Democrats' ABC/Iowa Debate
by Ryan Sager
Sun, 19 Aug 2007 at 3:23 PM
updated Sun, 19 Aug 2007 at 3:27 PM
I couldn't watch the debate live, but I DVR'd it, so here are my delayed thoughts:
A pretty boring outing. There's a reason Barack Obama is right to not agree to many more of these: The ground's been covered. There are only so many times the candidates can go in circles on Iraq and on whether Mr. Obama is too green.
The general trends out of this debate: 1) Very few attacks were launched by any of the frontrunners, 2) John Edwards tried on the Hillary "we're not all that different, you and me" role (it didn't really work for him), and 3) Bill Richardson embarrassed himself less than usual (it's a low bar). All of that said, here are some highlights and lowlights:
Highlights:
Mrs. Clinton: She gets the first question of the (way-too-early) morning: Is Barack Obama ready to be president? "Well, George, I was going to say good morning. … It's really up to the voters to make these decisions." The great thing about the current Democratic field, she says, is "You don't have to be against anybody. … you can choose who you're for."
Mr. Richardson: He turns the is-Obama-ready exchange toward him. "Senator Obama does represent change. Senator Clinton has experience. Change and experience… With me, you get both."
Mrs. Clinton: Refers to "the Bush-Cheney administration."
Mrs. Clinton: After dodging a question about taking lobbyist money: "We know how to win. … I have been fighting against these people for longer than anybody else up here. I've taken the taken them on, and we've beaten them." Very interesting use of the word "we" (who's she married to again?). Anyone who fights the "Republican attack machine" is going to have high negatives, she says.
Mr. Obama: On Iraq: "There are only bad options and worse options. … But the thing I wish had happened was that all the people on this stage had asked these questions before they authorized us getting in." Hillary takes a sip of water — a very angry looking sip.
Mr. Gravel: On prayer: "I was always struck by the fact that many people who pray are the ones who want to go to war, who want to kill fellow human beings. That disturbs me. I think what we need is more love between one human being and another human being."
Mr. Kucinich: On prayer: Gets in a good joke that he's been praying for a question.
Mr. Obama: On education and whether he supports merit pay: "I actually think that we can implement a performance-based system that teachers buy into. But I don't think it can be imposed on teachers. … Teachers, across the board, need to be paid more."
Lowlights:
Mr. Edwards: Called on during an exchange between Senators Clinton and Obama about how to deal with Pakistan, he opens with this non-sequitur: "How about a little hope and optimism? Where did it go?" He laughs awkwardly. No one else does.
Mr. Gravel: He says Dick Cheney should be "committed" for his recent statements on Iran.
Mr. Edwards: "I don't believe you can change this country without taking on very entrenched interest in Washington, including lobbyists, that stand between us and the change that American needs. And I don't believe you can do it by sitting at a table, negotiating with them, and trying to bring them together. These people will never give away their power voluntarily. We have to take their power away from them. This is what I've been doing my whole life. And that's why I believe I am the candidate that can bring change to this country."
Mr. Dodd: On education and whether he supports merit pay: "I'm not in favor of necessarily giving more preference for a teacher that's performing somewhat better. Measuring that I think is the wrong direction we're going in. … The idea of discriminating one group of teachers against another in that regard, I think is a huge mistake and I'd oppose it."
Related Topics: Dem Primary
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