Obama, Hillary keep things civil
L.A. Debate | Dem front-runners highlight their differences but pound Republican foes, too
The first one-on-one debate between Democratic presidential finalists Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in Los Angeles on Thursday started as a love fest and, mostly, remained cordial.
"The differences between Barack and I pale in comparison to the differences we have with the Republicans," Clinton said.
(AP)
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Democratic debate
"I was friends with Hillary Clinton before we started this campaign. I will be friends with Hillary Clinton after this campaign is over. We're running a competitive race, but it's because we both love this country," Obama replied.
Then the debate got competitive:
Obama favors driver's licenses for illegal aliens, saying it's a safety issue. Clinton opposes them, saying driving is "a privilege." Obama said Clinton waffled on the issue for six weeks. Clinton said Obama waffled on it. Clinton said she believed illegal immigrants took jobs from Americans. Obama said those arguments "scapegoated" illegal immigrants.
Clinton wants mandatory health insurance. Obama opposes that. Clinton favors a five-year freeze on mortgage rates. Obama opposes that.
The main issue Obama has hammered Clinton on since the beginning of the campaign -- her vote to authorize President Bush's use of force against Iraq while Obama was speaking out against that vote as a state senator -- provoked their hottest exchange.
CNN moderator Wolf Blitzer asked Clinton if she was willing to admit she made a mistake with her vote.
"I think I made a reasoned judgment. Unfortunately, the person who actually got to execute the policy did not,'' Clinton said.
"You were naive in trusting President Bush?" Blitzer asked.
"No, that's not what you heard me say," Clinton told him. "Good try, Wolf."
The Iraq discussion started with Clinton declining to offer a firm date for pulling the troops out of Iraq.
Obama disagreed.
"I do think it is important for us to set a date," Obama said. "It can't be muddy. It can't be fuzzy. They have to know that we are serious about this process." Because of his early and consistent opposition to the war, "I think I will be the Democrat who will be most effective."
Blitzer turned to Clinton and said, "Sen. Clinton, that's a clear swipe at you."
"Really?" Clinton said sarcastically. "We're having such a good time."
"I wouldn't call it a swipe," Obama said.
"We're having a wonderful time," Clinton said.
Taking a drink of water, Obama nodded and said, "Absolutely."
The body language at this debate was much friendlier than the last one in South Carolina, when Obama complained he did not know whether he was running against Clinton or her husband. Each even nodded occasionally as the other answered.
Obama said he wanted people for his Cabinet "with the independence to say 'no' to me. No more 'yes'-men or -women in the White House because I won't be right about everything."
Clinton nodded.
Neither candidate would answer the question of whether they would consider the other as a running mate, but their body language suggested it was more likely than it appeared at the last, testier debate.
"There is no doubt we will have a unified Democratic Party [and] we'll go into the November election prepared to win," Clinton said as Obama nodded.
Some of the hardest hits went not to each other but to Republican front-runner John McCain and Republican runner-up Mitt Romney.
"John McCain, in the first two rounds of Bush tax cuts, said it is irresponsible -- that we have never before cut taxes at the same time as we're going into war. And somewhere along the line, the 'Straight Talk Express' lost some wheels, and now he is in favor of extending Bush tax cuts that went to some of the wealthiest Americans who don't need them and were not even asking for them," Obama said.
Asked if Romney's experience in the business world made him a better candidate for president, Obama poked fun at the former Massachusetts governor for so far losing to McCain despite vastly outspending him.
"Mitt Romney hasn't gotten a very good return on his investment during this presidential campaign -- and so I'm happy to take a look at my management style during the course of this last year and his. I think they compare fairly well," Obama said.
The star-studded crowd watching the debate at the famed Kodak Theatre include celebrities Pierce Brosnan, Jason Alexander and Rob Reiner. It was the final match-up between the two front-runners before next week's "Super Tuesday," in which Democratic voters in 22 states, including Illinois, will weigh in.