February 21st, 2008
09:27 PM ET
12 years ago
Schneider: Clinton backs off the readiness question
AUSTIN, Texas (CNN) - Clinton appears to only want to draw distinctions on the healthcare issue.When asked if she thinks Obama is ready to be commander-in-chief, Clinton avoided answering it directly. Instead, she gave her standard line: she is ready to lead from Day One.Meanwhile, when Obama was posed the question, he returned to his initial opposition to the war in Iraq - an issue he has raised at least three times tonight. It’s the cornerstone to his argument that he has better judgment than Clinton.
- CNN Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider
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Clinton DID answer the question, lol im sure millions of people saw that.
I think the word is "Judgement" – Obama had the best judgement for the command in chief – Go Obama 08 !!!
Yes but he can bang that drum because the it is a simple, true fact. She can't negate it. He's killing her with rhetoric.
That is one of her problems. She starts to sound like that teacher from Charlie Brown. She needs to relax and stop sounding so scripted. Oh wow! He really diverted the issue on Iraq from the surge to his decision not to support it. He got on a roll and kept it going. He won that round.
I hope that ends the Day One readiness question
Senator Obama has exercised clear judgement, and it's a quality that's needed as commander and cheif of this great nation......
Yes, but his judgment was not based on facts that the Congress has seen. Who knows what his vote would have been were he a senator? His record on defense was identical to Clinton's since he became senator. Why isn't Clinton taking him on that???
wake up bill we know who cnn wants tell the panel to split the time fairly
He shoots... he scores!!! Hillary is desperatly trying to make the healthcare argument work for her and it is making her look very desperate. The commander and chief question just destroyed her on her weakest issue and her biggest flaw... BAD JUDGEMENT.
when does she ever give a straight answer?????
Used a language from a friend's speech versus the Iraq War vote?
Ali KOs Liston!
Obama 08!
Hello, neither one wants to endorse the other, of course their not gonna say the other would be great as commender in chief.
He wasn't in the Senate!! He couldn't vote. It gets old with that stupid comment. How are you gonna get us out?
Based on the disinformation from the administration or other govenment agency, it's the right decision to fight the Iraq war!
Clinton should bring it up.
Neither are the best candidate to be commander in chief, John Mc Cain definitely is, but he needs to be realistic that is all. We are in Iraq, time to get out of there
If she hadn't voted for the war, she wouldn't have to try to justify the merits of a failed policy.
i'd hope so she has to realize they are both ready. So say he isn't then her lose would not help us democrates win the general
I think she is backing off because it has not and will not work against Obama.
Frankly I am surprised that she didn't take advantage to explain why she is more ready to be commander in chief.... She has more Washington experience; but isn't that what has gotten us in the mess that we are in, in the first place (Re: Dick Cheyney)???
I am sorry that Clinton does not come off as more in the moment, and not so scripted. She is scrapping too hard.
I ahte to say it, but I wish the Democrats debated on FOX NEWS they would grill us and we would see real distinction...No softballs thrown there
As we all know, candidates answer the question they wish had been asked – not the question actually asked. However – The key point is this – with all three major candidates having the same amount of executive branch experience (non have been governor or mayor) that all three have about the same amount of readiness on Day One.
I guess we do overlook the obvious, Clinton has sounded like a broken record but one that tells the truth and the truth we do not want to listen to. SHE WILL BE READY ON DAY ONE......
obama is stuttering.
USA is in Germany for almost 100 years.
McCain will gobble him up i fear in a debate about the issue. Hillary will at better as an ally to the idea than a complete "i was too young to vote for it" approach.
Its clear this commentator is an Obama fan. Hillary has a much better command of the facts, statistics and issues. Have you noticedthat virtually all the questions are first addressed to her and Obama is in the enviable position of just having to comment on her answers. I would like to see him handle these questions as adroitly as she has without Hillary framing the issue and the answers for him.