Some Ending Thoughts…
February 21st, 2008 at 9:26 pm
I think the debate has to go to Senator Clinton on points. Her ending (see below) was brilliant. After the debate, Garry Mauro, a key part of her Texas effort, was talking about how he hoped the campaign turned her closing into a commercial and flooded the airwaves with it. Her closing redeemed some of the nastiness she sent Obama’s way earlier in the debate.
Obama may have played it too cool. Still, the senator from Illinois didn’t make any gaffes and it’s probably unlikely this will alter the dynamic that his string of victories has created.
My colleague Brad Tyer will have more fun from the spin-fest now underway at the University of Texas a bit later.
What did y’all think?
CLINTON: Well, I think everybody here knows I’ve lived through some crises and some challenging moments in my life. And…
(APPLAUSE)
And I am grateful for the support and the prayers of countless Americans.
But people often ask me, “How do you do it?” You know, “How do you keep going?” And I just have to shake my head in wonderment, because with all of the challenges that I’ve had, they are nothing compared to what I see happening in the lives of Americans every single day.
CLINTON: You know, a few months ago, I was honored to be asked, along with Senator McCain, as the only two elected officials, to speak at the opening at the Intrepid Center at Brooke Medical Center in San Antonio, a center designed to take care of and provide rehabilitation for our brave young men and women who have been injured in war.
And I remember sitting up there and watching them come in. Those who could walk were walking. Those who had lost limbs were trying with great courage to get themselves in without the help of others. Some were in wheelchairs and some were on gurneys. And the speaker representing these wounded warriors had had most of his face disfigured by the results of fire from a roadside bomb.
CLINTON: You know, the hits I’ve taken in life are nothing compared to what goes on every single day in the lives of people across our country.
And I resolved at a very young age that I’d been blessed and that I was called by my faith and by my upbringing to do what I could to give others the same opportunities and blessings that I took for granted.
That’s what gets me up in the morning. That’s what motivates me in this campaign.
February 21st, 2008 at 9:35 pm
indeed it was the best HRC has sounded since she “found her voice” the day before New Hampshire.
HRC finished very well and was at her best when highlighting the contrasts between her proposals and the current administration’s policies.
BHO was strongest when highlighting the congruity between his proposals and HRC’s.
DEM voter record turnout this year is not just a reaction/desire for change from the current administration, it is also a reflection of the fact that so many of the DEM candidates have given the electorate something to vote “for”.
February 21st, 2008 at 10:50 pm
The Clinton team may want to re-think using her final words as a commercial because her very last lines, which you did not show, were lifted from two speeches by John Edwards.
The National Journal has posted Edwards quotes on their blog:
“What’s not at stake are any of us. All of us are going to be just fine no matter what happens in this election. But what’s at stake is whether America is going to be fine.” [Democratic Debate, 12/13/07]
John Edwards: “I want to say this to everyone: with Elizabeth, with my family, with my friends, with all of you and all of your support, this son of a millworker’s gonna be just fine. Our job now is to make certain that America will be fine.” [Edwards Speech, 1/30/08; http://www.johnedwards.com/news/press-releases/20080130/
quotes from: http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2008/02/a_final_round_o.html
February 21st, 2008 at 11:18 pm
and of course, HRC would need to clip the “and I’m proud to be here on stage with Senator Obama” as well.
February 21st, 2008 at 11:33 pm
Some other lines in Hillary’s closing remarks were also not her own, namely:
“You know, the hits I’ve taken in life are nothing compared to what goes on every single day in the lives of people across our country.”
Daniel Drezner cites two sources: Bill Clinton (1992) and the book, Primary Colors.
http://www.danieldrezner.com/archives/003724.html
I don’t think Americans would care if Hillary or any politician lifted lines, but Hillary made it a front-page issue when she attacked Barack. Perhaps this will be a lesson to her to run a more positive campaign.
For politicians, the comforting takeaway over these lifting incidents is that people immediately recognized Hillary’s Xerox moment, which indicates they are listening to the words of all the politicians.
February 22nd, 2008 at 8:38 am
[…] on South Congress, booing Obama’s mild disagreements and cheering like mad at Clinton’s grand finale. There was music, food and signage, and later in the night Clinton herself grabbed the mic to thank […]
March 2nd, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Based on experience and qualifications, Hillary Clinton is the authentic visionary for solutions that deliver what American needs now. She has a solution for universal healthcare with 100% coverage, not just for select groups. She is the best candidate for the Presidency. Her Democratic opponent is a newcomer on the scene - who time will tell if he is truly qualified, plus we know there are questions on his involvement with Chicago folks who are pending trial.
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/16066877.html