Obama beats Hillary over head with Iraq By: Roger Simon Jan 31, 2008 11:54 PM EST
Here's an excerpt from that article:
"Hillary Clinton thought she had driven a stake through it, but it turns out to be the issue that will not die: She voted to authorize the Iraq war, she refuses to say it was a mistake and she refuses to apologize for it.
And Barack Obama continues to whack her for it.
Obama opposed the war early and was lucky enough to not yet be a senator when it first came up for a vote.
Again and again, he pressed this advantage Thursday night at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles in the first one-on-one debate between Obama and Clinton.
Obama exploits the issue in two ways: First, he says Clinton's vote in favor of the war shows bad judgment.
"I was opposed to Iraq from the start," Obama said, "and I say that not just to look backwards, but also to look forwards, because I think what the next president has to show is the kind of judgment that will ensure that we are using our military power wisely."
Second, Obama says that his opposition to the war is something that he can use against the Republicans in the fall.
"I think I will be the Democrat who will be most effective in going up against a John McCain, or any other Republican," Obama said, "because they all want basically a continuation of George Bush's policies, [and] because I will offer a clear contrast as somebody who never supported this war, thought it was a bad idea."" ...
-snip-
Here are several posted comments from that article's readers {Note: I admit to only selecting comments that favor Senator Barack Obama. There are other comments to this article from posters who favor Senator Hillary Clinton}
"Ok, hold on. That line drives me mad every time she uses it: "Maybe we need another Clinton to clean up after the second Bush." Alright, first of all: does it MEAN anything? I mean, it has a beautiful rhetorical structure, but what does it mean? Is H.W. really comparable to W.? In what ways? Is Hillary really comparable to Bill? How? What's more, it really demonstrates, for me, the rut of thinking into which Clinton has sunk. Politics for her really is a pendulum swing. Winning politics means pushing the pendulum further in your direction for the time being. She has no sense of DEPARTURE. Meanwhile, the fulcrum of the pendulum has been shifting to the right. We need a game-changer, not a pendulum-pusher". -eustiscg
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Ok, lets give Hillary the benefit of the doubt, she made a bad call, SHE said in hindsight she would have not voted to go to war. There is no argument that it was a mistake, the problem I have is she is not willing to admit it. Kind of reminds me of a guy she wants to replace BUSH, who has driven jobs over seas, thanks to a Clinton, he bilked a federal surplus, he brought in unqualified cabinet members that tore America up from the roots, and watching all of his policies unravel devastation on Americans, he cant fix his mouth to say, you know what folks I was wrong. So the argument that Hillary's advisers gave her bad information, just proves my point more, You have to rely on your own judgment. and my final point, when asked about controlling Bill, she assumed responsibility. If you cant admit your error, how can we trust that if elected president, she would be honest with the very people that elected her to office in face of bad choices? IF SHE WINS OFFICE, WE DESERVE EXACTLY WHAT WE GET" -Jwilson236
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I thought many of Hillary's answers were all over the place! I just couldn't track with her a lot of the time. I thought she did well on healthcare, but Obama's position of not forcing people to pay for something they don't want makes much more sense to me.
I though the big loss for her tonight was definitely Iraq. What scared me most was how adamant and afraid she is to just admit that she was wrong!!! I think we've all had enough of a President who can never admit when he's wrong...
Obama definitely has the momentum now. -darrenjohnson
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"This country has searched for a true leader for decades, someone who can restore our pride, dignity, and soul...I'm sorry but it's not Clinton for me".
well said. I am inspired by Obamas dignity under fire and I sense he is genuine - so different from HRC - her constant smirking tonight brings back all the bad memories I have of the Clinton scandals and why would anyone expect another Clintlon presidency would be any different? The Bush/Clinton dynasty must stop here and now if there is any hope to move our country in a positive direction. -not ready for 08