Hillary Obama PA Debate

6:00

TL: Hi everyone. The debate is about to begin.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:00

6:01

BTD - My preview, always wrong, Clinton will not go on the attack spontaneously, she wuill attack when the questions allow. Obama will go after her once she attacks him. It will be anasty debate.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:01

6:03

BTD - Heh. Obama says PA'ns Not bitter, decent and generous. I guess maybe the gaffe is not quite the boon we are hearing.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:03

6:04

TL: I'm not seeing the streaming yet..

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:04

6:05

BTD - Hillary - "The promise of America" - "[Obama and I] represent that promise. Need to meet the challenges of today. Jobs, better living, etc.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:05

6:06

BTD - HillaryClinton.com. Clinton was smoother and dare I say it, more soaring in her rhetoric. Obama more defensive, for obvious reasons.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:06

6:07

COMMERCIAL

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:07

6:08

BTD - GIBSON - On politics, lots ogf vote in lots of states, "appealed to different constituencies" we know what he means. Asks about the Cuomo Dreamt Ticket proposal.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:08

6:09

BTD - OBAMA - this has been a n extraoridinay journey . . . It is premature still trying to determine the nomine. Come August in Denver the Dem Party will come together because we have no choice. [Issues Blather]

My take - why not say we will come together because we agre on the issues?

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:09

6:11

BTD - HILLARY - "I will do everything I can to make sure one of us will take the oath of office next January."

Imperative that we close ranks etc. I know Barack feels the same way.

Sen the damage of the Bush years. The suffering because of the failed policies in Iraq, because they had no health insurance.

Our differences palein comparison to the differences with Sen McCain.

My take - I liked Clinton's answer better.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:11

6:12

BTD - GIBSON - Bittergate - mentions SF in question. Do you understand that some people in this state were hurt and think that is what you think?

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:12

6:12

TL: I'm here. They are on the bitter comment.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:12

6:13

Ah, now they cling to things in their lives that are "constant."

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:13

6:14

BTD - OBAMA - I can see why they were offended and I mangled the statement. Here is what I meant.

Talks about economic troubles. "The point I was making is when people feel that Washington is not listening - then they fall back on constants like religion, and traditions like guns. Wedge issues.

I think this answer is not very good. But maybe others will like it. He needs to just stop explaining the comment imo.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:14

6:15

CLINTON - Grandaughter of Scranton man. Core beliefs, church central to his beliefs. He was not clingiong to his faith. His faith was part of him. they do not cling to traditions.

Cling is word that we are hearign from Clinton.

It is a very effective answer I think.

She is really "on" tonight imo.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:15

6:16

BTD - that was me.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:16

6:17

TL: George S to Hillary: Can Obama beat McCain?

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:17

6:18

btd - STEPANOPOULOUS - Do you think Sen Obama can beat John McCain.

CLINTON - We have to beat him and the next President will be Barack or me. She lays into McCain. she knows how nasty the GOP will be with her and we ned to go after every vote.

Can Obama win? YES. But I think I can do a better job. The coalition I have oput together makes me a better and stronger candidate.

Really good answer.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:18

6:18

TL: Says McCain will be formidible candidate. She says Obama can win, but she is better able and prepared to win. Because of what's she's been through, the work she's done and the coalition she's put together. She's the better and stronger candidate.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:18

6:18

TL: Obama's first "me too" of the night.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:18

6:19

TL: Obama's tempering: Instead of saying he's done the most for churches, he's done more than most other campaigns.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:19

6:20

TL: Obama says HIllary has been beating his bitter comments to death.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:20

6:20

TL: Obama brings up HIllary's "baking cookies" comments. He defends it.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:20

6:20

BTD - OBAMA asked , Can Hillary win. yes.

But let me say that I can not be called condescending to people of faith because I am a man of faith. I have large numbers of gunowners and sportsmen in my home state.

The politics of parsing, etc.

My take, still too much explaining by Obama. I do not really understand what he is trying to accomplish here.

Again, my view - Hillary is doing much better than he is so far. But I have thought that before andothers have disagreed.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:20

6:21

TL: I think Obama's answer is pretty good here.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:21

6:21

BTD - CLINTON responds - MY comments were about your remarks, not you.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:21

6:22

TL: Hillary says we should focus on what we have done our lives. I think year after year for 35 years I have a proven record of results.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:22

6:23

BTD - LEt me say right off that this debate is incredibly unfair to Obama. The questions are absurdly unbalanced against Obama. this is like an anti-NBC Debate. that is wrong.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:23

6:23

BTD - GIBSON now goes back to Jeremiah Wright.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:23

6:23

TL: Why didn't he know?

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:23

6:24

TL: Wright's comments are objectionable and not things he believe in. But the body of Wright's and the churches' work wasn't represented by them,.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:24

6:25

TL: He sounds like a professor when he says he wants to speak in a "broader context."

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:25

6:25

BTD - Nice pivot by Obama to reaching out and bringing in new people. this is his best answer of the night.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:25

6:26

TL: He speaks in cliches and generalities -- I never understand what he's talking about.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:26

6:26

BTD - GIBSON hammering Wright. This is ridiculous. How much can we talk about Rev. Wright? In the guise of asking Hillary a tough question is STILL just hammering the Wright issue.

Clinton of course reminds people of the horrible things Wirght had said. Smart.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:26

6:26

TL: I think his answer started ok and then fell quickly when he resorted to trite things like "unify us" -- what does that mean?

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:26

6:27

TL: Hillary speaks in concrete terms. You know what she is saying. You can follow her train of thought.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:27

6:27

BTD - This has been the most unfair 30 minutes of the campaign for Obama. No doubt about it.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:27

6:28

BTD - Obama is wrong. that was NOt Clinton's former pastor. I wonder if Clinton will correct him.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:28

6:28

TL: Obama seems to be apologizing for a lot of things tonight and stuck in defense mode.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:28

6:28

BTD - Obama should NEVER kep talkingf about Rev. Wright or his gaffe. The less said the better.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:28

6:29

TL: Obama, "I get people to work together." Come on. Be specific. Be on point. Answer the question.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:29

6:29

BTD - Omigawd. More Wright? This is ridiculous. Simply ridiculous. This is reaching NBC proportions of unfairness now.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:29

6:30

TL: Obama has confidence in American people, when you talk to them honestly and directly.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:30

6:30

BTD - I can not beleive what Stepanpoulous is doing here. This gotcha game is outrageous Russertian BS. This is out of line. Completely out of line.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:30

6:31	How Did Obama Answer the Wright Questions? Excellently ( 4% ) Adequately ( 9% ) Marginially Ok ( 21% ) Poorly ( 63% ) No One cares ( 3% ) Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:31

6:31

BTD Hilary wants more exploration of this? Bad answer for ME. Piling on when the moderators are doing the job for you? Bad move imo.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:31

6:31

TL: They are giving Obama too much time.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:31

6:32

TL: Big frown from Obama when Hillary mentions Farrakhan.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:32

6:32

BTD - Now it is Hillary's turn? I suppose. I do not want either parts of this debate.

Bosnia/Tuzla?

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:32

6:33

BTD - Good answer from Hillary. NOW stop. you apologized, you admitted your mistake. No more can be said. LEAVE IT.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:33

6:34

TL: Bosnia. "I may be a lot of things but I'm not dumb. On a couple of occasions I said things I knew not to be the case. I was embarassed, I apologized. But I'm proud to have gone to Bosnia. It was a war zone. Gen. Clark was with me, he's here tonight."

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:34

6:34

BTDF - Of course pols can NEVER stop. Why are you still talking Hillary?

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:34

6:35

TL: On a few occasions she was not accurate. But she has a tremendous advantage. she'lll get more sleep. Or have someone there as a reminder. It happens when you talk as much as we talk. It didn't jive with what she wrote about and knew to be the truth.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:35

6:35

TL: Obama: Hillary has a strong record to run on.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:35

6:36	How did Hillary Answer on Bosna Excellently ( 13% ) Very good ( 34% ) ok ( 32% ) not so good ( 7% ) poorly ( 8% ) it doesn't matter ( 6% ) Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:36

6:36

BTD - A fair question from STEP, Obama's negative attacks on Clinton. Obama stammers and frankly, lies. His campaign of course was pushing the negative story. THAT's POLITICS.

Obama is stammering tonight. Not great. Hillary neds to keep it tight.

good transition for Obama NOW. took him a while.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:36

6:37

BTD - Good for Obama, you se how he said Bosnia does not matter? Hillary shoul;d have let the record lie on bitter and Wright.

He did better in that aspect than clinton.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:37

6:38

TL: Question to Obama on electability. Does he believe in American flag? Is this a joke? What kind of a stupid question.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:38

6:38

BTD - OMIGAWD!! The Flag pin?? this is really the anti-NBC debate. Awful

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:38

6:38

TL: Obama reveres the American flag. Who reveres a flag? What a stupid answer.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:38

6:39

TL: Obama really stumbles and halts on his patriotism answer. He should be speaking forcefully here and he's not.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:39

6:40

BTD - I can not believe this debate. this is comiing close to the NBC debate as an atrocity.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:40

6:40

TL. He says "that's what I love about this country." I was listening and I didn't hear him say anything about what he loves. He doesn't speak in fluid sentences. I don't follow his train of thought.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:40

6:41

TL: Still on patriotism. Now William Ayers. Wow, they are hitting Obama with all this irrelevant stuff that just goes to character attacks the Republicans will use. How does this help Pennsylvanians decide who to vote for. At least Obama gets feisty about it.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:41

6:42

BTD - this is ridiculous. If I was Obama I would start a fight with Stepanopoulos

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:42

6:43

TL: Obama says he's friends with Tom Coburn who supported the death penalty for abortions. Very poor comparison by Obama.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:43

6:43

BTD - Time to get feisty Barack. Of course, Hillary is thinking now you know how I feel. Hilary piles on!! BS from Hillary. Horrible.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:43

6:43

TL: So Obama says you can't judge him by his friends, that doesn't make him responsible for their ideas.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:43

6:44

TL: Hillary piles on about Obama serving on the Woods board with Ayers. The Woods board will be brought up in November.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:44

6:45

BTd - Hillary "I have a lot of baggage" Um, not what you would say. she opens the door for Obama's attack on the Weather Underground. she opened the door. Do not be shy about that Obama. She messed up there.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:45

6:45

TL: Obama falls for the bait and says Clinton pardoned two members of the weatherground. He admits serving on the Woods board. Says he can withstand attacks from Republcians.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:45

6:46

TL: I think Hillary wins this round.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:46

6:46

Commercial break:

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:46

6:46

Back in 5.

Wednesday April 16, 2008 6:46

6:52

New live thread here.

This live thread is closing.