My main reason for going to a lot of these things is not to cover what I can see on TV, but to make contacts and get “color” and background, before and then after, in the spin room.
I'm not going to comment much on the actual debate, except for one aspect, to be discussed below. We'll have plenty of other folks do do that.
Arriving around 5:00 PM, I had to walk through a group of Clinton supporters. The streets around the Constitution center had a fringe of supporters a few people deep, for Hillary and for Barack—more for Hillary. Hillary’s people seemed better dressed and more organized. But I remembered back to August 2003, when the Democratic Presidential forum was held at the Constitution Center, and there were massively more supporters for Howard Dean than there were for Clinton and Obama combined. You tell me what that means.
Within the first hour there, I had a chance to chat briefly with former clinton staffer George Stephanopolous, one of the debate moderators, and Dick Pohlman, one of Philly’s top bloggers. As the evening rolled on, I chatted with Congressman Joe Sestak, a few of the local Clear Channel right wing radio talk show hosts, Pa Governor Ed Rendell, who I had a chance to do a brief interview with, Philly Mayor Michael Nutter and Hillary’s campaign manager, Howard Wolfson.
There were two more OEN writers at the debate—Steve Young and Stewart Nusbaumer.
We’ve all posted articles.
After the debate, the spin room was packed, with camera crews and boom microphones hanging of the Obama and Clinton spokespeople, as they came out from the debate. One of the first out was Geoffrey D. Garin, the president of Peter D. Hart Research Associates, the guy who replaced Mark Penn in the Clinton Campaign
Before the debate, Steve Young and I agreed that there would be some bombs dropped—I thought that probably Hillary would drop some negative info about Obama, and that Obama would have something ready to hit her back with. Steve agreed, saying that the key thing would be the response and recovery.
It happened. Stephanopolous, apparently serving Clinton well, brought up Obama’s relationship with former Weather Underground bomber William Ayers, pointing out that Obama had maintained a close relationship with Ayers:
<blockquote> STEPHANOPOULOS: …first a follow-up on this issue, general theme of patriotism, in your relationships. A gentleman named William Ayers. He was part of the
Weather Underground in the 1970s. They bombed the Pentagon, the Capitol, and other buildings. He's never apologized for that. And, in fact, on 9/11, he was quoted in the New York Times saying, "I don't regret setting bombs. I feel we didn't do enough." An early organizing meeting for your State Senate campaign was held at his house and your campaign has said you are "friendly."
Can you explain that relationship for the voters and explain to Democrats why it won't be a problem?
OBAMA: George, but this is an example of what I'm talking about.
This is a guy who lives in my neighborhood, who's a professor of English in Chicago who I know and who I have not received some official endorsement from. He's not somebody who I exchange ideas from on a regular basis.
And the notion that somehow as a consequence of me knowing somebody who engaged in detestable acts 40 years ago, when I was 8 years old, somehow reflects on me and my values doesn't make much sense, George.
The fact is that I'm also friendly with Tom Coburn, one of the most conservative Republicans in the United States Senate, who, during his campaign, once said that it might be appropriate to apply the death penalty to those who carried out abortions.
Do I need to apologize for Mr. Coburn's statements? Because I certainly don't agree with those, either.
So this kind of game in which anybody who I know, regardless of how flimsy the relationship is, that somehow their ideas could be attributed to me, I think the American people are smarter than that. They're not going to suggest somehow that that is reflective of my views, because it
obviously isn't.
CLINTON: Well, I think that is a fair general statement, but I also believe that Senator Obama served on a board with Mr. Ayers for a period of time, the Woods Foundation, which was a paid directorship position.
And, if I'm not mistaken, that relationship with Mr. Ayers on this board continued after 9/11 and after his reported comments, which were deeply hurtful to people in New York and, I would hope, to every American, because they were published on 9/11, and he said that he was
just sorry they hadn't done more.
And what they did was set bombs. And in some instances, people died. So it is -- I think it is, again, an issue that people will be asking about.
And I have no doubt -- I know Senator Obama's a good man and I respect him greatly, but I think that this is an issue that certainly the Republicans will be raising.
And it goes to this larger set of concerns about how we are going to run against John McCain. You know, I wish the Republicans would apologize for the disaster of the Bush-Cheney years and not run anybody, just say that it's time for the Democrats to go back into the White House.
(APPLAUSE)
Unfortunately, they don't seem to be willing to do that. So we know that they're going to be out there, full force.
And, you know, I've been in this arena for a long time. I have a lot of baggage, and everybody has rummaged through it for years.
(LAUGHTER)
And so, therefore, I have an opportunity to come to this campaign with a very strong conviction and feeling that I will be able to withstand whatever the Republicans send our way.
OBAMA: Look, I'm going to have to respond to this just really quickly, but by Senator Clinton's own vetting standards, I don't think she would make it, since President Clinton pardoned or commuted the sentences of two members of the Weather Underground, which I think is a
slightly more significant act...
(APPLAUSE) GIBSON: Please.
OBAMA: ... than me serving on a board with somebody for actions that he did 40 years ago.
Look, there is no doubt that the Republicans will attack either of us.
OBAMA: Look, there is no doubt, that the Republicans will attack either of us. What I've been able to display during the course of this primary, is that I can take a punch. I've taken some pretty good ones from Senator Clinton.
And I don't begrudge her of that. That's part of what the political contest is about. I am looking forward to having a debate with John McCain. And I think every poll indicates that I am doing just as well, if not better, in pulling together the coalition that will defeat John McCain.
When it comes to November and people go to the polling place, they're going to be asking, are we going to go through four more years of George Bush economic policies? Are we going through four more years of George Bush foreign policy? If we as Democrats and if I as the
nominee have put forward a clear vision for how we're going to move the country forward, deal with issues like energy dependence, lower gas prices, provide health care, get our troops out of Iraq, that is a debate that I'm happy to have and a debate that I'm confident that I can win.
CLINTON: And, Senator Clinton, I'm getting out of balance in terms
of time. You're getting short-changed here. If you want to reply here, fine. If you want to wait, we'll do it in the next half hour.
CLINTON: We can wait.</blockquote>
I guess she could wait. Stephanopolous was doing all the dirty work for her. It’s amazing that HE dropped the major bomb for Clinton—raising the William Ayers bit. And Obama’s return bomb, of course, was the news that Clinton had pardoned or commuted several Weather Underground people.
But the most fun part of the debate happened at the end. As I was getting ready to leave, a guy with a camera came up to me and asked if I’d do an interview. He was with BarelyPolitical.com.
Little did I know that the emphasis was on the BARE.
As we walked over to where he was set up, he explained I’d be interviewed by Amber Lee Ettinger—Obama Girl. They took a picture. It was a hoot. She seems taller in her videos.
So… what did you think of the debate?
