An Ugly Debate With A Surprise Ending

By Keith Boykin
Monday, January 21 2008, 10:38PM
in politics

Just finished watching the South Carolina debate and I have a few quick observations. I thought the first hour was a hot mess. Clinton and Obama spent a good deal of time throwing mud at each other, and I don't think it helped either of them. John Edwards also played a critical role, at one point teaming up with Clinton against Obama, especially on the question of his voting "present" more than 100 times in the Illinois state senate. But Edwards didn't hold back against Clinton either and he took her on as well.

The nastiest exchange of the entire debate took place when Senator Obama charged that he was working as a community organizer while Clinton was a corporate lawyer on the board of Wal-Mart. Clinton fired back by saying that she was working against the Republicans when Obama was a lawyer representing a slumlord in Chicago. Score one point for each candidate.

Clinton's tactics I think are unfair. She consistently misrepresents Obama's views and then steps back and lets the chips fall where they may. That's not a healthy tactic in a Democratic primary, but it's a useful skill in a general election. As a result of her tactics, Clinton dominated the debate and set the tone of the discussion from beginning to end. She is clearly the best debater in the group, and Obama -- who is a wonderful, visionary and articulate orator -- doesn't do as well in the combative settings of a debate. In fact, the debates seem to cheapen him and bring him down to the level of the Clinton attacks, which is not where he wants to be. Score one for Clinton.

It's a hard task for Obama to maintain his stature as a good guy while he has to roll in the mud with the Clintons. That's exactly where Hillary Clinton wants him to be. As long as Obama can float above the fray, she can't attack him effectively. But when she brings him down to the ground, she pounces like a tiger.

Personally, I'd like to see a mix of the two candidates' styles. I'd like to see a visionary candidate like Obama who can inspire us as Americans to a higher calling. But I'd also like to see a candidate who can win in November and is capable of fighting aggressively against the conservative smear machine.

The second hour of the debate was a bit more subdued and polite in comparison to the first, but there were still some lively exchanges at times. I have mixed feelings about the nasty tone of the debate. On the one hand, it may turn off Democrats and provide ammunition for Republicans. On the other hand, the Democrats need to be prepared for the low blow attacks of the Republicans in the fall.

What started out as a potential train wreck, however, ended up being a mere fender bender. All the candidates handled themselves very well and revealed their strengths and weaknesses in the debate. In fact, I felt proud of all three candidates when it ended. Edwards impressed me for the first time in a long time. Clinton showed why she's such a strong fighter who can take on the Republicans. And Obama showed that he's the guy who can transcend the divisions of the past and build unity.

Democracy is sometimes ugly, as it was tonight, but it's worthwhile.

Comments (14)

maxnyc
January 22 2008, 12:53AM

keith....

I think obama was just defending the lies that the clinton ticket have been perpetrating. It gets under the clinton ticket's skin when obama calls reagan transformational and lumps nixon and bill as not transformational...

the only way he can win is to aggressively go after them. he comes across as honest sincere and with a sharp tongue. she comes across as a one-dimensional class a
political hack who uses gender and perpetual victimhood as political weapons.

obama showed tonight that he wants it badly too.

cmoney
January 22 2008, 9:16AM

Obama took the right tact by going after Hillary and Bill's lie and smear machine. No politician can let those lies go unanswered. Unfortunately, race will still play a part in the final outcome because his response will still appear to many White voters as that of a mean Black man attacking a poor defenseless White woman. Neither observation is true. Hillary Clinton is nothing close to defenseless, poor or even nice. She is one of the most powerful women in the US. Obama is a very likeable man who has to force himself to be aggressive and counterattack Hillary. I hope that these two can get past this mudslinging and save their fight for the republicans. In my view, the Clintons have already ruined their reputation with the Black community and certainly with me. I have lost all respect for them. I hope that there is a good 3rd party candidate out there is Hillary is nominated.

Ostend Street
January 22 2008, 10:07AM

I sincerely hope that Senator Obama can take the high road on these attacks and, in turn, prepare himself (as you said Keith) for the Republicans. So far, he seems to be holding his own, but as Dr. Cornel West reminded us in his book -- Race Matters!!!!

Luther
January 22 2008, 12:37PM

I was not too into Mr. Obama until I saw him stand up to the bully machine that is Mr and Mrs Clinton starting in Nevada, he did a great job, and, after seeing her and her husband stoop to the smear tactics and bully pulpit like the GOP, this is one vote she won't get, never. She is a Republican-lite, and, will do anything to get this nomination, and, I hope the voters of SC show her that her and her "black" husband aren't going to get a vote based on whatever it is they did in the past, its 2008, and, smear tactics a la Rove are a total turnoff. It will be interesting to see how she handles the onslaught of negative ads the GOP will hurl if she is the canidate.

Maliik
January 22 2008, 6:14PM

This is what I have always been saying about most white people. They will say and do all kinds of nasty things, when they know Black people trust them!!!

Obama is definitely getting my vote because he is the best candidate and he is less corrupt than Hilary and the other candidates.

Black people need to understand white people better...most are still extremely racist.

The Clintons comments are an example...

Mark
January 22 2008, 9:55PM

What is so obvious to me is that Hilary is the type of person that likes to argue and confront. I know that this is how debates go, but I just hope that if she is elected that she knows how to work with people and not continuously argue with them. Nothing will get done that way. Obama and Edwards should feel like they are running against both Clintons. Which is why I didn't feel like it was fair, and even a bit unethical for the former "first lady" to run knowing whoever runs against her is also running against a former president. Some how that just seems unfair to me. But, I don't understand a lot about politics anyway. I am learning folks.

me
January 23 2008, 12:29AM

Wait a minute!

How come we never heard of Obama's missed votes and his slum lord connection before...That he didn't deny I might add.

Dont be so gullible people. I like the guy too, but Hillary made some valid points.

I'm just afraid Obama is gonna get in and make us all sorry we put him there( i hope not).

But you should use your Head....
IF SOMETHING LOOKS TO GOOD TO BE TRUE....IT USUALLY IS!

elg
January 23 2008, 7:15AM

It seems clear to me that Hillary's comments about King and LBJ, several weeks ago, have turned Obama into something it seemed like he had avoided up to that point: a "black" candidate playing the "race card".

It now seems like ANY criticism of Hillary is justified (and not just by blacks) and any criticism of Obama is labeled racial insensitivity or outright racism. Charges of racial insensitivity or racism are not going to stop the Republican attack machine, if Obama is the nominee. Republicans will easily dismiss such charges as playing the race card and eat his ass alive.

What is Bill Clinton supposed to do, sit on the sidelines and NOT support Hillary's candidacy? She's his wife! He's SUPPOSED to fight for her. If Bill wasn't fighting for her, people would be talking about that.

Obama should stop whining about Bill and show that a "gifted" black man can get down and dirty. This is politics. He should be a "visionary" AND a fighter. It's the only way a man who wants to be president can make his vision (whatever it is) reality.

jkm
January 24 2008, 12:44PM

I agree with (Me) statement. Hillary made some valid points and this is a debate...not a tea party. People need to observe and listen to all the statements and then do the research. Don't be so limited ...Think and process what you are hearing. I like Hillary...she is a fighter and she has the most experience!

Ty
January 24 2008, 4:19PM

jkm, she may have the "experience" but, can she unite the counrty, and most of all can she win?? i say no on both counts, its going to take more than the black vote. and, what's up with her and him and the nasty racial stuff? anything to win i guess and, so gop.

velvetj
January 24 2008, 4:35PM

I also agree with me and jkm. Obama brough up her being on Walmart's board at the time and she brought up his dealings with a slum lord. Fair is fair in politics.

EVERYONE knows the Clintons are not perfect, however everyone doesn't know Obama IS NOT. He has on several occassions criticized the Clinton's for things that he himself is also guilty of. Like relationships with lobbyists. They both have had dealings with lobbyists, however Obama says his situation is different because his lobbyist connection his buddy is a STATE lobbyist instead of a national lobbyist. Or the fact that he supported a bill that says lobbyists cannot purchase meals for politicians.....ONLY if they are sitting down and eating. If they stand and eat, the lobbyist can purchase the meal.

It's little things like this that Obama is getting away with. He is not flat out lying about certain things, he just isn't telling the entire crystal clear truth.

Both Clinton and Obama have played dirty tricks, but what frustrates me is Obama's sweet words of Hope have seemed to distract people from the fact he is doing some of the same "old way" things he claims he is not about.

kelley
January 24 2008, 6:40PM

For all of you who hadn't heard about Rezko or Obama's present votes, that's on you. That's been all over the news since Obama announced. God, what do you people do, watch videos all day.

The fact is, all they have on Obama is Rezko and the present votes. And it turns out, there was no wrongdoing with Rezko and present votes are a common strategy in Illinois politics is a bill isn't up to par. So basically, they have nothing on this man and haven't found anything new since he entered this race in February 07.

He won Iowa from scratch, completely new to the scene, and he won it honorably. The Clintons can't beat him without lying and trying to marginalize him as the "black candidate". They are disgusting and I don't know how any black person can vote for them after they've shown time and time again that they don't respect the black electorate. They're about to throw us under the bus for the Latinos just like they threw the gays under the bus in the 90's.

They're opportunistic power whores and I pray Senator Obama can pull this off and beat those two crackers back to Arkansas.

Ty
January 24 2008, 6:58PM

obama may be doing the same things in dc that they all do since that town is never going to change, but, hillary has been doing them for years, and,now is running a negative campaign and offers more of the same, not a vision of a better america for all its people as does obama edwards and ex in the race richardson and kucinich. maybe he really does have them running boo, since, all they have left are scare and fear tactics and nothing else, which is typical of the tactics of the gop, which i think hillary would be a better fit for.

Vince
January 26 2008, 1:17AM

Much ado about nothin' This was the first Dem debate I missed. After I listened to the media make such hype abt it, I checked it out on the Web. These folks are competing for President of the biggest superpower (for better or worse) in the world. I want to see how well a candidate will deal with pressure. As president s/he can't be whining about unfair attacks. Get over it. We've got years of Republican damage to correct. And Reagan as a uniter? Please. It was under his reign that we started busting unions and taking from the poor to give to the rich. That's unity? We need a Democrat, who can not only take the heat, but blow it out the way. I'm still undecided, but let's face it, all these folks are living privileged lives, regardless of their gender or race. Whining is not the way to win my vote.

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