Hillary's Mistake by the Lake

" Why do I always get the first question? It's not fair!"


I had to watch the 20th debate last night from Cleveland since the week's flap over the Obama flyers sent to Ohio voters and Senator Clinton's angry response foretold a night of fireworks. While it was clear that Hillary had to do something dramatic, I imagine her advisors probably counseled her not to show any real anger at Obama. Even so, she had to be somewhat aggressive toward her opponent, which she was, at times, being testy. In the end, she failed to achieve her objective. If anything, she probably lost a few more points in this debate.

The debate started off with both candidates complaining about the tactics of the other during the past week. Then the subject moved on to Health Care, with both candidates arguing about whose plan was better (Ho hum). Actually the topic dragged on for 16 minutes, certainly longer than the moderators had planned, as each candidate refused to let the other have the last word. Hillary especially tried to filibuster the subject. Here I found myself saying to myself, "Keep talking, Hillary. Keep talking."

Then it was off to NAFTA, where Hillary had to defend herself when it was pointed out that she had spoken out in favor of NAFTA (which had been heralded as one of the Clinton Administration's "greatest accomplishments"). Russert, to his credit, directed hard questions to both candidates.

It was during this discussion that Hillary laid another egg, much like the xerox egg she laid in Houston a few days previous. This time, when given the first question, she pointed out that she was always being asked the first question-then made a wise crack about giving Obama an extra pillow. This complaint, linked with a lame joke, was met by grumbles from the audience-not as negative as the Houston remark, but definitely the low mark for Clinton.

In addition, when pinned down by Russert about her previous campaign promises to increase jobs in the upstate New York area (in the face of subsequent job losses), she blamed it all on you know who-George Bush. Moreover, Hillary was put on record as to the status of the release of her income tax returns and records pertaining to her activities as First Lady. Her response: "All in good time." (I am paraphrasing.)

Obama's low point was when he was asked about the endorsement of the dispicable hate-monger and anti-Semite, Louis Farrakhan as well as his pastor, Jeremiah Wright (who, in 1984, had accompanied Farrakhan to Libya to visit Moammar Khadafi). Obama was clearly uncomfortable in dealing with this issue, stuttering around about how he had denounced Farrakhan, but had no control over who the Nation of Islam leader chose to endorse. Hillary had a great chance to nail him on this one when she talked about a similar endorsement she had received and rejected from an extremist. But when Obama conceded that he would happily denounce and reject, he had wiggled off the hook to applause from the audience.

I also think the moderators should have delved deeper-not into Farrakhan, but Jeremiah Wright. Obama has not denounced Wright-he still attends his church. But this man is troubling in himself. If Obama wins the nomination, Pastor Wright will be an issue- and should be.

All in all, I think Hillary came off petulant at times, while Obama generally was very cool and polished (with the exception noted above). In my opinion, Obama has come a long way in his debating performance in the last few months. If there was a victor, it was probably Obama by a slight margin. Too bad for Clinton because she had to win this one by a wide margin.

I also noted that Hillary's good side is not her right side. When she turned to look at Obama (on her left) while he was speaking, from the side, she appeared to be angry, and that might not have been an accurate perception from one moment to another.

Some commentators are saying Hillary played the gender card with her complaint about always being asked questions first. Maybe, but there are others out there who are explicitly making the "sexist" argument. Specifically, I am referring to Kokie Roberts and Didi Myers, the latter a member of the Clinton Administration, both of whom are making the "Hillary as victim of sexism" claim. I don't think that is going to help Mrs Clinton much. I don't think the public is looking for a victim to be our Commander-in-Chief.

Meanwhile, her erstwhile husband, Bill, the Pete Rose or Barry Bonds of politics (whichever you prefer), is running around Ohio, appearing in the back of pick-up trucks telling curious on-lookers why his erstwhile wife should be president.

To sum it all up, I think what will be remembered from this debate will be Hillary Clinton telling us she is ready to be Commander-in-Chief on Day One while complaining that she always gets the first question. Mrs Clinton, with all due respect: If you do get to be president, you will always get the first question.