Obama's denial that his NH chair is a big pharma lobbyist might lose the GE.

[gulliver]

In last night's debate, Obama denied Clinton's assertion that Obama's "chair in New Hamphire" was a lobbyist for big pharma. Clinton's assertion turns out to be true, and Obama's denial false. Had this happened in the GE, we might be looking at a Democratic candidacy in tail-spin. Obama should not be denying something that is true on national TV. That's a big mistake.

It's time for Obama to get tough and show what he is made of. Watch the two Clinton videos in the above link. That is the kind of stuff I want dished out to the Republican candidates. Obama, for his part is probably going to have to address the discrepancy between what he said and the facts. Is it fatal? No. Is it minor? IMO, no.

Inspirational speeches will not be believed if the messenger doesn't show utter devotion to the truth. That is the danger of inspirational speeches. The second a flaw shows up in the messenger, the high fades. That is why I like political rhetoric that is close to the bone. It is not that I don't like to be inspired. I just like the inspiration to be founded on concrete, not personality or oratory.

This is a problem for Obama and for us Democrats if he gets the nom. He can't be making mistakes like this.

On edit: Let me add that I was not trying to say this current action by Obama would lose us the GE. I'm saying that if he were to have done it in the GE, we would be looking at serious damage.

[Native]

1. Hmmm

I don't recall that he verbally denied this - only saw him shake his head & look down. Granted, that seems like a denial, but the way things get spinned these days.....

[EFerrari]

2. I'm confused. Isn't Big Pharma one of Clinton's contributers?

Hillary Clinton & the Hostile Takeover of the Health Care Debate

Want to know why Washington Democrats have stopped focusing on and talking about the GOP's culture of corruption? Just read this story in today's New York Times about New York Sen. Hillary Clinton (D) and you won't be so shocked at the silence anymore.

The piece details how "Clinton is receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions" from the health care industry. "Nationwide, she is the No. 2 recipient of donations from the industry, trailing only Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, a member of the Republican leadership," the Times notes. The piece goes on to detail how industry executives now publicly praise Clinton for her willingness to back off pushing for major health care reform as she did back in the early 1990s.

The health care industry, of course, has a lot of money to spread around to politicians who have their hand out. This is the industry that the Wall Street Journal this week reported "was the biggest spender for the seventh year in a row, with more than $356 million in 2005." So the fact that health insurance and pharmaceutical executives are throwing cash at Clinton is no surprise.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-sirota/hillary-clinton-the-hos_b_24871.html

[Donnachaidh]

3. Obama is right behind Clinton in health care *contributions* n/t

[EFerrari]

6. I see no daylight between them which is why I'm now supporting Edwards. n/t

[Yael]

4. And this, biys and girls, is why she has no business leading the PEOPLE of this country

[gulliver]

19. That's what Obama should have said. But he didn't.

I'm not disputing whether one or both candidates is in the pocket of big pharma. I'm just saying that when you are called out on it, you should admit it. Obama could have said "Hillary takes more money from big pharma than I do." Instead, he shook his head and said "That's...not..."

[EFerrari]

21. I see. Dennis and John are doing so much better in the debates

this time out because they had last time out to sharpen their skills. It is a skill, to think on your feet and to use the minutes to get something across.

[gulliver]

23. Obama can do it, IMO, but he's got to go all out.

He seems to think he's teflon, and his supporters rail and scream to protect him. They should not be protecting him. It is his job to fight and win.

I would take a win that was based on image and "things unseen." But I don't have a lot of faith in it. I am afraid of a loss based on "things unseen" which is the counter-argument to Hillary. Her image has nowhere to go but up with a lot of people. Obama's image is fluid. I'll be fine with either of them as a candidate. But I just don't like mistakes in debates.

[sandnsea]

5. I'm sure he'll straighten it out

And no this will not be a problem in the GE. It won't be a problem next week.

[alcibiades_mystery]

7. It won't be a problem this evening

;-)

[gulliver]

12. True, but had it happened in the GE, it would be a problem.

That's my point.

[no name no slogan]

8. S'arigth. Hillary's got Mark Penn, who advised Blackwater CEO Erik Prince

I don't know which is worse.

[solara]

9. It sure looked like a denial to me

:kick:

INVESTIGATE IMPEACH INDICT IMPRECATE INCARCERATE :patriot:

[saltpoint]

10. This is a mouse freckle of an issue.

No one on this earth will be talking about it a week from now, let alone in November.

[alcibiades_mystery]

14. Ass freckle

;-)

[saltpoint]

16. "Everything you ever wanted to know about freckles but were afraid to ask."

[HysteryDiagnosis]

11. Turning his head and looking down, even if he may have said no,

can be taken several ways.

One: No no, I can't believe she is pulling this on me...

Two: No no, he is not my CHAIRMAN...

Three: Is this how low we have to sink when we are behind?...

Four: This is truly the pot calling the kettle black... and here is a case in point lest anyone forget.


Edwards Hammers Clinton Over Ties to Lobbyists
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZXXGdLAM2g

And then, Hillary states that "Lobbyists represent real people", and this whichever way the wind blows crap is politics as usual and it should stop but it won't. At least not in our lifetime and not before the second coming.

Hillary Gaffe: "Lobbyists represent real Americans?"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24pDGQF6UW8&feature=related

[gulliver]

13. He shakes his head and says "That's not ..."

And I don't think it is "low" to bring it up. I'm saying it was a mistake I would not like to see repeated in the GE. If you think it was not a mistake, fine, make your case.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

22. What I stated will have to suffice, if it doesn't someone else will

have to parse it more clearly than I did. Remember, lobbyists, even if they are only registered to lobby, are real people too or some such thing.... them's the facts as I heard them.

[metisnation]

15. DONT PEOPLE GET IT

BIG BUISNESS IS IN BED WITH THE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS. THIS IS WHY THEY BOTH DO NOT LIKE JOHN EDWARDS!!!!!!!!!

[THUNDER HANDS]

17. on a scale of 1-10

this issue is like a negative 8 bajillion.

NOBODY in the country is going to care about this. NOBODY.

[ButterflyBlood]

18. Maybe 5% of the country is aware of this non-story

and almost no one will care in a week.

Give it up.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

20. And health care "mandates" will tank Clinton and Edwards. JMHO.

But thanks for your concern.

[CyberPieHole]

24. Obama is a liar. Plain. Simple.

He will continue to lie and hopefully he will be caught for doing so.