Who Won Rachel Maddow's Democratic Forum? Hillary Got It Done

[applegrove]

Who Won Rachel Maddow's Democratic Forum? Hillary Got It Done

by Chris Tognotti at Bustle

http://www.bustle.com/articles/122247-who-won-rachel-maddows-democratic-forum-hillary-got-it-done

"SNIP.............


It's going to be a matter of some argument, sure, especially between people who already have their allegiances sorted out. There are strong cases to be made on all sides — from the polished sharpness of Martin O'Malley, to the stirring rhetorical passion of Bernie Sanders, to the ease and all-around expertise of Hillary Clinton, there really wasn't a candidate on stage Friday night that did themselves any major harm. At the very worst, anyone who supported one of these candidates going in almost surely walked out with the same opinion.

But when you look at the all-around performances, and the stakes within the respective campaigns, it's hard not to arrive at a familiar conclusion. Sorry, Bernie and Martin fans: Hillary Clinton carried the night, on both personal and political levels, and she looks like she's rounding into form heading into the final weeks of 2015.

..........

Maddow was a standout as the moderator of the forum, and each and every candidate got an entirely fair chance to express their views on a range of topics — O'Malley keyed in on climate change, Sanders on economic justice (of course) and even a little about himself (a nice surprise), and Clinton was pressed on an array of issues that are hugely significant to Democratic viewers, like the death penalty, gun control, racism in policing, and her hawkish reputation on foreign policy.

Her answers might not please everyone, no doubt — she downplayed the hawk criticisms, which flies in the face of much of her record and past public statements. But her demeanor was undeniably the most composed and ready for the spotlight, and perhaps most crucially she never came across as disingenuous or insincere, those qualities that so many voters seem to ascribe to her. Quite the contrary, in fact — she looked like a future president.




...............SNIP"

[Avalux]

1. And here they come - the Hillary surrogates, furiously trying to rewrite history. n/t

[SmittynMo]

5. Made me smile

Thanks

[Pryderi]

7. Even MSNBC said Bernie won. n/t

[MADem]

35. Really? Who at MSNBC said that? nt

[Cha]

33. Oh you mean like after the first debate when BS fans tried to claim bernie won?

[demwing]

44. You mean EVERY focus group from EVERY network? /nt

[leftofcool]

2. It was an outstanding performance

Madame President indeed!

[Agschmid]

3. Kick.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

4. She came over as fake

and abrasive. I thought Martin did well but Bernie was on fire. Bernie was the best.

[SmittynMo]

8. K & R 100k

[Aerows]

14. Martin O'Malley was a stand out.

Nobody thinks Hillary won that debate. I guess you could pretend she won it, but hell, I'm not good at faking it because I don't have to.

[bobbobbins01]

6. Which part won it for her?

When she wagged her finger ineffectually at wall street in 2007?
When she twisted herself in knots trying to explain the DOMA?
Or when she was asked how she would help African Americans, and instead talked about White Middle-Aged people?

This article is disconnected from reality.

[leftofcool]

11. You must be mistaking Hillary for Bernie

Hillary was talking about the latest report wherein white middle aged people are dying from drugs. Bernie was talking about reaching out to "white middle class voters" totally dismissing the fact that PoC actually work.

[Aerows]

16. That's some industrial strength Kool-Aid. n/t

[bobbobbins01]

22. Please point me to where Bernie mentions these "White middle class voters"...

Hillary was asked about African Americans and brought up a report about white middle aged people...thats the definition of dismissing them.

[leftofcool]

26. You obviously didn't hear him then.

But,. that's okay. I have already been informed that it is perfectly okay to use the terms "white working class people" and "white voters" in South Carolina.

[bobbobbins01]

27. Just show me where please. I'd like to hear it and understand the context.

Hillary pivoting from African Americans to white middle-aged people is right here:

[artislife]

34. Ah......well.....ah......

Damn, you are right bobbobins01. You are right.

[Fearless]

24. Bernie denied that people of color work?!? What the hell were you watching?

[beam me up scottie]

31. Trying to birth a new meme: Bernie was "totally dismissing the fact that PoC actually work"

[Aerows]

36. I'm going to just come right out and say it.

If anybody has an ethical bone in their body, the last thing they would do is accuse Bernie Sanders of sexism, racism and assorted bullshit.

They do *NOT* get to tarnish his integrity just because his opponents have none.

[Warren Stupidity]

41. I thought her attempts to weasel out of her decades long support for murdering prisoners

was excruciating.

[Snotcicles]

46. After the events that took place on 1/24/1992 and 1/26/1992 I can see why. nt edited

Last edited Sat Nov 7, 2015, 11:14 AM - Edit history (1)

Grammar edit

[DemocratSinceBirth]

9. I see a petition for a Congressional investigation of bustle in the future.

EOM

[Aerows]

37. I know I am eager to vote

for Clinton 2.0 because there is a shitload of integrity there.

Not.

[mhatrw]

10. The most important thing in a President is demeanor.

Bill was the greatest ever, followed closely by Ronnie.

[Aerows]

12. I'm quite sure that the debate that I watched

is completely different than the "opinion" article.

I have about had it with people telling me what to think - I think for myself.

You aren't going to cajole, coerce or craft a situation where she won the debate.

[Blue_In_AK]

13. It's all a matter of opinion.

No one's mind was changed.

[Uncle Joe]

15. Hillary never effectively rebutted the claim that she was the most hawkish candidate I don't

consider that to be a plus.

In regards to the mess in Mesopotamia and Syria, Bernie stated clearly that the mega-wealthy Gulf States and their over sized military should carry the ground game war against ISIS and that the world as a whole should unite in this fight.

Bernie wasn't backing the U.S. carrying the lion's share of the load in treasure and blood anymore as we've done in the ill thought war against Iraq which fostered the current crisis to begin with.

Thanks for the thread, applegrove.

[applegrove]

18. My pleasure uncle joe.

[Thinkingabout]

17. I recorded for later viewing, anxious to watch.

[madamesilverspurs]

19. Voters won.

Unlike the GOP sideshows, in this venue the candidates had opportunity to show who they are. Rather than reciting and repeating party talking points and scripted insults, each candidate shared history and experience and personal observation. And afterward, no complaints about hard questions. The forum did what it was supposed to do.

[a kennedy]

20. I wonder how many repubs, and indies, watched it......not many.

[oasis]

21. Hill was dignified and had mastery of all that was put before her.

Bernie provided excitement and vision.

Based on tonight's event, Hill would be the choice of Democrats who are looking for a "sure thing". IMO, Bernie's candidacy is tempting, but still represents a risk.

[Fearless]

25. She dodged several questions and ignored race when talking about the death penalty.

[oasis]

28. Hill distinguished in which circumstances the death penalty should apply.

Mass murders and terrorism. She believes the present application of the death penalty is unfair and in use too often.

[Fearless]

30. If you say so.

You speak to a predominantly black audience and the word race never gets mentioned. That's criminal.

[Bread and Circus]

23. The author is saying Clinton is a great liar...

"Flies in the face of her record"

It's easy to be smooth when lying right to your constituents' faces is no big thing.

[Live and Learn]

29. +1 nt

[Starry Messenger]

32. k&r

[akbacchus_BC]

39. I think Mr. Sanders won. He was cool, calm and collected.

Regardless, if Mr. Sanders does not win the nomination, I Hope Mrs. Clinton does. The world does not want another Republican in office.

[askew]

40. O'Malley was the only candidate to individually trend on twitter.

He got a great response on twitter. I think he won it quite easily.

This format was a not a good fit for Hillary. You could see her flip-flops and evading answers over and over again.

[book_worm]

42. From what I'm hearing Hillary won because

the others did a lot of attacking and she didn't.

[demwing]

47. Hmm...did you watch the forum?

I ask because you wrote "from what i hear..."

[JaneyVee]

43. K AND R! Supremely qualified.

[Cha]

45. Yeah, she did.. I love it!

[BootinUp]

49. K&R