Obama, Clinton Face Off In Texas

February 22, 2008

(Long Island, N.Y.) The Democratic Party candidates Barrack Obama and Hilary Rodham Clinton faced off in Texas in a political debate which many experts predict the most crucial stage for Clinton’s campaign for the White House.

Clinton threw jabs with Obama’s highly publicized plagiarism charges in a speaking engagement before Wisconsin held their own primary last week. In his speech, the IL Senator was quoted as saying “Don’t tell me words don’t matter, ‘I have a dream’ — just words? ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal’ — just words? ‘We have nothing to fear but fear itself’ — just words? Just speeches?”

This words where eerily similar to the one Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick made last election. Deval, a close friend of Obama addressed a crowd of supporters in 2004 said, “‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal’ — just words? Just words?” Patrick said. “‘We have nothing to fear but fear itself’ — just words? ‘Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.’ Just words? ‘I have a dream’ — just words?”

Clinton’s remark “Changes you can xerox” regarding Sen. Obama’s mantra drew loud boos from the crowd. While Obama showed grace when saying, “What we shouldn’t be spending time doing is tearing each other down. We should be spending time lifting the country up.” which prompted the bi-partisan crowd to cheer wildly.

Political analysts described Clinton’s accusations and campaign as “desperate” and “reeling” amidst Obama winning 11 straight primaries and caucuses including Wisconsin and Hawaii last Tuesday.

Vital issues both candidates debated are the recurring illegal immigration problem in Texas. Both candidates agree that a more high tech surveillance is required to combat this problem. They disagreed on the current political struggles in Cuba after Fidel Castro tendered his resignation. Clinton wants no part in new Cuban President Raul Castro until he introduces new political reforms while Obama was open to a discussion. Another issue tackled was health care which a key factor for both of their campaigns.

The two candidates where fierce yet subtle in some moments as they sat facing each other in a swivel chair at the center of University of Texas Auditorium. Clinton was especially unpredictable, criticizing Obama one minute in saying “If your candidacy is going to be about words then they should be your own words,” she said. “…Lifting whole passages from someone else’s speeches is not change you can believe in, it’s change you can Xerox.” Then following it up with a compliment when she said, “No matter what happens in this contest, I am honored to be here with Barack Obama.”

Latest delegation counts have Obama leading with 1,358.5 to Clinton’s 1,264. Both candidates will square off in the next primary in for Texas and Ohio on March 4.

Posted by News LI Editor · Edited by Brianna - Filed Under Politics