Clinton unveils 'sharpened' closing argument on health care, Iraq

[DeepModem Mom]

CNN: February 3, 2008
Clinton unveils 'sharpened' closing argument

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) – Sen. Hillary Clinton entered the final weekend before Tuesday’s mega primaries offering up what her campaign called a “sharpened” closing argument — one that takes on both primary rival Barack Obama and potential general election opponent John McCain.

“My opponent will not commit to universal health care,” she told a packed rally at Cal State in East Los Angeles. “I do not believe we should nominate any Democrat who will not proudly stand here today, tomorrow and the next day and say universal health care is the goal.” Clinton argues Barack Obama’s health care proposal will leave out 15 million Americans because he does not mandate coverage – a point that has become one of the most discussed policy differences of the primary season.

“I want you to know when you vote for me that I will get up everyday and try to do exactly what I told you I would do,” she said, urging voters to get out and work the phones and knock on doors this weekend across California, a delegate-rich state where she and surrogates have invested heavy amounts of time. “There will be no guesswork. I’m not asking you to take a leap of faith, I’m asking you to hire me to do the hardest job in the entire world.”

The New York senator also looked past Tuesday to November’s general election, and how the ongoing war in Iraq may play out between the two parties’ nominees. “Unlike Sen. McCain, who said he’d be perfectly happy to be there for 100 years, I just want you to think about this: I believe that we can have an election this time where all of the issues including national security are ones that Democrats can stand and proudly promote. I take a back seat to no one to my commitment to protect and defend this country, but let’s do it a smart way for a change,” she said.

At a media availability earlier this week, Clinton had declined to comment on why she is better suited than Obama to run against John McCain. But on Saturday, Clinton campaign strategist Mark Penn released a memo in which he argued that, despite Obama's history of opposition to the Iraq war, Clinton was the candidate best-equipped to take on McCain over the issue....

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/02/03/clinton-unveils-sharpened-closing-argument/#more-4989

[guruoo]

1. "So, he called me back and he said..."

– why didn’t you pick up the phone and call me?"

Quentin Young, Early Supporter of Obama, Now Disappointed and Saddened
22 Corporate Crime Reporter 5, January 28, 2008

Dr. Quentin Young was an early supporter of Senator Barack Obama.
But now, Young is worried that Presidential candidate Obama is moving right.

Young is a founder of the Chicago-based Physicians for a National Health Program.
And while Obama may have said early in his career that he supported single payer, clearly he no longer does.

<snip>

“When I heard about the vote, I wrote him a letter,” Young said. “I told him I was disappointed in him. Rice was the embodiment of everything that was wrong with this administration. So, he called me back and he said – why didn’t you pick up the phone and call me? And he said – do you think Bush would ever send to the Senate a nominee for Secretary of State who I could vote for? I said – you are the Constitutional lawyer. It’s about advice and consent, right? You should have denied him your consent.”

More... http://www.corporatecrimereporter.com/obama012808.htm

(I think it's going to be Clinton/Obama. What do you think?)

:popcorn:

[DeepModem Mom]

2. I actually think that ticket is a possibility. Thanks for your post! nt

[mrreowwr_kittty]

3. I think the Clintons will act like they'll put Obama on the ticket to win the Primary

Then they'll pull a bait and switch, picking the "safe" white male. They're the Clintons, so you should expect this sort of thing.

It's all for the best, you understand. And besides, it's not like we'll have a choice at that point, is it?

[guruoo]

4. I just want my country back...

And to that end, Clinton (and/or Obama) sure beats hell out of the alternative.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

6. That's what they're counting on. You'll fall in line because the alternative is worse. nt

[DeepModem Mom]

7. I actually disagree. I'm an Obama supporter, but I would have supported...

any of our candidates because my primary concern, the reason I'm at DU, is the survival of the system the Founders envisioned -- especially after a stolen election (probably two). I didn't think we would survive the Bush cabal as a democracy. I think the Supreme Court will remain a danger, but, judging even from the GOP candidates, I think the system looks like it might survive. That's why I haven't really gotten into the candidate wars here. I understand the importance of the issues that compel most here who do join the battles, and fight them so intensely.

But I just don't personally see my support for any of our candidates as "falling in line." It's my free-thinking choice.

[guruoo]

9. Good for you, DMM...

:hi:

[guruoo]

8. My position is: Country back first, -hash out the details later, because I know

that one election isn't going to solve all our problems, or reverse all the damage the
neofascists have caused.

[sandnsea]

5. That's another distortion

His remarks are clear, single payer would be his choice if he were creating a system from scratch. That isn't where we are though, and he wants to offer a program that will pass.