CNN

Senator Obama is easily ruffled under pressure and tonight's arm twisting tactics of CNN's Wolf Blitzer is a pointer,Senator Obama can and has what it takes to lead the pack to WH.If He can work on his body language and consistently rise up to the plate and prove above all sentiments that He's resolute fighter with conviction and courage to take on challenges squarely Americans voters knows the stakes are higher now more than ever for a change with upfront assurances and no excuses for free rides to WH.

Do you ever notice how much the Republican candidates for President talk about terrorism, immigration, prayer in school, abortion, Terry Schiavo ?? All imp. issues to some for sure, but for most divisive or wedge issues, which is just exactly what the GOP wants !! Keep them focused on issues which don't really do anything for the individual but which do not require candidates to actually anything which would improve people's lives !!!

The day that Republican candidates begin to talk about the cost of gas, the cost of home heating oil, making affordable mortgages available for the masses, creating good domestic jobs which are not off-shorable, rebuilding the American infrastructure, the real cost of inflation as opposed to the cooked numbers we are provided by this Administration, etc., is the day that I might vote Republican again, but that day appears to be a snowballs chance in Hell of actually occurring anytime soon.

On the driver license issues for illegals, Obama mumbled and fumbled. He answered a simple yes/no question with a canned elaborate but confusing answer.

With about 7 weeks to go for the caucuses and primaries, Obama will pay dearly in polls for his mumbling and fumbling.

In term of polls, Obama peaked before the debate and will go down from here. Hillary scored big in getting free publicity in this CNN debate. Just watch her polls rise in days to come.

The plan is stupid. Why...WHY would an illegal immigrant want a license? Why would they go through the trouble of putting thier name into the 'system'? Why would they go get insurance, let alone pay for it?

And does having a license make them any better of a driver. Hardly.

A plan that just won't work in reality. Typical dem law...

THE SAD THING FOR 'CLINTONIANS' IS THAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR FAULTS TO EQUATE OBAMA TO THEIR MADAM...This is not that fault people. As written by many of the Obama posters, the question is complicated and so does not have a simple 'yes' or 'no' answer and that's how Obama has approached it...THIS GUY IS SMART!
Quit being silly, Clinton people...look for a better fault which I don't think you'll find EVER!

I was working during the big debate, but did any of these candidates say it doesn't have to be all or nothing with illegal immigrants. . . did any of them suggest a compromise? I just want the first step to be payroll taxes collected from these millions of people so that the taxes of us regular Americans dont' keep creeping up. We need to get on track with this tax situation because most of Chicago, for example, just got hit with 40 per cent property tax hike and then a few days later lots of individual city taxes. This is ridiculous how the politicians are nickel and dimeing us to death.

Obama answered correctly, the problem is not drivers license and Obama isn't the one who proposed drivers license to illegal immigrants. Because he didn't propose drivers license, wisely he spoke about where the real problem stems. One can answer yes or no, but does it fix the real problem?

Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, said he disagreed with the way Blitzer phrased the question. "I take issue with your description of people being illegal immigrants. There aren't any illegal human beings," he said. "You give people a path to legalization and you work to make sure that you don't criminalize their status any further.

Dude, if they need a pathway to legalization, they would make them ILLEGAL! Those who are legal need no such pathway. More polispeak! As far as Obama goes, that license answer make him look silly!

A license does not equate with insurance, some of you are confusing the two or puting them together as one. Seperate issues, you can get a license WITHOUT insurance.

Wolf would not let Obama answer and that gave the appearance that he was stumbling, he AGAIN said YES and it didn't take two weeks and the Governor of NY (who was worried he was going to get "Fostered") to help make his decison.

Mr Obama, seriously?
And all Obama supporters have suddenly now changed and are saying there is no yes or no answer in a one minute time frame. When Hillary and Bill Clinton said the same thing, these same Obama supporters rediculed them. Seriouly guys, give everyone a fair chance. We, as voters, need to stop flip-flopping.

In the last debate, Hillary attempted to give a reasoned response to whether driver's liscenes should be given to illegals. Obama and Edwards have been telling us for two weeks that Hillary is indecisive, she can not give a yes or no answer.

Obama did the same thing last night; but he was worst because he all over the place with a response, and then said yes, but...So why was it alright for everyone to call Hillary out, but, you are now are saying that for Obama it was not about the answer but about the premise.

This tells me that alot of you all are hypocrits. It is unfair to berate Hillary and praise Obama when they said the same thing, but Hillary was more in command of herself and her words. She is clearly the most qualified candidate.

I'M TIRED OF CNN AND THEIR BIAS AGAINST SENATOR OBAMA, YOU GUYS WILL PUSH HILLARY TO THE WHITE HOUSE AND HAVE A REPITITION OF THE BUSH FIASCO, SHE HAD ANWSERED YES TO THIS SAME QUESTION, AND FLIP FLOPPED AS USUAL SAID NO WHEN POPULAR OPINION AND HER FRIEND GOV SPITZER CHANGE HIS OWN MIND.
SHE WAS UNABLE TO GIVE ANY PROPOSED SOLUTION TO SOCIAL SECURITY, TRYING DISINGIENIOUSLY DISTORT OBAMA'S RESPONSE BUT OBAMA CAME BACK RIGHT AT HER. ALL CNN PANEL MEMBERS ARE SO HYPOCRITICAL AND THEY DON"T SERVE THE INTEREST OF THE NATION, THAT IS WHY CHRIS MATHEWS AND TIM RUSSERT ARE THE BEST WHEN IT COMES TO THIS BUSINESS,
OBAMA 2008, CNN YOU WILL NOT STOP THE GRASS ROOT MOVEMENT.

Anyone who bases their vote on "waffling", "flip flopping", or any similar political tagline should really just remove themselves from the voting populace. Such characterizations feed off of gaining votes from the short-sighted.

There is a reason that the two leading candidates have struggled with this question so far - the issue is more complicated than a simple "Yes or no" answer. I'm certain that none of the candidates onstage were in favor of illegal immigration, but the driver's licensing does go into the realm of public safety (which we are told we're under constant attack of, anyway).

It's not that I believe illegal immigrants should be granted driver's licenses (personally, I don't). But I can understand why I candidate would support the idea, and I can understand why they don't want to be cornered into a sound-byte that will inevitably become misconstrued in the future.

CNN: all I have to say is that your shameless spin and bias may fool a handful of idiots, but you will never be able to fool an Iowans!

While Obama was taking forever to answer a question that could have taken a lot less time did anyone notice how much makeup it appeared that he was wearing? It looked like he had the stuff caked on his face. I have a very nice LCD t.v. and he looked awful on it. He almost looked like he was made of wax. Why was he stumbling with his words so much? He looked like he was very very nervous.

Sierra,

Premise is important and also the answer, which by the way has been consistent.

I disagree that there were any calculated answers from Obama...Clinton calculated the numbers on this issue in the past two weeks and changed her position based on the polls. Hope you realized that!

If Obama could not give a straight answer on driver license, why did he made such a big deal in national media accusing Hillary Clinton on the same issue? Obama certainly embarrassed himself tonight in front of the whole world.

Posted By Wendy : November 15, 2007 9:43 pm

Stop waffling your head for Clinton News Network and start listening to what Obama clearly said…

"He will prefer personal safety of American people who can potentially be injured by illegal drivers and can do nothing about it"

The premise of the question is to assume that the Comprehensive Immigration Reform will not happen…it's sad to see so many pessimists like Wolf B.

Posted By Mike : November 15, 2007 10:49 pm

Mike,

Now suddenly the premise is important, not the answer and calculations?

Be fair and principled. Dont be a hypocrite.

Uh...HELLO, people! Did you not hear him give a clear "YES"?!? Watch the debate again or read the transcripts...or reach for the Q-tips.

Nice try though!

what was his response to that question? still waiting

Obama gave the thoughtful, intelligent answer. He said in the last debate that he thought the drivers license was okay, what he was trying to do is to show how this one smaller diversionary issue that CNN wants a yes or no answer on, distracts us from solving the real problems involved with immigration reform and border security. Wolf rudely kept interrupting him, as he was explaining himself, asking, yes or no? when he had already answered yes. The whole debate was a disgusting circus, biased and unprofessional, but Obama defended himself, and got Hilary on her faked numbers about social security, also he got Wolf, by showing him how limited and really stupid his questions were. Hilary was the only candidate whom Wolf did not interrupt. He also did not give Obama the chance to answer the NAFTA question, and implied that he had made up the word "triangulation." Also, allowing the audience to interrupt him and boo Edwards with no admonition!! It was giving free rein to the Hilary supporters they packed the hall with. There will be some fallout from this farce...and it won't be good for CNN

Obama did not flip-flop, his position has always been the same, he supports giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants, when he was pressed to answer "yes or no" he said "yes", something clinton could not do on the last debate, it took 2 weeks to and the NY Governor to withdraw an immigration plan before her campaign explained her positioned.

The matter of the fact is it didn't take him two weeks to come up with the answer.

if hillary took more than two weeks to say a yes or No on this issue and flip floped six times then you should not believe her answer.obama said yes in the first debate and today.if he was not for it why did he do it in chicago?but of course in the federal level,he will not propose it and will take care of immigration reforms.wolf knows his position but was just sniky.

Clinton said YES to driver's license two weeks back and she said NO today...that's called waffling my friends

Obama has consistently said YES because he understands the root cause of the problem and he is bold enough to say what he believes in.

The question regarding supporting issuing driving licenses to illegal immigrants is a poor question and distracts from the actual problem. Like Sen. Obama said, he's not issuing driving licenses for immigrants to come to the US to drive, but more of a public safety issue. Answering yes to the question does not and should not translate into supporting illegal immigration.

Democrats THINK!

If Obama could not give a straight answer on driver license, why did he made such a big deal in national media accusing Hillary Clinton on the same issue? Obama certainly embarrassed himself tonight in front of the whole world.

Posted By Wendy : November 15, 2007 9:43 pm

Stop waffling your head for Clinton News Network and start listening to what Obama clearly said...

"He will prefer personal safety of American people who can potentially be injured by illegal drivers and can do nothing about it"

The premise of the question is to assume that the Comprehensive Immigration Reform will not happen...it's sad to see so many pessimists like Wolf B.

See! if this garbage happened in October of next year and he were our nominee we would have John Kerry all over again. Obama can NOT WIN IN THE GENERAL ELECTION. And the funny thing is, he has not even done anything to merit a chance. And, nobody ever talks about how ineffective a leader he would be; he has no network in DC, he has never lead anything other than a classroom, and he has never gotten anything but some ethics rules through Congress.

As I always thought, this guy is good as preacher... alone on the stage he is fine, but he is not consistent during debates. It was funny how he stumbled over the immigrant driver's license issue his campaign accused Hillary for the past couple of weeks. How is he going to do that 'reaching out' to Republicans? He is good at firing up a bit and next he gets intimidated or something.

Hillary 2008 with no doubt!

CNN is trying to use the "waffle" word. They are idiots, all their reporters that try to sway opinion. Everything is about Clinton. Anderson is stating waffle Obama, waffled this, super size waffle.

The media is run by communists that like to invent words like smoking gun, hunker down, and know waffle.

God I just want to smack these guys.

Wow!! Obama is flip flopping now!

Any Obama supporter could you answer yes or No to a simple question? Which Obama could not answer?

Should we have some double talk, hypocrisy, politics of deception?

Anerican citizens please use your brains, be intelligent and dont be deceived by politics of deception.

Posted By Sierra, CA : November 15, 2007 9:13 pm
Stop rushing out to give us what is not true...We watched the whole debate...

If Obama could not give a straight answer on driver license, why did he made such a big deal in national media accusing Hillary Clinton on the same issue? Obama certainly embarrassed himself tonight in front of the whole world.

When Obama was pressed he gave a clear "yes". He also made his position clear that he did not think drivers licenses were the issue.

Jamie,
On the issue of drivers licenses, when you summarized Richardsons response, you left out the most important point he made. It is a matter of safety. You must pass a test and get insurance to obtain a license. The immigrant who wants to start a lawn service is going to buy a truck and is forced to drive without a license which means no insurance and no training.

All of a sudden Obama is saying exactly the same thing that Clinton said in the previous debate about the drivers licenses. Is the media going to dwell on it for a while or just give him a pass as usual. Edwards is getting a free pass of lately with his past record in congress. Candidates need to be treated equally by the media even if one is the obvious front runner.

The problem with asking "yes" or "no" is that America sees it as simply that. Too many American are uneducated on this issue. Obama was trying to give a calculated response so as not to be judged by the "yes" or "no" answer. It is too bad he was not aloud to give his answer fully.

It is obvious that IT IS OBMA WHO IS EVASIVE, FLIP-FLOP, AND DO NOT GIVE STRAIGHT ANSWER! Stop accusing others. You the one you are acusing. Stupid!

I applaud Kucinich's comprehensive answer to a loaded question. This issue is not one of pressing national interest, this question arose from attacks exchanged between Clinton and Obama from the last debate, not what America is listening for.

Barack Obama felt the pressure on that one. But hey he did have a good answer. I mean I would rather be on a road with people I don't know but that the government knows and has assure are liable to drive but to be driving along side some guy that not only I don't know but in fact no one knows expect himself that he knows the regulations of driving in the US. It's not about giving them (the undocumented) the will to come here. But to give us (the national and the documented) the knowledge that we are relatively safe on the road.

Wow!! Obama is flip flopping now!

Any Obama supporter could you answer yes or No to a simple question? Which Obama could not answer?

Should we have some double talk, hypocrisy, politics of deception?

Anerican citizens please use your brains, be intelligent and dont be deceived by politics of deception.