Highlights From the (Way-Too-Early) Debate

Some of the highlights of yesterday morning's Democratic candidate debate in Iowa, aired on ABC:

Senator Clinton: She gets the first question of the (way-too-early) morning: Is Senator 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." Governor 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."

John Edwards: Called on during an exchange between Mrs. Clinton and Mr. 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.

Mike Gravel: He says Vice President 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 interests in Washington, including lobbyists, that stand between us and the change that America 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."

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 them on, and we've beaten them." 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. Edwards: He tries to play the Hillary role, minimizing the differences between the Democratic candidates, saying they would all end the war. The Republican candidates, meanwhile, are "George Bush on steroids."

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." Mrs. Clinton takes a sip of water — a very angry looking sip.

Mr. Edwards: Asked about how he uses prayer: "I don't think you can prevent bad things from happening though prayer."

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."

Rep. Dennis Kucinich: On prayer: Gets in a good joke that he's been praying for a question.

Senator 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."

Mr. Obama: "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."