Senators Clinton and Obama faced off in a political joust Thursday evening at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles. CNN televised the event under the moderation of Wolf Blitzer, assisted by Jean Cummings of Politico.com and Doyle McManus of the Los Angeles Times. This was the last debate for either party before next week's Super Tuesday, with primary voting for both parties in twenty-two states. The audience was packed with California politicians and celebrities. I try to ignore Hollywood, but I did recognize Jason Alexander, Rob Reiner, Stevie Wonder, and Pierce Brosnan.
The Obama campaign tactically announced on the eve of the debate today that they had raised $32M in January alone, a staggering figure helped along by 170,000 new donors. Obama's South Carolina win, followed by the Ted and Caroline Kennedy endorsements, have him on an undeniable roll. Whether he can competee on a national scale will be tested next week. Hillary, meanwhile, has kept Slick Willie on a tight leash this week. His comments comparing Obama to Jesse Jackson and his previous tirade against a reporter forced the Clinton campaign to reel in Bill a little, at least for now. Don't doubt that if the race tightens further and goes on longer, the Clinton machine and it's army of private detectives will launch attacks that will make all the previous ones seem mild by comparison.
I have to issue a brief disclaimer. It is nearly impossible for me to tell who has won a Democrap debate. I have no frame of reference. I disagree with nearly everything that is said. I try to concentrate on the particular words and phrases used by the Dems that reveal their true intent or illustrate clear differences with conservative philosophy. Sure, I can tell when someone gets in a good shot, but beyond that, I'm at a loss. Listening to the talking heads just confuses the issue even more. And the truth is that there are very little policy differences between the Democrat candidates. Their contest this year is a matter of style and experience, not major policy fights.
The candidates were introduced simultaneously and walked out together, so it was a little hard to determine if there was any initial crowd bias. Some cheering occurred in response to both candidates at later points, but it wasn't dramatic. Wolf offered time for an opening statement, and off they went. Obama used the majority of his time to praise John Edwards, who dropped out Wednesday, in a naked appeal for the support of Edwards voters. Hillary instead attacked the "failed" Bush administration, and she definitely has experience with a failed adminstration. Each candidate was then given a chance to point out specific policy differences between them. Hillary started by attacking the Republican candidates, a general election pitch. She also called health care a "right", something I could not find in the Constitution. Clinton then spelled out her solution to the increase in housing foreclosures, which sounded very similar to the big government plan John McCain detailed last night in the Republican debate. Hillary's proposal to freeze interest rates is nothing less than a government takeover of the markets. Socialism, anyone? Obama admitted their health plans are "95 percent similar," but said his was absent mandates that would logically require enforcement of some kind. He declared drug company profits "oversize", an odd view of capitalism for a potential President to hold. Obama then landed a firm smack to the forehead of John McCain by pointing out the "tax cuts for the wealthy" language McCain used when twice voting against the Bush tax reductions. If McCain is the Republican nominee, we'll see that again, even though both Dems openly admitted they will surely raise taxes if elected.
The discussion then moved on to illegal immigration, and this is where they lose me completely. They both support a "comprehensive" immigration reform, and that translates to "amnesty". Obama refused to even acknowledge the effect illegals have on American jobs, terming the idea "scapegoating". Hillary was pressed on drivers licenses for illegals, a question she originally stumbled on in the Philadelphia debate. She twice attempted to run out the clock without answering by comparing Republicans to jackbooted Nazis for insisting immigration law be enforced and citing her support from a migrant farmworkers union. She eventually said she opposes licenses for illegals, but it took a while to get there. Obama cited public safety concerns for his support of licenses, and then Hillary uttered one of the most insincere and ironic sentences I have ever heard: "We have to respect the dignity of every human being." That's a real change in philosophy if she meant it. She has respect for illegal immigrants and criminals, but not for human life created yet unborn. Killing fetuses by the tens of millions is acceptable, but she "respects" EVERY human being?
The broadcast returned late after a commercial to candidate response to an apparent question about qualifications to be President. Senator Obama detailed his meager experience and said he has the skills that are needed. Hillary immediately threw out her "35 years" pitch. Again, you don't call the plumber's wife to fix a leak. She claimed visits to eighty-two foreign nations, like tourism is an executive skill, and topped off her response by maintaining she had once negotiated with (drumroll please)....Macedonia! Wow, I bet that was a tough deal to complete. The Macedonians are known worldwide for their diplomatic skills. A question about Romney's business experience gave Hillary the chance to swipe at Bush again, and Obama suggested Mitt had gotten a bad return on his investment in the campaign so far. The two played nice over the Kennedy endorsements and then Hillary was asked about the possibility of Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton. As in the past, she instantly defended Slick Willie's administration by citing the "surplus" when Bill left office. Never mind that war, balance the budget.
The debate again went to commercial, so I grabbed the remote like a hungry man grabbing a biscuit. Mitt Romney on Hannity calling McCain's tactics "Nixonian", and I thought that was pretty cool, as well as accurate. CNN returned from break with an exterior shot, and I saw something that warmed my heart: Ron Paul supporters. It's just good to know he's bedeviling the Democrats also.
Iraq policy arose next, with the candidates differing very little on future policy. Both are prepared to order a precipitous withdrawal, ignoring the progress of the surge and the sacrifice so far, and without regard to consequence. Hillary said the Iraqi government has "no time" remaining, strange for a member of an organization that can't issue checks in less than four months. Clinton proposed withdrawing one or two American brigades per month, but expressed a concern for the Iraqis who have supported us. She's not concerned enough to keep Al Qaeda from beheading them, but she's concerned none the less. Hillary even admitted and shrugged off the potential of further Syrian and Iranian involvement in Iraqi sectarian strife. Not only is she willing to surrender to Al Qaeda, she is prepared to abandon the battlefield to the two largest state sponsors of terror. Obama asserted our effort in Iraq has distracted us from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Latin America. Okay, I get the first two, but Latin America? Senator Obama beat Hillary over the head with her vote for the Iraq war, with Wolf Blitzer helping by asking Clinton if she was "naive" for doing so. She tried to assert that her vote was for further diplomacy and not military action, but that's tired and everyone knows it's disinginuous. Both have pandered to the cut and run wing of their party, and it will be hard for them to seem responsible on the issue in the general election, especially if substantial progress continues.
The broadcast returned late from it's final break, an annoyance considering they have clocks. The final segment was a big Democrat hug. Hillary was asked about Bill's role in her campaign and potentially in the White House, and it drew a hideous cackle from her that chilled the blood. She also described the presidency as a "lonely" job, something that may partially explain how the fat intern ended up under her husband's desk. The candidates were then quizzed about running together. Obama called the matter premature, but Hillary took the opportunity and ran with it. She gave a thirty second plug for her upcoming "national town hall" on television and the web. It was cheesy and opportunistic, paralleling her entire campaign.
No more debates for a while. The next ones are after Super Tuesday, February 27th and 28th in my home state of Ohio. Who knows what kind of political carnage may have occurred by then. It's up to the voters, as it should be. Just don't begin to think next Tuesday will settle either race, because that's unlikely.
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