Tom Shales: In the Democratic Debate, Cooler Heads Prevail

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/27/AR2008022700018.html

In the Democratic Debate, Cooler Heads Prevail

By Tom Shales
Wednesday, February 27, 2008; Page C01

snip//

Obama was king of the high road, especially at the close of the debate when he praised his opponent magnanimously, saying she had "campaigned magnificently." He called Clinton "an outstanding public servant" and said she would make a great president, adding that he would make a greater one. What could Clinton do to follow that? If she tried to one-up Obama by giving him praise more fulsome than he'd just given her, she'd be all but endorsing him and dropping out of the race. It was a deft touch by Obama, a no-lose proposition.

The gesture was particularly effective considering that early in the debate, videotape of two recent and seemingly conflicting statements by Clinton about Obama was played back. In the first clip, Clinton said she was "honored to be here with Barack Obama" at a debate and in the second she excoriated him in absentia with "Shame on you, Barack Obama," for alleged campaign transgressions. Asked how she justified the about-face, Clinton said she was a good and passionate fighter, or words to that effect.

It would seem certain that viewers who watched the debate and asked themselves which candidate they would rather listen to for the next four or eight years -- holding news conferences, giving speeches and doing fireside chats from the Oval Office -- would choose Obama purely on matters of speaking technique, eloquence and charisma. He is the most charismatic figure on the national political front since Ronald Reagan and is nearly as effective on television -- a great, if not "The Great," communicator.

As it happened, the debaters didn't get around to bashing the very bashable George W. Bush until half an hour into the proceedings -- having been preoccupied with criticizing (if gently) each other for the first 30 minutes. Commentators may complain that the debaters weren't scrappy or nasty enough, but those who made it through the whole 90 minutes got another opportunity to judge the candidates for style as well as content.

In the former category, at least, which is all we're judging in this column, Barack Obama was the victor by a hundred miles or so -- not as moving and electrifying as in his best speeches, but never in any trouble, either.

[UALRBSofL]

1. Hillary's Reviews Are In: ‘A Strong New Note,’ ‘Effective Tone,’ ‘A Solid Body Blow’

NBC News’ Andrea Mitchell –Hillary ‘came across very credibly, very strongly as a fighter.’

NBC News’ Domenico Montaro – ‘That was a solid body blow by Clinton on Obama not holding a single hearing on Afghanistan.’ “That was a solid body blow by Clinton on Obama not holding a single hearing on Afghanistan despite that he talks about it being the front line on terrorism and that he chairs the subcommittee on Europe, which oversees NATO. While Obama's explanation may be realistic -- that he became chair at the beginning of his campaign -- doesn't it reinforce Hillary and Bill Clinton's points that he is inexperienced, that he has only been in the Senate for a limited time and hasn't cut his teeth yet. Doesn't that play right into the inexperience narrative quite well?”

ABC News’ Rick Klein – ‘It does seem like Clinton has settled on an effective tone this evening.’ “That silly distraction of an SNL reference aside -- it does seem like Clinton has settled on an effective tone this evening. She's mixing substance with style, attacking without seeming overtly negative, sounding like she's playing defense when she's really playing offense.”


The Swamp's Jason George – 'Clinton strikes a new strong note, saying she plans to get $55 billion back from special interest groups for the American middle class.'

NBC News’ David Gregory said Hillary’s ‘answer on having to be a fighter on health care is her strong suit.’ “Senator Clinton the fighter. This answer on having to be a fighter on health care is her strong suit. Her point in lampooning Obama's high-flying oratory is to say, I, too, had only the highest ideals about public service in Washington. But I know through experience, you need different tactics. This is her experience argument.”

MyDD’s Todd Beeton – Hillary’s ‘I’m a fighter’ line was ‘one of her best selling points.’ "Hillary Clinton: "I'm a fighter." One of her best selling points, especially against Obama."

Ohio Daily Blog – ‘Clinton did well with Russert's question about her 2000 pledge about creating jobs in Buffalo.’

WCPO Radio’s Dan Walthrip – ‘Hillary Clinton certainly claimed ownership of the word 'universal' in terms of healthcare.’
Lindsay Levin

[babylonsister]

2. Why are you posting this here? And where's a link? Why not

start your own thread? You can post this all day long anywhere you want, but burying it in this thread is kind of weird.

And thanks for the kick! This one makes two.