DES MOINES, Iowa, Nov. 11, 2007
Clinton, Obama Fight For Advantage In Iowa
Democrats Also Skewer Bush And GOP At Jefferson-Jackson Dinner
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Presidential hopefuls Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y. and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speak at the Jefferson Jackson Dinner in Des Moines, Iowa, Nov. 10, 2007. (AP/Paul Sancya, Charlie Neibergall)
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Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) and Barack Obama (Ill.) drew sharp contrasts with one another Saturday night at a state party fundraiser over who is best able to lead the Democratic Party in next year's presidential election, less than eight weeks before Iowa's critical January caucuses.
A long night of political oratory that featured the six major Democrats ended with Clinton and Obama, in back-to-back speeches, taking aim at each other. Clinton sought to rebut criticism that she has been vague and calculating in her campaign and, targeting what her aides believe is one of Obama's weaknesses, argued that she has the strength and experience to move the country away from the policies of President Bush.
Obama was even more direct in trying to raise doubts about Clinton as a candidate, saying: "If we are really serious about winning this election, Democrats, then we can't live in fear of losing. This party, the party of Jefferson and Jackson and Roosevelt and Kennedy, has always made the biggest difference in the lives of the American people when we led not by polls but by principle, not by calculation but by conviction, when we summoned the entire nation to . . . a higher purpose."
The race in Iowa is currently a three-way contest among Obama, former senator John Edwards of North Carolina and Clinton, the national front-runner for the nomination. Most attention Saturday night was focused on the speeches of those three, but Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware, Sen. Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson used the evening to try to kick-start their candidacies into competition for upper-tier status.
With an estimated 9,000 party activists assembled at Veterans Memorial Auditorium, the candidates also took on Bush and the Republican Party, whom they accused of a misadventure in Iraq, of shredding the Constitution, and of ignoring the plight of 47 million Americans without health care insurance.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) served as emcee for the evening.
The Jefferson-Jackson dinner provided the candidates with an opportunity to preview their closing arguments in what is the costliest and most fiercely contested campaign ever in this state. The event also gave their staffs an opportunity to show off their organizational muscle, transforming the hall with a sea of signs and a wall of sound.
Edwards kicked off the speeches, attacking the Republican presidential candidates as "George Bush on steroids - more war, more division, more tax cuts for the rich, government for the lobbyists, by the lobbyists." In spirited language, Edwards recalled his history as a trial lawyer in asserting that he is the Democrat best positioned to challenge the power of special interests in the nation's capital.
As a lawyer, Edwards said, he often went into the courtroom to challenge corporations and insurance companies. "I beat them and I beat them and I beat them again, and I will beat those interests as president of the United States," he said.
Richardson opened his speech with a dig at Bush. To loud cheers, he said: "This election is about restoring the American dream . . . waking up one cold January morning in 2009 and seeing a Democrat elected to the White House and George Bush gone forever."
Biden said Bush squandered an opportunity to rally the world behind the United States after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and he added: "As long as we are squandering our credibility, our lives and our treasure in Iraq, no one, no one in the world is prepared to join us and follow our leadership in these other hot spots in the world."
Biden also attacked Republicans in general. "They confuse ideology with morality, and they have their values backwards," he said.
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The speeches ran until well past midnight Eastern time, with the candidates' speeches interspersed with remarks from Iowa's elected officials and even an auction to raise funds for the Iowa Democratic Party. When Dodd got his turn at the microphone, with Clinton and Obama still waiting to speak, he joked, "Welcome to breakfast in Des Moines."This election is about restoring the American dream ... waking up one cold January morning in 2009 and seeing a Democrat elected to the White House and George Bush gone forever.
New Mexico Gov. Bill RichardsonBut Dodd quickly turned on Bush and the Republicans, saying they are responsible for "a greater assault on the Constitution" than any other administration in history.
Clinton held a narrow lead in an October Iowa Poll for the Des Moines Register, and her rivals recognize that a Clinton victory here in January could start her on a virtually unstoppable march to the nomination. Nevertheless, strategists here said this week that any of the top three candidates could win the caucuses, and all the campaigns were determined to demonstrate their organizational prowess and the passion of their supporters at Saturday's dinner.
The competition among the campaigns began Friday evening with a "sign war," in which young staffers raced one another to commandeer wall space in the auditorium for their candidates' placards. As the auditorium began to fill with people, the candidates' supporters marched through the corridors chanting, beating drums and raising the noise to ear-piercing levels.
Hours before the dinner, Obama staged a boisterous rally that featured R&B singer John Legend and thousands of supporters wearing red T-shirts with the words "I'm fired up" on the front and "He's ready to go" on the back. Those are chants that Obama uses to close his stump speeches, and they have become a rallying cry for his army of volunteers.
Clinton supporters showcased their own T-shirt brigade, parading through the Veterans Memorial Auditorium and Hy-Vee Hall complex wearing yellow shirts that said "Turn up the heat" on the front and "Turn the country around" on the back - words that Clinton wove through her speech as she called on Democrats to unite to reverse the administration's policies.
Earlier in the day, Edwards attacked Clinton over an incident earlier this week, in which an Iowa college student said the Clinton campaign had encouraged her to ask a question about global warming. Fox News reported Saturday on a second such incident.
Edwards compared Clinton to Bush, who often campaigned in front of pre-screened audiences. "That's what George does: George Bush goes to events that are staged, where people are screened," he said, according to an account on Politico.com. "That's not the way democracy works in Iowa."
Clinton campaign spokesman Mo Elleithee said: "It is not a standard policy of the campaign, and it's not something we'll do moving forward. The senator has no idea who she is calling on when she's answering questions."
Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich (Ohio) and former senator Mike Gravel of Alaska were not invited to speak because they are not running campaigns in Iowa.
© 2006-2007 The Washington Post Company
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See all 164 Comments"Dont pick on me by asking that question. Thats a gotcha question. Do not pick on me for asking that question. Now let me see what I think... Let me see... First put up your hands and tell me what you think. Then Ill tell you what I think. Are you for it or against it? Ok, you''re not gonna tell me. So I''m for it, for it. I am against it. I''m for it and against it. And I wanna be your president."
"Okay, all kidding aside, I am against it," he said. "Its a terrible mistake. You don''t give driver''s licenses to illegal immigrants."
"If you can''t take a position on drivers licenses, what the heck are you gonna do about war and peace, and difficult decisions in crisis?" he added returning his attention to the Democratic frontrunner.
Only Kucinich and Gravel among the Democrats are to be trusted...the rest are in the deep, deep pockets of the plutocracy.
Another Question Planted by Clinton Campaign
Illinois Minister Tells ABC News That Clinton Staffer Asked Him to Pose a War Question
One day after Democratic Sen. Hillary Clintons campaign confirmed that a staffer planted a question for the presidential candidate at a recent campaign stop, another person has come forward with a similar story.
Geoff Mitchell, a minister who recently moved to Hamilton, Ill., from Iowa, told ABC News that he was approached this spring by Clintons Iowa political director Chris Haylor to ask Clinton a question about war funding.
who''s surprised when the lid is blown off this staged corruption The LIBERAL/DEMONRATIC outrage is "nonexistent"??
Their defense you ask?? On liberal biased CBS today they said "well, the question would have been asked anyway". ROTFLMFAO!! If that lie is true why plant the Questions in the first place??!! And again, the liberal outrage is nonexistent!
Posted by chicagopoet
Speak for yourself poet!
I cant get past Obama''s support and passage of the stated law in Illinois that makes it a crime to protect your wife, son , daughter, and home against an intruder bent on doing you and your family harm.
The law states thet because it''s illegal to have a gun in your home, if you use one to protect yourself and family you are facing felony charges and probably going to jail.
In my opinion there is something horribly wrong with that kind of thinking.
"I Try To Stick To What I Think" I have not heard the liberal media, bring up this "type of thinking of his" . Is it his intention to have this legislation of his be put in place nation wide after he becomes president?
Oh, and before you liberal pinkos get a rope for my neck because I support the 2nd amendment, I support all the amendments and the all constitution unlike Obama who supports only the parts he agrees with.
On liberal biased CBS today they said
Go post your ignorance on Fascist FOX, or how about Nazi-Yahoo! But both of those outfits are censored by the Republicon Nazi Party, where freedom of thought is forbidden, and loyalty to Fascism is required by all the self-centered greed filled fools that follow jingosim, greed, and hypocrisy. After all, the Republicon Nazi Party is for the sick in mind, and the self-centered socially inbred.
I wish and wish for discussions on innovative solutions. What I hear is repetidly is "I''ve go the experience ... trust me." Followed by a bashing of the frontrunner and the past. The reality is, the USA is more hated that ever before. Hatred solidifies resolve. We must change minds. To change minds, people must believe that their life will be better when they do something different ... it''s best if people believe it was their idea in the first place. Please candidate please, think outside the political box, think about education as a tool to gradually change minds instead of bombs to instantly cement the resolve against us. Look at the opportunity afforded our generation to heal the earth ... wake up, reversing global warming is a business opportunity that even cognizant profit oriented capitalists can cozy to.
Considering how the corporate media keeps pushing Hillary in our faces, I suspect they are attempting to set up a loss for the Dems.
The only candidate with experience, knowledge, and who is not polarizing, is Joe Biden.
Why doesn''t the corporate media include him in the top tier?
Hillary is NOT my candiate!
If liberals are successful in their attempt to subvert the establishment, with what will it be replaced?
Anarchy, chaos, hatred and corporatisim are the cornerstone of the Republicon Jingo Party. This philosophy is why 2 out of 3 in the USA will not be voting Republicon a year from now. I love watching the Conservative jinGOPigs in America self destruct. Hatred and lies never were a foundation for any party to survive on for more than half a generation in AMerica, although the Republicon Jingo Party is doing everything it can to reach out to its base of self-centered, fatassed fools.
On election day, just last Tuesday, not seven years ago, I asked about Obama at the school where I vote, I asked the Democratic leaders at the door who were handing out Democratic literature what they knew about Obamas voting on (so called) gun control in Illinois. Not one of the five knew one way or the other.
I told them "and you have the nerve to stand here and tell me how to vote"?
Why doesn''''t the corporate media include him in the top tier?
Posted by cattlekate
If Joe Biden looked like he had any chance at all the Faux led echo chamber would go to work making sure he was polarizing.
You want me to post elsewhere because you cant stand having your nose rubbed in the truth here?
Where is the liberal outrage over this planting of Question and answers. Answer Me!!! Where the hel1 is it at!!
If liberals are successful in their attempt to subvert the establishment, with what will it be replaced?
Posted by runningralph
Runningralph, your use of "liberal" and belief that they are "subverting" the system puts you in the category described below by Reagan''s former assistant treasurer.
Decency and intelligence have departed Republican ranks. The party%u2019s shrunken base consists of ignorant and fearful people who believe Muslim jihadists are going to murder them in their beds, rapture evangelicals who believe that war in the Middle East is the prelude to their being wafted up to heaven, the military-security complex reveling in power and fortune, and resentful and frustrated people who can freely vent their anger and hate on "terrorists."
This collection of fear, delusion, greed, and resentment comprises the 30 percent of Americans who constitute Bush%u2019s base. The Republican Party has made itself so unattractive that Democrats believe that it is now possible for a woman or a black to win the presidency.
Posted by Condumism
Your right, but your so ignorant you don''t know why your right so I''ll tell you so as to cut down on your ignorant posts.
The second is an "AMENDMENT" to the constitution" that has been upheld by the US Supreme court as an individual right more then once.
You and Obama don''t have to support what you don''t want to. Chose what parts you agree with and proceed. You can also proceed to kiss my hairy AISS!
Barack, What does it tell you about your parties policies that you state that Hillary is avoiding answering questions because what your primary voters want to hear won''t do well in the general election? People are sick of the war in Iraq, granted, and if Reagan was the "great communicator", Bush is the "terrible communicator" and as a result his approval ratings are horrid and a drag on the GOP candidates. BUT Hillary''s refusal to answer questions with the liberal answers the either she knows the Dem primary voters want to hear or that she truly believes in because she knows those will hurt her in the general election tells you that Americans are still center-right; they are still not going to buy what MoveOn.org, Center for American Progress, and CodePink are selling; not by a LONG-SHOT!!
What is very clear is that if a Dem wins in 2008, it will be anti-Bush vote, not a pro-Democratic or pro-left-wing vote.
Americans are still center-right
Yet the Republicon PArty is now the party of the extreme reicht. This is why the Republicon PArty is now nothing more than a regional party of the original Confederate States. The South has always been the center of fascist extremism in the USA. 67% in the USA consider the USA is heading in the wrong direction. Thus, this means that the Southern fascist states, plus Kansas, Utah, and Idaho are not going to be enough for you inbreds to continue to destroy the USA from within. America will have at least a filibuster proof democratic majority in Congress a year from now. The REpublicon PArty is well on its way to minority status for at least the next 40 years, becaseu Cons are so dumb, they never learn from the mistakes of the past.
We don''t need caucuses and primaries if the press chooses the candidates.
Mitt Romneys much-vaunted "business experience" amounts to being provided with capital by his rich, politically connected father and family, and not managing to lose it. Well thats a step better than Bushit anyway, who got the same handout from a rich, politcally connected family, but blew it all. But its not exactly a rags to riches story--more like "Rich boy does good."
Mitt Rommel managed to avoid the troubles of the Vietnam war when his daddy, a Mormon big cheese, certified boy Mitt as a "preacher man" because he was handing out the usual Mormon crock door to door. This was Mitts service to his country during the draft prone Vietnam affair, when all served, whether we liked it, or not. Same as did our parents during WWII!
Mitt Rommels 4 sons are helping his fathers presidential bid. Mitt recently touted this as his "sons service to their country to get him elected, similar to US soldiers serving in Iraq." Seems to me that we are dealing with a family of cowards, swindlers, and used car salesmen.
Posted by thgdriver at 11:04 AM : Nov 11, 2007
No, it''s not. It''s here:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/11/10/14314/520
on the most liberal blog on the net.
Which you would easily have found if you''d bothered to look before you ran your fingers.
Barack Obama on ''Meet the Press''
In your opinion how well did Barack Obama do on NBC''s Meet the Press with Tim Russert?
http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=941
.
"Dont pick on me by asking that question. Thats a gotcha question. Do not pick on me for asking that question. Now let me see what I think... Let me see... First put up your hands and tell me what you think. Then Ill tell you what I think. Are you for it or against it? Ok, you''''re not gonna tell me. So I''''m for it, for it. I am against it. I''''m for it and against it. And I wanna be your president."
"Okay, all kidding aside, I am against it," he said. "Its a terrible mistake. You don''''t give drivers licenses to illegal immigrants."
"If you cant take a position on drivers licenses, what the heck are you gonna do about war and peace, and difficult decisions in crisis?" he added returning his attention to the Democratic frontrunner.
Another Question Planted by Clinton Campaign
Illinois Minister Tells ABC News That Clinton Staffer Asked Him to Pose a War Question
One day after Democratic Sen. Hillary Clintons campaign confirmed that a staffer planted a question for the presidential candidate at a recent campaign stop, another person has come forward with a similar story.
Geoff Mitchell, a minister who recently moved to Hamilton, Ill., from Iowa, told ABC News that he was approached this spring by Clintons Iowa political director Chris Haylor to ask Clinton a question about war funding.
Related:
"Kucinich Wins Pulse Poll"
"Democracy for America...has announced the results of its %u201CPulse Poll%u201D on the Democratic presidential race. With more than 150,000 votes cast, the winner is Dennis Kucinich, with 49,000. He did not get the 66% required to get DfA%u2019s endorsement, however."
www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2007/11/kucinich_wins_pulse_poll/
Cheney Pays Tribute to Iraq Veterans
Cheney Pays Tribute to Iraq War Soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day
Vice President *** Cheney paid tribute Sunday to veterans of the Iraq war, honoring them for keeping the United States democratic and free and hoping "they will return in victory."
Cheney quoted Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, in saying troops there are fighting in a complex and challenging situation, and praised them for a "magnificent job."
Posted by Abdoul_Pasha at 03:59 PM : Nov 11, 2007
They are lawyers, your country needs more lawyers and an ACLU.
Posted by Abdoul_Pasha at 04:13 PM : Nov 11, 2007
Lawyers over here are thought of a worse than Used Car Sales People, this is why they fit into politics so easily.
Posted by j-whitman at 04:15 PM : Nov 11, 2007
None of them leading the charge in either party do, other than taking a cruise ship past the three mile limit.
Seems funny that the smartest woman in the world has to have questions planted. Not only doesn''t she handle news conferences (has she ever had one??) but she has to have plants.
Not one word on this or other msm sites. No bias there, huh.
Posted by j-whitman at 04:20 PM : Nov 11, 2007
There in lays you problem Whitman, an oxy-moron, you can''t find an honest lawyer, in either party. That''s the same as looking for an inteligent Progressive.
You haven''t lost one right in the last 7 years have you.
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