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CNN Democratic Debate, January 31, 2008
By Bill | February 2, 2008 | Email This Post
Hello All… I was hoping to continue my series of liveblogs covering the debates last night, January 31st. Unfortunately, much like the night before, work-related duties interrupted… my vote goes to the first candidate that restores the mythical 40 hour work week, BTW.
Anyway, in my absence, our friend from last night did a last-minute fill in for me. Prior visitors will notice some stylistic and probably some editorial differences. I like her, but she’s occasionally hopelessly misguided in her politics… 
Key to the following text: O = Obama, C = Clinton.
O: Opens thanking Edwards for his contributions, asserts that he is a friend of Hilary and one of them will be the next president but then takes some jabs at Hilary old vs. new and getting rid of special interest
C: Asserts that she too hopes that one of them will be next president, mentions several issues then thanks Edwards (O started out with this, they are both still wanting his endorsement) Says there is nothing we can’t do and then gave that dang “let’s have that conversation line.”
C: What are your policy differences? Differences pale in comparison to Republicans. Healthcare-universal health care. Mortgage crisis to be treated seriously. Realism first then Optimism. Full diplomatic effort. Differences at home and around the world. Says that neither she nor O are more of the same.
O: Healthcare: 95 percent of plans are similar, difference in plans, emphasizes reducing cost. Make it affordable and they will buy it. Clinton believes in forcing people to buy health care. (use of the word force is a good choice.) On Mortgage crisis, agree to try to keep people in their homes. Bridge the lender and borrower. Doesn’t think a freeze is a good idea. Reduce influence of lobbyist and special interest groups (says that is different from Clinton). Iraq, points out he was opposed from the start. Thinks we should meet with Iran.
O: Healthcare, most Democrats want everyone covered. Says that 15 million would not be covered. O says anyone who wants it can get it. Doesn’t believe there are people out there who don’t want it. Mandate coverage for children. People up to 25 covered under parents plan. Mandate, talks about Mass. And the problem of people that can’t afford it. People who aren’t covered and charged if they don’t buy.
C: Says healthcare is a passionate cause of hers (and she dares bring up her husband’s administration…she failed then!) Says plan is for uninsured or underinsured. Says that she will make it affordable to everyone. Includes quality. Subsidies. Says that there are people who can afford health care that don’t buy it. Says Universal health care is essential, brings up single payer, employer, or her plan. (she gets a cheer over single payer which subverts her point that it won’t work). Says you have to start by saying you’ll achieve universal health care. (John Edwards name put in by her, it’s getting thrown around a lot tonight).
O: Issue of Mandate, says that if you don’t mandate it, people will make others pay. Says C’s subsidies are not sufficient. Says he wants to lower premiums. Brings up Kennedy (good move). And says t hat his plan will bring all together to get it done. Says he’ll broadcast deliberations on C Span. Wants to offset power of special interests.
C: says in 93 Healthcare plan was done in secret. She doesn’t really address that but just says she was getting it started (why was it done in secret?) 3 points 1. Regulate health insurance industry, 2. Drug companies do deserve to be part of the solution. Reign in costs. 3. Democrats should be for Universal Health Care. Says she learned a lot after her failed plan in the 90’s.
O: Says both health care plans would cost billions. Says that they would have to raise taxes. How will you counter charge of tax and spend. Says that Reps. Are not in a good spot to argue that. Praises Mc Cain for being against tax cuts. Says the ‘straight talk express’ lost some wheels as he now favors it. Says he’s rolling back tax cuts on top 1 percent. Says the question is who are the tax cuts and hikes for. Says he will give tax cuts to people making 75K or less. Says we need balance in economy. (George Castanza spotting in the audience, also that guy from The Office).
C: Asks if she wants to tax the rich. Says that she would want to tax people making more than 250K a year. Says that we need more efficient health care. Says tax rebates to HMO’s but they aren’t producing results. Also says we need to move on to electronic medical records. Says that would save 77 billion a year. Mention CA, TN and GA, all super Tuesday states.
Both agree there will be tax increases on the rich.
C: says we’ll go back to tax rates before GW
O: Immigration. Says there’s been no acknowledgement of negative impact of illegal immigration on African community. Says had a negative wage impact. He says many minorities are feeling insecure right now. Says that the problem is attributable to immigrants is a case of scapegoating (much applause). Says need to get control of borders. Crack down on Employers who hire illegals. Have to get a pathway to citizenship.
C: Agrees with O on some but says that there is a problem with illegals. Says she met a black man who can’t get construction jobs because of illegals. Agrees on tightening borders. Also says path of legalization.
O: Says that O says he has the most humane plan. Says he worked with McCain although he might not agree with it now. He still believes that the problem is not really illegal immigrants (as far as job loss). Blitzer keeps trying to get him to attack H’s plan and he calls him on it.
C: Says sponsored immigration reform before O came to the Senate. (audience liked that). Says that she’s stood for immigrants. Mention endorsement by farm workers. Blitzer asks why not let them get drivers licenses.
O:Points out that she gave different answers and that it took awhile to get to her position. (Audience claps) Says that should give them drivers licenses to get them out in the open. O says he agrees with Clinton on most issues.
C: Points out that O couldn’t answer the question about drivers licenses.
Break.
O: Is Clinton better prepared to be president? Talks about work on the streets, in state legislature and in Senate. Says the leadership that is needed is one that brings people together and to get rid of special interests. Says he respects C’s record. Says skill he has is one needed to bring country forward.
C: What experience as first lady qualifies you to be pres. Says she goes back 35 years. Went to work for Children’s Defense Fund. Spent early adulthood bringing people together. Reformed education and healthcare in Arkansas. (Is that Bruce Springsteen in the audience?) Says public service is a trust. Says she has a record of positive change.
C: Says country is a large business and neither of you have business experience. C says our country should not be out to make a profit. She said Bush was a CEO type president with bad results.
O: Says Romney hasn’t gotten a good return on his investment in the campaign.
C: Re endorsement of the Kennedys. Says she respects the Kennedys and points out that three of the children support her. Says that either way America is looking at big change. Downplays endorsement and says it is about the two of them (wonder if she’s read Aesop’s fable about the sour grapes?) She doesn’t answer the question of their comparison of Obama to JFK.
O: A lot of Dems remember 8 years of Clinton administration as good. Says they look really good compared to Bush. Agrees that all have to be judged on own merits. Says that they are bringing in a new generation of voters. He says who can inspire the people to get involved again and says that it is something they are seeing in the campaign. Says electoral mass is changing.
C: Generational issue. Asks how she can be an agent of change when same two families have been in a White House for past 30 years. Says she should be judged on her own merits. Says she doesn’t want to be advantaged of disadvantaged on her husband’s administration. Says it took a Clinton to clean up after first Bush and might take another to clean up after the second one (audience roaring, they love it. Best sting of the night) (Diane Keaton and Rob Reiner sighting)
Break.
C: How can voters be sure you won’t have an open ended commitment to stay in Iraq. Says that it is imperative to plan when to withdraw. Says that there should be a plan to help but that the government needs to take position and take over. (Ugly Betty with a Hillary pin in the audience)
O: (Alfre Woodard spotting, nodding at Obama’s words) says we should be as careful getting in as we are careless getting out. Says that we have many problems that we are neglecting. Says war is undermining long term security. He thinks setting a date is important. Says the gov. needs clarity. Says war was an error and is the Democrat most effective in going against McCain as someone who never supported the war.
C: Starts mentioning who she has support from (not addressing the fact that she voted for the war). Says withdrawal will be difficult. Says US shouldn’t be bound to Iraq.
C: Asks why she voted against amendment to put UN inspectors into Iraq first. Says that the amendment was worded in a way that she didn’t agree with. (Topher Grace looking serious). (She is backpedaling on the issue and trying to say that her vote doesn’t matter now.) says that she is now boxed in with O.
O: Says notion that Democrats don’t want to see progress is ridiculous. He says that he wants the mission completed honorably. Says that reduction in violence is success sets the bar very low. (Says it is buried in the sand, audience likes that). Says he is the best because he has stayed the same on the issue. Says it wasn’t just a problem for execution and the concept was flawed.
C: Why can’t she just say the vote was a mistake? Says looking at what was going on at the time that Hussein seemed like a seeker of mass destruction. Says no one could have seen how obsess GW was with the mission. Blitzer says that he hears her saying she was naïve in trusting Bush (audience boos as Hilary says nope, but good try)
C: She says that she respects O says that it is clear this was a case for a resolution and that was credible and it was not a resolution of war. Concerns about Hussein.
O: The legislation had the title “An authorization to use US Military Force in Iraq” and says that it should have been clear to C. Says that it is important to be right on Day 1, not just be experienced.
Break.
(Gary Shandling looking sunburnt)
O: Sex and Violence in media. Says that as a parent he is concerned but the primary responsibility is for parents (Steven Spielberg smiles). Says should give parents the tools they need to help them monitor. It is important for the industry to think about who they are marketing too. (Rob Reiner doesn’t look like he likes this but Stevie Wonder agrees) Says that horror movies shouldn’t have trailers during American Idol.
C: Spouses. Talks about Bill’s criticism of Obama. Asks why campaign can’t control Bill. Says that both of them have very passionate spouses. Says that she is running for president and it is her campaign. Says that is her responsibility to make the call (sounds like “the decider”)
Democrats see potentially a dream ticket with the two of them together. (Fran Drescher gives a thumbs up) Would you consider an Obama/Clinton or a Clinton/Obama ticket.
O: Says he respects C says there is more road to travel and the VP is premature. Says that he would like to restore a sense of what is possible in government. Wants people that aren’t just yes men or no men. Says he wants people to believe the government is on their side.
C: She agrees with O. Says it has been an extraordinary campaign.
Summary/Comments:
Neither said they wouldn’t consider the other as VP.
I agree it could be a dream ticket that no one would have thought of: a woman and a black man put into the office at the same time.
I’m not sure who won this. At times it seemed like Hilary and at times Barack won. I think they both come off as winners here. This was way less boring then the Democratic debate.
