Clinton wins on Russia

Posted: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:24 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
For the second time tonight, Obama has used Clinton as cover on another issue. He appears a bit wavering on foreign affairs. He didn't cite any details on Putin's successor and didn't appear to have a real solid grasp. Think about, for example, how Biden might have answered this question. And Clinton deserves points for attempting to say the successor's name. She clearly at least knew who he was.

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Comments

Obama will have plenty of advisors to help him with his foreign policies. Oh you mean like Bush/Cheney. Sounds good to me. Look how great the past seven plus years have been.

Audrey, Denver, CO (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 11:07 PM)

Sometimes if you agree with someone it is okay to say so. What more could Obama say but repeat what Clinton said. Then the complaint would be "He can not come up with an original idea".

Alisa, Aiken, SC (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 11:13 PM)

Why if Mr. Obama is so concerned with what is happening in Afganistan did he not convene hearings on the problems that are now facing NATO in their fight against the Taliban? Again all talk and no action.

mike,huntington,wv (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 11:13 PM)

Experentia docet.
Clinton has it. Obama doesn't.

Douglas Frayne, Toronto, Ontario (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 11:17 PM)

Didn't HRC say she agreed with Obama's points several times in the last debate? I think it depends on who answers first, since their positions are so similar.

Carol (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 11:23 PM)

Clinton failed on Foreign Policy Issues starting way back with her vote to authorize the war in Iraq. This was, even by her own admission, "regrettable". She pontificates in each of her answers, most of the time straying from the question asked. She is just not "Presidential". As a woman, I found myself cringing when she spoke. In contrast, Obama looks and sounds like a statesman. Obama is in control of his emotions and answers all questions more than satisfactorily. Clinton looks and sounds like the typical politician that have the American people weary and disgusted. Obama is the candidate who will put the Democrats in the White House. I am a republican will vote for Barak Obama.

Fran, Scarsdale, NY (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 11:28 PM)

You're right that Barack didn't know the guy. You're wrong that Hillary did. Her answers were extremely vague. But, that's ok because I bet you journalist (including Tim until he decided to include that question) didn't know the answer either.

G. Walker, Fort Washington, MD (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 11:29 PM)

Chuck, everyone knows Medvedev. It's a big story..because it addresses whether Putin can succeed in setting Russia back 30 yrs.. (if you dont get this, check this out with O's advisor, Brzezinski). He knows what it means. Boy, does he.

Kathy K, Washington, DC (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 11:33 PM)

How do we know the answer to this when you asked Hillary the question??? What could he have said that would make you think he had an exceptional grasp of the issue. If you want to know what he knows then ask him what he knows and stop drawing stupid conclusions based on your own obvious lack of a logical/journalistic grasp.

Ian (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 11:35 PM)

I totaly disagree with your observation that he was looking for "cover" from Hillary. He was probably being polite to see if she wanted to answer first. His judgment about the war and the example he gave about Pakistan show he has a grasp on foreign policy. In this area she is the one who is all talk. What foreign policy experience is she talking about? What foreign policy business do you do as First Lady?? She is full of it.

Hope, Minneapolis, MN (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 11:51 PM)

Yes, Obama was lost a few times, going around and off to his regular stump speaches.
I was shocked at the coverage after the debate by MSNBC.
It is hard to believe how biased MSNBC anchors are against Clinton.
Sounded like Fox news to us. You torn Ms Clinton apart.
It sounds like your company wants Obama to win.
McCain will eat him alive and it sounds like all of you know that.

Margie Wallace (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 12:27 AM)

Eagle Bear, He actually only sponsored 3 bills as cowriter. He is a new comer. Any bill that moves through any committee he is on gets his name on it. Only one bill actually was passed-and that bill, again, he cosponsored had to do with ethics reform. He was strangely silent on his record in the Illinois house where he had the highest number of no votes (absent) and present during his tenure. I do not call bills that name 'parks' out as a bill because those bills are usually blanketed through the process.
You might take a second look at both candidates records and see that Mrs. Clinton has a record that is much more substantive for the same time period. The seconary reason for her success with many of her bills is because of the relationship she has built with her peers and her willingness to devote actually physical energy to the process with out regard to long hours.
Just something you may appreciate learning.

MMiller (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 12:28 AM)

Personally I had hoped the moderators would have focused on more germane issues specific to Ohio. We still don't have a clear understanding on how Mr. Obama will resolve the loss of jobs in manufacturing. I heard his reference to how terribly he feels about the lost jobs and I heard a lot about yesterdays bad news..but..I got no indication from him on his plan to address this issue. I felt Mrs Clinton had a better answer. I also felt Mr. Obama captured her talking points of creation of a green job force and did not give any real plan of his own. Am I the only one concerned about this issue?

N. Niedermaier (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 12:40 AM)

In a past stump speech Hillary said that "I could have told George Bush that Putin had no soul, he was KGB". Several weeks ago Putin was told what Hillary had said about him. He responded "At least a head of state should have a head". Do we really want a president who will anger and insult other world leaders. Do we really fix things in the world, when poor judgement is used. Where was her experience that should have told her how to address other leaders. You think Putin won't remember she said he had no soul.

Catalina, Tacoma, Washington (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 12:56 AM)

Obama did a "yeah, what she said," type comment. It makes me extremely wary of putting this guy in office, especially when dealing with foreign policy.

Clinton just seems like a name and fact-knowing machine. She remembers even the most minute details. That shows she cares.

Obama, who I had the pleasure of meeting and talking to in Chicago, gave me a pat on the back when I told him I'm in medical school and worried about my tuition in the future. He then said "let me know if there's anything I can do to help," and walked away. Yeah right, like he gave me his private number. He came off as very patronizing.

Dan Jando, Chicago, IL (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 1:09 AM)

The successor is a Putin puppet what else do you need to know? Do you really need to know where he attended high school? There are Kremlinologists who devote their whole lives to the study. Our problem right now is a president who thinks he knows it all and doesn't take expert advice. He just needs to look into their eyes and see into their souls.

nuanced (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 1:17 AM)

Ok you guys, admit it, Obama is flat out stupid and he copies everything. Look he can't come up with a single speech without help. I watched a youtube now where they showed entire speeches of his which are complete fabrications and words coming from Malcom X, AKA Louis Farrakhan (his mentor) and right out of many of other peoples play books.

All I have to say is the guy can't box his way out of a paper bag. He's the biggest fraud in American History and perpetrated on Americans! That is just the truth. I'm laugh every time I see a debate at the stupidity of the people asking questions and the fact that he's even sharing a stage with Senator Clinton. I mean honestly when all people can say is "He's inspirational" I want to OBAMIT. LOOOOOL.

This is too funny.... The real joke will be on the United States because real peoples lives will be affected and thats honestly the biggest problem in the end. So unlike so many stupid kids think this isn't something you get a do over on. Man what joke.

Yeah I'll denounce Louis Farrakhan, does he have any other lines I can borrow? looooooooool

Sharifah (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 3:36 AM)

They BOTH spoke in vague generalities and barely passed the pop quiz. Obama was smart to play it safe (which was really all he needed, as front runner, to do), while Clinton (who, as the underdog, needed to prover herself) went out on a limb and ended up butchering the guy's nama a la Bush. If you're not prepared, it's better not to feign it and end up putting your foot in your mouth.

Guillermo, Champaign, Illinois (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 8:19 AM)

OMG, you Obama supporters kill me. You are actually arguing that it's "okay" not to know the details because some elusive foreign policy advisers will guide him when he gets in office? OMG, that is so scary. Do you really think that argument is going to hold water when debating John McCain? You democrats are screwed if you nominate this guy. SCREWED.

I can't believe the Obama supporters. (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 8:36 AM)

Hillary is the one who has "35 years of political experience" so she should have scored an A+ on this questions. Since she couldn't pronounce or didn't know the name, (one excuse is no better than the other) she ended up with a C. It is an insult to get someone's name wrong or even pronounce it incorrectly especially at this high political level. Shame on you Hillary.

Lady Leo , Mableton , Ga (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 9:11 AM)

It would be so hard for most of the media to say she won, they might be called racist. Hello,HILLARY WON

Wayne, Tampa, fl. (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 11:03 AM)

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