Clinton, Obama Collide In Tense Debate

Both Candidates Say Rival Could Beat McCain In November

(CBS/AP) 
Obama has struggled in recent days to overcome the controversy caused by his comments that residents of small towns become bitter because of economic adversity, and "cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them" as a result.

When asked about it at the debate, he said he was attempting to say that because voters feel ignored by government, "they end up being much more concerned about votes around things like guns where traditions have been passed on from generation to generation. And those are incredibly important to them."

"People don't cling to their traditions on hunting and guns" out of frustration with their government, Clinton said. She added that Obama had a fundamental misunderstanding on the role of religion and faith.

Obama expressed frustration that the campaign has seemed to dwell on issues that have been taken out of context.

Obama's comments about bitterness have dominated the campaign in recent days.

Clinton has called them elitist, and aides have said they hoped to use the controversy to stoke questions about Obama's ability to defeat McCain in the fall.

Both campaigns are running television ads in Pennsylvania that focus on the flap.

"There's no question that this criticism that she has leveled at him has sort of halted the momentum that he was building in Pennsylvania, but she's paying a price for this and other controversies that have come up," said CBS Evening News chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer.

Clinton is viewed as "honest and trustworthy" by just 39 percent of Americans, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, compared with 52 percent in May 2006. Nearly six in 10 said in the new poll that she is not honest and trustworthy.

Pennsylvania's primary has 158 convention delegates at stake, the largest prize remaining before the primaries end on June 3.

Obama leads Clinton in the delegate chase, 1637 - 1495, according to the latest CBS News count, and in popular votes and states won. Earlier in the day, he picked up the endorsements of three superdelegates from a pair of states with primaries on May 6 - Reps. Andre Carson of Indiana and Mel Watt and David Price of North Carolina. (Click here for the latest state-by-state tally)

Clinton is struggling to stop his drive on the nomination by appealing to superdelegates that he will preside over an electoral defeat at a moment of great opportunity after eight years of Republican rule.

The former first lady has never denied published reports that she once told New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson that Obama couldn't win when he called to tell her he would be endorsing the Illinois senator.

And at a news conference earlier this month in California, Clinton sidestepped when asked directly whether Obama would win if he were the Democratic nominee.

"I am sure we will have a united Democratic Party. I will do everything possible to make sure we can win and I am confident we will have a Democrat in the White House next year," she said at the time.

[b-easy63]

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

[b-easy63]

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

[b-easy63]

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.

[b-easy63]

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

[paulrice--2008]

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!

[paulrice--2008]

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!

[rowdytexan2]

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!

[obama8years]

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.

[rowdytexan2]

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.

[vmcneal2]

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.

[blackspirit3]

GUILT BY ASSOCIATION
1 ATTEND A CHURCH AND A COUPLE GAY PEOPLE ATTEND THE CHURCH,SO THEREFORE I SUPPORT GAYISM?
I ATTEND A COUNTRY CLUB AND THEIR ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE STOLEN MONIES FROM INVESTORS, SINCE I ATTEND THE SAME COUNTRY CLUB - I TOO MUST BE A THIEF?
I WORK FOR A COMPANY WHO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST HIRING PEOPLE OF COLOR, BECAUSE I WORK FOR THAT COMPANY, I DISCRIMINATE AGAINST THEM AS WELL?
I SIT ON A BOARD OF 30 PEOPLE AND ONE OF THEM SAY "AMERICA CAN GO TO HELL" IF I STAY ON THAT BOARD, I SUPPORT THAT INDIVIDUALS IDEA''S ABOUTM AMERICA?
SOMEONE HELP ME DEFINE WHAT THE HELL IS GUILT BY ASSOCIATION, BECAUSE ALL AMERICANS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH IDIOTS.

[jack3213]

I am trully amazed that people have such incredible short memories. One day, one is the favorite, the next day, they''re not. On the spin of a dime one word or comment sways the voters minds, the pendelum swings back in denial of what was once said or done. It occurs to me that the desperate people who want only a Democrat are blinded by false hope and not a qualified candidate. The people are waiting for one of them to tell them what the think, to feel, and to do- and yet they are not aware enough to think for themselves. 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.

[popstom1]

Obama is a bi-tch

[truth-hurts]

Obama vs. The Media - Who do you think will win?
caution: your answer may reveal your age.

[hinnis]

OBAMA%u2019S ALLEGED OPPOSITION TO THE WAR: Although he gave a speech against the war in 2002, by 2003 the speech was off his website. Then, on July 27, 2004, when asked how he would have voted on the war resolution in an interview with the New York Times, he said he didn''t think the case for war had been made, but he didn''t know how he would have voted had he had access to classified information at the time, because he was not in the United States Senate. By 2004, he was saying that %u201CThere''s not that much difference between my position and George Bush''s position at this stage.%u201D And by 2005, 6, and 7, he was voting for every funding bill ($300 billion) regarding the war. Indeed, since his election to the Senate, his voting record has been just about identical with that of Hillary Clinton. Then when Bill Clinton tried to correct the record regarding this issue by outlining the above by calling Obama%u2019s representation of his continual opposition to the war a "fairy tale," Obama played the race card and implied that Bill Clinton was saying that Obama''s CANDIDACY was a "fairy tale."

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by kansas1946 at 12:33 AM : Apr 18, 2008

Exactly! Look at their health care plans! Hillary''s is loaded with options for people to get health care!

Obama just wants to depend on taxes and you know who''ll be paying for that! At leaves 150,000 million for us to pay theirs too.

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by kansas1946 at 12:23 AM : Apr 18, 2008

Let''s just trade old Washington politics for corrupt Chicago politics! Riiiiiiiight!

[kansas1946]

The extreme righwing nuts of the Republican party took control of the party and they gave us George W. Bush. The democratic party is in danger of repeating the same mistake---not electing the most capable person into the white house.

*******************************************
I am an independent, a Republican for many years, so obviously I am a bit "right" of the radical left-wing, and I am supporting Obama and think he is the right person for the Whitehouse. Just look at the difference between their health policies and decide who is more "left." Give me a break.

[kansas1946]

When Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama met in California for the Jan. 31 debate, their back-and-forth resembled their many previous encounters, with the Democratic presidential hopefuls scrambling for the small policy yardage between them. And then Obama said something about the Iraq War that wasn''t incremental at all. "I don''t want to just end the war," he said, "but I want to end the mind-set that got us into war in the first place."
******************************************************

THIS is why I am supporting Obama. Hillary is just politics as usual. When everyone was wailing around about 9/11 she voted to allow Bush to invade Iraq, even thought there was no one credible shred of evidence that Iraq had anything to do with 9/11. But people were scared and that looked like a "tough kick-a**" thing to do.
Now, no she wasn''t for the war, she didn''t understand the vote, she over-estimated Bush,...blah..blah..
She is "old" Whashington, nothing new, nothing solid, just the same-ole same-ole, different day.

[aaawang]

The democratic party has clearly been hijacked by the extreme leftwing. For left-leaning independents, this is very frustrating. The extreme righwing nuts of the Republican party took control of the party and they gave us George W. Bush. The democratic party is in danger of repeating the same mistake---not electing the most capable person into the white house. Our country needs Clinton NOW. There is no time for the empty "hope" talks. In Wednesday debate, it was obvious that while Hillary has provided detailed and substantive proposals, Obama spent most of his time describing this country''s problems that we already know. He provided little insight on the solutions to these problems. Obama, I am afraid, is quite hollow in terms of his plan to lead this country to a better future. We need to alarm the democratic party that many independent voters could turn to McCain if Obama is nominated. I think this scenario is quite real and it has not been talked about enough in the main stream media. Take a look. http://ivotemccainifobamaisnominated.blogspot.com/ (I vote for McCain if Obama is nominated)