The Dems Debate: Nevada Nice, No News

Nevada Nice; No News.

Everyone did well; a credit to the Democratic Party and their candidates.

The candidates played in the smaller sandbox very nicely, thank you. They said many nice things about each other as they did drawing distinctions, chiming in at moments to get that last word in about the failures of the Bush Administration. “I really commend Barack for taking on
the full range… etc.)

Both Clinton and Obama needed the racial paroxysm to end; both were eloquent and seemed genuinely interested in calming their supporters down. Fortunately for Obama, his conciliatory manner reflected his campaign message very nicely.

Clinton’s acceptance of Bob Johnson’s clarification statement will raise eyebrows – the guy was clearly referring to something that wasn’t activism – but Obama did not want to press the point.
All three of the candidates seemed comfortable with their stations; there was much less jockeying for ideological space than usual.

The sparks flew when the debate turned to local issues.

Clinton got the better of an exchange on Yucca Mountain, making sure to drive home the point that John Edwards twice voted in favor of the nuclear waste repository. NBC made sure that Obama was held to account for his record, asking about his vote for the 2005 energy bill, for instance, and even about scurrilous e-mails claiming he’s a Muslim. To Obama’s credit, he did not pander or shy away from his possible support for nuclear power, provided it could be generated safely and cleanly. Clinton had a few other jabs at the ready, calling the ’05 energy bill, which Obama supported, the “Dick Cheney energy bill…” and said of renewable energy, “it’s not going to happen by hoping for it.” She won these exchanges on points, in part because her tone was measured, and in part because the moderators did not give Obama the chance to respond.

Barack Obama seems very comfortable talking about real people and their real issues. As he’s done more of these debates, he’s been able to sound more like a father and less like a law professor. The ratio between ethereal talk and issue talk was about 50/50 for him. Hillary Clinton had a fine night; her ration was about 80 parts issue to 20 parts message; John Edwards, as usual, had the clearest message and tried to distinguish himself from his opponents , but he was tripped up on nuclear fuel and Yucca Mountain. Some of his answers were unusually treacly.

Tim Russert points out that all the Dems no longer favor more federal restrictions on gun control.... HRC changed her mind from '00...



Obama gets the line of the night: asked whether Hispanic voters have a hard time voting for black candidates, Obama said; "Not in Illinois. They all voted for me."



HRC calls the '05 energy bill, which Obama supported, as "the Dick Cheney energy bill."

On Yucca:

HRC notes she opposed it from 2001...

Obama notes he opposes it...

HRC jabs at Obama's corporate patron "Exelon"...

Notes that "John was in favor of it twice..."

Edwards: "I've heard Sen. Obama say he is open to the subject of nuclear power...I am not for it or agnostic..I am against it."

HRC: "Well, but John, you did vote for Yucca Mountain twice."

Edwards; "The science that has been revealed since this time..and the forged documents....have revealed that this thing does not make sense."




Clinton: Harvard, other schools "should not do anything which disrespects" students who want to serve in the military.... Obama says he would favor mandate requiring schools to accept ROTC programs as a condition of federal aid.






Obama campaign sends along:

Edwards was wrong on that health care $$ claim: Clinton Raised More Money From Health Care Professionals Than Obama. Senator Clinton took $1,695,830 from health care professionals. Senator Obama took $1,330,743 from health care professionals. [Center For Responsive Politics, Accessed 1/15/08]

Obama wonders whether Edwards would allow combat troops to go into Iraq combat terrorism.... "as respects Al Qaeda, public enemy number one, I would keep a quick reaction force in Kuwait..."

Obama: "But.."

Edwards: "That is different than keeping troops inside Iraq... combat troops is a continuation of the occupation...."

Obama: "I think there is a distinction without a difference. If it's appropriate to keep that strike force outside of Iraq, that might be preferable. But there is a capacity."

Edwards: "Yes."



There's lots of joie de vie tonight on stage...

HRC: "What Barack said is what John and I meant..."

Etc.

Lots of that.

"It's not only George Bush. The Republican candidates running for the presidency are saying things very much in line with George Bush."


Candidates get to question each other....
.
Edwards asks Obama: "Do you think people expect something for [donations from phamra and drug companies:]? Obama: "I don't take money from federal lobbyists, I don't take money from PACs. If you've got a mid-level executive at a drug company or insurance company....who is inspired by my message and sends me money, it's recorded as being from those companies...even though there was no organized effort...I'm proud of raising more money from small donors..."

Clinton asks Obama to "join me in doing something. We both very much want to convince President Bush to end the war in IRaq and change direction...appears that not only is he refusing to do that but can enter into an agreement with the Iraqi government without the approval of the US Congress...I think we have to do everything we can to prevent Pres. Bush from binding the hands of the next president....I've introduced legislation to require him to come to the US congress...to get anything [he wants]....I want to Obama whether he will cosponsor my legislation." Obama: "I think we can work on this, Hillary."




Clinton says she regrets '02 bankruptcy vote...says she was happy that it never became law and opposed '05 bill....turns to subprime crisis and her plan...."priorities and the values are absolutely wrong."

Seems that, with their mentions, the Dem party rediscovering Asian-Americans tonight....

Obama notes that he opposed the bankruptcy bill in '01 and in '05... a sop to the credit card industry, he says... generally seems more comfortable than usual taking his responses out of the clouds and to the ground..


Debate turns to the economy...

Edwards pivots back to his message...

Clinton talks about financial instruments in details...

Obama blames the administration...



Brian Williams asks Obama about the Muslim rumors. Yes, really. "In the internet age, there are going to be lies that are spread all over the place. Fortunately, I believe that the American people are smarter than people give them credit for."

Interlude: HRC campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle thanks Michiganders on HRC's behalf:

“Tonight Michigan Democrats spoke loudly for a new beginning. You spoke out for an economy that would honor the middle class, not punish it. You spoke out for a President who will fight to create good paying jobs at a time when so many families are struggling to make ends meet. You spoke out for an end to the war in Iraq. You spoke out for a quality, affordable health care system that works for all Americans. “For that, we thank you. “Your voices matter. And as President, Hillary Clinton will not only keep listening, but will make sure your voice is always heard.”

Obama: "He was on time all the time. I'm sure he never lost a paper. What he could not do what he could not do is to listen to perspectives that did not agree with his ideological predispositions....what he could not do is bring people together..."

Pivots to Iraq war.... "Those are the kinds of failures that have to do with judgment, with the capacity to inspire people..."



HRC calls Bush "pathetic" for "begging" Saudi sheiks to lower the price of oil....

Russert: Do American people want someone who is an "operating officer?" Obama: "Being president is not making sure that schedules are being run properly or that paperwork is being run effectively. It's involving having a vision for where we want the country to go."

Greatest Strength: Obama: "Ability to bring people together." Obama: "Greatest weakness is...my desk in my office doesn't look good...I've got to have somebody around me who is keeping track of this stuff." Edwards: "Greatest strength: for 54 years I've been fighting with every fiber of my being... [says fight nine times]...." Edwards's weakness: "I sometimes have a very powerful emotional response to people around me." HRC'[s strength: "I am passionately committed to this country and what it stands for.." Weakness: "I get impatient. I get really frustrated when people don't seem to understand that we can do so much more to help each other....I get concerned with pushing further and faster than people are ready to go..."

HRC: "There is a difference...being president is being the chief executive officer. I think you have to be able to manage and run the bureaucracy. You have to pick good people...and have to hold them accountable. And you've seen a president who has failed at that..."

NBC's early questions have been almost all process, no substance. Not that I'm complaining...

Letting candidates pivot easily to their stump speeches.... (Good for Edwards....)

A heckler yells about "raced-based questions".....





Edwards: "As Hillary noted, I was the son of a mill worker...I do think there are differences on policies and perspectives...

NBC's Natalie Morales:"What is a white male to do running against these historic candidates?"

HRC: "Poor John!"

Edwards; "I do believe that it says really good things about America."

:

Russert: What happened in New Hampshire? Wilder effect?

Obama: "No."



Russert asks HRC whether she'll can Bob Johnson (but he's not a campaign reporter). But Russert says: "drug use as a teenager" in his question....
Clinton says she accepts Johnson's statement...

Candidates strike calming tone....

Clinton: “Neither race nor gender should be part of this campaign. Both have exuberant and uncontrollable supporters…we’re all family…”. Obama: “I think Hillary said it well. Race has always been an issue and in our politics and in our country…one of the premises of my campaign is that we can’t solve these challenges unless we come together as a people.” Edwards bring up Greenville sit-ins…