The Great Debate & Clinton’s Borrowed Empathy

HOW TO XEROX LINES FOR SYMPATHY VOTES

The debate finally happened last night and for the most part, it was a civil affair. CNN Videos

The two candidates maintained they have similar goals, with different ways of achieving them — Hillary, the way she’s always done things in Washington; Obama, a new way, with transparency and involving the American people.

Highlights?

  • Obama confronted Hillary about implying his supporters are delusional. +1 Obama
  • Hillary tried a zinger for her plagiarism attack saying “Change you can Xerox” and got booed by the audience. +1 Obama
  • The two senators forced the healthcare issue with Obama saying that mandates don’t work (for example in Mass), and Hillary saying without mandates there can be no universal healthcare. +1 Obama (Universal mandates or the penalty of garnished wages won’t work. Obama’s plan is mandated for children and aimed at affordability for all others.)
  • Hillary reprimanded McCain on the Iraq war, Obama reminded her that she voted for it. +1 Obama
  • Obama says he will meet with our enemies in the first year without preconditions, Hillary says she will meet, but not in the first year and with preconditions. +1 Hillary (Only for first year new President, other priorities.)
  • Hillary says she is ready on day 1. Obama says he has the right judgement on day 1. +1 Obama

    Obama has clearly improved at debating, so Clinton didn’t gain the ground she expected. Jeffrey Toobin, Senior Analyst at CNN said,

    “Obama seemed more presidential. He is looking beyond Hillary Clinton at this point, thinking about John McCain, and is just more comfortable.

    Hillary Clinton got reflective and said the following in response to a question about her own life, which made her seem soft and compassionate again: +1 Hillary (more…)

    Published in: on February 22, 2008 at 2:15 pm Comments (0)
    Tags: , , , , , , ,

    The Real Issues: Debates, Inspiration & Plagiarism..?

    What is the sign of real desperation in a Presidential campaign (besides these, of course)? When these are your biggest tools of attack:

    1. You won’t debate me, you must be scared.
    2. Your speeches inspire people. Inspiration is irrelevant to Presidency. “Some people may think words are change,” she said during a campaign rally last week in Ohio, “you and I know better; words are cheap”.
    3. You won’t take public financing, as you said you might. You don’t stick to your word.
    4. NEWEST: You used a line in your speech, without crediting the source. You are a plagiarist.

        Senator Obama uses a line in his Wisconsin speech, from his good friend Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts, and doesn’t credit him as the source. The Clinton campaign calls him out on it (because they are really grasping for straws at this point.) Gov. Patrick himself says he suggested Obama use the lines.

        Even the New York Times tells Hillary she is barking up the wrong tree especially since Hillary Clinton has been co-opting some catchy slogans from her rival, Obama, and using them in her speeches.

        Indeed, two of Mr. Obama’s standard lines – “It’s time to turn the page,” and “Fired up and ready to go,” – have made their way into Mrs. Clinton’s campaign appearances during their contentious fight for the Democratic presidential nomination. In recent days, echoes of his “Yes we can,” chant has surfaced in Mrs. Clinton’s speeches as “Yes we will.”

        And now, this just in - the response when asked if Hillary may have ever plagiarized?

        In a conference call just now the Clinton campaign would not guarantee that Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, has never used someone else’s rhetoric without crediting them.

        In any case, it’s clear their primary focus is to divert attention away from Obama in any way they can, even if it makes them look ridiculous in the interim. Surprising that the “senior” candidate in this case, resorts to such junior tactics.

        Published in: on February 18, 2008 at 8:57 pm Comments (0)
        Tags: , , ,