Obama Criticizes Debate, Attacks Clinton For Being "In Her Element"

RALEIGH, N.C. — Democratic Sen. Barack Obama dismissively talked about his debate with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and the line of questioning from ABC News' moderators, arguing that it focused on political trivia at the expense of the problems facing average voters.

At a rally in the May 6 primary state of North Carolina, Obama drew roars of approval Thursday when he mocked aspects of the presidential debate that had him on the defensive Wednesday night. He faced tough questions about his controversial pastor, his comments about bitter voters in small towns and his relationship with a 1960s radical.

Deadpanning, the Illinois senator said, "It does not get much more fun than these debates. They are inspiring events."

In criticism of his rival, he called the debate "the rollout of the Republican campaign against me in November" and said it represented textbook Washington politics that Clinton was very comfortable playing.

"They like stirring up controversy and they like playing gotcha games, getting us to attack each other," he said. "Senator Clinton looked in her element. She was taking every opportunity to get a dig in there. That's her right to kind of twist the knife a little bit ... that's the lesson she learned when Republicans did it to her in the 1990s."

The Obama campaign also sought to capitalize on the debate, sending out a fundraising appeal titled, "Gotcha," and soliciting $25 donations.

"Last night I think we set a new record because it took us 45 minutes before we even started talking about a single issue that matters to the American people," Obama told the North Carolina crowd. "Forty-five minutes before we heard about health care, 45 minutes before we heard about Iraq, 45 minutes before we heard about jobs, 45 minutes before we heard about gas prices."

ABC News' Charles Gibson and George Stephanopoulos pointedly questioned Obama, and Clinton politely challenged her rival.

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"When you're running for the presidency, you've just got to kind of let it ..." Obama said, pretending to flick lint off his pants and jacket.

Another debate between the two candidates seems unlikely. Obama had agreed to a debate in North Carolina on Saturday, Clinton has agreed to a debate April 27 in Raleigh, sponsored and televised by CBS News. The two camps have not agreed on a date.

"I'll be honest with you. We've now had 21," Obama said of the debates. "It's not as if we don't know how to do these things. I could deliver Senator Clinton's lines. I'm sure she could deliver mine."

Later, taking a question from a fourth-grade boy who said he had been elected his class representative at school, Obama asked, "How many debates did you have to have?"

"None," the boy replied.

"None! That sounds good!" Obama said.

[WATCH]

Comments

[KOisGod]

Watched O' Liely for about as long as I could stand him tonight (less then 5 minutes) and he had Rove on, it was a joke. Rove "was extreamly concerned" about Barack's far left affiliations, but was particularly CONCERNED about Rev. Wright's influence on Obama.

So Barack, you want to be President eh?

Last night was playing catch with Dad in the back yard. Come your nomination, its 98 mph fastballs coming at you, high and tight, under the lights, with 65,000 screaming fans, wanting to see you blown out of the box.

I just hope you can get out of the way in time.

[RanTheMan]

He'll handle McCain and the Republican attack machine just fine.

[benwha]

We as a democratic party should grow some stones and stop being afraid of Rove.

[Sabreen60]

I agree. If he gets the nomination, the gloves will come off. I do not think he will disrespect McCain, but I don't think Obama will treat him as "gentlemanly" as he has treated Clinton.

[JWLANDSCAPES]

He couldn't handle wimpy little Stephanopolous last night!

[riverhouse]

We've seen that fighting back against Hillary makes her cry and gets her the sympathy vote. I think he did what he could with the situation that presented during the "debate".

[RanTheMan]

The hilarious thing about the debate was, that despite the obvious slant in Hillary's favor, she didn't gain one speck of traction with voters either.

Both candidates looked like they were waiting for the important questions that never materialized from Gibson or Stephanopoulos. And the questions that were asked had so little to do with the REAL issues of concern to voters, that the "debate" was a dismal failure for both ABC and the candidates.

[benwha]

It is not going to gain any traction because the public has wised up to the bs. No more MSM influence and no more attacvk style politics.

It is about time!

[dbc4647]

I found the questions tough and appropriate. His responses on issue-related questions showed inexperience. It's time the fairytale ended. Wake up folks. Obama will not win general election.

[RanTheMan]

Gee, an anti-Obama poster found the questions "tough and appropriate".
Really???
A question about flag pins?
A question about a 60s radical who has mended his ways and is now a productive member of the educational community?
(Btw, wasn't it great how Obama was ready with info on Bill's pardon of two other radicals from that time?)

Appropriate my a**.

[benwha]

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/04/18/america/18dems.php

[Jonni Rae]

I loved the way he figuratively brushed off the mud slung at him in that debate!!

[eddiestardust]

Yes, especially when he asked about the war...Hillary was very fast to say the troops would come home quickly, Obama tried to give a reasoned approach so in the end he looked like a loser.

And the patriotic thing...it's NOT the flag pin at all, but it is the hand NOT over his heart as the Natl Anthem is played. One staffer has commented that he does sometimes and does not at other times... what's up with that? It looks bad when he is next to Hillary who does!

Just very strange...or maybe everyone that is 46 is like that?

[kcam44]

Oh, forgive me- I lost my head for a moment: Asking about a flag lapel pin is appropriate (no one else on the stage wore one). Oh yeah: Do you think your Pastor loves America? that's so appropiate, when gas is $4 a gallon, food prices have skyrocketed, people are losing their jobs, soldiers are losing their lives, the list goes on. It's time for change and Obama will win the general election. That's the problem: he is so close to the Whitehouse, the media doesn't know what to do with themselves!!!

[Sparklez]

Is anyone watching the Colbert Report


He is funny

Brought up the fact that Stephanapolous was on the Clinton's payroll

[garyddw2002]

That is the way it looks ?

[JiminNC]

Of course Hillary defends something she clearly paid for.

[benwha]

Honestly, we have to give the debate to HRC. And as painful as it was, the debate is probably necessary to prepare Barack. In the end, the crappy debate appears to be helping him anyway.

[Sanjong Thapa]

Aside from the ties to a domestic terrorist, does anyone else think Obama belongs in jail for the Rezko thing?

[benwha]

What did he do wrong? Please cite specific sources or articles.

[debwarot]

I don't think he can, benwha.

[Neocon187]

Obviously a McHillary supporter like you does or you wouldn't have asked question (not that it's accurate, of course).

[jcause28]

It's a waste to ask someone hooked on sound bites and rumors to cite their sources.

[Neocon187]

BTW: McHillary's husband pardoned two members of the group your "domestic terrorist" belonged to.

Any comments?

[RanTheMan]

Only uninformed morons.

[Peteyman]

Which appear to be plentiful.

[init]

I am not going to try to tell this Bright, Accomplished Man how to run his campaign, he is doing a superb job himself. These trade policies have destroyed this country. From my parents days to now. I believe that the average latter baby-boomers may be suffering right now and the first generation that will not do as well as their parents. Who signed these trade policies? Case closed.

[debwarot]

You got it, init!

[obamavet]

Last night’s “debate” was little more than an ambush engineered by a weal network and a Clinton operative who should have rescued himself out of journalistic professionalism. It was as though Obama were invited to a family dinner that turned into a domestic dispute with him as the target. It is little wonder Obama had a WTF look on his face wondering why all of those people forgot to take their meds before the start of the program.
I am sick of the Clinton camp justifying smear with the mantra of “vetting”. Where did this ridiculous idea of organized smear come from in the first place? It seems that any candidate who steps into the political arena is required to be a stationary target for a bunch of political apes and wannabes to throw their feces at in order for him or her to be accepted into the tribe.
America had a prime opportunity to see campaigning at its worse last night. The feces flew and anything of substance never really stood a chance of being discussed. ABC lowered the standards of political discourse to writing on the stall of a public restroom. Voters were thought to be uninterested in real issues. ABC has decided that the war or any of the other issues, are not important to we voters.
Obama should have walked out of the debate with the statement, “Call me when you get some adults in charge of this zoo”.

[Awaki]

Hopefully, this is only the beginning with lots and lots more to come for Obama. Let's just see how well he can stand up to what has been dished out at Hillary for SIXTEEN YEARS!!!!

I suppose it's about time for him to run to the beach and lay up for some rest again after last night's trouncing.

It does not matter what you Obama supporters do or say, he is finally getting what is long over due him and I say "let the shellacking continue." When MSNBC, CNN and every other station, that had a debate, Republican and Democrat, Hillary was attacked by every person speaking. It was so outlandish SNL and other late shows did skits about it. The MSM cut pieces, in humor, with all of the candidates saying her name as they spoke negatively of her.

Well now let Obama stew in the mess of negativity he created and may he be taken down by it.

[GeoLee]

I agree that the questions were ridculous and not what I tuned in to hear being discussed. But I also think the brushing off behavior today was childish and inappropriate for the man asking me to trust him to become the leader of my country. What is funny and cool in some circumstances is not cool when one is running for the office of President of the United States. Decorum still counts to and today he did NOT sound like the adult in the room.

[Gizmo1125]

The majority of the people on this site are in big time denial. Obama's performance in the debate was pitiful and it is beyond me how anybody would even try to begin to defend it. Obama needs to stop all the drama and try giving a direct answer for a change.

[benwha]

I don't see many people defending barack's performance. I think an independent minded person would have to say HRC performed better. But the funny thing is, the debate has done nothing. Nothing has really changed.

the debate was just bad overall, I don't know how you could even begin to defend it.

I am going to give you two examples where he gave direct answers:
1. When he sat down with the media and talked about Rezco for 90 minutes
2. When he gave the speech regarding Wright

If you don't think those were "direct" then you are not even trying to think critically are you. There is nothing out there that will ever ever ever change your mind. And that my friend, is sad.

[JiminNC]

That's the point Benwa, "NOT THINKING."

[StephenJK]

He directly lied to that media sit-in about Rezko for 90 minutes when he lied about how long he's known the guy and how much his campaigns (past and present) have received from Rezko. I don't call that forthcoming. I call it witheld information, if not outright deception. It's even worse when you think of his motives for sitting down with the media: To clear the air regarding Rezko and to avoid any attachment to inpropriety regarding land deals or any deals, for that matter. Obama's judgement on the handling of the Rezko matter was seriously lacking. With the trial in full motion now and facts of the case contesting Obama's own words will show America how truthful he really is.

[foreffectivegovernment]

Those who want a contrast on the issues only need to go to the candidates websites for that debate. The face-to-face debates need to be about other things like those that were brought up last night.

If your candidate can't answer a few simple questions, then he doesn't have a chance against the Republicans.

The fact that Obama supporters are attacking the messenger instead of realizing that the Teflon veneer is cracking, means that Senator Hillary Clinton is the stronger candidate and is the only one that can beat McCain in the general election.
The superdelegates will soon realize that they must save the Democratic Party and flee from Obama. They can change their minds at any time.

[DreamConjuror]

Clinton is the stronger candidate or better liar or avoider of true answers? Well if your suggestion is that is what a face-to-face debate should be like, then lets just have the debates in pairs. One where they ask each other the questions and just have a time keeper, and another where an unbiased panel asks all the candidates relevant questions.

[Sanjong Thapa]

THIS SHOULD SEAL IT FOR OBAMA -- AN ENDORSEMENT FROM HAMAS
http://cameron.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/04/16/a-hamas-problem-for-obama/

Ya know, I really don't agree with this blogger's title, 'A Hamas Problem for Obama'.
Isn't an endorsement from a terrorist like a badge of honor for the Dems?

It's gotta be a helluva thing, though: having your political career get it start by kicking it off with a fund-raiser in the living room of one of Timothy McVeigh's role models. posted 04/17/2008 at 19:13:41
NO ONE FROM THE RADICAL LEFT CAN WIN A NATIONAL ELECTION

[Kalima]

Take your accumulated trash and peddle it somewhere else!

[Neocon187]

You've certainly nailed that one: if the False News Network says it's a problem, then it must be a problem. I'm going to send an email right now to Obama's campaign urging him to withraw.

"It's gotta be a helluva thing, though: having your political career get it start by kicking it off with a fund-raiser in the living room of one of Timothy McVeigh's role models."
There's this thing called GOOGLE and you can use it to verify dumbass statements.
Timothy McVeigh's got his inspiration for the Oklahoma bombing from the TURNER DIARIES.
You're obviously a dedicated Fox News viewer.

[TargetPraticing]

you must be nervous he will seek out people like you in pakistan with a screen name like that. lol

[Kalima]

I doubt it as I think that the name is Nepalese in origin and nothing to do
with Pakistan. Never mind, he's still an a@@!

[aristippe]

So will the Obamabot's faces drop when he announces Powell for V.P.

[JiminNC]

I'll take that bet.

[GeoLee]

If Powell ends up on a ticket with Obama, I absolutely will register a no vote in the presidential part of the ballot.

[kenjisan]

BARACK gets the dirt off of his shoulders - a must see! ;)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=yel8IjOAdSc

[OpusIsUnderTheBed]

I found Clintons mea culpa, interesting. She apologized for lying without, of course, using the lie word.

[Mollye]

Here's the portion of that video that shows Obama flipping Hillary off. This guy is a juvenile, petulant DIVIDER. I hope and pray that the States with Primaries to come and the Super Delegates do the right thing and vote him right out the door.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DygBj4Zw6No&eurl=http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/04/17/obama-stands-accused-of-conduct-unbecoming-a-presidential-candidate/

[pupbayer]

You hit that nail right on the head!

[debwarot]

Funny - I was just going to say that only a juvenile, petulant divisive person would see that in the video - most adults with half a brain saw a man with a finger alongside his face.

[Mollye]

Say it enough times and you'll convince yourself of that...

[midwesthousewife]

The angle is difficult but I see him raising two fingers up to the side of his face.

[Kalima]

My husband does it all the time when he's deep in thought. It means nothing.
The poster is grasping at straws and has a very unpleasant mind.

[thetruthbringer]

You have to be an idiot...I can't think of any other reason you would make that assertion.

[MissDarla]

We deserve Obama! Have you seen the video on YouTube where his is flipping Hillary the Bird during a speech today? Isn't that Presidential of him? Can't wait to see what he does with Iran when he feels he's been unfairly treated. Grow up little boy!

[pupbayer]

He's just low class.

[JiminNC]

All them-thar black folks in that category for you?

[debwarot]

Grow up, MissDarla! Stop trying to create something from nothing - we have had enough of that! Move onwards and upwards. The adults watching the video merely saw a man with a finger on the side of his face - if you saw something more it is because that is how you, yourself would behave.

[benwha]

don't acknowledge this crap deb seriously, no one with half a brain would view that link and take it seriously.

[Kalima]

After your stupid link, may I suggest that it is you who needs to do the growing up.

[pleeezzze]

Did you hear all the applaus he got while doing it ??

[Suprshrink]

Obama has never been great at debates. He says he's ready for McCain but I can't imagine how he will hone those skills if he stumbles over the questions he does not like to answer and that he does not already have in a can.

[benwha]

But look at the result. It appears that despite his poor performance he will likely end up with MORE support. Why is that. Could it be that the public is no longer listening to the MSm and attack style politics and thinking for themselves???

[debwarot]

I do think you are right - the public is reclaiming its right to independent thought!

[sk7326]

Because it's John McCain who rather proudly admits how he knows nothing about the economy, and because it's John McCain who cannot tells the Shi'ites from the Sunni

[Mollye]

That won't matter. Republicans are backing him. If Obama wins the nomination, there will be many people leaving the Mommy Party and joining the Daddy Party.

[situationcritical]

Well, if Bush is a weathervane, then Obama should win the presidency by a landslide with his poor debating skills.

(BTW - I think Obama is quite proficient at debates)

[Sparklez]

Wow, even Gov. Rendell said the debates were a sham