Barack Obama Says “No” to Future Debates… Who Won? Recap
The recent debate in Pennsylvania between the two Democratic presidential candidates was not quite what I expected. Both candidates had a change of heart on some issues and while most feel that Hillary Clinton came out on top, as she did in most of the debates, there was very little confrontation. And the polls that just came out do not give any decisive results either.
The debate was 6 days before the Pennsylvania primary and both candidates were hoping to make big gains there as a result, however that did not happen. With most of the debate hashing over the controversial comments made by both candidates, the only really different thing to come out of it is the fact that now both candidates say the other would be able to defeat John McCain in November and one can only wonder if that was their idea or if it came from someone in the DNC telling them to cool it.
The only other thing of note is the fact that neither one of them will say they would pick the other for Vice President, but that field is getting smaller with John Edwards coming out and saying he is not interested.
Rasmussen Reports took a poll in Pennsylvania that showed Hillary Clinton in the lead by 50 to 41% with 9% undecided. Zogby took a poll on the 15th and 16th, the day of the debate, that showed her leading by 45% to 44%, with 9% uncertain, but 3% saying they would vote for someone else, an option that was not in the Rasmussen poll. Rasmussen Reports took another poll immediately after the debate, on April 17th, that showed Hillary Clinton leading by 47 to 44% with 9 % uncertain. With figures that close, well within the margin of error, the polls show that the debate had no influence on the Pennsylvania primary at all.
Now, these were taken right on the heals of the debate and there could be many who were not aware of what went on. There is just one more day when a poll can come out that would show any movement one way or the other. Both candidates, Hillary Clinton in particular, need win Pennsylvania decisively. Unless things change over the weekend, it will not happen.
The debate was a bit disappointment, but it was the correspondents who were asking the questions. And the right questions were not asked. There should have been questions regarding the main issues like the economy, especially with bad news coming in every day and the war in Iraq, especially with the latest from the administration saying that they do not see an end to the war and are not planing on bringing the troops home.
Maybe in the next debate, but then Barack Obama said he does not want to participate in any more and wants to get on with just campaigning. “I’ll be honest with you, we’ve now had 21,” he said. “It’s not as if we don’t know how to do these things. I could deliver Sen. Clinton’s lines; she could, I’m sure, deliver mine,” The thing is, if you are out campaigning you make rehearsed speeches and very rarely answer the questions. What is better for the voters?
Comment by Tab on 19 April 2008:
No, not true. Obama has several events where he answers questions from the voters who know what they want to ask – not dumb questions from dumb debate moderators.
Comment by whim on 19 April 2008:
Yes, while the huge rallies get lots of attention, Obama prefers smaller “town hall” type meetings where he can answer question and get to know people. Aren’t you paying attention?
Comment by jacksmith on 19 April 2008:
MY FELLOW “BITTER”, STUPID, WORKING CLASS PEOPLE
If you think like Barack Obama, that WORKING CLASS PEOPLE are just a bunch of “BITTER”!, STUPID, PEASANTS, Cash COWS!, and CANNON FODDER.
You Might Be An Idiot!
If you think Barack Obama with little or no experience would be better than Hillary Clinton with 35 years experience.
You Might Be An Idiot!
If you think that Obama with no experience can fix an economy on the verge of collapse better than Hillary Clinton. Whose
husband (Bill Clinton) led the greatest economic expansion, and prosperity in American history.
You Might Be An Idiot!
If you think that Obama with no experience fighting for universal health care can get it for you better than Hillary Clinton. Who anticipated this current health care crisis back in 1993, and fought a pitched battle against overwhelming odds to get universal health care for all the American people.
You Might Be An Idiot!
If you think that Obama with no experience can manage, and get us out of two wars better than Hillary Clinton. Whose
husband (Bill Clinton) went to war only when he was convinced that he absolutely had to. Then completed the mission in record time against a nuclear power. AND DID NOT LOSE THE LIFE OF A SINGLE AMERICAN SOLDIER. NOT ONE!
You Might Be An Idiot!
If you think that Obama with no experience saving the environment is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose
husband (Bill Clinton) left office with the greatest amount of environmental cleanup, and protections in American history.
You Might Be An Idiot!
If you think that Obama with little or no education experience is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose
husband (Bill Clinton) made higher education affordable for every American. And created higher job demand and starting salary’s than they had ever been before or since.
You Might Be An Idiot!
If you think that Obama with no experience will be better than Hillary Clinton who spent 8 years at the right hand of President Bill Clinton. Who is already on record as one of the greatest Presidents in American history.
You Might Be An Idiot!
If you think that you can change the way Washington works with pretty speeches from Obama, rather than with the experience, and political expertise of two master politicians ON YOUR SIDE like Hillary and Bill Clinton..
You Might Be An Idiot!
If you think all those Republicans voting for Obama in the Democratic primaries, and caucuses are doing so because they think he is a stronger Democratic candidate than Hillary Clinton.
Best regards
jacksmith… Working Class
p.s. You Might Be An Idiot!
If you don’t know that the huge amounts of money funding the Obama campaign to try and defeat Hillary Clinton is coming in from the insurance, and medical industry, that has been ripping you off, and killing you and your children. And denying you, and your loved ones the life saving medical care you needed. All just so they can make more huge immoral profits for them-selves off of your suffering…
You see, back in 1993 Hillary Clinton had the audacity, and nerve to try and get quality, affordable universal health care for everyone to prevent the suffering and needless deaths of hundreds of thousands of you each year.
Approx. 100,000 of you die each year from medical accidents from a rush to profit by the insurance, and medical industry. Another 120,000 of you die each year from treatable illness that people in other developed countries don’t die from. And I could go on, and on…
Comment by jacksmith on 19 April 2008:
DON’T BE DUPED !!!
Large numbers of Republicans have been voting for Barack Obama in the DEMOCRATIC primaries, and caucuses from early on. Because they feel he would be a weaker opponent against John McCain. With Hillary Clinton you are almost 100% certain to get quality, affordable universal health care very soon.
But first, all of you have to make certain that Hillary Clinton takes the democratic nomination and then the Whitehouse. NOW! is the time. THIS! is the moment you have all been working, and waiting for. You can do this America. “Carpe diem” (harvest the day).
I think Hillary Clinton see’s a beautiful world of plenty for all. She’s a woman, and a mother. And it’s time America. Do this for your-selves, and your children’s future. You will have to work together on this and be aggressive, relentless, and creative. Americans face an even worse catastrophe ahead than the one you are living through now.
You see, the medical and insurance industry mostly support the republicans with the money they ripped off from you. And they don’t want you to have quality, affordable universal health care. They want to be able to continue to rip you off, and kill you and your children by continuing to deny you life saving medical care that you have already paid for. So they can continue to make more immoral profits for them-selves.
Hillary Clinton has actually won by much larger margins than the vote totals showed. And lost by much smaller vote margins than the vote totals showed. Her delegate count is actually much higher than it shows. And higher than Obama’s. She also leads in the electoral college numbers that you must win to become President in the November national election. HILLARY CLINTON IS ALREADY THE TRUE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE!
As much as 30% of Obama’s primary, and caucus votes are Republicans trying to choose the weakest democratic candidate for McCain to run against. These Republicans have been gaming the caucuses where it is easier to vote cheat. This is why Obama has not been able to win the BIG! states primaries. Even with Republican vote cheating help.
Hillary Clinton has been OUT MANNED! OUT GUNNED! and OUT SPENT! 4 and 5 to 1. Yet Obama has only been able to manage a very tenuous, and questionable tie with Hillary Clinton.
If Obama is the democratic nominee for the national election in November he will be slaughtered. Because the Republican vote cheating help will suddenly evaporate. All of this vote fraud and republican manipulation has made Obama falsely look like a much stronger candidate than he really is. YOUNG PEOPLE. DON’T BE DUPED! Think about it. You have the most to lose.
The democratic party needs to fix this outrage. Everyone needs to throw all your support to Hillary Clinton NOW! So you can end this outrage against YOU the voter, and against democracy.
The democratic party, and the super-delegates have a decision to make. Are the democrats, and the democratic party going to choose the DEMOCRATIC party nominee to fight for the American people. Or are the republicans going to choose the DEMOCRATIC party nominee through vote fraud, and gaming the DEMOCRATIC party primaries, and caucuses.
Fortunately the Clinton’s have been able to hold on against this fraudulent outrage with those repeated dramatic comebacks of Hillary Clinton’s. Only the Clinton’s are that resourceful, and strong. Hillary Clinton is your NOMINEE. They are the best I have ever seen.
“This is not a game” (Hillary Clinton)
Sincerely
jacksmith… Working Class
Comment by Matrix on 23 April 2008:
Obama does not need to do any more debates. They already did 21 debates. The only way he should agree on doing another debate is with superdelagate commentators like Al Gore, Donna Brasil, John Edwards and maybe even Colin Powell. These are people who would ask serous questions that effect Americans not stupid question like why don’t you wear a flag pin.
Obama 08….Pass It On!
Comment by k2 on 3 May 2008:
I am constantly amazed at how often individuals allow themselves be distracted and misled by irrelevant information. I am troubled at how often people will take one single issue and let that become the all-encompassing deciding factor for them–without even considering the big picture. As always, the campaigns have thrown out alot of information at the American people in an attempt to get votes by trying to find that single item that will cause someone to vote for their candidate or vote against the other. I would like to encourage everyone to avoid this kind of ‘knee-jerk’ thinking because it allows us to be easily manipulated.
I am an Obama supporter because I believe he is a ‘big picture’ kind of leader and genuinely wants to help America and is a capable leader. We have got to move beyond the status quo (which 70% of Americans currently agree is not working:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/05/02/poll.americans/index.html ).
Some food for thought:
Q: What are the most important qualities our President should possess?
Should the president be experienced? Should he/she be ‘tough’ on terrorism? Should be president represent the ‘common man’, etc.
I want a president that is here to serve the people of America and not just corporate or personal agendas. I want a president that exercises good judgment in decision-making and is aware of the full scope, complexities, and real issues of this country and the global arena. I want a president that speaks not just for me, but for ALL of America. I want a president who is smarter than most, but who still understands the issues of the working class.
As most everyone knows, the people who decide to go to war are not the same people who actually fight in the wars–those days have been gone for hundreds of years. What does being ‘tough on terror’ really mean, then? Does it mean that we should embrace a leader who will always revert to force as a solution? I hope not. Does it mean we should have a leader that will actually go out and physically fight the terrorists? of course not–our military performs this function. Does it mean the we should embrace a leader who will do everything in her/her power to protect America from the ever-growing threats to our security? I would hope that any president would consider this to be one of their core duties. The concept of being ‘tough on terror’, then, doesn’t really mean anything. The real question is who do you believe is capable of envisioning and implementing the most effective strategy against terrorism. We need to be ’smart on terror’ as much as we need to ‘tough’. This comes down to judgment–we need a president who knows when to use diplomacy and when to utilize the military. We need a leader whose life experience and background goes beyond the conventional American perspective in order to understand the global arena and whose intellect is up to the challenge. We need a leader who will be able to rally allies instead of alienating the US. We need to raise our standards and expectations–we need a real leader.
The bottom line for me is that I think good judgment, intellect, and a genuine understanding & concern for the welfare of ALL the people in Amercia should be our criteria for choosing our next leader. I also think that we have a very rare opportunity with Obama that we should embrace.
One might think that experience is important. It would seem to be, but let me ask you this–can anyone truly be prepared for this job? Knowing alot of facts is not enough. Interestingly, it appears that experience is not very important based on historical data that shows there is *no correlation* between presidential ranking and previous (related) experience:
http://www.electoral-vote.com/evp2008/Info/experience.html
Q: Should Obama be held accountable for Rev Wright’s views?
This issue is a distraction and a tactic for political stereotyping. The guilt-by-association game is a very dangerous game to play. I personally would not want to be judged by everything my friends, relatives, or acquaintances have done or said over the years. Obama has repeatedly said that he does not agree with the extreme views of Rev wright and so it comes down to whether you believe him or not. I personally believe he is being truthful and that Rev Wright has become increasingly cynical over the years leading to the disconnect that has recently transpired.
As for the economy, the elimination of the AMT tax by McCain would only help the upper middle class. Obama and Clinton’s plans would do more for the typical middle class families. I also like Obama’s tax filing simplifications. Here’s a novel concept: go and read about all the candidates and challenge you own beliefs…
Regardless of whether or not you agree with these opinions, please consider the set of ALL issues that our country is facing when choosing a candidate.