Dems Try To Close In On Clinton

Washington Post:

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton found herself on the defensive here Wednesday night in a debate in which the Democratic presidential candidates clashed over withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq, the financial future of Social Security and Iran's nuclear threat.

The two-hour debate features clear differences but few fireworks. Clinton (N.Y.), the front-runner for the nomination, drew steady criticism, but her seven rivals couched their disagreements with respect rather than scorn or sharp words.

Read the whole story: Washington Post

Comments

[Giordano Bruno]

09:19 PM on 09/27/2007

My thoughts are that Hillary is beginning to show some of the abrasive qualities that cause her to be the Republicans favorite candidate to run against. The only problem is that her positions are so centerist that it is going to be difficult to distinguish her from her Republican opponents. That is risky because, in general Republicans vote for the Republican Republicans rather than the Democrat Republicans. I don't think Hillary represents the "Democratic wing of the Democratic Party." Sure would like to know who Howard Dean supports. I don't imagine there is a lot of love lost between Howie and the Clintons.

I thought Edwards rocked last night. I was glad that he respectfully distinguished himself from Hillary on the issue of combat troops in Iraq and the Lieberman bill which set the stage for a new war with Iran. Hillary is so busy sucking up to every potential big time contributor that she has forgotten what she stands for. Or did she ever stand for anything? I can't remember. Giordano

[Dejack]

06:55 PM on 09/27/2007

I was amazed: ol' Pumpkin Head Tim really rattled Hillary in the debate.

[PollM]

06:58 PM on 09/27/2007

The leading Democratic White House hopefuls conceded Wednesday night they cannot guarantee to pull all U.S. combat troops from Iraq by the end of the next presidential term in 2013.

Who do you believe won the New Hampshire Democratic Presidential Debate? -------> http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=597

.

[frost]

08:21 PM on 09/27/2007

.

no votes have been cast..

there are no leading hopefuls..

oh wait you mean the media's hopefuls..
.

[BLOGGINGBITCH]

06:49 PM on 09/27/2007

I can't get over Hillary, Obama and Edwards claiming that Bush is doing the best he can.

They're going to stay in Iraq too.

[frost]

08:19 PM on 09/27/2007

.

Edwards was quite clear..

only a brigade would stay in Iraq to protect the embassy and humanitarian groups..

about 3 to 5 thousand..

no combat missions would be permitted..

Obama didn't think stopping Bush by voting against the Kyl Lieberman amendment was a priority..

Hillary voted to give Bush the power to bomb Iran and send soldiers in to die in Iran as well..
.

[Sanjong Thapa]

06:45 PM on 09/27/2007

male libs candidates gang-bang Hillary ?

[ceasenake]

06:30 PM on 09/27/2007

What I found really funny was that the Dems are always on Bush's ass about pulling the troops out of Iraq - RIGHT AWAY. But when the 3 leading Dems were asked if the troops would be out by the (hypothetical) end of their first term i.e. 2013 - none of them would say it would happen.

I know that is the truth, but the fact that serious Dem candidates would say that and the left wing is not out for their heads is the real surprise.

Why is this not big news!

[joselopez]

05:59 PM on 09/27/2007

I was just thinking:

If the Democrats are not willing to commit to remove troops from Iraq by 2013, what is separating them from the Republican candidates on Iraq.

That is why I believe Hillary is the worst choice, because if she plans to stay, why should moderate and independents who already dislike her vote for her.

Despite what they tell you in the future, what they said last night is their true position, they are not getting out anytime soon.

I jujst fear that Hillary Clinton's second stupid vote on foreign policy (Iran Guard) would lead to an additional war.

How stupid could she be? When you see who voted against that bill, it just proves what I have said all along, she will do anything to get elected president, regardless of principles.

[joselopez]

05:47 PM on 09/27/2007

PLEASE EXPLAIN THIS:

Richard Luger, Chuck Hagel, and John Kerry vote against labeling Iran's Revolutionary Guard a Terrorist group, but HILLARY CLINTON VOTES YES!!!

Two respected Republican leaders and a left leaning Democrat, vote against it, but she votes for it.

If you Democrats don't get it by now, you never will!!!!!!

[geobushono]

04:57 PM on 09/27/2007

RIGHT NOW>draftgore.com

[joselopez]

05:45 PM on 09/27/2007

PLEASE EXPLAIN THIS:

Richard Luger, Chuck Hagel, and John Kerry vote against labeling Iran's Revolutionaru Guard a Terrorist group, but HILLARY CLINTON VOTES YES!!!

Two respected republican leaders and a left leaning Democrat, vote against it, but she votes for it.

If you Democrats don't get it by now, you never will!!!!!!

[smartstuart]

04:24 PM on 09/27/2007

This headline is a lie! The only person going after Sen. Clinton was that toad, Tim Russert! All the rest of those dem-losers had NOTHING to say that mattered a hill of beans. Russert tried to get Clinton to bite on a quote a "former guest" on Meet the Press had made-turned out to be Pres Clinton-and Hillary responded with.....He has his opinion...I'M the one up here at this podium running for president and I have my own opinion about that!!! Russert looked like one of Michael Vick's beaten dogs after she reamed him a new one!!!

[RollaMO]

05:20 PM on 09/27/2007

Yes, she is the one running for president, not Bill, so someone tell her to stop bringing up how great things were under Bill's administration, it was HIS administration. You can't have it both ways.

[joselopez]

05:20 PM on 09/27/2007

PROBLEM THERE: HILLARY SAID THE SAME EXACT THING TO THE NY DAILY NEWS THAT BILL CLINTON SAID REGARDING TERRORIST, SO AGAIN SHE LIED OR CONVENIENTLT FORGOT WHAT SHE HAD PREVIOUSLY SAID.

HILLARY WANTS TO KEEP TROOPS IN IRAQ.
HILLARY WANTS TO CONTINUE TAKING MONEYH FROM LOBBYISTS.
HILLARY VOTES FOR AN AUTHORIZATION THAT COULD LEAD BUSH TO GO TO WAR WITH IRAN.
HILLARY REFUSES TO ANSWER QUESTION ON SOCIAL SECURITY.
SHE REFUSES TO ANSWER QUESTION ON ISRAELI/IRAN RELATIONS.

DEMOCRATS, DO YOU STILL BELIEVE THIS WOULD BE OUR BEST CANDIDATE TO RUN AGAINST THE REPBULICANS.

WE NEED TO DISTINGUISH FROM THEM IN ORDER TO WIN INDEPENDENTS AND MODERATES. CLINTON WOUL DNOW ALLOW US TO DO THAT!!!!

[hodaddy]

04:08 PM on 09/27/2007

There is no doubt whatsoever, that by Hillary being as disingenuous as her history proves, strong democratic rivals and eventually the Republican nominee, will be successful in labeling her....a true flip-flopper!!!

[Qbear]

03:59 PM on 09/27/2007

Clinton would be damn lucky if New Yorkers accepted her back as their Senator after her stupid Kyl/Lieberman vote which Cheney will use to attack Iran.

She ENDED her presidential campaign.

[plutorage]

03:19 PM on 09/27/2007

I'll bet 10 journalists could retire for life on the Xmas bonus Tim Russert gets from General Electric this year.

Hilary protected the war machine and the war machine protected Hilary.

Note to Flying Nun Sally:

When Gravel got his chance he turned to Hilary and said shame on you for voting for the declaration of war against Iran today. He said that she should have learned from her first mistake when she helped Bush declare war on Iraq. Hilary's reaction? An air splitting cackle that raised the hair on the back of my neck just thinking of what our poor country is in for when the sweet maternal Hilary is in charge of the guns.

Russert deftly steered the debate away quickly from the Iran vote thereby killing all tension in the game and ensuring a boring debate that would leave the polls unchanged. Russert accomplished this by repeating questions asked over and over of the cadidates previously, i.e. would you torture a man you knew had info on an imminent nuke explosion, etc. No wonder the Bush admin always tries to get on Meet the Press.

Obama seems to be running for the veep slot.

[PollM]

03:48 PM on 09/27/2007

The leading Democratic White House hopefuls conceded Wednesday night they cannot guarantee to pull all U.S. combat troops from Iraq by the end of the next presidential term in 2013.

Who do you believe won the New Hampshire Democratic Presidential Debate? -------> http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=597

.

[LeeRep]

03:09 PM on 09/27/2007

Media coverage is a big part of the problem and not a solution.
This is not a contest, it's an election.
The debates aren't really debates.
I am more interested in how the candidates fare overall, not on one particular question or on any one evening.
We need a leader not a performer. We've had enough actors and puppets, thank you.
We hear canned responses over and over because Media is not doing their job.
The after debate evaluations are even more damaging.
Quit looking for failures and miss-steps. Define what it takes to be a great leader and then evaluate how the candidates measure up.
Making a bad decision standing there in front of a camera isn't a legitimate way to discover a leader. It's the way we pick an American Idol.
We need a leader to determine the best solution under real circumstances. The best solution might be a tough one. We need to know that the next president makes these decisions based on the best information and for the best reasons for the good of our country.
Not political
Not popular
and especially, not for special interest groups
There needs a leader who puts an end to the constant "campaigning" and who has the where with all to actually govern our country for a change.
Thank you,

[hydenorhare]

03:02 PM on 09/27/2007

I didn't watch because every answer by Hillary would have to be followed by the question "But you previously said ..." and that question is never asked.

However, I heard the top 3 all said they likely wouldn't leave Iraq if they were President.

Now what, lefties? Who ya gonna love now?

I've told you many times they want a USA defeat to pin on Bush but they don't want to be seen as responsible for it themselves.

I know YOU don't care because you don't care if you're seen as anti-American. But most of them can't be that obvious about it and still remain politically viable.

[Nyla785]

02:52 PM on 09/27/2007

Hillary--and most of the other Democratic candidates, for that matter--make Bush look like an incompetent bumpkin.

[cynara]

03:35 PM on 09/27/2007

Umm actually... Considering Hillary voted in favor of action against Iran, that makes her look like someone so stupid that she can be duped by an incompetent bumpkin. And considering Obama didn't even show up for the vote, that makes him look like a coward who is afraid of an incompetent bumpkin.