# Clinton/ Obama debate **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 21, 2008, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-obama-debate/438551 "2008-02-21T13:38:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-obama-debate/438551/101 "2008-02-22T02:55:11Z")
[QUOTE=cricetus] It seems like CNN is trying to spin the last few minutes as giving Hillary a victory. [/QUOTE] Hillary sounded great in the last few minutes, but what she said sounded very much like a concession speech. She mentioned how honored she was to be debating with Barack, and then talked about how the loser would survive. It sounded to me like a very gracious way of saying that she wasn’t going to win, but that she’d be O.K. and that she’d support Barack as the nominee. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-obama-debate/438551/102 "2008-02-22T02:57:15Z")
I can see that. The fact that she’s not going to amp up the negativity and combativeness proves she’s a much better person than she’s been made out to be by her harshest critics. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-obama-debate/438551/103 "2008-02-22T02:57:33Z")
[QUOTE=cricetus] It seems like CNN is trying to spin the last few minutes as giving Hillary a victory. [/QUOTE] No keep listening - Cnn just said he appeared for the first time like a _ **Very Credibel Commander in Chief** _. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-obama-debate/438551/104 "2008-02-22T03:01:01Z")
[QUOTE=SpoilerVirgin] Hillary sounded great in the last few minutes, but what she said sounded very much like a concession speech. She mentioned how honored she was to be debating with Barack, and then talked about how the loser would survive. It sounded to me like a very gracious way of saying that she wasn’t going to win, but that she’d be O.K. and that she’d support Barack as the nominee. [/QUOTE] This is exactly what it sounded like to me too. I think we’ll start to see superdelegates very soon start gravitating to him to win it, and let Hillary stand strong behind him. And that’s what she conveyed tonight, that she will stand behind him. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-obama-debate/438551/105 "2008-02-22T03:03:04Z")
Poor Hillary. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-obama-debate/438551/106 "2008-02-22T03:04:12Z")
[QUOTE=cricetus] I can see that. The fact that she’s not going to amp up the negativity and combativeness proves she’s a much better person than she’s been made out to be by her harshest critics. [/QUOTE] I really doubt it’s a matter of being a good person or a bad person. She’s attacked him many times in the past, and even did so during this debate. The line about “xeroxing hope” and her comments about his eloquence were pretty snide. What she’s found is that attacking him doesn’t help her, and so perhaps she’s dialing it down a little. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-obama-debate/438551/107 "2008-02-22T03:18:34Z")
[QUOTE=SharkB8] Pocky-stahn? [/QUOTE] Tolly-berone. That oughta go well with the Pocky-stahn. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-obama-debate/438551/108 "2008-02-22T03:20:05Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] I really doubt it’s a matter of being a good person or a bad person. She’s attacked him many times in the past, and even did so during this debate. The line about “xeroxing hope” and her comments about his eloquence were pretty snide. What she’s found is that attacking him doesn’t help her, and so perhaps she’s dialing it down a little. [/QUOTE] My reference is to speculation that Hillary would go down kicking and screaming, clinging to superdelegates on the convention floor. I don’t think she’ll do that anymore, and am enormously relieved… and a little embarrassed that I expected the worse from her. ---
**Author:** ![Guestimate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Guestimate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guestimate)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-obama-debate/438551/109 "2008-02-22T03:31:09Z")
For the very first time, Hillary moved me to tears. To me, her end comments sounded like goodbye. I’m sure they didn’t mean to, but Obama performed so well, and she is so intelligent, I think she is realizing that she can’t win it. She will be alright, I think it was like she was telling us and herself this. I know I will be accused of reading too much into it, but I was startled and moved by her at the end of the debate. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-obama-debate/438551/110 "2008-02-22T03:45:14Z")
From the sounds of Hillary’s closing statement and Bill’s “do or die” words earlier this week, I think we’re seeing the Clintons beginning to accept the probability of a loss and perhaps (if Hillary’s closing words are any indiction) deciding that they will take the high road in defeat rather than hurting their party with an aggressive convention fight. I think they will both win back a lot of good will in the party if they can show some real grace in defeat and stand behind Barack. If HRC loses Texas, she runs the risk of turning into a “Hillabee,” hanging around in a contest that’s already been decided and just looking silly. As badly as she wants this, I think she might be starting to wake to the reality that it isn’t going to happen for her. There is no shame in continuing a career in the Senate for her, and honestly, the Dems will need her leadership there to make some policies like UHC a reality. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-obama-debate/438551/111 "2008-02-22T04:37:06Z")
Hillary’s closing line was apparently [very much like](http://youtube.com/watch?v=zAYItnI-lPo) one given by a Democratic candidate who has already bowed out. I’m not pointing this out for the “plagiarism!” bit but rather that it DID seem as though she was saying “Don’t weep for me and give up when I lose this”. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-obama-debate/438551/112 "2008-02-22T04:39:26Z")
[QUOTE=Guestimate] For the very first time, Hillary moved me to tears. To me, her end comments sounded like goodbye. I’m sure they didn’t mean to, but Obama performed so well, and she is so intelligent, I think she is realizing that she can’t win it. She will be alright, I think it was like she was telling us and herself this. I know I will be accused of reading too much into it, but I was startled and moved by her at the end of the debate. [/QUOTE] Not trying to be nasty with you but rather proving a point on the absurdity of the plagiarism accusations. > [@](#): > > [Clinton, 92](http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE7DF1E3CF937A35752C1A964958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print): “The hits that I took in this election are nothing compared to the hits the people of this state and this country have been taking for a long time.” > > Hillary Clinton, tonight: “You know, the hits I’ve taken in life are nothing compared to what goes on every single day in the lives of people across our country.” Xerox much, Hill? Which only makes me wonder how many people cried when Bill said it the first time. Judging from all the praise she got for her closing, I bet her staff knows. Good line to steal I must admit…and I bet The Big Dawg wasn’t overly upset either, 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-obama-debate/438551/113 "2008-02-22T04:45:33Z")
> [@](#): > > [Clinton, 92](http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE7DF1E3CF937A35752C1A964958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print): “The hits that I took in this election are nothing compared to the hits the people of this state and this country have been taking for a long time.” > > Hillary Clinton, tonight: “You know, the hits I’ve taken in life are nothing compared to what goes on every single day in the lives of people across our country.” Oh, and tad from Edwards’ as well: [Hillary Clinton Borrows Edwards Finishing Line](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAYItnI-lPo) Xerox much, Hill? 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-obama-debate/438551/114 "2008-02-22T04:50:47Z")
Xerox much, **RedFury**? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-obama-debate/438551/115 "2008-02-22T04:52:02Z")
Well I’m satisfied that Obama was wonkish enough, without even glazing over too many eyes in the process. He’s geared up for the general now and HRC is softening the ground the accept it. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-obama-debate/438551/116 "2008-02-22T04:53:04Z")
Pardon my “trigger-happy” submit finger. PD-Note the use of quotation marks lest someone accuses me of being a plagiarist/Xeroxist as well. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-obama-debate/438551/117 "2008-02-22T04:56:36Z")
Ooops! Too late. Someone already did. Damn Dopers, so freaking smart. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![abbeytxs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@abbeytxs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abbeytxs)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-obama-debate/438551/118 "2008-02-22T05:01:57Z")
I just got home from the debate and it is quite interesting to read the comments here. I wonder if some of you watched the same debate I did. The crowd was definitely more behind Obama than Clinton. They actually hissed at her when the plagerism topic came up. I was looking forward to see Obama speak, his eloquence is legendary. I was surprised at the amount of ums and errs. He seemed to ebb and flo and didn’t really feel completely prepared. Despite all of the reassurances that they are such great friends, they seemed pretty darn cold when the camera was turned off. I sincerely doubt anyone’s mind was either changed or made up for them after seeing the debate. I am still on the fence as to which one I will vote for. I had hoped that I would leave the debate with a solid feeling towards either of them, but I didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-obama-debate/438551/119 "2008-02-22T05:05:37Z")
[QUOTE=abbeytxs] I was looking forward to see Obama speak, his eloquence is legendary. I was surprised at the amount of ums and errs. He seemed to ebb and flo and didn’t really feel completely prepared. [/QUOTE] My wife was saying during the debate that he looked ill. Not “this debate is bad” ill but physically ill. I read someone on one of the news sites saying that he was stuffed up as well. Not to excuse him because I thought he held his own but I’m wondering if he wasn’t under the weather and losing his edge. Getting a few hours of sleep a night and running from frigid Wisconsin to balmy Texas seems like a good way to come down with something. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-obama-debate/438551/120 "2008-02-22T05:05:57Z")
Interesting to hear your reaction **abbeytxs**. The pundits have concluded that Obama was stronger on Iraq, and Hillary was stronger on health care, and the rest was a wash. I think that’s probably somewhat close to the truth. Did you feel the same way? Obama seemed like he had a head cold. His voice was a little off. But maybe he was just tired or nervous. Also, I gotta ask, as an undecided voter, what are you looking for? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-obama-debate/438551.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-obama-debate/438551.md?page=7)