December 13, 2007
Posted: 02:55 PM ET

DES MOINES, Iowa (CNN) — It’s been a mostly sedate debate so far, focused mainly on economic and fiscal issues, thanks to a format that doesn’t allow for much interaction between the candidates.

That didn’t stop New York Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York from getting a shot in against her main rivals.

"Well, everybody on this stage has an idea about how to get change,” said Clinton. “Some believe you get change by demanding it, some believe you get it by hoping for it. I believe you get it by working hard for change. That's what I've done my entire life.

That's what I will do as president."

Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois and former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina have both characterized Clinton as a Washington insider incapable of bringing about change. Meanwhile, Clinton – who has spent more time in Washington than either man — has stumped on the theme is that you can only bring about change by knowing how the system works.

– CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser

Filed under: Hillary Clinton • Iowa


john med   January 20th, 2008 2:29 am ET

hillary and bill keep attacking obama, this isnt going to win them the election. hillary should be speaking for herself,bill needs to keep his 2 cents out of it.
the people want to hear what hillary will do as president, they are getting tired of her and bills attacks on obama. obama is a good honest man with a great vision for the country and great leadership. lets face it he is our only hope for change. in this country.
obama, obama

wacmac   January 6th, 2008 10:20 pm ET

I love my Clintons!!!! I can face the truth- many of the other choices are more likable than good old hillary- however, I love that she could care less about that. I just think the rest lack life experience. Let's give the lady a shot. Afterall, woman have been running the white house for years anyway- let's give them the title already.

Beth & Jeff Chicago, IL - HILLARY IN 2008   December 19th, 2007 8:19 am ET

WE SUPPORT HILLARY '08 :)

She's the only one who can actually clean up the mess left by the GOP — NOT dreamer boy!!

Or vote Biden or Richardson b/c God save our country if the newbie gets elected = who isn't even wise enough to realize what he DOESN'T KNOW yet; let alone play pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey in the Oval Office! He clearly should have waited until 2012 or 2016. He's only 47, but he's such a baby that he's demanding to be King now :( Sadly the great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Senator Obama is certainly NOT!!!! AND Oprah should stick with her own life and hawking her Book Club (which she can't even get right all the time either).

JUST SAY NO TO OBAMA IN 2008 :(

vinnie...Shokan, N.Y.   December 16th, 2007 10:36 am ET

when all the dust clears HILLARY…BE THE…ONE..!

A Voter in N.Y.   December 14th, 2007 10:00 pm ET

HRC does know how the system works, she has spent so many years destroying it.
NEW PEOPLE NEEDED IN TOP POSITIONS!

No more slick Willie, no more HRC, look at how bad things have been just from these debates. She has flamed everyone and has 1/2 the country senate and congress hating her. No one will work with her to accomplish change.

The whole pre run to Iowa and NH has been Hillary bashing 101, what makes HRC followers think it will be better of she is elected.
IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE!

ANYONE BUT HILLARY '08

strong ,military   December 14th, 2007 8:45 pm ET

clinton is a boring woman , her mouth runs over!! lmao

Tom - Dedham, Mass   December 14th, 2007 10:13 am ET

Change: "Let's see. Shall I make chocolate chip or sugar cookies today." This is the type of change Hillary has experience with in her life.

Posted By Ed, Hilton NY : December 13, 2007 4:35 pm

Actually Hillary mocks stay at home mom's that "stay at home and bake cookies and have teas". Her own words.

"I could have stayed home and baked cookies and had teas, but I chose a career", yeah, having someone else bake cookies and teas for you to serve to other FIRST LADIES qualifies you for what exactly?

If CNN is going to post this stuff as news, Obama had the best line of the night when he said as President he looked forward to her advising him.

Not a dirty trick that Clinton pulled the last few days, but a funny and pointed remark.

If my party is dumb enough to nominate Huckleberry, I would not hesitate to vote for Obama or Biden.

Tom, New York, NY   December 14th, 2007 10:12 am ET

and no one mentioned that Barack DID NOT answer the question… instead he said he could not wait to have Hillary advise him as well… obvious he himself does not feel he is as qualified as she is to make the decisions that the leader of the U.S. has to face each day….wow, and the Obama supporters think his response was a good one? Really?

Shirley Charlotte, NC   December 14th, 2007 7:51 am ET

It is comical that many responders to this posting think that Obama had "the moment" of the debate when he said he wanted Hillary to advise him. Obama has no experience that would remotely qualify him or prepare him to be president of the US and any rationale, intelligent person knows that. Obama himself has pubicly acknowledged he would need Al Gore, Bill Clinton and now Hillary Clinton as advisors to run the White House. I think he knows in his heart that he is grossly underqualified (did you catch his statement that he has to remind himself that he's good enough and not fear failure to continue) but the same blind faith that put GW in the whitehouse for 8 years seems to have gripped the Democratic party in Iowa. At least, from a national perpsecitve, Hillary has a sizable lead that will be strengthened as more of Obama's weaknesses are exposed.

Ann ME   December 14th, 2007 7:48 am ET

Hillary Hitler hasn't worked hard for anything in her life. She's prostituted herself to maggets like Sorres and sold her soul to the devil for their guarantee of the White House.

MidniteRyder Middle America   December 14th, 2007 2:47 am ET

…I'm still appalled that the Dems. may end up nominating the American Idol candidate. I guess that in this era platitudes win over substance.

Posted By Bea, Hoboken, NJ : December 13, 2007 5:32 pm

—— Spit my sodey pop all over the computer screen when I read that THX for the hearty chuckle Bea :o)

So let's all stop and take a deep breath shall we: For the Hillary haters who omniously threaten "I will vote for the GOP before I will ever vote for THAT woman" -vs- the Obama bashers who declare "I will never cast my vote for Obama EVER!" Hmmm are we really sure, we are infact ALL Democrats here????

After weeding out the obvious GOP trolls - Let's get real here peeps: REGARDLESS of whichever candidate finally winds up with the Democratic nomination (however bloodied and battered) IF YOU DON'T VOTE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PICK THEN YOU WILL FOR CERTAIN BE DOOMED TO ANOTHER EIGHT YEARS OF THE GOP IN THE WHITE HOUSE plain and simple!!!

Therefore I suggest y'all stop the childishly idle threats of "withholding your votes or voting Republican" because that makes you even worse than the candidates you are currently brawling over = In other words that means you are NOT A TRUE DEMOCRAT!!

Do y'all even know what the platform is that MOST Democratic politicans represent?? Arguably the greatest decision which will be ultimately determined by the outcome of the 2008 Presidential Election is the future direction of the United States Supreme Court!!! So if YOU share the same view (of the majority) on Pro-Choice then you'd certainly better get off your duffs and VOTE FOR WHOMEVER'S NAME IS ON THAT FINAL DEMOCRATIC BALLOT… (even if you have to hold your nose and stomp & scream)

AND y'all better pray that the more liberal leaning senior Justices can hang on long enough to preserve Roe vs Wade cuz just ONE more "conservative appointment" and womens' rights in America will be set back irreparably.

So PLEASE consider your battles very carefully and save the pitched attacks for the no-holds-barred all out beseiged onslaught which will soon be launched by the GOP Master Machine JAWS = OMG no wonder we lose..

Devin, Cape Cod, Massachusettes   December 14th, 2007 1:14 am ET

Obama has a huge weakness for me, as a voter, in invoking religious rhetoric. "Believe" in our government, have "hope" for our future. Sounds like what George Bush wants us to do over his policy in Iraq. Point well taken Hillary. You can't run a presidency on being a good public speaker.

Jenny, paxton MA   December 14th, 2007 12:56 am ET

hillary sneakily papers over THE SPECIFICS OF THE CHANGE each candidate represents, by switching the subject to how to get there, as if all agree on the kind of change. nice try, hill.

Joh John , Brooklyn, NY   December 14th, 2007 12:36 am ET

Being the first lady and the wife of a popular President for eight years is definitely an asset. You go to a job interview , the first question any employer ask is what is your job experience. Definitely Hilary has shown her worth as a Senator and she will be a better President than any of the recent Presidents. You need to be Washington insider to play the Washington game. Obama, Harward degree and Community service alone is not enough to get elected as President.

Johnny D. Omaha NE   December 14th, 2007 12:18 am ET

Hillary will get the nomination, the only thing that has changed is the appearance of an actual contested race with tightened poll numbers occuring in the first two early states instead of the previous shoe-in but the DNC knows better. With a very significant margin nationally, and more importantly in the delegate-heavy states such as California all going for Hillary, the Democrats know too well that this is not Obama's time. Personally, I believe Obama to be a good individual but certainly NOT presidential material. His inexperience and lack of depth, in dealing with the complexities of the office, are readily apparent. In foreign relations, leaders like Putin, Ahmadinejad, or even Premier Wen Jiabao (not to mention the US congress itself) would run circles around him. It is no place for the on-the-job training that Obama would require. His idealism and hope is quite laudable, but the fact of the matter is that simple idealism and hope untempered with experience and pragmatism are not what makes a great leader. Hillary is not only quite simply a good individual but will also be able to concretely deliver on the promise of bringing change for the better.

Carl Iowa   December 13th, 2007 11:51 pm ET

Come on people! We're voting for President of the United States, not who we'd want to throw down a few beers with.

Clinton is obviously the more capable of the bunch. I, for one, refuse to vote for some frat boy Obama. And if he's nominated, the Democrats lose my vote and will surely lose the White House.

Jenn. Decatur, GA   December 13th, 2007 11:10 pm ET

We Love You Hillary! You Can Do It! Don't Ever Back Down! Don't Let Those Bullies Push You Around. They Are Just Jealous That You Are The Leader In ALL Of The Ratings! We Get A Package Deal When We Elect You. We LOVE Bill Too. Good Luck. I Will Pray.

DonnaC - MA   December 13th, 2007 9:07 pm ET

The fact that Hillary Clinton is a "Washington Insider" gives her an edge over the other Democratic candidates. Let us not forget, Bill Clinton may have been President - but Hillary was right there and privy to alot of what was going on. She knows the system and how it works. She'll get my vote!

Jesse Adams IOWA   December 13th, 2007 8:54 pm ET

CLINTON WAS OUTSTANDING! liked Richardson and Edwards this time too…
Obama showed….well not so much…no oprah?….

Jeff, Rathdrum ID   December 13th, 2007 8:19 pm ET

Well I don't no about being the best political news team but you are the most consistant, I'm actually think you will be supporting Clinton, even after someone else is in the white house. Even fox has given a better coverage on this debate and thats bad CNN. Cnn is the only major news I get, so I'm stuck listening to how wonderful Clinton is, thank god I get c-spain also, I scanned around to the other network web sites, CNN is the only one praising Clinton.

Sean, Detroit, MI   December 13th, 2007 7:08 pm ET

yeaaaah CNN I don't think Hillary's clearly rehearsed little speech there should qualify as a "shot", much less an article-worthy comment.

She probably practiced those lines 90 times. At least Obama's quip was thought of on-the-fly…

J. McKinney SW MO   December 13th, 2007 7:00 pm ET

I thought it was hilarious when the moderator asked Obama how he planned to have all new change, with 3 of Clinton's former advisors working for him. he started his reply with "I - I - I - uh - uh" or something similiar.
We need Hillary, and I don't think she will need to work for Obama.

Kim, Dallas, TX   December 13th, 2007 7:00 pm ET

Pretty bad debate for Clinton when this is all that she has to show for it. She is NOT the candidate for change, way tooooo polarizing and lobbyist controlled for my taste. If we really truly want change, Obama is our man!

Walt, Belton, TX   December 13th, 2007 6:19 pm ET

She's right you know!!! She just keeps on changing her position on every contentious debate until folks are so confused they give up or in…

Scott, Madison, WI   December 13th, 2007 6:08 pm ET

The only thing that changes is your position, Hillary! And that depends on your audience and which way the wind is blowing. Triangulate, triangulate, triangulate …

Ben, Medford, MA   December 13th, 2007 5:46 pm ET

So you manage to get a mild Clinton point across with the title "Clinton gets shot it" but completely ignore the knock-out punch Obama got on Hillary? "Well Hillary, I'm looking forward to you advising me as well."

J Houston, TX   December 13th, 2007 5:40 pm ET

That's what I've done my entire life.

WHEN!? She hasn't started working until the last 4 years!? And half that has been spent campaigning? Who are you fooling?!

a.thomas, ny, ny   December 13th, 2007 5:39 pm ET

Well said, Senator Clinton.

Only fools would nominate a candidate who, without knowing how the washington dc system works, can only say giving hope to change.

Ginny, Byron, CA   December 13th, 2007 5:38 pm ET

She got her shot in? As if that was a bad thing? Obama, Edwards,the Republicans, and the media have been using her for target practice for months. So now when she makes a pointed but articulate comment she's villified? Oh, come on. Do you expect her to stand with her hands by her sides and continue taking shots from the other candidates? Puh-leeze. She's nobody's fool and, at least, her comments ring clear and true. GO HILLARY!! You have way more followers than Edwards or Obama combined. Just keep telling it like it is, with dignity and clarity. You're the real deal!

Bea, Hoboken, NJ   December 13th, 2007 5:32 pm ET

Good for Hillary!!!

I'm still appalled that the Dems. may end up nominating the American Idol candidate. I guess that in this era platitudes win over substance.

Jessica Price, Iowa   December 13th, 2007 5:22 pm ET

Clinton, 2008!
You are the most capable candidate!

Bethany, St. Louis MO   December 13th, 2007 5:00 pm ET

What, no comment on the great shot Obama got in about looking for to Hillary advising him when he is PRESIDENT?

You aren't called the Clinton News Network for nothing.

Obamarama   December 13th, 2007 4:56 pm ET

Obama had the "moment" of the debate, no coverage on that?

Dave, Evergreen CO   December 13th, 2007 4:56 pm ET

Meanwhile here campaign is going about politics as usual. Karl Rove would be so proud.

Roy, Yokosuka Japan   December 13th, 2007 4:53 pm ET

And some believe you can get change by being political, deceptive, cold, calculating, and devisive.

Oh…and by blaming everything the vast right-wing conspiracy and not owning up to your own mistakes and failures.

Doesn't all this sound like the Repubilcans, with the exception of the vast right-wing conspiracy part?

AJ, IL   December 13th, 2007 4:50 pm ET

Hillary couldn't resist sticking to her platform. She taking shots at Obama on the issue of change. Wow! Hillary's campaign has went from Bush and Republican bashing as a major themes to experience bashing of other Democrats. Now she is "change" bashing the other candidates in reference to Obama. Funny how Hillary's focus changes like the proverbial wind. Obama's campaign was all about change and now Hillary wants to claim that she is the agent of change in Washington politics.

Any astute political observer will see Hillary's politics as obvious "let me put my finger in the wind to see which way it is blowing".

Claude, Mesa AZ   December 13th, 2007 4:37 pm ET

This was no shot. It was foolish and is one of many nails being driven into her coffin. Focus on the isssues CNN!

Ed, Hilton NY   December 13th, 2007 4:35 pm ET

Change: "Let's see. Shall I make chocolate chip or sugar cookies today." This is the type of change Hillary has experience with in her life.

Marko, Chicago IL   December 13th, 2007 4:24 pm ET

Big surprise. The Clinton News Network once again promoting her.

Coo, New York, NY   December 13th, 2007 4:22 pm ET

Boring–I don't know anyone who is voting for Clinton–we're sick of her.

Surrealist, Fort Myers, FL   December 13th, 2007 4:18 pm ET

I gotta say, we've heard her politicospeak before–Bill did nothing, Bush has done nothing…Reagan did little..Bush Sr. did nothing…All of them told us–they were agents for change to help the average American. WEll–the average American is still shut-out of Washington. It will take more than rhetoric and diatribe–to make change. Only Edwards is honestly telling people like it is. His mission–is to meet the special interests head on–and make certain that the average American once again is seated at the table in the form of the President. Besides–can we really take four more years of Bill, rehashing all of his escapades–the constant attacks that he is "secretly" the "real" President. Hillary's agenda is not very much different than any of the other candidates. But the baggage she brings across the White House threshold–will hamstring her at every turn. Let's get some real change in Washington–Edwards has the momentum, the reputation, the conviction and the guts–to shake things up and reclaim Washington for the people–why may they be afraid? Because some of those he'll hold accountable are Democrats–that's why.

Undecided in NY, NY   December 13th, 2007 4:17 pm ET

As an undecided voter, looking at these campaigns, its been easy to see the different messages they have been "stumping" on during the race. I find it rather odd that CNN is saying Clinton has always been running with the message of change, when that clearly is not true.

Obama has been saying he can bring change, while Clinton has been saying "I have experience in the old way, and the old way works." As I try to decided who to vote for, its rather surprising (and unsettling) to see one of the lead candidates suddenly change the message of her campaign.

Victor Hugo, California   December 13th, 2007 4:16 pm ET

As sad as that may sound, it's mostly true. Our political system (subjects) is too corrupt, greedy, and selfish to simply give in to the new and naive president's agenda, even if it's on behalf of the American people. They're too sly and tricky for that and you really need to have someone who knows how to work the system with them for our behalf, instead of allowing them to run circles around an unexperienced president, for their own behalf. Having Bill at Hillary's side could really make a difference to not allow that to happen, or we could vote for the president of chance (hope)and watch him get thrown to the wolves! I'd love it if Edwards got the nomination, but I'd rather see Hillary get it and win the general, than see Obama win the nomination and loose to the general to have another rotten Republican destroy America some more! Better safe than sorry folks!

Joseph W. Mathews   December 13th, 2007 4:07 pm ET

Don't think it's much of a shot. Just stole Obama's material. The "new and improved" Hillary is better, but still spouts and isn't as clear as she should be.

Dodd, Biden and Richardson ought to be doing better. Edwards was a major disappointment for me today. Felt he sounded more like a whining "Country & Western" singer (i.e. "the rains came and washed all the crops away") than a serious candidate.

Obama's gentlemenly support of Biden during the moderator's gaffe questions speaks volumes about both men. Now that the debate circus is over, the Hawkeyes have three weeks to decide which is as it should be. One on one politics at its best. Thank God for Iowa.

Charles   December 13th, 2007 4:05 pm ET

Exacttly to the point. You, Hillaryhaters don't like her, but hoping to get a new face at the time of crisis who miraculosly (how? HOW?) suddenly change everything the the better is naive. You can either break the system and try to build on a ruins - that's what Lenin did in Russia or Mugabe in Zimbabve or US in Iraq with all known results; or you can know how the system work and change it from inside. Remember: liberal democrats who thought that their ideals needs to be reached immediately and altogether lost all elections since Kennedy unless they were from the South and moderate, like LBJ or Clinton. Carter was from the South but he became too much of idealism and hey - we've got 12 years of republicans. Don't play chances people - vote for Hillary or we'll get another long stretch of Republican presidents and you'll get nothing at all except whipping fro the missed chances, like Floridian after 2000 elections.

ar, Ny Ny   December 13th, 2007 4:04 pm ET

boooorrrring.
Is that all Clinton has?
Watching Clinton talk about being an agent of change reminds me of Bush talking about being a compassionate conservative. Totally and completely unbelieveable.

Ann   December 13th, 2007 3:56 pm ET

Hillary Clinton is a serious candidate. I like her hard working approach which is in the American spirit. I think this is a good message for the young generation who may try to find shortcuts to prosperity while "experimenting" life.

Hillary08!

Dan, TX   December 13th, 2007 3:54 pm ET

Obama!

Please IA, NH, SC, NV. Look carefully at the candidates before voting.

Go to the Obama web site and look at his goals and detailed policy statements and judge for yourself.

Obama is the leader we need today.

Ben, PA   December 13th, 2007 3:49 pm ET

Man, CNN you really love Clinton. Obama had great answers in the debate tonight.

Greg, Phoenix, AZ   December 13th, 2007 3:47 pm ET

The signature moment of the debate came when Obama told Hillary that he was looking forward to having her advise him as President. I believe this was the defining moment of the Democratic campaign and from here on out, Obama will begin to take control of the race.

It is becoming very clear that Americans are ready for a new type of leader in Washington and Obama fits that role to a T.

Obama is the only serious candidate that can bring Americans together. He can get all the Democratic votes, the majority of independent votes and some Republican votes. Hillary is so polarizing that she will get no support from anyone other than her most ardent supporters and that will not allow her to win a general election.

Ike, New York, NY   December 13th, 2007 3:44 pm ET

I'm starting to believe the Hillary bias that CNN has. I can't believe this is even given any space. I watched the debate. There were many instances of other candidates drawing distinctions and referring to others. Why focus on this one??

Aidyn, NY   December 13th, 2007 3:44 pm ET

that was a great shot by Clinton and I agree with her.

Randal, Birmingham, AL   December 13th, 2007 3:43 pm ET

And she is right!!! She knows how the system works..she has travelled 83 countries and knows what foreign policy issues are….people like Obama do not have experience. He can be a good president…its his lack of experience that bothers me…he should wait for his turn..its just not the right time..he can be a good VP to HIllary and then have enough experince to run and win after 8 yrs of Hillary as president.

Richard Tabuteau, East Meadow NY   December 13th, 2007 3:42 pm ET

You have got to be kidding me. For the last six months, CNN has been roundly criticized for promoting Sen. Clinton. When does it end?

If you're going to talk about how she got a shot in at Sen. Obama, how about mentioning him suggesting she could advise him along with all the other former advisers to Bill Clinton.

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