Clinton, Obama Collide In Tense Debate

Both Candidates Say Rival Could Beat McCain In November

(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.”

[jsilver2th]

Here''s one middle age white for male gun owner in a town with population 50 for our man Barack Obama!

He''s going to set it straight.

[jockh]

If Hillary is the best candidate, has the best policies, has the best campaign, comes from a political dynasty, identifies most with voters, has the most experience, is most honest and is most likely to win against McCain THEN WHY IS SHE LOSING TO OBAMA !!!!

Hillary supporters have their heads in the sand and their fingers in their ears and simply keep repeating that superdelegates can save her because of electability.

But the superdelegates clearly see that her electability is poor. Why? Because they know that if she cant even beat an inexperienced, elitist, america hating, no good newcomer like Obama then she will be useless to the Democrats in november.

She only has a lead in superdelegates because they jumped on board with her last year before real campaigning had begun and when everyone automatically assumed she would win the nomination.

So, her POOR ELECTABILITY, explains why Obama has gained a massive advantage in superdelegates since super tuesday compared to duck hunting, pistol packing, beer swilling Hillary. And its her poor electability that completely deflates the superdelegate argument of the hanging by the fingernail Hillary supporters.

Go home Hillary; drop out with your head up high. Unless of course you''re ducking sniper fire again.

[obama8years]

If Obama didnt beleive in the Black Separitist Church why does he rebuke it. He says he doesnt agree with some of the comments. But the whole theme of the church tells me who Obama is.

[jockh]

People who live in glass mansions shouldn%u2019t throw stones. Hillary is accusing Obama of being an out of touch elitist.
This comes from a woman who has lived rent-free in government mansions for most of her adult life. No one in politics is more swaddled in the cocoon of power, wealth and privilege than she.
For 15 years, Clinton has not so much as strolled down the block without an armed security detail. Yet still, she managed to remember coming under sniper fire in Bosnia.
When was the last time she pumped a dime''s worth of gasoline into her own car? Or went grocery shopping? When was the last time she shopped at Wal-Mart? Or waited in line for stamps at the post office?
Has she ever waited in an endless line at the airport, only to be groped by the federal government before boarding a packed plane?
The elitist is Hillary, the woman with 109 million dollars bulging from the back pocket of her solid gold pant suits !!

The party is over Hillary, time for you to get off the dance floor, get your coat and go home. And take your pant suits with you!!

[obama8years]

1) Obama is not a Muslim. But he continues to insist he never was. This is a plain lie. Why he makes it, remains beyond us.

2) He claims no relationship to Islam. Utter lie. A majority of his brothers and sisters, and other relatives are Muslim.

3) Obama%u2019s opposition to the Iraq war, while laudable in hindsight made little sense in 2002, except when his family, ethnic, and religious identity enter the equation.

5) Obama consistently downplays his relationship with Jeremiah Wright.

6) Lies about Wright%u2019s personal influence.

7) Lies about his involvement with Wright%u2019s politics, and the politics of Wright%u2019s Church.

Obama forces Jeremiah Wright to dissimulate about the nature of his church, his and their views, opinions, and achievements.

9) Obama dissimulates on Wright%u2019s past association with Farrakhan.

10) Obama employs Nation of Islam, in the past and present.Lets them go untouched, which

11) Raises concerns about Obama%u2019s own stance on the Nation of Islam.

[obama8years]

THE BUCK STOPS WITH OBAMA, THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF....and you say he isnt an elitist.

THis is Obamas own words.

[obama8years]

12) Obama dissimulates about his former take on Israel, and the Palestinians, putting in question his present stance.

13) Obama misrepresents his background, and the context from which he hails, for political purposes, and


14) his books are fraught with lies about himself and who he i.

15) Obama%u2019s campaign deliberately exploits his racial identity, to shield their candidate from regular media grilling.

16) Obama has chosen a deliberate strategy of evasion and vagueness in tackling tough issues. He does not take a stand, and he wont.


17) Obama%u2019s rise to prominence, in Chicago, is fraught with deus ex machine events, and strange circumstances.

18) Why Obama%u2019s record in Chicago, has not received a proper vetting or review by the national media, is puzzling.


19) Obama entered Havard because his father was an Alumnus.

20) It is not clear when changed his name from Barry Soetoro, and why.


21) The Media refuse to ask him questions about all of the above. Why?

22) Obama is a pathological liar, hence so are the media. He is a phony, and the media are complicit in foisting him on the Democratic party.

[obama8years]

Listen to Obama lie during the Debate!! Says he is for Isreal. If he is why does he support the ISM and his pastor of 20 years support Hamas. SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT. OBAMA YOUR WORDS DONT MATCH THE ACTIONS.

[jsilver2th]

obama8years can I ask so what if he was a Muslim? (Which he isn''t.)

You are insulting the 3400 active duty US Military Muslims dedicated to protect our way of life.

You ought to like Farrakhan he''s against gay rights and abortion.

Larry Craig was wearing an American Flag in his lapel the day he got caught at the airport defending the Second Amendment- and Ted Haggard always wore on too- good for cleaning his crack pipe.

[obama8years]

obama8years can I ask so what if he was a Muslim? (Which he isn''''t.)

You are insulting the 3400 active duty US Military Muslims dedicated to protect our way of life.

You ought to like Farrakhan he''''s against gay rights and abortion.

Larry Craig was wearing an American Flag in his lapel the day he got caught at the airport defending the Second Amendment- and Ted Haggard always wore on too- good for cleaning his crack pipe.
-------------------------------------
I could care less if he is a muslim or not. There are plenty of patriotic Muslims. However Obama actions have shown that he caters to the radicalism. Rev Wright, Hamas, ISM. OBAMA isnt even a Muslim, I would rather Have a Patriotic Muslim than OBAMA.

[rufisgufis]

George Stephanopolous and Gibson are two idiots. Neither knows how to ask a concise question. Hillary is still acting like the attack dog that she is. Biotch cannot help herself. She goes negative at the drop of a hat.

[rufisgufis]

obama8years:

You clown, the buck stops with whoever is President.

[rufisgufis]

Hillary is sucking up to Gov. Rendell trying to get brownies points for the PA election.

[obama8years]

Prediction; Obama''''''''s first act as President will be to declare a National Emergency, suspend all rights and privileges provided by the Constitution, set curfew, mobilize thousands all ready trained Muslims in the United States to occupy and control all U.S. Munitions. Non-believers will be detained to detention camps.

Once secure Obama will declare the installation of a Muslim Calaphate, most likely headed by Lewis Farrakhan.

The rest of you are collateral damage.

Advise; Renew or get your passport and purchase abundant ammo. Be very mobile and ready to leave at a moments notice.

"NEVER AGAIN"
-----------------------------
O
SAMA BIN LADEN SAID HE WOULD TAKE DOWN THE USA from within the inside. Your scenario is highly unlikely, but taking down the twin towers would of seemed highly unlikely also. Anything is posssible.

[billyjack991]

George Stephanopoulos''s questions about every known associate or friend of Barack Obama made him sound like "Tailgunner Joe" McCarthy. It''s bad enough when Hillary and the press channel Karl Rove and John McCain; now, they''re channeling Joe McCarthy.

[obama8years]

Good night folks, Good Luck and Get Ready for the Battle of your lifes. Because America is Worth it.

NOBAMA 08

[rufisgufis]

obama8years:

What difference does it make if Obama was ever a Muslim or not. I am a Catholic and used to be a Jew, might decide to be a Muslim next week.

[obama8years]

obama8years:

You clown, the buck stops with whoever is President.
-------------------------------------------
And that is why we cant give the reigns to Obama. Search your Feelings Luke.

[rufisgufis]

This country is not about a flag, it is about a citizens right to burn that flag in protest. It is the right of a person to get up and put forth an opinion that you totally disagree with and would fight with all your breath against. That is what America is about, that is what we should celebrate. Our military fights for our Constitutional right to burn that flag if we wish. It%u2019s called freedom of speech. The right to express ourselves any way we wish.

[rufisgufis]

obama8years:

Just be prepared to stand up and salute the 44th president of the United States:

Obama Hussein Barack

[rufisgufis]

This biotch takes every possible opportunity to suck up to PA voters. First it was Rendell, now she throws Mayor Nutter in the pot. A real biotch.

[downtowner97]

Every Democratic debate gets McCain just a little bit closer to the White House.

[veteran72]

Reverand Jeremiah Wright:
USMC, Navy Corpsman, (Graduated Valedictorian), Cardiopulmonary Tech, Bethesda Naval Medical Center,
(Graduated Salutorian), Three White House Letters of Commendation, in care of then President Johnson.
Then entered Howard University, Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree in English, 2nd Masters Degree at University of Chicago Divinity School, and Doctor of Ministry Degree from the United Theological Seminary,
Dayton, Ohio. Also seven Honorary Doctorate Degrees.
....Yea, you haters are right,....he''s worthless....

[apprxam]

Obama isn''t looking too good on that staged. Labored and struggling to find answers. Clintonistas, your girl is lookin in command.

[veteran72]

When McBushcain got the photo op with Shrub at the White House, that''s as close as he''ll ever get.
Americans won''t be voting for ANY Repukes come November. Get ready for a real bad day, GOPervs....

[rufisgufis]

Hillary sucks up to PA voters every chance she gets.

[veteran72]

Trapbreak: Aren''t you gonna be late for the KKKlan rally???

[liberalme]

If your pastor is preaching hate whites, and "God Damm America", and %u201CThe government invented AIDs to kill people of color%u201D and has ties to the Nation of Islam, and as an elder you don%u2019t stand up and demand a change or leave the church you are part that hate.

Posted by trapbreak at 09:34 PM : Apr 16, 2008

And there you have a bigoted black man running aling the same road as a bigoted white man. Rev Wright was wrong in what he said, but white people have been just as harsh and judgemental.

It''s people like that, black and white, that keeps the racial divide alive and strong--but only amongst themselves.

[rufisgufis]

trapbreak:

Too bad it''s just a waste of time. Her chances of winning are less than your - which are slim to none - with an emphasis on none.

[rufisgufis]

trapbreak:

Did you wash you hood and sheet?

[veteran72]

The numbers tell the story of Hillary''s doomed future.
When will she finally see that Americans just don''t want a Bush/Clinton/Bush/Clinton Dynasty over America?
Face it, she''s done.

[apprxam]

McBushCain...that''s a good one, Vet.

[ozus]

rufisgufis,

If the US flag is just for burning, why bother having a flag at all? I see our flag as a symbol that transcends political affiliation, representing the right, left and center.

[ioweign]

Every Democratic debate gets McCain just a little bit closer to the White House.

Posted by downtowner97 at 09:28 PM : Apr 16, 2008



Are you better off now than you were 7 years ago ?

[veteran72]

tracy2morgan: mouth breathing retardd

[truth-hurts]

liberalme, You said, people like that...that keeps the racial divide alive but only among themselves. LOL! History proves you so wrong!! When the better part of Detroit burned down in 1967, the racial divide didn''t spare any houses in its way. BURN BABY BURN, (BLACK SLOGAN) torched the whole town regardless of who lived there. People like you have absolutly no idea what racism, real racism is like.

[kissamaarse]

This is not a face off. This is ABC News grilling Obama on what OTHERS have said, and asking Clinton an occasional question about what SHE has said. Anyone who can not discern the difference just switch back to tone deaf Fox News.

[truth-hurts]

vet72, What do you breathe out of ...your azz??

[fstop100]

This is really sad, this is the best we can come up with to run our country? And the republican candidate isn''t a better choice either. What a disgrace.

[veteran72]

lies-hurt = Neocon/Hillary Shill

[liberalme]

liberalme, You said, people like that...that keeps the racial divide alive but only among themselves. LOL! History proves you so wrong!! When the better part of Detroit burned down in 1967, the racial divide didn''''t spare any houses in its way. BURN BABY BURN, (BLACK SLOGAN) torched the whole town regardless of who lived there. People like you have absolutly no idea what racism, real racism is like.

Posted by truth-hurts at 09:50 PM : Apr 16, 2008

And I meant what I said--WHITE KKK did nothing less than what happened in 1967--what I meant was it is the black bigots and the white bigots that KEEP the racial divide alive--I stand corrected about the "among themselves", they do hurt innocent people, but NO one bigot is better than another!

[truth-hurts]

Obama has made Black America into a bunch of racist. And his grandparents didn''t even fight for Civil Rights.

[spinster2]

Congrats Clinton. You seemed relaxed in in control often making Obama look like a junior senator. Probably your best debate yet.

[truth-hurts]

And the WINNER is.....Hillary!!

[absecon2]

Jockh says, "The elitist is Hillary,the woman with 109 million dollars bulging from the back pocket of her solid gold pant suits !!"

Earlier today it was reported that Democratic Sen. Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, made $4.2 million last year as widespread interest in the presidential candidate pushed the sales of his two books. What percentage of Americans live in such luxurious furnishings? Not very many I am sure.

Also, didn''t I hear Obama lives in a 1.62 million dollar home. I think that is elitist enough to suit me. Also Obama''s elitism isn''t only how much money he has it is also how he looks at those less fortunate than himself.

Obama also seems to project a feeling of intellectual superiority or social status to the working people of Pennsylvania when he belittles them by saying:

%u201C"They" get bitter, "they" cling to guns or religion or antipathy toward people who aren''t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain "their" frustrations%u201D That''s elitist enough for me.

[michael0004]

George Stephanopoulos''''s questions about every known associate or friend of Barack Obama made him sound like "Tailgunner Joe" McCarthy. It''''s bad enough when Hillary and the press channel Karl Rove and John McCain; now, they''''re channeling Joe McCarthy.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by BillyJack991 at 09:16 PM : Apr 16, 2008


Yes. I too think it is unfair to ask Obama uncomfortable questions. George Stephanopolis must not have read the script. The tough questions should be directed to Hillary Clinton.

[truth-hurts]

And the winner is....Hillary!!!!

[haoli25]

CLINTON, OBAMA FACE OFF. hmmm, that''s four faces.

[spinster2]

Excellent debate Hillary. This may have been your best preformance. You finally lived up to your policy wonk credentials often making Obama look like a junior senator. Had you preformed like this all along, you would already be the nominee.

[randynason]

Barack is the only candidate in either party that is consistent and steady. Everyone else seems either out of touch, insincere or is a big white weinie in a pink monkey world.