November 15, 2007
Posted: November 15th, 2007 09:37 PM ET

Watch Sen. Clinton implore her fellow Democrats not to sling mud.

(CNN) - Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton opened Thursday night's Democratic debate in Las Vegas by joking that she was wearing an asbestos pantsuit. She needed it right out of the gate, as leading rivals Barack Obama and John Edwards turned their fire on her with their first answers.

Obama called the former first lady-turned-New York senator "a capable politician" who has run a "terrific" campaign - "But what the American people are looking for right now is straight answers to tough questions, and that is not what we've seen out of Senator Clinton on a host of issues."

Clinton shot back by citing her experience pushing for universal health care, accusing Obama of failing to support that goal with his own health care proposal. And she said Democrats will need a tested leader to advance their goals in 2008.

"The Republicans are not going to vacate the White House voluntarily," she said. "We have some big issues ahead of us and we need someone who is tested and ready to lead."

Edwards, meanwhile, said Clinton "continues to defend a system that does not work, that is broken, that is rigged and corrupt." Clinton responded by accusing him of taking cues "from the Republican playbook."

"For him to be throwing this mud and making these charges, I think really detracts from what we're trying to do here tonight," she said. "we need to put forth a positive agenda for America, telling people what we're going to do."

– CNN's Matt Smith

Filed under: Presidential Candidates


marilyn casanave   January 24th, 2008 11:05 am ET

Hillary Clinton keeps bragging about 35 years of experience she's had as preparation for becoming President of the USA. In that she was born in 1947 and if she had begun such experience from the moment of birth, she would not be 83 years old. I believe that she is as dishonest as she was when her husband was Governor of Arkansas. To further, have Bill Clinton running around promoting her candidacy is almost ludicrous. Bill Clinton, Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy did more to dishonor the Office of the President than did others in recent times who occupied the position. Not only was Bill guilty of past denigration of the Office he is behaving in a disrespectful manner so as to further denigrate the highest office of the land.
I wouldn't vote for those two for anything above Used Car Salesman; they will do anything, say anything and put forth personal propoganda about themselves/her that is so easily identified by any to be a lie.
Voters have made too many past mistakes and suffered the consequences of not doing their homework before putting dishonorable individuals in the White House.

Jose Card   November 17th, 2007 1:51 am ET

I have never seen any presidential candidate so hated in history. Just how can she be the compromiser to unite the country?

Hillary wants both diamonds and pearls and she wants both ways of everything. That is the mentality of a greedy little girl, not a presidential material. Bill knows her well. If she lied about planting questions, what else has she lied about? I am afraid she and Bill are birds of the same feather.

We deserve to see the Clinton records to verify her now famous experience BEFORE the primary date. Although I am no fan of Rove, thanks to him that we now know the Clintons are blocking the release of the documents. Will you vote for liars?

factjack   November 16th, 2007 11:03 am ET

"Clinton shot back by citing her experience pushing for universal health care."

ie.., Hillary is an experienced failure..

A Voter in N.Y.   November 16th, 2007 3:00 am ET

Clinton claims to have the most experience, but has done nothing as a Senator except authorize Iraq and blame everyone else.

There is always her failed health care she wrangled for as first lady, as she cited. But in the next breath Bill takes the hit for the team and takes responsibility for the failure of Hillary care, stating he was running it.

She wants it both ways all the time, but if elected then what will happen when it is no longer academic?

When she has to make REAL decisions. Will Bill take the hit then or just leave every American hanging. From their past actions, it's easy to see they don't care about anyone or anything except themselves.

They won't change. Anyone BUT Clinton in '08

sf, ca   November 16th, 2007 12:58 am ET

Bravo to "Gene, Land O Lakes, FL" your comment is right on target! No one could have said it better. Great job.

"Bottom line is that while she does have some good points she's carrying way to much baggage and I don't want Bill anywhere near the white house."

Well said and I too do not want Bill anywhere near the White House.

Posted By Carry – Los Altos – CA : November 15, 2007 11:55 pm

Let's have an intelligent discussion here. Why do you not want Bill anywhere near the White House? Any particular reason which impacts the country for not having Bill around?

tommy   November 16th, 2007 12:24 am ET

Hillary, you ROCK tonight, girl!!! The media has been reluctantly to report too much negatives on Obama fearful of being considered "RACIST"..... Anything wrong he does, he only gets a small slap on the hand.... BUT the media doesn't seem to mind throwing rocks at Hillary with every little thing.... This shows the Double Standard... Let's face it, nowadays, America is far more SEXIST than ever.

charmaine, greenlawn,ny   November 16th, 2007 12:21 am ET

Hillary is not truthful nor trustworthy.
She is past not present. Go for Obama and Biden. Both very sharp men. To vote for Hill because is ludicrus. That is an uneducated answer. I would eventually vote for a female, just not her.
Charmaine

Wendy   November 16th, 2007 12:12 am ET

To AD, Denver CO :

Obama missed 80% of Senate votes, please stop finding excuses for him. If he does not fulfill his duty he has no right to criticise others!!

john coronado ca   November 16th, 2007 12:10 am ET

Obama won convincingly.

It's so predictable that the gushing, oozing Gergen would sycophantically declare Hillary the winner, especially after Wolfie rescued her within the first 10 minutes, as he became the "cooler" on the rest of the debate. I guess Hillary left J.C. Watts', Wolf's and Gergen's test*cles in a box by the door for them to retrieve as they leave.

Carry - Los Altos - CA   November 15th, 2007 11:55 pm ET

Bravo to "Gene, Land O Lakes, FL" your comment is right on target! No one could have said it better. Great job.

"Bottom line is that while she does have some good points she's carrying way to much baggage and I don't want Bill anywhere near the white house."

Well said and I too do not want Bill anywhere near the White House.

Jim, Irmo, SC   November 15th, 2007 11:38 pm ET

Clinton did not present herself as presidential. She did not step up to show that she could engage the questions. And she is not electable.
This is a serious concern, because, lets face it, other than that, the views of most of these candidates are not that far apart.
Also, CNN, that was atrocious. The questions were facile or divisive. The format was boring. The audience needed to shut up, and the moderators had no control over anything.

Martin Kautz, Miami   November 15th, 2007 11:28 pm ET

So what does she want to do? Poison herself and the others?

John. Alexandria,Va   November 15th, 2007 11:11 pm ET

Obama’s answers were crucial on the issues we face today, but it was covered by Clinton’s name brand. I guess brand sells better than truth. Oh well….

Fred Martin, Tucson, AZ   November 15th, 2007 10:28 pm ET

Kucinich clearly won this debate, even though he was hardly allowed to speak.

Joe, St. Cloud MN   November 15th, 2007 10:25 pm ET

There is a reason that CNN is known as the "Clinton News Network." This is the most biased debate I have ever seen. Will you please let Joe Biden (The only true leader on the stage) talk, and quit focusing on Hillary! Remember: If you can't run your own house, you cant run the White House!

Jess, West Palm Beach, FL   November 15th, 2007 10:21 pm ET

I think, overall, Hilary did a good job defending herself, but I did like how they all seemed to agree on most of the issues.I think Clinton and Biden would make a great presidency. Just watch, that's who she will pick.

Will, Chicago, IL   November 15th, 2007 10:21 pm ET

"Daniel" is a campaign plant.

Debbie Conway AR   November 15th, 2007 10:19 pm ET

Hillary won hands down, I have never been an Edwards fan (he is so phony) but I did respect Obama when he got in this race but am losing it fast. Hillary is gal to win!!!!!

AD, Denver CO   November 15th, 2007 10:03 pm ET

VT, Denver, Colorado...

Just as an FYI – Obama was in the Senate on the day the vote for Iran was scheduled -as per NYTimes :-
"Sen. Obama was present in the Senate on the day when the vote was originally scheduled to be taken, but Sen. Reid tabled the issue indefinitely. Then, the next day, Sen. Reid unexpectedly put the vote back on the schedule. Obama was in New Hampshire and given one hour’s notice. "

I'm not a conspiracy theorist, nor suggesting you change who you follow, but Reid has relatives on Hilary's team. Again, just a FYI.

fair,washington,dc   November 15th, 2007 9:56 pm ET

Wow...Hillary is doing ok at this debate so the debate is a Sham..lets see what the comments will be if she slips up. Some of you folk on here are shameful.

A.Thomas, ny, ny   November 15th, 2007 9:51 pm ET

Hillary turned up the heat at the debate opening by firing back at Obama and Edwards, especially her remark about Edwards not supporting the univeral health care in 2004 but supporting now.

Hillary did well in this debate, and this should solidify her lead to her nomination.

Donna C, Orlando, FL   November 15th, 2007 9:50 pm ET

Obama, Edwards & gentlement, Say Hello to the next Pres of the U.S. You guys keep picking on her, she will go right back at you all. She knows what she doing & talking about. She too wear the "pants" & not a "coward"!!!

JC, Green Bay, WI   November 15th, 2007 9:49 pm ET

Since this is coming from Green Bay and around here we relate 50% of just about everything to football (okay...fine, 85%)I'd like to point out that you don't get a starting spot by bad-mouthing the guy competing with you for that spot. You get it by showing the coaches what you've got.

It's about time that the members of this group start showing why they are worthy of the nomination and knock off all the schoolyard bickering. If you really think about it, when it comes to "Game Day", they are on the same team.

Rex, Houghton, MI   November 15th, 2007 9:41 pm ET

SOMEBODY, please tell me what is Hillary Clinton's experience in politics that she keeps bragging about. The only reality is, she rode into the national spotlight on the shirttail of a man, got a senator position thanks to her husband’s notoriety, and now claims to have international leadership experience. Being an opportunist does not mean you have leadership experience. I know there are people out there who love Hillary, will vote for her, and even die for her but REALLY, other than sounding like Karl Marx, what is this experience she keeps talking about?

Brent, Las Vegas, Nevada   November 15th, 2007 9:40 pm ET

It is beyond me why any Democrates would support Hillary. Democrates are suppose to be fairly unified in both their opposition to the war in Iraq and to the Patriot Act, but yet Hillary voted for both. Also, I hate hearing Chris Dood and others cry anytime that Hillary is attacked, personally I would prefer to hear the candidates identify their respective differences instead of simply preceeding down a path that seems more than a little predetermined.

Glenn   November 15th, 2007 9:37 pm ET

This debate is a total sham set up to improve Hillary's position and front runner status. Wolf is a terrible moderator who is purposely trying to give give her the advantage along with the other moderators. CNN is for Hillary and has been from day one and this debate does not hide that fact at all.

This debate is dictated and totally unprofessional. CNN should be ashamed. Hopefully other media outlets will acknowledge this tomorrow and not let CNN and their pundits gloat in this "designed" debate stragety. This is not how political debates should be managed.

James   November 15th, 2007 9:35 pm ET

asbestos pantsuit ? Are you kidding me ?

I guess someone has FOX envy, sensationalism beats news any day in your country.

Gene, Land O Lakes, FL   November 15th, 2007 9:35 pm ET

Once again Hillary dances around questions and avoids giving direct answers that show the differences between the candidates by saying "we need to be united". If that's the case then we should just have them pick the the short straw runs.

Bottom line is that while she does have some good points she's carrying way to much baggage and I don't want Bill anywhere near the white house.

Dan, TX   November 15th, 2007 9:24 pm ET

CNN got exactly what they wanted. Make the candidates fight rather than give them a chance to state their positions.

Fred   November 15th, 2007 9:22 pm ET

This is by far the worst organized debate. The moderators aren't allowing appropriate responses and the audience is a distraction.

Wolf's questions are pretty stupid. Yes or no? Because we're too stupid to understand anything more complicated? Thanks a lot.

TIRED OF THE SAME   November 15th, 2007 9:20 pm ET

DEAR CNN,

HOW MANY SOFTBALLS ARE YOU GOING TO THROW TO CLINTON?!?

NAVYCRUZER   November 15th, 2007 9:19 pm ET

CAMBELL BROWN SHOULD GO BACK TO NBC. THE GENDER QUESTION WAS REDICULOUS AND DID NOT WARRANT AN ANSWER. THE TIME ASKING SUCH A QUESTION COULD HAVE BEEN DIRECTED TOWARDS THE IRAQ WAR, HEALTH CARE, OR EDUCATION. I'M TIRED OF THE NEWS MEDIA ATTEMPTING TO GET THE CANDIDATES TO ATTACK EACH OTHER RATHER THAN CONDUCT A TRUE DEBATE ABOUT THE ISSUES RATHER THAN WHAT A CANDIDATE HAS SAID ABOUT THE OTHER.

tribeliker, Charlottte, NC   November 15th, 2007 9:19 pm ET

When is Dennis going to get a chance to answer a question?!!!??

E Byers, Asheville NC   November 15th, 2007 9:19 pm ET

Can't Wolf Blitzer quit interrupting with uhs and ers and mmms the whole time.
Let us listen and decide.
By the way, did Clinton pay this audience or what?

Andrew, Greensboro, NC   November 15th, 2007 9:16 pm ET

Why does this news network spend so much time focusing on Sen. Clinton? Just look around the political section of this website.

Jim Phoenix, AZ   November 15th, 2007 9:15 pm ET

I'd like the Obama and Edwards supporters to tell us what 'experience' they have that Clinton doesn't? Edwards is a one-term senator who ran from re-election because he would likely lose. He didn't deliver his own home state in the 2004 election and was invisible as a VP candidate. What more experience does he have than Clinton? And Obama, what experience does he have that Clinton doesn't? He was a state representative in the Illinois legislature – and so dozens of others. He runs from voting in the Senate because he doesn't want to take a position.

These guys aren't full of ...it, they're full of feathers.

Jack, Fort Myers, FL   November 15th, 2007 9:13 pm ET

The aggressiveness seems to border of petty and nasty. Obama and Edwards stepping away from any form of executive stature. I think the maturity and ability to take the heat–and still maintain her composure and stick to her guns, shows Hillary truly is the most Presidential.

Anonim   November 15th, 2007 9:12 pm ET

Noah – President start fulfilling his/her responsibilities January 20 2009 – mjsut in case you didn't kno .

VT, Denver, Colorado   November 15th, 2007 9:11 pm ET

Check out Obama's attendance when issues are voted on. I am tired of hearing him knock Clinton on how she voted (Iraq in particular) when he can't even make it there to vote when he is supposed to. So compare the voting records folks.

Jack   November 15th, 2007 9:10 pm ET

Hillary says we need a tested leader? How has she been tested? She's got less experience than any of the others, unles you count the 8 years she spent getting experience on being cheated on.

???

Her campaign is one big lie.

Deb NYC   November 15th, 2007 9:06 pm ET

Looks as though she had a few facials before the night began, but she fails fashion with the ugliest pantsuit in America.

Why won't she wear a dress, or a skirt once in awhile?
Does she enjoy being a woman?

Brian, Brooklyn, NY   November 15th, 2007 8:59 pm ET

I thought Obama had a good point about people wanting health care. Mandating that people have it isn't a solution... only making it available will solve it.

andy in green bay   November 15th, 2007 8:56 pm ET

Do you realize that if Hillary is elected
that we have at least 24 years of either a Bush or Clinton in the White House. Talk about a close dynasty....is there a Bush waiting to continue after Hillary?

Stephy, Groton CT   November 15th, 2007 8:51 pm ET

I had the feeling that too often Hillary Clinton totally forgot about the need of the American Population to fire at Republicans. It is important to show competition to the other party, but it simply wrong to not elaborate on your position but still gain popularity for attacking another party. I am waiting for answer on why her healthcare plan is better than Obama's and she totally flips the attention to how bad Republicans are. We have enough National polls for that...She still has not convince me on why her plan is better than Barack Obama's.

Noah, Menlo Park CA   November 15th, 2007 8:50 pm ET

re: "Hillary 2009"

The presidential election is in 2008. What do you think she'll be running for in 2009?

C. K. Justus Wi   November 15th, 2007 8:45 pm ET

I like Edwards, but I am getting tired of him criticizing Clinton and the others.
Tell me what he is going to do, I can here the others proposals and will make up my own mind.
If he does not cool it and tell me his vision for this country, he will not get my vote.

daniel   November 15th, 2007 8:44 pm ET

Hillary is the BEST!

Hillary 2009

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