Political Slug Fest - Hillary, Obama Come Out Swinging

It was Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in a political slugfest, a political boxing match, at the CNN-Congressional Black Caucus debate last night. The debate provided an opportunity for both Hillary, Obama and Edwards to highlight their political differences. It was truly a political slugfest between Hillary and Barack, with John Edwards in many ways acting as a referee. It seemed just a little personal between Hillary and Obama, with Obama pointing out his dissatisfaction with they tone on Hillary and Bill Clintons smearing of his record. Obama said, “I can't tell who I'm running against sometimes.”

Both Hillary and her husband have dogged Obama for saying: “Ronald Reagan changed the trajectory of America in a way that, you know, Richard Nixon did not and in a way that Bill Clinton did not. He put us on a fundamentally different path because the country was ready for it. He tapped into what people were already feeling, which is we want clarity, we want optimism, we want, you know, a return to that sense of dynamism and, you know, entrepreneurship that had been missing.”

Obama was having none of that last night when he told Hillary:

“The irony of this is that you provided much more fulsome praise of Ronald Reagan in a book by Tom Brokaw that's being published right now, ... as did Bill Clinton in the past,” Obama said. “So these are the kinds of political games that we are accustomed to.”

He suggested the tactics were indicative of a lack of integrity. "What's also important [is] that people are not just willing to say anything to get elected," he said. Ouch!



Hillary attempted to portray Obama as ducking political responsibility for his actions, citing a series of more than 100 votes in the Illinois state legislature in which he voted "present" rather than "yes" or "no."

Hillary said, "It is very difficult to have a straight-up debate with you." She went on to say,
"You never take responsibility for any vote."

Hillary went on to say, Obama "basically did the bidding of health insurance companies" in work he did in the Illinois state legislature on health care reform.

Obama was having none of Hillary's bull, and countered Hillary's comments by noting Hillary carried political water for credit card companies in voting for bankruptcy legislation that would have made it harder for consumers to discharge debts. The legislation failed and Clinton voted against a later version of the bill that has now become law.

Let us not forget John Edwards, and the his under the radar seemingly racial and sexist comment (H/T Francis L. Holland Blog) - "Being the white male is being able to go everywhere."

Now get this, John Edwards thought that his trial lawyer type of 'qualifying' his statement would make it less sexist or less part of the color arousal/racism when he said, The ONLY thing I would say -- and I think it has nothing to do with race and gender. Let me be really clear about that. It's amazing now that being the white male...is different...is being able to go everywhere in America and campaign and to compete -- and I . . . I think I can go everywhere and compete head-to-head with John McCain. CNN.Com, Washington Post video segment entitled, "Edwards Says He Can Compete Against McCain".

One of the funniest moments in the slugfest was when Barack was questioned about Bill Clinton being the first black President. When he was asked about writer Toni Morrison’s infamous claim (Toni Morrison, who I respect as a writer, may go down in history as a fool for saying that garbage) that Bill Clinton was “our first black president, blacker than any actual black person who could ever be elected in our children's lifetime,” Obama was great, he did not address this stupid non issue head on. I guess we can call it comedy relief, when he said; “I would have to, you know, investigate more of Bill's dancing abilities ... and some of this other stuff before I accurately judge whether he was, in fact, a brother.” Hillary responded, “Well, I'm sure that can be arranged.”

AAPP: I bet you $1.00 that Bill Clinton is taking dancing lessons today. He will probably show up tap dancing in blackface.

Overall, Edwards may have gained in this debate, which is Hillary's loss. Barack may have won over more black, white and latino voters on the fence in South Carolina.

Hillary should have never stated that Obama worked for a slum-lord. Her facts were inaccurate, at best. It was no Presidential. but guess what she knows Momentum is turning toward Obama in SC.