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Tonight, Wednesday April 16th, at 8pm eastern time, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton will debate live on the ABC broadcast network, i.e., your local ABC channel. It will take place at the National Constitution Center’s Kimmel Theater in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I’m guess there will be a little bad blood considering Obama’s recent “bitterness” comments and Clinton’s continued exploitation of them.
A video report on Philly’s debate, it’s from yesterday so “tomorrow night” is really tonight, 4/16:
Here’s a report on the debate from Philly.com:
Tickets to tomorrow’s Democratic presidential debate at the National Constitution Center are so hot that NCC president Joe Torsella had to turn down his own mother.
“She really laid into me,” he said. “I think I let her down. She told me she would give her right arm for tickets.”
With the Pennsylvania primary one week away, Torsella has been overwhelmed with ticket requests, including one from “the sister of the cousin of a friend’s podiatrist,” he said, tongue firmly in cheek.
He cannot accommodate them. Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama will face off in the center’s tiny - Torsella prefers “intimate” - theater-in-the-round. It seats 350, with 25 seats lost behind the backdrop.
The last time Democrats debated here, Oct. 29, the venue was the 842-seat auditorium in Drexel’s historic Main Building. NBC had to extend the stage 16 feet to accommodate the seven candidates.
ABC, to telecast Clinton-Obama live from 8 to 10 p.m., will add about 100 seats around the perimeter of the NCC’s Kimmel Theater, said David Chalian, the network’s political director.
Also, an NCC-record 800 reporters will set up in the center’s Great Hall.
Usually ratings kryptonite, debate telecasts have generated record numbers this season. The NCC event is expected to draw more than 10 million viewers.
“I continue to marvel at the level of interest in this election,” Chalian said. “We see it in debate ratings, registration statistics, polling. It reminds us how high the stakes are.”
ABC will have a production team of 125 staffers, along with 12 cameras and several satellite trucks. Chalian would not estimate the cost.
According to Torsella, the NCC had to raise $300,000 for additional security and other services. “To put on an event like this,” he said, “the preparation is like a mini-D-Day.”
A few months ago, it looked as if Ben Franklin himself couldn’t have lured the Democrats to Independence Mall.
In December, the NCC proposed a February debate to Clinton, Obama and former Sen. John Edwards. They were “close to a deal,” Torsella said, but when Edwards quit the race Jan. 30, “that changed the calculus with the candidates, and we couldn’t make it work.”
As always, we will have full coverage and analysis of the debate. We’ll also have the entire unedited debate video uploaded once it airs. So check back here later this evening around 8pm eastern time as the debate begins.
Update
Here’s another debate rundown with one of the moderators, George Stephanopoulos:
Update
Debate analysis and video clips:
Analysis: ABC News Democratic Debate From Philly, PA
Update
Here’s the full debate video:
Video: ABC Clinton/Obama Debate from Philadelphia, PA
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Hi, anyone know if this will be carried live online streaming on any of the ABC local channels across america? I live in Ireland so dont get US tv channels and want to watch it live. Been lucky so far and was able to watch most of the debates online, but cant find any local ABC channels with streaming videos this time sadly:) Any help is appreciated
Cheers
I bet you right now Hillary will go first and get all the hard questions while Obama gets a free ride and reword Hillary words after it is said. If you have been watching past debates it’s a common trend. I said it first and we will see.
Hillary has to go first, without Obama’s teleprompter or Hillary to help him he has no idea what to say.
GO HILLARY GO
IRISH 4 HILLARY
I’ve got $10 bucks on McCain for this one.
You lost me on that one, IndiMinded. *LOL*
will cable re-paly tonights debate,after it is finished
Not that I know of, C-Span might at some point. However, I will be uploading it in it’s entirety, unedited, once it airs later so you can watch it here if you’d like.
I’m betting we’ll see Obama jump the shark by offering Hillary VP, then the cameras will shut off before her answer and we’ll have to wait for the next seaso……err…debate. In either case, I hope Edwards comes out of his coma and appears as a special guest.
I’m also looking forward to the SNL version of the debate!
Hillary is full of crap.
GO OBAMA!
If Obma goes first he’s “sunk.” He won’t be able to say,
“I agree with her.”
Does anyone know of where this can be seen through live stream online?
I’m studying in England and really want to watch this debate live but, unlike CNN & MSNBC, it seems ABC are not planning to put a live stream of the debate online.
If someone finds something - please post it!
Thanks!
PS
Obama all the way!
But if you’re Hillary, I still need a link to the online stream :o)
do you think we will finally hear about peter paul in this debate,you know the fundraiser,and asscociate of hillary clinton,you know the fundraiser and associate whom has a court date in May of this year against hillary because of FEC violations, 2.02 million worth of violations. what a liar she is.
Damn, I thought they were going to show it live at 5 on the West Coast. Guess I’ll have to wait ’til 8.
GO HILLARY!
I just found where it will be carried live online, but only for Hillary supporters:) go to:
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/index
then see the red banner on top re: programming note. Im in Ireland and was determined to find it online so I can watch Hillary mop the floor with that room temperature IQ, arrogant, empty suit snob, Rezko connected, Auchi connected, Rev Bigot WRight connected, throw granny under the bus, “typical white person”,exelon gives me money, my wife hates america, my wife makes money off poor sick people at her hospital, William Ayers connected, crooked Chicago hack Junior politician, pompous arse race baiter NObama………
GO HILLARY GO
IRISH FOR HILLARY 2008
NEVER EVER SNOB-AMA
The mindless dribble re: he’ll say/ she’ll say is sad. Focus on the issues that face our country first and let the petty contempt re: which candidate is ‘better’ go by the wayside.
Regardless of who eventually wins this historical event, we need a democrat in the white house in ‘09….plan and simple!
Go blue!
I hope Hillary brings up the “Guns and Religion” comment, LOL. This will be a riot!
I hope that this debate helps open people’s eyes to the fact that Hillary is a far more qualified candidate. Obama is more “popular” but “popularity” does not make a good Presedent. GO HILLARY
Thanks Sinead!
Just what I was looking for.
D
it is on 6abc.com just on a weird format. there is a link on the front page. follow the “live video” link
How’s that live streaming working out for you?
For the love of Grayskull, thank you Sinead! And bless you, your children, and their children for finding this stream.
the streaming at 6abc.com isn’t working with firefox. works fine with internet explorer though…
To Sinead in Ireland - being a compatriot of yours I am somewhat disappointed in the tone of your posting. Like most Irish people, I am deeply interested in politics and, considering the significant role the United States plays in the world, I am especially interested in the current contest for the Democratic nomination. For that reason I have watched all of the debates and a great many of the speeches made by the two Democratic contenders over the last year. In the beginning I very much wanted Sen. Clinton to prevail. (the Clintons have a special place in Irish hearts for their unstinting contribution to our peace process. I shall never forget their visit to Belfast and the warmth of the ceremony outside Belfast City Hall) I would still be delighted to see her do well and if she were to win the nomination I would hope and pray that she would be successful in the general election. She is an extraordinary capable woman of great intellect, who would be a superb president. However, as the time has gone on I have become more and more impressed by Sen. Obama. I just regret that they are not running on the same ticket. As regards the recent political controversies, his handling of them has impressed me even more. He did not take the easy, kneejerk way out. He has faced these difficult issues honestly and bravely. Sen. Clinton is a gifted politician, a decent and caring Human being and an excellent female role model, but I see in Sen. Obama the potential for something special. Of course, they both possess the kind of highly developed ego required to place oneself in the path for the presidency
Fortunately for the two of them, unlike some others one could mention, they both have the capacity to fulfil the role. As outside observers of the process, I believe it falls to people who are not US citizens to have a measured, open-minded and POLITE attitude towards all the candidates - Democratic and Republican. Considering the dedication and effort they are putting into this very long and expensive process, they deserve no less. That way lies the path to civil discourse and political maturity.
Hilary is a much better candidate for President because she is more experienced and Obama has no idea how to answer a question that’s asked to him! He always has to feed off of Hilary! Go girl!
I just tried it. It’s not working for me.
This link here works: It loads it to Windows Media Player.
Live Web Stream
I am always confused by what is supposed to be a debate. Why do you ask a question then listen to the candidate just make a political speech, and never address the question. This is just unbelievable to me.
Buddy Hooper
Is there anyway to make the live video of the debate bigger? anyone? I’m using the ABC link and have also tried the link just listed.
thanks
I would not want a President who lies about a simple thing as being under sniper fire, just to make herself look good. If she lied about something so small, then I am sure she will lie about the important things. Also, she continues to hang on Obama’s Ex pastor’s comments, but she did not think he was a bad pastor when he came to the white house to pray for her and her husband after he got himself in a mess with Monica. She is too weak to win. Anyone who cries when she was loosing, my goodness, would you really want her in office?
Go Obama
this stream is awful. the picture is miniscule. and get this: i’ve been listening live on abc radio here in LA and they just went to a baseball game!
according to cspan.org they will start broadcasting on a brief delay at 9:50 ET…
bad internets! bad!
Funny thing is that Hillary and Barack are sometimes saying the same things and the line indicating how we are supposed to feel is different. They even started using the same words.
I viewed a number of debates and I think the fairy tale of Obama being given the easy questions can be thrown into the garbage can.
I found Obama honest on the economy issues and Hillary gave some clear answers. Couldn’t help to think about the 3 am call when she said she’ll get more sleep to avoid similar lies.
But like someone already mentioned, they tend to give a political speech instead of really answering the question directly. They probably know that direct answers isn’t what some people are looking for.
Obama 2008!
Both Charlie and George did a poor job in remaining neutral and went way out on the limb in trying to impeach Senator Obama as a patriot, an American and a strong candidate. Both of you have gone down in my eyes. You both represented very well the divisiveness that Senator Obama was talking about in your persistence in attempting to force the Senator into a corner and put words in his mouth. The American people saw you. Shame, Shame, Shame.
Hats off to Senator Obama for his performance in the ABC debate, a debate which seemed suspiciously orchestrated. It was unfair to allow George Stephanopoulos on the panel. Stephanopoulos was, along with David Wilhelm and James Carville, a leading member of the 1992 Clinton campaign. Later, he served the Clinton White House in the capacity of Senior Advisor on Policy and Strategy as well as de facto press secretary. In her follow up responses to the pointed questions Stephanopoulos posed to Senator Obama (e.g. Rev Wright, Weather Underground, and race), Hillary impressed me as being too well prepared or possible rehearsed. It was like watching tag-team wrestling match. In spite of the obvious double-team, Senator Obama prevailed, admirably.
Hillary dominates Philadelphia focus group. “NYDIA HAN: The real take away is this. We now know who won the debate according to our focus group. Take a look. Senator Clinton is the debate winner, at least according to our focus group. 23% believe Senator Obama won while 50% believed Senator Clinton won.†[WPVI Post-Debate Analysis, 4/16/08]
ABC News’ Rick Klein – ‘Clinton is back to the strong presence we saw early in the cycle.’ [ABC News Political Radar, 4/16/08]
NBC News’ Chuck Todd – Obama ‘did not have a good night.’ [MSNBC Post-Debate Analysis, 4/16/08]
NBC News’ Chuck Todd—Obama’s answer on Ayers and the flag ‘were simply weak.’ “His answer on Ayers and the flag question were simply weak; He seemed unprepared for them; Kinda surprising because he normally has a decent rant against “old politics” and yet “old politics” questions seemed to stump him.†[NBC First Read, 4/16/08]
The Atlantic’s Marc Ambinder – [T]here’s no way Obama could fared worse. [The Atlantic’s Marc Ambinder, 4/16/08]
Washington Post’ Chris Cillizza— Obama ‘struggled quite a bit’ when asked about Rev. Wright. “…He struggled quite a bit more when asked to answer for Wright, his former pastor.†[Washington Post, The Fix, 4/16/08]
New York Times’ Katharine Seeyle: Hillary’s ‘in her element as she goes into details.’ “She’s becoming expansive, seemingly in her element as she goes into details; Mr. Obama does not look as thrilled to be still standing there.” [New York Times, The Caucus, 4/16/08]
Talking Points Memo’s Josh Marshall – Hillary ‘certainly seems more self-assured.’ “She certainly seems more self-assured on the Iran question than Obama did. The question of extending an American security umbrella to Israel is very dicey. And he could clearly see he was on delicate territory.†[Talking Points Memo, 4/16/08]
Philadelphia Inquirer blog – ‘Obama is again less certain, and rambles a bit.’ “Obama is again less certain, and rambles a bit when asked about the Washington D.C. gun ban. Gibson asks him to deny that he has ever advocated a complete ban on hand guns in 1996. Obama says no. But whatever the truth, no other answer is possible.†[Philadelphia Inquirer Blog, 4/16/08]
NBC News’ Matthew Berger – Obama ‘tried to have it both ways’ with Israel. “Obama’s answer on an Iranian attack on Israel tried to seem to have it both ways: highlight his support for Israel but not lock him into treating an attack on Israel like an attack on the U.S. But it may have looked more like a no because it wasn’t a firm yes. Clinton’s answer seemed more direct.†[NBC First Read, 4/16/08]
He lost because he is a Pinocchio!
http://rezkowatch.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
One-degree of separation: Obama toasted Auchi at Rezko’s house
Michael Sneed asked April 16, 2008, in the Chicago Sun-Times whether Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) has a “Pinocchio problem” or just a “faulty memory?”
• • To wit: Dem presidential contender Barack Obama’s handlers may be telling the press Obama has NO “recollection” of a 2004 party at influence peddler Tony Rezko’s Wilmette house, but a top Sneed source claims Obama not only gave Rezko’s guest of honor, Iraqi billionaire Nadhmi Auchi, a big welcome . . . but he made a few toasts!
where can i see the whole presidential debate online..i forgot to watch it..
Sean,
I’m currently uploading the entire debate to YouTube. You can see them here:
http://www.youtube.com/pr.....ser=yd2008
It’s only to about the 3rd part but they’re all uploading.
There will be a Civil War 2.
The only winner of this “debate” was the media. As long as they keep this circus running, they keep raking in the advertising dollars. These events are being billed like the superbowl, and the commercial business that is the media is cashing in the whole way.
I watched the “debate” and it was a 3 on 1 attack on Obama. Even people who don’t support Obama could see how biased it was. ABC? More like TMZ. The political powers that be need to take the reigns & salvage what little dignity is left in the Democratic party.
Did anyone else notice that no one asked Clinton about the $800K Columbia fiasco? Or how she would keep the leash on Bill if she were in the WH? She got off easy, while Obama was slammed. And I think he handled himself with decorum & dignity, and he TRIED to keep on topic (except when he had to defend himself).
Obama’s continued Affirmative Action will lead to Restitution and Compensation to Blacks. You will be paying them out of your pocket, and with your land. While the wealthy that do not live around any of the problems that regular people do, the wealthy that want YOU to vote for OBAMA, these wealthy do not have to deal with the problems YOU do. Obama is a Black Liberationist, he does not like White or for that matter, Non-Blacks at all. He is out to help and promote Black people ONLY. Anyone that believes anything else is living in a state of denial, delusion and illusion.
Pretty funny I_O_I_P. Slate just ran an article with the exact opposite perspective today, fearing that Obama will eliminate affirmative action all together.
Just can’t please everyone, can he?
http://www.slate.com/id/2189162/
Sinead - bitter much?
Claire Dobbins - I wish more of America was as educated & civil as you
Everyone else, please educate yourselves, and consider your sources when you determine what’s fact & what’s not.
Thank you.
The only winner of this “debate†was the media. As long as they keep this circus running, they keep raking in the advertising dollars. These events are being billed like the superbowl, and the commercial business that is the media is cashing in the whole way.
I watched the “debate†and it was a 3 on 1 attack on Obama. Even people who don’t support Obama could see how biased it was. ABC? More like TMZ. The political powers that be need to take the reigns & salvage what little dignity is left in the Democratic party.
Did anyone else notice that no one asked Clinton about the $800K Columbia fiasco? Or how she would keep the leash on Bill if she were in the WH? She got off easy, while Obama was slammed. And I think he handled himself with decorum & dignity, and he TRIED to keep on topic (except when he had to defend himself).
Obama’s plan for affirmitive action was ridiculous. He basically said we need to look at everyone on a case to case basis. Are we going to start doing an audit of everyone’s life to see how bad they’ve had it??? Not only is it ridiculous it would teach people to delay or even fear success because it may prevent them from getting into college or getting a job.
Good read, IndiMinded, but this quote from Obama begs a question:
“So I still believe in affirmative action as a means of overcoming both historic and potentially current discrimination, but I think that it can’t be a quota system and it can’t be something that is simply applied without looking at the whole person, whether that person is black or white or Hispanic, male or female.
What we want to do is make sure that people who have been locked out of opportunity are going to be able to walk through those doors of opportunity in the future.”
My question is, if he really feels that way, will he bring pressure on orgs like the United Negro College Fund to also bestow scholarships and fellowships on non-blacks? I single out the UNCF because Obama personally donated $50K to them in 2007. Is this a conflict?
Obama is out for revenge. His Sheepishness during the Debate is an Act.
He is the same as his Pastor. A Black Liberationist, Marxist-Socialist.
Out with the White, Hispanic, Asian and in with the Black and Muslim.
He’s a player. An Actor. He will do and say ANYTHING to get elected.
He contradicts himself constantly. He says one thing to one group and something else to another group. He’s playing them all.
He may keep the Hispanics as his footstool work force.
But, his goal is PURE Black promotion. Xing out the Non-Black.
Many people that have fallen for his game, will not be spared. He will sqwash anyone that gets in the way of his Black plan.
He’s FULL of Hate, just like his psyco Pastor, that is living in a Mansion with a nice amount of money to play with.
I remember when I knew the only living white person that was working in the Compton Unified School District. It was during the ‘Reginald Denny’ beating riots.
I got more that an insiders look into what it was like.
After the ‘Reginald Denny’ beating riots, the Hispanics and Koreans re-built Compton.
Yet, the Blacks will not let the Hispanics or Koreans control Compton. The Blacks still sit in the seats of Power in the City Hall.
The Blacks still live in the most exclusive homes there, and drive the most exclusive cars.
The Blacks still control the Martin Luther Kind Jr., Memorial Hospital, yet the Hispanics and Koreans are the ones working their back sides off there.
This is Obama’s type of Affirmative Action. Let others do all the hard work, and let the Blacks enjoy and reap the rewards.
It is sickening when I see liberal parents using their children as ‘pawns’. They want to look kewl and non-racist liberal, colorblind. Their kids are abused and miserable, many don’t even survive.
These are the everyday ordinary people.
The super wealthy don’t need to worry about things like this for their kids.
That’s why it’s No Problem to look kewl and Vote for Obama.
Oh I_O_I_P, you’re so cool. I’m glad you’re around to spread paranoid ranting. Politicians are never entirely what they seem, so at least they seem mildly credible. But do you really think the superwealthy want less for their kids than they have?
Babs, you make a good point. I’m not sure if Obama has his plans for affirmative action cemented yet. I think that the comments he made last night aren’t at odds with affirmative action so much as an evolution of it - they sound like he’d rather not be race focused so much as fully opportunity focused, and find an “action” system that incorporated a broader spectrum of things into it. So donating to the UNCF isn’t really at odds with that, so much as not fully where he’d like to be.
But really you got me, I don’t think many people expected he’d show any desire to depart from affirmative action.
I didn’t think he was at odds with it, either. I’ll be listening out to see where he goes with it from here. I think there’s a lot of exclusivity on both sides of Affirmative Action, but I don’t think it’s a very big issue anymore, either. At least not like it was when it was first introduced. I read a paper by a proffesor not long ago who had done a tracking study of law students who were admitted to college through affirmative action, and his conclusions were that affirmative action actually harmed those students, that the program was flawed and did not work in reality the way it was intended to. It will be interesting to see if Obama will be the one to address this.
Affirmative action is reverse racism. Many of my potential customers make us fill out a questionaire asking if we are minority owned, women owned, etc. I cannot say how much business I have lost because of these ridiculous policies, but it needs to be stopped. I spent 2 years with no income trying to start my business. Being a white male did not make that time any easier.
Babs is right when she says that affirmative action has actually done more harm than good. I think that most people want to know that it was their own efforts and not a goverment policy that made them successful.
I think we, as people, sometimes have a hard time viewing the big picture, especially when it requires a dramatic social shift.
Affirmative Action by its very nature addresses a long socio-economic (and racial) problem in the United States. I believe if we are to critique it or affirm it, it must be placed in a much larger historical context than the simply “here and now.”
When the South African Apartheid was brought down, there were some dramatic changes to the South African demographics. To this day, there is resentment by those caught up in the middle of the shift– because they had to bear the brunt as society moved in a different direction.
While I do not want to equate the South African Apartheid with the United State’s context, I want to draw some parallels. In both contexts, there was/is an inequality in power (both socially and economically) that was based on a long political tradition. This inequality manifested in each generation, disrupting peoples’ abilities to have equal opportunity in their society.
The implementation of Affirmative Action in some places has problems. This is the problem of its implementation. But the policy, the importance of it, when looked at within a span of, say, 1800 - 2200 CE, would prove incredibly important in raising our democratic ideals.
You’re right, Michael, it’s hard for us sometimes to relate to things past our nose. And I agree it’s the problem of implementation that has given it the bad reputation it has in many places.
I think now, though, that it has been in force long enough to make for some very interesting long term studies into its effectiveness overall, and I think we will see it addressed more in the near future.
I can give you one long term study from personal experience. One man, about 25 years ago, lost a position as an electrical engineer instructor at a local technical college because of Affirmitive Action. He was told because of the “quota” the position had to be filled by an African American who applied with less experience in the field. Both men held the same degree. So there was much resentment at the time for the (then) new program by the man who lost the position. But 25 years later, the man who got the position is still there, still underpaid, and stuck with no hope for advancement. The man who was turned down for the position has recently retired a millionaire, having gone on to secure a position with the Southern Company at the local Nuclear Plant (that was just being built) as a professional electronics engineer. This man no longer feels that, at least for him, Affirmative Action was a bad thing. I’m not so sure the Tech instructor feels the same.
can one of the two candidates answer a question without saying well he did and I did not. I just want to know what are you going to do not what you did. what will you do if your elected? and how? I don’t think if the two of them cant answer a direct question or understand a direct question then we are all in bad shape!!!!!!!!!!!! both of them are tap dancing