Nevada Debate Impressions
AP Photo
Race question right out of the blocks. Hillary says she and Barack Obama called the truce. Obama called for it on camera, Hillary followed with a statement — not exactly the same thing and important since Hillary’s camp often accurately points out Obama follows Hillary’s lead on some issues — health care and economic stimulus to name just two.Obama tries to rise above the race issue and get back to the terrain that has been safest for him all along — that of transcending race and seeking to build a bigger coalition. Edwards weighs in tangentially on the side of Obama by highlighting role of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and those who conducted lunch counter sit-ins, not the legislative dexterity and power of former President Lyndon Johnson.On Tim Russert’s question of his campaign’s involvement in pushing the race story by highlighting comments from Clinton surrogates that had a racial component, Obama appeared to concede the point that his camp bore some responsibility and pledged to set a non-racial tone going forward. Obama also rejected the theory that in New Hampshire the difference between the polls and the final result had something to do with whites lying to pollsters about supporting Obama but voting for Clinton in private. Obama’s comfort level can be described as minimally comfortable. He tried mightly, again, to steer it back to the change dynamic.Russert’s question to Clinton about Robert Johnson’s reference to what Obama was “doing in the neighborhood” that he wouldn’t described, Clinton said his comments were out of bounds but said in the campaign it mattered less what someone “none of us have ever heard of” said, but what the candidates themselves say. Johnson, one of the most successful media moguls (white or black) in American history, might be surprised to hear Clinton refer to him in that way. Johnson’s comments were widely interpreted as a reference to Obama’s admitted drug use (marijuana and cocaine) as a teen. Johnson later said he was referring to Obama’s work as a community organizer, an explanation neither the Obama camp nor many black talk radio hosts accepted.
Tags: Clinton, Drugs, Edwards, Obama, race and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Robert Johnson
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Fox Radio News at 9pm led with “Race dominated tonight’s Democratic debate…”
There are only two explanations for this lead: Either the Fox editor turned the debate off after the first 20 minutes, or Fox just wants to portray the Democrats as bickering over racial differences. Neither strikes me as fair or balanced.
I cannot thank you enough for this analysis of the Democratic debate in Nevada. I have rarely seen such an unbiased analysis.
I am going to have a problem in the General Election if Mitt Romney is running against Barak Obama, so I am saving this analysis to read again before I vote.
Elaine Himel
Omaha NE
just wondering when is fox news gooing to quit making comments like …”romney was the only one who showed up”, “Romney won because of MORMONS” . “Romney Won Because he has his own MONEY ” . I cant decide if people are mad because he doesnt seem to have mny faults , HES Mormon, rich or just has a PLAN . he has been portrayed as a flipflopper and so many other things . Why dont we hear about the day he shut his Manhatten Business completly down, to find his business partners daughter who was missing , Why dont we hear about him saving the olympic games , why dont we hear about his sucesses in a better light . so far the three states hes won there always been an excuse why he won …I cant stand to watch CNN becuse there so LIBERAL im a moderate, please let fox xtand for freedom of information. SO GIVE US T INFORMATION PLEASE . PS im also labeled as an INDEPENDENT and havent decideded who to vote for in the general its just ovious how thi Mitt Romney is being portrayed.
Thank You .
CW4 Johnathon Scott Dellos
FT. Bragg N.C.