June 18, 2009 6:26 PM

Clinton, Obama Collide In Tense Debate

(CBS/AP)  Hillary Rodham Clinton said emphatically Wednesday night that Barack Obama can win the White House this fall, undercutting her efforts to deny him the nomination by suggesting he would lead the party to defeat.

"Yes, yes, yes," she said when pressed about Obama's electability during a campaign debate six days before the Pennsylvania primary.

Asked a similar question about Clinton, Obama said "Absolutely and I've said so before" - a not-so-subtle response to suggestions from his rival that he could not defeat Republican Sen. John McCain.

In a 90-minute debate, both rivals pledged not to raise taxes on individuals making less than $200,000, and said they would respond forcefully if Iran obtains nuclear weapons and uses them against Israel.

"An attack on Israel would incur massive retaliation by the United States," said Clinton.

Obama said, "The U.S. would take appropriate action."

In a debate that moved swiftly between politics and policy, Clinton also issued a first-ever public apology for having claimed erroneously that she landed in Bosnia under sniper fire in 1996 as first lady.

"I may be a lot of things but I am not dumb," she said, adding that she had written in her book that there had been no gunfire during the episode. She said she was embarrassed by her error. "I'm sorry I said it," she added.

She previously had explained her incorrect comments by saying she had misspoken.

Obama was asked at one point whether he believed Clinton has been fully truthful as a candidate. "I think that Senator Clinton has a strong record to run on. She wouldn't be here if she didn't."

Both Obama and Clinton sidestepped when asked if they would place their rival on the ticket as vice presidential running mate in the fall.

"I think very highly of Senator Clinton's record, but I think it is premature at this point to talk about who the vice presidential candidates will be because we're still trying to determine who the nominee will be," Obama said.

Clinton was similarly noncommittal. "I'm going to do everything I possibly can to make sure that one of us takes the oath of office next January. I think that has to be the overriding goal," she said.

"Much of the discussion from both candidates was aimed at convincing remaining primary voters, and the party's superdelegates, that each of them is the strongest choice to go up against John McCain in the general election," said CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs. "Clinton in particular remains in a position where she must convince a shrinking pool of voters and party leaders that Obama is too risky a choice to select for an election which presents a golden opportunity for the party. She did little tonight to further that argument, even allowing for the first time that her opponent would be able to defeat John McCain."


© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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by b-easy63 April 19, 2008 12:35 PM EDT
You only become guilty of associating with anti-Americans (Like when Hillary said she did not support NAFTA but her documented schedule said otherwise, like when Hillary says she does not support CAFTA, but her husband is paid 800K to lobby for them and her chief strategist is paid over 300K to do the same or when Hillary said screw them concerning her feelings towards other Democrats.)
Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 09:01 AM : Apr 18, 2008


LOL, Right you are, again--Rowdy. The truth is refreshing, isn''t it? LMAOAY
Reply to this comment
by b-easy63 April 19, 2008 12:34 PM EDT
Well, you only become guilty when you sleep with a person then you call him an acquaintance and lie about it. (think Bill and MOnica or Bill and Gennifer or Bill and Paula Jones)

You only become a thief, when you write letters of testament so another thief can steal money from the government. And then lie about it. (Think Hillary and Hsu, Hillary and Bill and Paul and Lee lawsuit, or the Whitewater scandal or the missing law firm files or the indictment of Hillary''s campaign mgr for failing to report over 250K in donations to her Senate campaign)

You only become guilty working for a company that discriminates against people, when you try to tear down someone else for doing exactly what you''''re doing. And then lie about it. (Think Hillary and Walmart or Hillary and her defense of people who victimized rape victims)

Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 09:01 AM : Apr 18, 2008


Why, thank you RowdyTexan2--I could not have said all of that better--if I''d wrote it myself. Glad you finally gave up lying and decided to see the light. ROTFLMAO
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by b-easy63 April 19, 2008 12:27 PM EDT
The fact that one is black and one is a woman is a distraction to the issues neither are experianced to deal with as people. They are not credible and they certainly are not ready to lead our country -that needs change. The change a Democrat will bring will be BAD CHANGE. I only hope those who understand this can help those who don''''t. Taxes will be raised, the war will not end in the time frame they say, and they have no idea what they are doing with most other issues. Scary and dangerous.

Posted by jack3213 at 08:08 AM : Apr 18, 2008


You have a good point--unfortunately, the alternative is a man who can''t get the countries or factions right in who we are fighting, who has memory lapses, a very bad temper and appears to be on just this side of dementia, and whose endorsement and view of women include publicly calling his own wife a ****. Not to mention his campaign is run primarily by lobbyists and there is evidence that once again, he is Sloan Kettering his way to some sort of truce and compromise which may be good for him but not for ethics. Ah well...decisions...decisions..guess how many Americans think continuing Bush''s policies and war are a sound idea? Give you a hint--not nearly enough to take the White House.
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by b-easy63 April 19, 2008 12:21 PM EDT
Hillary Rodham Clinton said emphatically Wednesday night that Barack Obama can win the White House this fall, undercutting her efforts to deny him the nomination by suggesting he would lead the party to defeat.

"Yes, yes, yes," she said when pressed about Obama''s electability during a campaign debate six days before the Pennsylvania primary.


...and just HOW MUCH did it hurt to admit that in front of the entire country, Hillary? Now...go back to whispering how he can''t win to the superdelegates ya little liar....rotflmao
Reply to this comment
by paulrice--2008 April 18, 2008 4:10 PM EDT
I was looking forward to [this debate] more than any prior debate. My favorite news druids, Charles Gibson and George Stephanopoulos, were in charge.

The very first thing that puzzled me, however, was the initial pan over the audience. It was mostly darkened except for what appeared to be a large spotlight on a group of people. I could not tell who they were at the time but as the night drew on it was obvious that the lighting was on Chelsea Clinton, whom ABC elected to cut to at various times showing pleasure in what her Mother was saying and displeasure at what her Mother%u2019s opponent was saying.

This was supposed to be a debate. The first half, however, was nothing more than bilge on %u201Cgaffs%u201D which have been played over and over and (of course) the cretinous and polemic issue on some contact Obamah had 40 years ago.

There was also Charles%u2019 pandering offer to Clinton to (apparently) speak on anything she wished so she could catch up on time she had been shorted to that point in the debate.

This was the worst handling of a Presidential Debate ...ever!
Reply to this comment
by paulrice--2008 April 18, 2008 4:09 PM EDT
I was looking forward to [this debate] more than any prior debate. My favorite news druids, Charles Gibson and George Stephanopoulos, were in charge.

The very first thing that puzzled me, however, was the initial pan over the audience. It was mostly darkened except for what appeared to be a large spotlight on a group of people. I could not tell who they were at the time but as the night drew on it was obvious that the lighting was on Chelsea Clinton, whom ABC elected to cut to at various times showing pleasure in what her Mother was saying and displeasure at what her Mother%u2019s opponent was saying.

This was supposed to be a debate. The first half, however, was nothing more than bilge on %u201Cgaffs%u201D which have been played over and over and (of course) the cretinous and polemic issue on some contact Obamah had 40 years ago.

There was also Charles%u2019 pandering offer to Clinton to (apparently) speak on anything she wished so she could catch up on time she had been shorted to that point in the debate.

This was the worst handling of a Presidential Debate ...ever!
Reply to this comment
by rowdytexan2 April 18, 2008 1:25 PM EDT
Obama tries really hard to shrug off his incompetence, but it is a real no brainer.

There were several defining moments in the debate, but two of the best were:

%u201CHistory shows that every time you raise the capital gains tax revenue decreases and when you lower the tax revenue increases%u201D Obama: %u201CWell it won%u2019t this time.%u201D Bwahahahha! He had no clue about capital gaines taxes.

"I promise not to raise taxes!" next breath..."But Hillary, taxes HAVE to be raised." Obama, heeeeere''''s your STUPID sign!
Reply to this comment
by obama8years April 18, 2008 12:03 PM EDT
Be Careful Who You VOte FORE

Research Obama Past and its *** right scary.

canadafreepress.com/index.php/ article/2462

Search CBS article for "Bad Company of Barack" click the link Opinion.
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by rowdytexan2 April 18, 2008 12:01 PM EDT
GUILT BY ASSOCIATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by BLACKSPIRIT3 at 08:14 AM : Apr 18, 2008

Well, you only become guilty when you sleep with a gay guy or when you let a gay guy raise money for your campaigns, then you call him an acquaintance and lie about it.

You only become a thief, when you write letters of testament so another thief can steal money from the government. And then lie about it.

You only become guilty working for a company that discriminates against people, when you try to tear down someone else for doing exactly what you''re doing. And then lie about it.

You only become guilty of associating with anti-Americans when you write books spewing their ideas and market it, when you join them teach that krap to college students, and then when you lie about the whole thing.
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by vmcneal2 April 18, 2008 11:34 AM EDT
Anti Obama people must be scratching their heads because no matter what kind of trash they try to pin on him he is still very much in the game.

Obama took a pretty good beating during that ABC circus and his Pennsylvania numbers remain strong. It seems that the more people bash him the stronger he gets.

As the old saying goes, you can''t keep a good man down.

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