Democratic presidential debate in Texas

by Christian Grantham - 9:45 pm February 21, 2008

At the end of tonight’s Democratic presidential debate at the University of Texas in Austin, both candidates were presented with the following by CNN’s Campbell Brown:

“A leader’s judgment is most tested at times of crisis. I’m wondering if both of you will describe what was the moment that tested you the most, that moment of crisis.”

Watch this video as Senator Barack Obama focuses on his personal challenges as a child of a single mother and later as an adult taking responsibility for the choices he made. Hillary Clinton’s response draws a standing ovation as she almost tears up placing the focus not on her own life challenges, but on the American heros who are giving their life and limb to serve our country.

Who is ready to lead?

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| related: 2008 Presidential

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1. Pingback by Volunteer Voters » The Democratic Debate: Thoughts From The Blogosphere — February 22, 2008 @ 8:34 am

   […] Christian Grantham: Senator Barack Obama focuses on his personal challenges as a child of a single mother and later as an adult taking responsibility for the choices he made. Hillary Clinton’s response draws a standing ovation as she almost tears up placing the focus not on her own life challenges, but on the American heros who are giving their life and limb to serve our country. […]

   
   
   

2. Comment by Sean Braisted — February 22, 2008 @ 8:37 am

   Wait, I thought words don’t matter?

   Who is ready to lead? I dunno, who has done an absolutely horrible job thus far managing their campaign? If she wants to lead, she can start with her campaign staff, and then work on the entire Federal government.

   
   
   

3. Comment by Christian — February 22, 2008 @ 9:00 am

   Sean, Hillary’s words in this answer recounted the challenges faced by our armed service members as the source of strength through times of crisis. Obama’s words focused on his own personal life challenges as a source of strength in crisis.

   We are a nation at war and with economic challenges, and we need a president who is past their personal life challenges and is motivated by the challenges we face as a country.

   
   
   

4. Comment by Sean Braisted — February 22, 2008 @ 9:02 am

   Christian…just words.

   
   
   

5. Comment by Christian — February 22, 2008 @ 9:13 am

   The challenges faced by America’s armed service members and their families aren’t just words. They are real, and it was refreshing to hear Clinton choose to focus on their needs for a Commander In Chief, putting them ahead of whatever personal challenges Obama chose to focus on in his personal life.

   
   
   

6. Comment by Sean Braisted — February 22, 2008 @ 9:57 am

   Christian…just words, where was the solution?

   
   
   

7. Comment by Christian — February 22, 2008 @ 10:24 am

   Sean, now you’re just ribbing me Both candidates were asked to describe a moment that tested them. I learned a lot from their answers. One candidate still defines himself in times of crisis in terms of his personal challenges. One candidate defines herself in times of crisis in terms of the needs of those who serve to protect our nation through troubled times. They need a Commander In Chief that puts them first and a Congress who will give her the authority she needs to make tough decisions that include committing our nation’s heroes to war.

   Were you satisfied with Obama’s answer? Has he passed the test, or does he need a little more experience to know what real tests are for an American president?

   
   
   

8. Comment by Rob — February 22, 2008 @ 10:39 am

   The candidates were asked, “What was a moment — what was THE moment that tested you the most, that moment of crisis?”

   Both Clinton and Obama gave non-answers, because neither was honest enough to discuss his or her own greatest moment of crisis. Obama’s greatest moment of crisis would probably have been when his biggest benefactor was indicted. Hillary’s greatest moment of crisis was either when she failed the DC bar exam or when the philandering she’d long accepted from her husband became a matter of public knowledge.

   If we want a candidate who’s been tested and proven in crisis, may I respectfully suggest John McCain?

   
   
   

9. Comment by Sean Braisted — February 22, 2008 @ 11:55 am

   Christian,

   You are right, I am ribbing you, because this is ridiculous spinning. I thought both answers were fine…although I do get tired of her saying stuff like, “people ask me, how do you do it?” As if her life is just soooo gosh darn difficult but she pushes on for the good of the American people. It might’ve been a good answer coming from some people, but its hard to buy from Hillary Clinton.

   The idea that Obama’s campaign has been all about him, whereas Hillary has been working tirelessly for other people, is sort of ridiculous given the entire bent of the past year…but if it makes you feel better to think Hillary is just some sort of vessel for the American people, go for it.

   
   
   

10. Comment by Christian — February 22, 2008 @ 12:17 pm

    Sean, there is no spinning the facts. How many people do you know fall back in a time of crisis on the fact that they were raised by a single mom? In my experience it’s same kind of people that use it as an excuse to avoid responsibility for bad decisions. You see it all the time in criminal defense strategies.

    Hillary Clinton didn’t indicate she’d revert to her own personal problems in a time of crisis, and she put Americans hereos first in her mind. That’s the kind of president I and a majority of Tennesseans hope to see in the White House.

    
    
    

11. Comment by Sean Braisted — February 22, 2008 @ 12:22 pm

    Christian,

    You make absolutely no sense.

    The “same kind of people that use it as an excuse to avoid responsibility for bad decisions.” Who the hell voted for the Iraq war and refuses to apologize for that vote?

    Why are those soldiers giving life and limb for their country? Because she and her friends gave the President a blank check to go to war.

    This idea that Hillary is going to do everything for the Americans, and nothing for herself, is just ludicrous. If you want to argue that her response was better, fine; but to assume from that Obama will be self-obsessed compared to Hillary’s selflessness is just ludicrous and does not at all jibe with her life story and the thrust of her campaign so far.

    He answered the question honestly, she gave an applause line; I congratulate her on that…but don’t infer too much from it.

    
    
    

12. Comment by Christian — February 22, 2008 @ 1:12 pm

    Sean, despite what Preisdent Bush chose to do with the authorization from Congress and the requirements Congress requested were to be met, do you feel a President Barack Obama deserves requested authorization from Congress and the same benefit of the doubt as Commander In Chief?

    It sounds as if you believe Congress, under a President Obama, should tie his hands. Hillary is positioned to demand that trust from Congress. Obama is positioned to have Republicans waterboard him until he telegraphs his ever move to the enemy.

    
    
    

13. Comment by Sean Braisted — February 22, 2008 @ 2:10 pm

    Christian,

    Hillary voted against an amendment which would’ve required Bush to come back to the Senate before launching an invasion. YES, if you are arguing that Hillary did not vote for a declaration of war, than I would argue they should “tie his hands” if that means that he must have an explicit declaration of war before launching an invasion.

    If the resolution which she voted for was not an authorization to go to war, than this occupation is illegal.

    
    
    

14. Comment by Christian — February 23, 2008 @ 3:32 pm

    Sean, a President Obama may welcome a debate in Congress over whether he’s experienced enough to be granted war authority, but America will deserve to be served by a President that commands the wisdom, respect and trust that come with those powers.

    
    
    

15. Comment by Rob — February 23, 2008 @ 6:04 pm

    Christian, you think Obama would be a poor choice for President. Sean, you think Hillary would be a poor choice.

    Can’t we just say you’re both right?

    
    
    

16. Comment by Christian — February 23, 2008 @ 6:14 pm

    Heh, Rob!

    
    
    

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