CLINTON, OBAMA NEW LEVEL OF RANCOR- MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- The
debate between the two senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama turned nasty as they trade accusations, while questioning each others'' honesty and fitness for the white house. The sharpest exchange came near the opening of the debate, when Obama
was asked to respond to criticism by Clinton and her husband, former
President Bill Clinton, that the Illinois senator''s economic stimulus
proposal doesn''t add up. Obama tersely denied it, leading Clinton to mock his comments.
"Your record and what you say does matter," Clinton
told Obama. She added that when it comes to important issues its difficult to understand Sen. Obama , when confronted , he''ll just say "that''s not what I meant". Clinton went on to describe Obama as saying that "he really liked the ideas of the Republicans over the last 10-15 years". " Obama told her, "and I will provide you with the quote,
what I said is that Ronald Reagan was a transformative public figure
because he was able to get Democrats to vote against their economic
interests to form a majority to push through their agenda, an agenda
that I objected to, because while I was working on those streets,
watching those folks see their jobs shift overseas, you were a
corporate lawyer sitting on the board of Wal-Mart."
Obama, offered an opportunity later to respond to Clinton''s reference,
said that as a law firm associate he had represented a church group
that partnered with businessman Antoin Rezko. Obama has not been alleged any wrong doing yet he announced that he would donate to charity $40,350 which were contributed by seven Chicago-area individuals who
appear to be linked to Rezko.Edwards who on his part has
joined with Obama to criticize
Clinton in past debates -- resulting in a sympathy surge for her,
political analysts
believe -- on Monday he took aim at Obama as well. He joined with Clinton to disparage Obama''s vote against a ceiling of 30% on interest charges for credit cards.He praised what he called Clinton''s "enormous
affinity" with the African American community, and praised white
Southerners like the Arkansas-born Clinton who helped transform the
region''s views on matters of race.
"I would have to, you
know, investigate more, you know, Bill''s dancing abilities and . . .
some of this other stuff before I accurately judged whether he was, in
fact, a brother," Obama concluded, that remark earned laughters and cheers from the audience. Clinton told Obama at one point "you can''t expect to have a hands-off attitude about your
record. Edwards also criticized Obama''s support for a trade measure that he said would hurt American businesses.
The candidates sparred over their
healthcare proposals, with Clinton
and Edwards criticizing Obama for not forcing nearly every uninsured
adult to buy health coverage, as their plans would.I believe the
problem is not that folks are trying to avoid getting healthcare," he said. "The problem is they can''t afford it."
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