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Clinton stumbles in debate, loses ground

Written by Tommy Silva, Political Editor

Monday, 03 December 2007

All of the democratic candidates are amazing speakers. Each has his own strengths. The increasingly popular Senator Barack Obama is thoughtful and energetic. Chris Dodd, who has spent the last 27 years discussing politics in the Senate, has a commanding presence. He comes across as sophisticated, and is due for a bump in the polls. The Democratic campaigns are focusing, and getting serious. The candidates are clarifying their positions and selling their policies. But with one exception: Hillary Clinton. Senator Clinton is a talented rhetorician, especially when it comes to using appealing phrases such as “comprehensive immigration reform,” “fiscal responsibility,” and “energy efficiency.” But in the october 30th Democratic debate she appeared unclear on some of her positions. For instance, when asked about her position on giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants, she at first seemed to think it was a good idea. But when Senator Dodd voiced his disapproval she shifted her position, declaring, “I did not say that it should be done.” Dodd said in surprise, “Wait a minute. No, no, no. You said ‘it makes a lot of sense.’” Hillary responded, “No I didn’t Chris.”  When moderator Tim Russert asked what she actually believed, she answered, “It makes a lot of sense.” The former first lady also voiced two different opinions on how the United States should deal with the conflict in Iraq. She said, “I stand for ending the war in Iraq, bringing the troops home.” But two sentences later, she said, “We’re going to have troops remaining there guarding our embassy. We may have a continuing training mission, and we may have a mission against Al Quaeda in Iraq.” Peggy Noonan, one of the most respected journalists of the last 30 years, wrote in the Wall Street Journal that, “It was triple talk, quadruple talk, Olympic level non-responsiveness.” There are two legitimate schools of thought on both of these issues. For Iraq, one side says we should never have gone in, but we’re there. We made a mess, so we’ve got to clean it up and leave in victory. The other philosophy is that it was a mistake to go, so it’s a mistake to stay. We gave the wrong medication, so we must end the treatment. Both arguments are reasonable and both sides can be defended. The issue of giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants is also complicated. Opponents of the policy fear that a terrorist might illegally enter the United States and use a driver's license to facilitate another 9/11. The document allows you to enter government buildings, rent cars and trucks, buy a gun, and board airplanes. Also the 9/11 commission reported that the hijackers were successful partly because they had driver's licenses. Further, opponents argue a driver's license is a privilege which should not be given to people who break our immigration laws. On the other side, driver's licenses could allow law enforcement to track terrorists and terrorists with legal visas can get licenses whether or not illegal immigrants have them. Advocates also argue that many illegal immigrants will be driving on our roads anyway. We should let them have driver’s licenses so that they will get driver training and avoid accidents. In the debate, Senator Dodd said he was opposed to giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. “It is a privilege not a right,” Dodd said.  Obama’s viewpoint is the opposite. He said that drivers without licenses are “a public safety concern.” There are convincing arguments for either approach and Hillary would do better to tell us what she believes and argue for that, rather than to veil her true opinion. It is common for politicians to change platforms as events unfold and new studies are published. But few people change their minds in the middle of a campaign, or worse yet in the middle of a debate.  Senators Chris Dodd and Joe Biden, and Congressman Dennis Kucinich made it clear that they are opposed to a war with Iran. They further proved that they meant what they said by voting against the recently enacted Congressional bill which classifies the Iranian military as a terrorist organization and gives Bush the authority to declare war on Iran. Hillary however, voted for the resolution, but then said she that she’s against a war. Clinton is falling in the polls; the gap between her and the rest of the Democrats is closing. Clinton led Obama 38 percent to 27 percent in the new poll released last week by Rueters and Zogby. This a 10-point fall from her 46 percent to 25-percent lead last month. All of her rivals are competent. To keep her lead, and win the nomination, Clinton will have to clarify her positions and stick to them.

Last Updated ( Monday, 26 November 2007 )

 

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