Obama looks to Clinton on Russia?

Posted: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:22 PM by Chuck Todd

From NBC's Chuck Todd
Anyone else notice Obama look to Clinton on the open-ended question from NBC's Tim Russert on the Russia question?

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Comments

no, but
i heard her give a "whatver" to the guys name from Russia.......I didn't like that. Anyone else???

Kathryn Smith (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:27 PM)

He is always going to look to someone woth more experience.

C. Marie (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:27 PM)

Obama has "me too"d his way thru this debate; what a surprise.

Aimee, Boston, MA (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:27 PM)

I think you looked into that one a little to much Chuck.

Chris Johnson (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:27 PM)

I sure did. Good thing Hillary went first on that one because he sounded like an echo

Lisa C (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:27 PM)

Yes. Obama is a foreign policy rookie. WAKE UP AMERICA!!

M Cohen Westchester County NY (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:27 PM)

Did anyone else notice that when Hillary couldn't pronounce the Russian President's name she said "whatever"

Bethany, Chicago, IL (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:27 PM)

Yep, I did...another rookie in the big leagues. Great if he wins then we will basically have Jimmy Carter or George Bush redux....take your pick..

AJ, Chicago, IL (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:27 PM)

Obama clearly is very weak on foreign affairs - for example, he does not know anything about Putin's replacement or how to interact with him.

Earl, Littleton, CO (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:27 PM)

I notice! Obama frequently looks to CLinton on issues. HE continues to REMAIN vague on the issues!

Sarh (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:28 PM)

That's a point you're making. Wow. No idea what your point is, however....

David Hartford (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:28 PM)

Yes! And she didn't complain about having to handle it first. His answer was weak--akin to sending a 'stongly worded letter'.

Dennis Flannery (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:28 PM)

Chuck, what are you talking about? Dude, talk about the issues. Does "First Read" mean you're the first to read too far into everything?

Sean, Cleveland (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:28 PM)

Chuck, your such a Clinton HOMER!!!

Scott, Atlanta, GA (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:28 PM)

Yes, he is a follower not a leader!

Teresa, Myrtle Beach SC (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:28 PM)

no. I thought he did a very good job in answering the question. Clinton couldn't even pronounce the man's name. Tsk Tsk Chuck

alexis, new york, ny (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:28 PM)

how many softballs can you send hillary?

Phil, Durham, NH (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:28 PM)

Yes! We can't expect him to know everything, but these are the kinds of things the Republicans would use against him with vigor. Hillary, by contrast, is ready right not to step into the White House and take briefings on the details of foreign policy. I just hope the audience sees this.

Trev (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:29 PM)

Anyone else see the PATTERN of Chuck Todd Stories pertain to Barack Obama...Obviously, He is a BIG Hillary Clinton supporter...How about a balance opinion and save the "Cheerleading" for her website...

Anthony E. Fremont, Ohio (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:29 PM)

Yeah. Because he doesn't know anything about Russia--in spite of being chairman of the subcommittee!

SammyAL (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:29 PM)

c'mon Chuck... you are reaching....
He directed it at her first
You are trying to create a bit much here.

bpdc Belfair, WA (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:29 PM)

He always looks to her, except on the re-hearsed ones

Elizabeth (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:29 PM)

Putin is going to be the next prime minister of Russia. Obama always looks to someone else for his answer. He is not ready to be president.

jennifer arroyo grande ca (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:29 PM)

Totally, Obama is weak on Foreign Policy. This debate should have happened before "super-tuesday".

Michael Dunbar, NEW YORK, NY (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:29 PM)

ugh. you're an a**.

alfie, washington, dc (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:29 PM)

I believe that this is a silly fear. Who are you talking to? Do you honestly believe that a man with Senator Obama's integrity and belief in America would honestly do anything to ruin our relations with Isreal?

Chris Becher, Denton, Texas (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:29 PM)

That is because she is so better qualified than he is despite the hype from the media

Lynn M (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:29 PM)

I disagree. He should have REJECTED the support!

elle (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:30 PM)

Finally Todd, someone notices the vacuum behind the flash.

Harry, Boston MA (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:30 PM)

What I noticed was Clinton reciting a laundry list of superficial facts while claiming that the intelligence was incomplete, then stumble when it came to remembering Medved's name. Obama, on the other hand, used the opportunity to stress the principles he will govern on, and demonstrated an easy familiarity with the failed policies of the Bush administration when it comes to dealing with Putin and Russia.

Joshua Nave, Las Vegas, Nevada (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:30 PM)

If you think that Obama does not know his world policies, think again! He is very worldly...

Cass Gerling Pearland, Texas (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:30 PM)

to me it looked like the question was asked to her as they had just asked a question to obama.. I think you guys are really grasping at straws during this debate, and sometimes inappropriately.

andrew, niagara falls, ny (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:30 PM)

He seems to stump when he dosen't know the facts. He had no stump fodder for that guy.

Kelly, Austin, Tx (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:30 PM)

You're trying to make the smallest issues important. No fair-minded undecided person would make a difference between denouncing and rejecting. Same for this issue. Nobody is going to change support or advance support for Clinton because of an undefined look.

Kelly, Fort Dodge, IA (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:30 PM)

Tonight has not only is a victory for Hillary, but also for women. Good job Hillary. Sounded to me at times as if Obama didn't get it right when he accused her of whining, he does a good job of it himself. Lets wait and see how the MSNBC ommentators are going to try and twist this and hand it once again over to Obama. Come on guys give the real woMAN in this debate credit.

enise (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:30 PM)

Clinton has been jumping in quickly on several questions that were open-ended. I am getting that notion that Senator Clinton has the Annie Get Your Gun Syndrome; anything you can do I can do better!

D. Jones (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:31 PM)

No. Did you notice that Clinton couldn't pronounce the President of Russia's name. Possibly one of our most potent enemies past and present. Her answer: President.....whatever???? With all her experience, inexcusable.

Vance, Homewood, Alabama (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:31 PM)

Come on Chuck, why don't you just go ahead and pledge your support for Hillary? That's OK with all of us. Just stop "reporting", or being an analyst, when you clearly have a preferred candidate?

Marilyn Gipson, Ossian, Iowa (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:31 PM)

Obama appeared both to look uncomfortable answering and also to be looking often to Hillary throughout the debate for hints at how to answer the hard questions he didn't know the answer to. Hmmmm...who do YOU want for President? The woman who knows what she's doing or the charming clueless guy to her left?

Mart, Tobyhanna PA (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:31 PM)

Obama didn't prove he had any knowledge on Russia. Obama saved again by the media. All he did was agree with Clinton and didn't show he had any direct knowledge on the new leader.

Philadelphia. Pa (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:31 PM)

She couldnt remember Medvedev name tho, they were both unprepared for that question, which makes them both look week on foreign Policy. Do your homework people, cause those weak replies wont fly with the republicans, and McCain will mop the floor with you

Nick Tucci, Butte, MT (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:32 PM)

As always, Mr. Obama has clearly followed the Clinton examples with not an original thought. Even his closing statement was to try to close as strongly as Mrs. Clinton did during the last debate. Opps, Mrs. Clinton has been there done that, except hers was not to copy but to lead.

Susan Alexa, Yarmouth, Maine (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:33 PM)

Yes, and then he did an " Uh, what she said."

Trish Donahue (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:34 PM)

Obama is aobut empty promises, not answering hard questions.

Jackie Spenser (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:34 PM)

CAN YOU REALLY THINK OF ANYTHING THAT OBAMA HAS DONE BEFORE HE STARTED RUNNING FOR OFFICE? NOPE!
AND YES THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN DENOUNE AND REJECT-
WAY TO GO HILL!

VICKI (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:35 PM)

And you think Clinton has a ton of foreign policy experience vs. Obama? Come on, give me a break.

Jennifer, Chicago, IL (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:35 PM)

russett I reject your accertion that Sen. Obama knew nothing of the incoming president in Russia -that makes you tacky just plan tacky.

Gaye (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:35 PM)

Geesh...seems a bunch of Obamaites have come to the boards tonight...
ALL MUST BOW AT THE ALTER OF OBAMA
MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA..

AJ, Chicago, IL (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:35 PM)

The Commentator is Missing the POINT: Obama was trying to "denounce" the support, while not denouncing the vote or votes which Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam will bring to his campaign. This is the distinction that Clinton was making.

Clinton was stating: When this happened to me, I completely rejected any influence, support or otherwise inclusion of these types of individuals. Even when it could be detrimental to her.

THAT was the point. And Obama was obviously trying to hedge his bets on giving lip service to his denouncement, while still encouraging the anti-Semites to support him with their votes.

Clinton was saying, Dear Anti-Semites, No Thank You. Vote for someone else.

Nathan, Charlotte, NC (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:35 PM)

Margaret McKinney Nassau, The Bahamas (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:35 PM)

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