April 26, 2007
First Take: The Debate
--Still unknown: What constitutes success in Iraq for Edwards, Obama and Clinton.
--"Do you believe there is such a thing as a global war on terror?" Clinton, Obama and Edwards raise hands.
--Biden was the only candidate to mention Darfur
--Obama, potentially realizing that he might face some heat for his response to the question of what'd he do if two American cities were nuked, later clarified his response: "We have genuine enemies out there that have to be hunted down." There is "no contradiction" between using force "intelligently" and building alliances. Kucinich then noted that his statement was "provocative." Obama calls the idea of initiating a war with Iran "a profound mistake" but says "there is no contradiction taking us the seriously the need to want to strengthen our alliances around the world" but "if we have nuclear proliferators around the war," that is a "grave" threat. It was strong response.
--Edwards's efforts to draw out Clinton and Obama on specifics.
--Obama's refusal to answer the question of how he'd pay for his health care plan.
--Gravel's outrage over Congressional [in]action about Iraq.
--Richardson distinguishing himself from Biden and Dodd on Iraq.
--Obama will get props for bringing up black infant mortality rates
--Commentators will say that Edwards and Obama looked uncomfortable at times
--No one made any major errors. No one made any major advances.
--Gravel will get props for being himself.
Posted at 08:38 PM
Comments
I thought Obama did well. I thought Edwards was not as strong as he could have been. He mentioned specifics but, just ran down a list as was no more specific than anyone else.
Richardson was more so. More specific
I was surprised that Hillary was not as robotic as I thought she'd be.
I thought Obama, Hillary and Richardson stood out best
vwcat | 04.26.07 08:48 PM
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Probably the funniest line of the night was Biden's mere "Yes" in response to the question about how we could trust him not to make more gaffes. If he keeps responding with only one word, I think he'll cut his gaffe frequency by about 50%.
Kucinich going after Obama on foreign policy was interesting. I wonder if they'll tangle more in the future.
If I had to pick a winner, I'd choose Edwards. The lines about making America "A force for good again" and how we have "tools other than bombs" will play well with the base. It's the kind of humane internationalism that Democrats and Americans generally want. His energy policy answer was one of the best of the debate -- smooth, smart, and well-thought out. I love the line about how Americans have to be patriotic about something other than war -- namely, energy conservation.
Neil the Ethical Werewolf | 04.26.07 08:54 PM
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Richardson mentioned Darfur as well as Biden.
The Nose | 04.26.07 09:24 PM
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Richardson in fact mentioned Darfur, although, I do agree that being so rarely mentioned in this arena is a travesty.
SeanNDirish | 04.26.07 09:32 PM
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I wish all of the candidates could be as honest and forthright at Mike Gravel but the danger of making a major blunder at this point holds them back, he has nothing to lose. Kucinich is much on the same page with him, but his mild manner keeps him from forging ahead with the many good ideas and plans he has. A good leader must be bold and forward thinking and most of all "consider the good of the people" not corporations and special interests. Hillary Clinton made many points on that idea, but people don't seem to "Trust" her. It is hard to trust anyone after Bush but he is such a bad president almost anyone looks good next to him. The sad think is many people "Trusted" him, mostly Republicans. But he did sell all the people on a compasionate conservative, neither of which is is. No one discussed the national debt that with the war tallied in is becoming astronomical. Hillary's husband "Bill" was able to destroy the national debt that was left by Reagan and the first Predident Bush. I remember when there was a clock in Times Square in NYC which moved each second tallying the national debt. I think it was retired during the Clinton administration but it needs to be brought back. All of the candidates except Mike Gravel realized a responsibility of not tearing down the Democrat Party by nit picking each other to death. We will eventually have to rally behind a Presidential Candidate and a Vice Presidential Candidate. I feel that Hillary Clinton or John Edwards could be great presidential candidates and Obama and Richardson will be vying for vice president. The others are all "good" people but don't have the charisma and leadership abilities to bring them to the forefront.
Sherry Bell | 04.26.07 09:33 PM
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The format was not very conducive to thorough, in-depth answers. That's a shame.
Edwards, who has the most substantive plans, did a good job of briefly summarizing them in the time he was given. It's too bad that he didn't get a chance to go into more specifics.
I didn't get the feeling that too many of the other candidates HAD more specifics, so the format may have been fine for them. Gave them a chance to coast by on spin.
Laura | 04.26.07 09:33 PM
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I am undecided with these candidates but I would strongly endorse the man with the most experience, highest moral code and most intelligent, also the most respected........yes that can only be Al Gore and I would like his Vice President to be either Edwards or Obama and then we can be assured in getting our country back.
The rest of the world will be in better shape also.
Arlene Encell | 04.26.07 09:35 PM
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The responses to the attacks on two American cities reminded me of Dukakis and the what if an attack on your wife question.... I couldn't believe what I was hearing, especially from Obama... Richardson recoverd a bit later.
Bill Baar | 04.26.07 09:37 PM
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I believe it was Richardson, not Biden who mentioned Darfur.
Bryan | 04.26.07 09:44 PM
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Are you sure we watched the same debate? I didn't think Edwards raised his hand, and I could swear that Richardson mentioned Darfur -- since he did just broker a deal there.
Mark Adams | 04.26.07 09:44 PM
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there is some debate on the blogs on who raised their hands about the global war on terrror..
you may want to check this
ajfela | 04.26.07 09:47 PM
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Look again. Edwards did not raise his hand.
NaR | 04.26.07 09:50 PM
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No, Edwards did NOT raise his hand in response to the question "Do you believe there is such a thing as the Global War on Terror." Check your tapes again - Edwards, Biden and Kucinich are the three who did not raise their hands.
tina haas | 04.26.07 09:52 PM
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John Edwards did not raise his hand on that question, you are in error.
Nan Bozarth | 04.26.07 09:52 PM
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BORING!! I was so bored with the lack of substance, that I tuned out after 20 minutes.
Brian Williams shouldn't do a high school debate, much less a presidential debate. He is about as dry as Arizona!
Jimmy | 04.26.07 10:18 PM
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Debate - really?
The Dems showed the public nothing! No guts, no glory! I'm waiting for someone from the media to ask Dennis K. the question - you were the worst mayor in the history of Cleveland, so what makes you think you can run the country? I live in Cleveland and I know what an absolute jerk Kusinich was. He is a light weight.
regisminerd | 04.26.07 10:18 PM
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It sure seems strange that none of these folks have but one answer to The Global War on Terror; George Bush and all the ways he's tried to combat it. Invasive wire taps, interogation of prisoners, etc. They have no answer on how to insure all of us. THey have no idea what to do about social security, and what is worse they don't talh about it. I guess they are all well off and don't need to worry about their children. I hate to say it but it looks like we really don't have much of a choice in either party. Rgd, Rick Martinez
MartinezRick | 04.26.07 10:28 PM
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Obama seemed green on foreign policy
Clinton seemed composed and never nervious
lyn rhoten | 04.26.07 10:35 PM
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Too many generic answers. Most wanted to skirt the issue of abortion. You either believe in a woman's right to choose or not. You should flatly say one or the other and quit pandering.
Health care should be moving towards universal but none will say how to do that. No fix with no answers....
j1944 | 04.26.07 11:29 PM
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When asked if they believed there was such a thing as a "global war on terror" Edwards DID NOT raise his hand. Obama and Clinton did, Edwards, Biden and Kucinich did not. Please correct your coverage.
Seth Bannon | 04.26.07 11:35 PM
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Richardson mentioned Darfur several times! Edwards discussed poverty in other nations and building up people who were setting on the fence.
Sam | 04.27.07 12:05 AM
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Sure about Edwards raising his hand?
okamichan13 | 04.27.07 12:08 AM
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In the big picture of the race for the nomination, the most important response was Obama's "museum" line. The ultimate importance of the "first four", IA, NH, NV & SC,in securing the nomination will not be known until sometime next year, but there can be no question that it was an answer that will increase, pehaps significantly, his prospects in what s/b a highly contested state. There is an "easy path" to the nomination: a sweep (or near sweep) of the first four; ride the momentum through the electoral madness that has been created for Feb 5: and clean up any remaining competition during the remaining primaries Clinton, Richardson, who, once worked for the popular Dem Fritz Hollings, and native-son Edwards how have real prospects in SC. A one or two finish will be hard to attain. The museum response will help. Phrank
Frank Weinberg | 04.27.07 12:38 AM
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Kudos to Obama. At the beginning of his response as to how he would handle a simultaneous attack on 2 American cities, he brought up how the Bush Administration wasn't even able to deal with a hurricane hitting New Orleans. I am grateful to Obama for bringing New Orleans up and thus showing that he has not forgotten Katrina--when neither Brian Williams nor any other candidate mentioned that beleaguered city or the storm. It is unconscionable that Katrina and Rita seem to have totally eluded the memory of Brian Williams and the rest of the candidates. In fact, Brian needs to apologize for, by not asking the candidates about Katrina, letting storm survivors (and everybody else who cares about how they're faring) know that he cares not a whit about them.
Olivia | 04.27.07 11:46 AM
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