An Attack on Clinton

There was another Democratic debate last night, and one theme seemed clear throughout it: pick on Hillary Clinton instead of defending your own political beliefs and views.

Both Barack Obama and John Edwards were given a chance to make an opening statement and both used it to take a shot at Clinton, with Obama saying, “I think what we need right now is honesty with the American people about where we would take the country” and Edwards saying, “I think it is crucial for Democratic voters and caucus-goers to determine who they can trust, who’s honest, who is sincere, who has integrity”. Sure, both statements can be considered as a general one regarding their own political standpoint, but it is fairly easy to jump to the conclusion that they were aimed towards Clinton’s character flaws. Statements of this nature are used throughout the debate, so much so that Bill Richardson declares, “You know what I’m hearing here? I’m hearing this holier-than-thou attitude toward Senator Clinton. That it’s bothering me because it’s pretty close to personal attacks that we don’t need.”

The gang up was even evident with the moderator Tim Russert. He asked the candidates to pledge that Iran would not develop nuclear weapons while on their watch. Clinton pledged to “do everything I can” to prevent Iran from doing so, causing Russert to point out that it wasn’t a real pledge. She just reiterated the fact that she would try her hardest. Obama and Edwards both made “pledges” of the same degree, never fully promising that Iran would not do so if they were president, but they were not called out for their lack of pledge. Moderators are supposed to be unbiased, aren’t they?

Televised debates are possibly the most mainstream way of a candidate getting their policies across to the nation. It is the easiest way for them to gain, as well as lose, supporters. It should be taken advantage of to further their prospects of winning their caucus and eventually the election next year. Barack Obama and John Edwards both chose to put down the leading candidate instead of trying to bring themselves up to the forefront. It seems like a good strategy, but in retrospect, it is the cowardly and easy way out, because it is much easier to put someone down than to praise yourself.