gychrwood1:37PMFeb 20th 2008

I remember watching this and watching the Clinton supporter basking in Kirk Watson's inability to answer the question. I wanted Matthews to ask the Clinton supporter the same question - name a legislative accomplishment of Hilary Clinton. Not as the first lady, as a senator. I don't know if she would have had an example either.

jo1:43PMFeb 20th 2008

I really don't care to compare side to side issues either have supported. I just have a gut feeling Obama has a true desire to help make this country a better place for us. His personal background speaks volumes of what he is all about. I lost respect for Hillary when she remained with Bill after his tryst. She knew he could help her political career and that is why she remained on in the marriage. He made a fool of her but she was willing to sell her soul for political gain. That speaks volumes about what she will do.

doc1:57PMFeb 20th 2008

Who is Barack Obama? If he wins the Presidential election will he take the oath with the Kuran? I'm confused.

Probable U.S. presidential candidate, Barack Hussein Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Barack Hussein Obama, Sr., a black MUSLIM from Nyangoma-Kogel, Kenya and Ann Dunham, a white ATHIEST from Wichita, Kansas .

Obama's parents met at the University of Hawaii. When Obama was two years old, his parents divorced. His father returned to Kenya . His mother then married Lolo Soetoro, a RADICAL Muslim from Indonesia. When Obama was 6 years old, the family relocated to Indonesia. Obama attended a MUSLIM school in Jakarta. He also spent two years in a Catholic school.

Obama takes great care to conceal the fact that he is a Muslim. He is quick to point out that, "He was once a Muslim, but that he also attended Catholic school."

Obama's political handlers are attempting to make it appear that Obama's introduction to Islam came via his father, and that this influence was temporary at best. In reality, the senior Obama returned to Kenya soon after the divorce, and never again had any direct influence over his son's education.

Lolo Soetoro, the second husband of Obama's mother, Ann Dunham, introduced his, stepson to Islam. Obama was enrolled in a Wahabi school in Jakarta Wahabism is the RADICAL teaching that is followed by the Muslim terrorists who are now waging Jihad against the western world. Since it is politically expedient to be a CHRISTIAN when seeking Major public office in the United States , Barack Hussein Obama has joined the United Church of Christ in an attempt to downplay his Muslim background.

ALSO, keep in mind that when he was sworn into office he DID NOT use the Holy Bible, but instead the Kuran (Their equivalency to our Bible, but very different beliefs)

Let us all remain alert concerning Obama's expected presidential candidacy. The Muslims have said they plan on destroying the US from the inside out, what better way to start than at the highest level - through the President of the United States , one of their own!!!!

Please forward to everyone you know. Would you want this man leading our country?...... NOT ME!!

If you do not ever forward anything else, please forward this to all your contacts.........this is very scary to think of what lies ahead of us here in our own United States ........ better heed this and pray about it and share it.

THIS DEFINITELY WARRANTS LOOKING INTO. THIS COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED, "ONE NATION UNDER GOD". ALMIGHTY GOD, NOT THE GOD OF THE KORAN.

wheeljc2:14PMFeb 20th 2008

Hillary seems to have attempted to avoid giving specifics to issues affecting this country. Think that if she is going to 'claim experience', she needs to start articulating how she will apply that 'experience'.

For all of the spin Hillary has given on 'experience', what are her specific policy plans for:

*Revamping public education to cause our kids to be competitive in a global environment in the future? We continue to fall behind competitive countries, especially in math and science. Our high school diploma graduate rates continue to fall, and many who do graduate have difficulty reading their diplomas!

*Specific plans to cause American enterprise to become more competitive in a global environment? What we seem to hear are threats against businesses, yet some claim they are going to bring back jobs -- HOW???
(Her husband suggests that we should ‘slow down economic growth to protect the planet’!)

*Providing additional health care availability without throwing the baby out with the bath water... HOW? (really do not think that dictating from Washington is the answer or the right precedent to establish.) The following is not a solution! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4u5x9XAsAs&eurl=http://www.freemarketcure.com/brainsurgery.php

*Plans and policies to cause the US to become energy independent in 10 - 15 years (walking vice driving is not a solution!)?

*Revamping the US military to bring the strength of the forces back to the levels of 1990 -- prior to the cuts of the mid 90's -- with heavier reliance on robotics and artificial intelligence?

* What immediate steps will be taken to insure the sovereignty of the US and cease uncontrolled immigration of ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS? A ‘non decision continues to cost the American taxpayer, while the politician only visualizes a future vote – BY DOING NOTHING!

*Cleaning up the obscene waste by the Federal government -- especially earmarks by both parties?

*Fixing Social Security, MEDICARE and MEDICAID, including the hard decisions that future generations are either going to have to dig real deep, or some major modifications to the systems will have to be made?

Very hard to imagine that Saudi Arabia, China, Japan and other countries we borrow from today are going to continue to prop us up with loans if we do not subsequently clean up our own house; start managing at national level; and STOP making promises that we know cannot be kept much after being elected.

PS: Failed to ask one question for the Clintons: When will the issue of the intent of the XXII Amendment be surfaced in earnest, and what protections of the intent will be imposed if that candidate wins??

I for one do not think she learned one lesson from her near disasters in the 90's -- which makes her DANGEROUS!!

ewhite41552:16PMFeb 20th 2008

The adulation and frenzy that Obama is cultivating is beginning to creep me out....almost like a religious cult fervor sweeping the country, with nothing to back it up, except "promises" of change. Change, how is the big question and Obama doesn't have any answers. Does it not trouble anyone that this guy came out of nowhere???? That little is known about him, except for his oratory talents? And frankly, Oprah backing him definitely gives me pause, as we all now how some of her "backings" have backfired!

Tonie2:19PMFeb 20th 2008

I love Obama & what his campaign has done but I do fault them for not have Austin's former mayor and now state senator Kirk Watson prepared for this question. Earlier in the week, Chris Matthews had asked THE SAME QUESTION of WI Gov. Doyle and he managed to scramble together an answer stating Sen. Obama's ethics reform legislation. He was totally caught off guard and looked weak but nothing along the lines of the blow out Kirk Watson took. They knew the rep. from Ohio was going to take it to Watson; that's her style. Come on Camp Obama, you're better than that!!

jpgoodrow2:22PMFeb 20th 2008

MEDIA COVERAGE OF HILLARY HAS BEEN SO UNFAIR TO CLINTON'S CAMPAIGN while fluffling up Obama, that she must run on an Independent Ticket to level the palying field. The media's behavior has been nothng short of anti-democratic and disgusting.

I hope the Clinton camp will put out a report showing how many times them media trashed her and ran fluff pieces on Obama... the same day they annouce she will run on an indpendent ticket.

HILLARY '08
An Independent Ticket to the White House

Budo2:35PMFeb 20th 2008

Obama, I believe, is a disaster. He reminds me of a Hitler, Mussolini type. Not the intent they had (I assume) but by the national cult like devotion. We know that the former two were really only orators with great charisma and the people fell for their acts. This guy seems the same in many aspects. Smart, school wise. Great speaker, yes. Leader, who knows, not a great deal of experience. Foreign policy, absolute loser. Remember his Pakistan no matter what speech. Now his wife saying for the first time she is proud of "her" country.

I think we are in for a deep fall if he gets elected.

calmdown2:36PMFeb 20th 2008

Doc, you are spreading lies. This is the right-wing smear coming out early. I will give you the benefit of the doubt, but the only truths in the misinformation you have are that his father and stepfather were Muslims.

Michael Lee2:37PMFeb 20th 2008

Sen. Obama inspires us, has good concept and solutions. That's what we hear everyday. George W. Bush inspired us, promised more than he could possibly possibly deliver. He's been proved to be the most poisonous divider.
The world is becoming more dangerous and good concepts and inspirational words are not enough. If we trust Obama's inspirational speech and good concepts, whatever they may be, we will live in inspirations and good ceoncepts for the next four years rather than live in reality that demands wisdom and experience. These rare commodities do not come overnight. I'm fed up with inspirational speech and sermns.

gychrwood2:38PMFeb 20th 2008

In his speeches, Barack makes it quite clear what he means by "change."
Change is not accepting money from lobbyists (which he has not done), so that their influence in the political process would be minimized.
Change is not participating in partisan politics, voting and championing causes you believe in instead of voting the way your party elite tells you to vote. In this, he hopes to become a "Reagan" democrat, in that Reagan was able to pull people together from both sides of the aisle to get legislation passed instead of the stalemate we currently have in office.
Change is not bullying other world leaders and being able to use diplomacy to solve issues that arise instead of constantly threatening physical action.
Finally, change is to get people excited about the possibility of politics again, and bringing new people into the political arena (the young, the disenfranchised). If more people were politically conscious and aware, they could more directly effect the legislation being passed and the individuals being elected.

Oh, and "doc", you're crazy. Barack was sworn in using the Bible, not the Koran. He went to both Christian and Islamic schools, but was a declared Christian before entering public office, not just because he entered public office.

You should also realize that many people, especially black men are muslim and that doesn't mean they believe the same things as fundamentalist muslims promoting violence, just like there are Christians that don't believe in the teaching of fundamentalist Christians who promote violence against gays and abortion clinics, etc.

And for what it's worth, the Koran and Bible both believe in one "almighty" God, they just disagree over Jesus being the son of God and the role of Muhammad.

CA900642:38PMFeb 20th 2008

I keep hearing and reading that "educated" voters are choosing Obama.
The problem with this is that eventually all that education teaches one to always follow the intellect, never the heart or gut. I have to say that I am a very educated person, but I have yet to deny the truth of gut instinct. Behind the fancy rhetoric and self-congratulatory preening, Obama is nothing more than a cardboard cut-out of a leader. No real skills, no real experience, nothing firm on which to stand. He puffs and puffs, and if we don't watch out, he will blow our houses down. The man is a walking, talking LIE. Just look at how his presentation has changed over the last year. No longer is he the guy you'd want to hang out with after class. No, he has morphed himself into the next Great Messiah.
Preaching should be designated for Sunday at 11:00 AM. He is a really good actor. Do we want Tom Cruise running the country. I'll be old Tom could give a dandy speech.

It twists my guts to think that this con man may soon be The President of The United States. I wish that just once, all of the Obama maniacs would really, REALLY, open their eyes and be completely honest with themselves. Sit down and honestly study the man's life and his records. Sit down and really commit to some deep thinking.

Use that "highly educated" brain of yours for some intense critical thinking. And let that little niggling in your gut have its say,too.

LISTEN to the TRUTHS and not just the "HOPE AND CHANGE" promises. Instead of patting yourselves on the backs and basking in the warm, fuzzy glow of being so progressive, let go of the "I'm so proud of myself" and face the facts that this man is usurping the beliefs of dead heros. This man is no MLK, or JFK. And as for his wife - Michelle Obama - she is the living, breathing Lady MacBeth.
Maybe it's time some of those "thinkers" brushed up on their Shakespeare...

red2:40PMFeb 20th 2008

Look at the crowds supporting Obama, they are black, young (raised on welfare) and looking for a dream just like their idol MLK. He's a big dreamer and taking alot of people on a wild ride. This country thrived under the Clintons, look where we are now and do you think an inexperienced male candidate will make things better, I don't think so and will not vote for either Obama or McCain. You men that are voting for either of them because they are male are a bunch of idiots. It's time to see what a woman can do to make this country GREAT AGAIN As for Obama saying he wouldn't have voted for the war, that's easy to say when he wasn't there, I am sure he would have gone along with the president like so many did and then when they found out they had been lied to regretted their decision. Also, you that want Obama, watch your taxes after he's elected, see what you are in for.

kb132:43PMFeb 20th 2008

This is a prime example of what the Obama followers should be viewing. To elect the next Leader of the Free World, voters need to know "why" they vote for a candidate. America is needing an experienced tried and accomplished leader; not one who "offers hope" and "the concept of hope"

jennifer2:43PMFeb 20th 2008

if people want to see what obama really believes in its easy just google obamas church and read what his pastor, a close friend of obama has to say, he is a racist, his pastor calls america , 'united states of white america'and he also stated that white people deserved 9/11 google obamas church and click on , obamas caldrun of division. its on the 2nd page once you google, please read it and pass it on

D. Lehto2:45PMFeb 20th 2008

If Barack Obama becomes the democratic candidate for president over Hillary Clinton, I will switch parties just for this election and vote for John McCain. Our country is currently in debt, at war and has an unstable ecomomy. We need a strong and experienced candidate to offer solutions to America, not an inexperienced candidate who intends to learn on the job as he goes.

anencephalic2:45PMFeb 20th 2008

Clinton has the experience of intimadating the networks into deleting scenes from docudramas that depict unflattering events. And they still have Sandy Burgler around if they need any secret documents stolen.

jesse james2:52PMFeb 20th 2008

I am in total agreement with the comments made by doc, also do you want a President who turns his back on a long time friend, just because it would look bad for his poltical future. Are we as a nation going to be lead blindly to the slaughter by the big bad wolf!!!

Linda2:55PMFeb 20th 2008

Hillary has been very specific on her plans. you need to get informed! which is what Obama supporters are not! All you need to do is watch CNN. Obama supporters are disillutioned by his carismatic speaches. The fact of the matter is, he has very little experience. what makes you think he's going to turn this country around? I have nothing against him as a person,but he would do better as a preacher. That seems to be where his strenght is. no one ever heard of him, until he went on the Oprah show. As far as Hillary forgiving Bill, well, It takes a strong women to forgive her man & work things out which is what they did. More power to them. anyone could just walk away. Hillay Clinton not only has character, strenght, & self control, she has leadership abilities which require all of that. Lets face it no one is perfect. & that goes for obama! I hope America doesnt make the same mistake, & vote the wrong president into office again, just because he sounds good. Get the facts! Hillary is a workhoarse, obama is a showhoarse!

linda pantano2:57PMFeb 20th 2008

let's face it. obama sounds too much like osama. Kind of creepy to me.