Debate Reaction

A lot of people seem to be saying that this debate was boring and needed more sizzle, but it was what the last debate was... a (mostly) substantive debate on policy. And isn't that what people are claiming that they want? For the record, I liked it, although I wish the moderators would broaden the question base a little bit the next time to avoid it getting repetitive. I also didn't mind how both talked up their numerous agreements, as both were clearly looking to help the party at large come general election time.

While both debated well, I thought Sen. Obama won by virtue of not losing. Sen. Clinton set the goal herself of proving that Obama is an empty shell and can't debate, and that just didn't happen. He held his own and actually focused better on specifics-- over platitudes-- than she did. I'm not sure how well that came across to casual viewers, as the exhaustion of both was clearly showing in their faces.

Some specific differences (I've discussed the healthcare/mandate issue before, so I won't get into it again)-- the first was on Cuba, and speaking with foreign leaders we dislike. Sen. Clinton said we should only do so after preconditions have been met. Obama countered that he'd do so from the start, while setting goals from said leaders as a condition toward officially normalizing relations. I agree with that, because that's how diplomacy works... if Nixon could go to China, and if Reagan could meet with Soviet leaders, then surely Obama can meet with Raul Castro or even Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. That only seems radical after eight years of George W. Bush. On immigration, no real differences... both agree that the system needs fixing, but that the rhetoric around the issue is hyperbolic and counterproductive. As for the economy, Obama nailed Clinton with the NAFTA card, and she mostly sidestepped the issue, focusing instead on green job proposals and fairer economic distribution. When the national security question came, Hillary began discussing all the foreign policy crises awaiting the next President... a fair point, but she never really followed up with a reason why she's better suited to handle them than Obama. Obama hit back with what is definitely his best argument, that-- as the Iraq war shows-- good judgement is superior to experience. The moderator then brought up the superdelegate debate. Hillary said it's not a big deal, and will settle itself out. Obama countered that the will of the people must be obeyed. No real settling of that debate there.

The only real soundbite-y part of the debate came when the moderator brought up the BS 'plagiarism' scandal, which Obama did a good job of smacking down. Hillary tried to come back with a zinger, but the audience just completely turned on her for it, and the issue was dropped. I guarantee they won't be bringing this nonsense up anymore. But like I said, that was really the only silly part of the evening, and things ended on better ground.

Ultimately, though, the real judges of all of this will be the voters of Texas and Ohio.

[UPDATE: Full video- Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11.]