Garling Gauge

Clinton Vs. Obama: Texas Democratic Debate Firsts 2/21/08

High Noon

In Texas tonight it’s a showdown at the Alamo for Sen. Hillary Clinton, and a front runner defensive game for Sen. Barack Obama. Let’s jump right into it with more debate firsts.

Debate Firsts

• First to be introduced: Sen. Hillary Clinton
• First to applaud for himself: Sen. Barack Obama
• First to touch someone else’s shoulder: Obama
• First to mention living in Austin: Clinton
• First to get an applause once the debate had begun: Clinton (mentioning Barbara Jordan)
• First to look impatient: Obama waiting for Clinton to finish her opening statement
• First to mention how long someone else sleeps: Obama
• First to say he received a bracelet from a fallen veteran’s mother: Obama
• First question: Sen. Clinton, will you sit down with Raul Castro?
• First debate difference: Obama would meet with Raul Castro without preconditions, Clinton would wait for signs of change first
• First to quote JFK: Obama (so obvious!)
• First to quote JFK after Obama: Clinton! (ping pong)
• First to say the ‘era of Bush unilateralism is over’: Clinton
• First to mention President Bush: Clinton
• First to wag his finger: Obama
• First to mention the Middle Class: Clinton
• First to say we need a ‘trade time-out’ and a ‘trade prosecutor’: Clinton
• First to say a path to legalization for illegal aliens would be started within the first 100 days of office: Clinton
• First to say ‘there is a smart way, and a dumb way to control the [southern] border: Clinton
• First to mention leadership: Obama
• First to say she has never been able to learn another language: Clinton
• Break

• First good summary thus far: From CNN: ‘Clinton touts results, Obama pushes ideas’
  
• First to say ‘where’s the beef?’: Moderator John King (somebody had to do it)
• First to bring up the notion that Obama’s supporters are delusional: Obama
• First to bring up the following video: Clinton

Longer version here and more here.

• First to say some of his speeches are pretty good: Obama
• First to say we’ve entered into the ’silly season of politics’: Obama
• First to say “Senator Clinton has a fine record-and so do I”: Obama
• First to say “lifting entire passages from someone elses speeches isn’t change you can believe in, it’s change you can Xerox‘: Clinton
• First to get booed: Clinton (for that last line)
• First to take copious notes during the debate: Obama (he appears to look at his paper each time he feels uncomfortable)
• First to say “I’m tired of insurance companies deciding who will live and die in this country”: Clinton
• Break

• First to say “I am ready and I am prepared [to be Commander in Chief]: Clinton
• First to say the difference between Clinton and Obama on Health Care is philosophical: Obama
• First to say the difference between Clinton and Obama on Health Care is based on substance: Clinton
• First to say that if you don’t aim for 100% health care coverage you won’t get it: Clinton
• First to frown: Obama (when Clinton said she has visited over 80 countries representing America)
• First to mention the U.S. embassy being burned last night: Clinton
• First to mention rifle platoons: Obama
• First to mention Senator John McCain: Obama
• Observation: Clinton looks into the audience when Obama is speaking, Obama looks down when Clinton is speaking
• Observation: Obama keeps talking about what wants to change, Clinton keeps explaining how she’ll change things. Hm.
• Break

• First to say Google and Halliburton in the same answer: Obama
• First to say the U.S. will have a 9 trillion dollar debt thanks to George Bush Jr.: Clinton
• First to say we will have a unified Democratic Party during the general election: Clinton
• First to get a bit choked up talking about injured veterans: Clinton
• First to say she has been blessed: Clinton
• First candidate express honor at being with the other candidate: Clinton
• End debate
• First candidate to thank the moderators afterwards: Clinton
• And the winner? Obama, as he did not lose any ground. Clinton’s last answer was good, but she needed to hit it out of the park.

More Debate Firsts here.

Images: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/photos/uncategorized/obama_3.jpg, http://laist.com/attachments/la_jeremyj/hillary%20clinton.jpg, http://www.daffodillane.com/movabletype/archives/cowboy%2520headshot-thumb.jpg, http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/21/debate.main/index.html#cnnSTCPhoto, http://www.cnn.com/

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