Obama Delivers His Pennsylvania "Closing Argument"

By: Maria Gavrilovic
Topics: Barack Obama

(CBS)

From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

READING, PA. -- Barack Obama delivered what he's calling his "closing argument" today as he tried to woo undecided Pennsylvania voters. Arguing that Hillary Clinton is to blame for the negative tone of the election, he said she should have learned from the Republican attacks on her in the 1990s.

"I'm thinking 'well, you learned the wrong lessons from those Republicans who were going after you in the same ways using the same tactics all those years," Obama said at a town hall meeting here. "I don't want us to become like them."

Although he admitted that his campaign is imperfect, he blamed Clinton's jabs for some of the attacks that his campaign has launched.

"Look our campaign's not perfect, there have been times where you know if you get elbowed enough eventually you start elbowing back."

Obama also argued that voters are not interested in "manufactured" controversies and are more concerned with issues. However, on a stop at a local diner earlier in the day, a patron questioned his patriotism.

"May I ask you a question? I'm going to ask you why you didn't salute the flag?" a local woman asked.

Obama denied the claim, blaming the rumors on false e-mails. "What happened was, we were singing 'The Star Spangled Banner' and the flag wasn't in front of me, the flag was behind me," Obama explained.

The patron told reporters that she was satisfied with Obama's answer but she's a Republican and will not vote in the Democratic primary.

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by skatete April 22, 2008 10:51 AM EDT: Pennsylvania should go for Obama. The US at large should go for Obama. He is a leader for the whole world. Experience can not count here. Listen to this: "Gifted hands, do not need experience", Solomon Katete; Reply to this comment


by zavatchen April 21, 2008 12:59 PM EDT: Pennsylvania will go Clinton by a double digit margin letting America know how important it is that we elect an experienced leader who can face the issues of the economy and the war.; Reply to this comment


by hillary4us April 21, 2008 5:00 AM EDT: For Pennsylvania Democrats, the smart choice Tuesday is Mrs. Clinton.
Clinton is far more experienced in government b%u20AC%u201D as an engaged
first lady to a governor and a president, as a second-term senator in
her own right.
She has a real voting record on key issues. Agree with her or not,
you at least know where she stands instead of being forced to wonder.

More important, she is extremely knowledgeable on crucial foreign
issues. Meeting with Trib editors last month, she ticked off an
impressive list of international challenges and the solutions. (In
Wednesdayb%u20AC%u2122s Philadelphia debate, Obama praised George H.W. Bushb%u20AC%u2122s
foreign policy b%u20AC%u201D apparently not realizing that one of its architects
was then-Defense Secretary *** Cheney, a man he regularly
excoriates.)

As we noted at the time of that meeting, Clintonb%u20AC%u2122s decision to sit
down with the Trib was courageous, given our longstanding criticism
of her. That is no small matter: Political courage is essential in a
president. Clinton has demonstrated it; Obama has not.

She has a real record. He doesnb%u20AC%u2122t.

She has experience of value to a president. He doesnb%u20AC%u2122t.

Clearly, sheb%u20AC%u2122s the wiser choice to represent Democrats this fall.

In Pennsylvaniab%u20AC%u2122s Democrat primary for president: Vote for Clinton; Reply to this comment


by theladyjusti April 21, 2008 3:37 AM EDT: Pennsylvania.......I was raised in Pittsburgh Pa. Went to Schenley High School and Duquesne University, undergraduate and Law School.

Pennsylvania....its a new day....its a new time.......its a new world.

Yesterday is gone....the differences among us, the lack of true conversation...its all gone!

VOTE BARACK OBAMA! You need to see what great vision he has. You need to see how much greater our country can be for all people...in all types of situations. The Clintons had their day. Its time to turn the page.

Wake up people.; Reply to this comment


by kenbomc April 21, 2008 2:43 AM EDT: truth-hurts at 11:20 PM : Apr 20, 2008;

I was hoping that was true.; Reply to this comment


by truth-hurts April 21, 2008 2:20 AM EDT: I hope everyone gets to see the video of Obama giving Hillary the finger.; Reply to this comment


by drphilatruth April 21, 2008 12:10 AM EDT: Why isn''t anyone writing stories about how Hillary Clinton is only running for the votes of super delegates. She admittedly and whole heartedly does not believe that this election should be based on the popular vote of normal non-super-delegate citizens. Moreover, she bluntly states that the votes of ordinary citizens of the United States of America should not amount to any value whatsoever in this election. I heard her interviewed on NPR stating that pledged delegates who were appointed by elections in previous state primaries should ignore the vote of the people and vote for her regardless of percentages. Please, listen for yourself via this link to npr.org''s recording of the interview by Michele Norris. She mentions this at around the 6min mark. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89476099 Afterwards, ask yourself, "does she care about us?" I demand fair coverage by our evidently spineless commercial media!; Reply to this comment


by drphilatruth April 20, 2008 11:58 PM EDT: Why isn''t anyone writing stories about how Hillary Clinton is only running for the votes of super delegates. She admittedly and whole heartedly does not believe that this election should be based on the popular vote of normal non-super-delegate citizens. Moreover, she bluntly states that the votes of ordinary citizens of the United States of America should not amount to any value whatsoever in this election. I heard her interviewed on NPR stating that pledged delegates who were appointed by elections in previous state primaries should ignore the vote of the people and vote for her regardless of percentages. Please, listen for yourself via this link to npr.org''s recording of the interview by Michele Norris. She mentions this at around the 6min mark. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89476099 Afterwards, ask yourself, "does she care about us?" I demand fair coverage by our evidently spineless commercial media!; Reply to this comment


by drphilatruth April 20, 2008 11:56 PM EDT: Why isn''t anyone writing stories about how Hillary Clinton is only running for the votes of super delegates. She admittedly and whole heartedly does not believe that this election should be based on the popular vote of normal non-super-delegate citizens. Moreover, she bluntly states that the votes of ordinary citizens of the United States of America should not amount to any value whatsoever in this election. I heard her interviewed on NPR stating that pledged delegates who were appointed by elections in previous state primaries should ignore the vote of the people and vote for her regardless of percentages. Please, listen for yourself via this link to npr.org''s recording of the interview by Michele Norris. She mentions this at around the 6min mark. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89476099 Afterwards, ask yourself, "does she care about us?" I demand fair coverage by our evidently spineless commercial media!; Reply to this comment


by sursumtx April 20, 2008 10:31 PM EDT: CBS -- show the map of states won accurately! Obama won the most delegates in Texas. As one who of hundreds of thousands who worked tirelessly to bring in that victory, I ask that you show Texas on your map as being won by Obama. If you must, you can show it as striped, as some other news programs do.; Reply to this comment