Before we get to the fun stuff re tonight's debate, I thought we'd clear a few things up...
First of all, let’s clear one thing up right now... these claims of Sen. Obama’s regarding Hillary’s supposed support of NAFTA are nothing more than a campaign’s attack tactics – spreading lies and distortions (even after he’s been set straight) in the hopes of cutting in to her support in a blue collar, rust belt state that’s been screwed over by this crap economy.
Check out this video clip of David Gergen, a man who worked in the White House when NAFTA was being hammered out should set the record straight once and for all...
Make the jump – there’s more
And from tonight’s debate... they got into it over Iraq and the campaign just put this up on Fact Hub
UPDATE: Factcheck - Sen. Obama's Iraq War Record
2/26/2008 9:44:42 PM
In 2004, Sen. Obama said he didn’t know how he would have voted on the Iraq War resolution.
‘When asked about Senators Kerry and Edwards' votes on the Iraq war, Obama said, "I'm not privy to Senate intelligence reports,’ Mr. Obama said. ‘What would I have done? I don't know. What I know is that from my vantage point the case was not made.’
In 2004, Sen. Obama also said there was little difference between his position and George Bush’s position on Iraq:
In a meeting with Chicago Tribune reporters at the Democratic National Convention, Obama said, "On Iraq, on paper, there's not as much difference, I think, between the Bush administration and a Kerry administration as there would have been a year ago. [...] There's not much of a difference between my position and George Bush's position at this stage." [Chicago Tribune, 07/27/04]
While running for Senate, Sen. Obama acknowledged that he took his anti-war speech off his campaign website, calling it "dated":
Specifically, State Senator Obama maintains that an October 2002 anti-war speech was removed from his campaign web site because "the speech was dated once the formal phase of the war was over, and my staff's desire to continually provide fresh news clips."
Finally, Sen. Obama and Hillary have almost identical voting records on Iraq:
In fact, Obama's Senate voting record on Iraq is nearly identical to Clinton's. Over the two years Obama has been in the Senate, the only Iraq-related vote on which they differed was the confirmation earlier this year of General George Casey to be Chief of Staff of the Army, which Obama voted for and Clinton voted against. [ABC News, 5/17/07]
(See above link for hyper-links to sourcing)
Now some of you might have seen a diary I posted about the Harry & Louise style mailer that Sen. Obama sent out to voters (Hey John – You Catching All This?). Well in tonight’s debate, BO defends sending out that horrid mailer. Take a look at what the campaign’s just posted...
Sen. Obama stands by healthcare mailer that falsely attacks Hillary
2/26/2008 9:22:56 PM
During tonight’s debate, Sen. Obama stood by an Ohio campaign mailer that mimicked Harry and Louise ads that the health care industry used to scare people into opposing universal health care. The ad claims "Hillary's health care plan forces everyone to buy insurance, even if you can't afford it."
Here are the facts:
Sen. Obama fails to mention Hillary's plan cuts costs just as aggressively as Sen. Obama, if not more so.
Hillary's plan contains more generous subsidies than the Obama plan. Noted health expert Ken Thorpe of Emory University concluded that under the Hillary plan, everyone will be able to afford coverage.
The Obama plan leaves 15 million people out, which drives up costs because everyone else ends up subsidizing their emergency care.
Paul Krugman called the mailer "ugly" and "destructive."
(See above link for hyper-links and sourcing)
Now as many folks may have heard, Sen. Obama’s record on Iraq is separated by two things – a speech he gave 5 years ago (then took down off his website when he ran for the US Senate), and a vote to confirm Gates Casey (Hillary voted no – BO voted yes). Other than those two things, his record on Iraq is identical to Hillary’s. Take a look at what the campaign’s just put up on Fact Hub...
UPDATE: Factcheck - Sen. Obama's Iraq War Record
2/26/2008 9:44:42 PM
In 2004, Sen. Obama said he didn’t know how he would have voted on the Iraq War resolution.
‘When asked about Senators Kerry and Edwards' votes on the Iraq war, Obama said, "I'm not privy to Senate intelligence reports,’ Mr. Obama said. ‘What would I have done? I don't know. What I know is that from my vantage point the case was not made.’
In 2004, Sen. Obama also said there was little difference between his position and George Bush’s position on Iraq:
In a meeting with Chicago Tribune reporters at the Democratic National Convention, Obama said, "On Iraq, on paper, there's not as much difference, I think, between the Bush administration and a Kerry administration as there would have been a year ago. [...] There's not much of a difference between my position and George Bush's position at this stage." [Chicago Tribune, 07/27/04]
While running for Senate, Sen. Obama acknowledged that he took his anti-war speech off his campaign website, calling it "dated":
Specifically, State Senator Obama maintains that an October 2002 anti-war speech was removed from his campaign web site because "the speech was dated once the formal phase of the war was over, and my staff's desire to continually provide fresh news clips."
Finally, Sen. Obama and Hillary have almost identical voting records on Iraq:
In fact, Obama's Senate voting record on Iraq is nearly identical to Clinton's. Over the two years Obama has been in the Senate, the only Iraq-related vote on which they differed was the confirmation earlier this year of General George Casey to be Chief of Staff of the Army, which Obama voted for and Clinton voted against. [ABC News, 5/17/07]
(Please go to above link to hyper-links to New York Times and other sources – and no it’s not other campaign sites or pages)
Ok now to the fun stuff...
I just got the reviews off the campaign's website and they look good! Check it out...
Hillary's Reviews Are In: 'A Strong New Note,' 'Effective Tone,' 'A Solid Body Blow'
NBC News’ Andrea Mitchell –Hillary ‘came across very credibly, very strongly as a fighter.’ [MSNBC post-debate analysis, 2/26/08]
NBC News’ Domenico Montaro – ‘That was a solid body blow by Clinton on Obama not holding a single hearing on Afghanistan.’ "That was a solid body blow by Clinton on Obama not holding a single hearing on Afghanistan despite that he talks about it being the front line on terrorism and that he chairs the subcommittee on Europe, which oversees NATO. While Obama's explanation may be realistic -- that he became chair at the beginning of his campaign -- doesn't it reinforce Hillary and Bill Clinton's points that he is inexperienced, that he has only been in the Senate for a limited time and hasn't cut his teeth yet. Doesn't that play right into the inexperience narrative quite well?" [MSNBC First Read, 2/26/08]
ABC News’ Rick Klein – ‘It does seem like Clinton has settled on an effective tone this evening.’ "That silly distraction of an SNL reference aside -- it does seem like Clinton has settled on an effective tone this evening. She's mixing substance with style, attacking without seeming overtly negative, sounding like she's playing defense when she's really playing offense." [ABC News Political Radar, 2/26/08]
The Swamp's Jason George – 'Clinton strikes a new strong note, saying she plans to get $55 billion back from special interest groups for the American middle class.' [Chicago Tribune’s The Swamp, 2/26/08]
NBC News’ David Gregory said Hillary’s ‘answer on having to be a fighter on health care is her strong suit.’ "Senator Clinton the fighter. This answer on having to be a fighter on health care is her strong suit. Her point in lampooning Obama's high-flying oratory is to say, I, too, had only the highest ideals about public service in Washington. But I know through experience, you need different tactics. This is her experience argument." [MSNBC First Read, 2/26/08]
MyDD’s Todd Beeton – Hillary’s ‘I’m a fighter’ line was ‘one of her best selling points.’ "Hillary Clinton: "I'm a fighter." One of her best selling points, especially against Obama." [MyDD.com, 2/26/08]
Ohio Daily Blog – ‘Clinton did well with Russert's question about her 2000 pledge about creating jobs in Buffalo.’ [Ohio Daily Blog, 2/26/08]
WCPO Radio’s Dan Walthrip – ‘Hillary Clinton certainly claimed ownership of the word 'universal' in terms of healthcare.’ [WKYC post-debate analysis, 2/26/08]
(Please see the above link for hyper-links to sources)
Recurring theme here seems to be that folks are impressed with her point that she's a fighter.
I’ll close with something Hillary quoted in tonight’s debate...
Those who say it can’t be done are usually interrupted by those who are doing it.
James Baldwin
Hillary gets the job done and we’d be nuts to ignore her many strengths, experience, dedicated service and abilities to get results. She’s out there working hard for us – for kids like my sweet son every day. Hard work gets results – nothing else will.