brown: Sen. Clinton is this the silly season?
Clinton: Plagerizing whole passages in speech is not change that matters it’s change you can xerox. The press corps in the room groans.
Are the gloves coming off and will Clinton end up hitting herself in the face?
She ends by making the case that she’s been in the fight a long time. When she took on health care it was against a firestorm of opposition.
Can Obama resist responding in kind? The answer is yes.
Obama: I think Sen. Clinton mentioned two specific issue areas and I would be happy to talk about those. Talks about health care.We have a philosphical difference.Obama disputes the idea that his plan leaves 15 million out. Professes admiration for Clinton efforts to reform health care in early 1990s, but thinks she did it the wrong way. Says Clinton excluded Democratic participation and tried to push reform through behind closed doors. Obama says Congress and the American people have to be involved. Says politics as usual won’t get it done. And so he circles back to his encompassing theme: change.
