NPR: Clinton's Last Comments: Her Best or a Xerox Moment?

Clinton's Last Comments: Her Best or a Xerox Moment?

Last night's Democratic debate in Texas was, by and large, a civil affair. Tensions between Senator Barack Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton only escalated when one of the moderators from CNN and Univision asked about charges of plagiarism that the Clinton camp had been leveling at Obama.

Democratic presidential hopefuls U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) and U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) participate in a debate in the Lyndon B. Johnson Auditorium at the University of Texas.

Photo by Ben Sklar/Getty Images

Clinton tried to raise doubts about Obama's trustworthiness, but the attempt didn't seem to resonate with the audience. (In fact, people booed her best zinger.)

But Clinton's advisers are seizing on her very last statement of the debate to argue that she has put herself back in charge in the contest.

The final question, asked by CNN's Campbell Brown, was about what moment tested you the most in your life. Obama talked about his life story - his father leaving when he was two, being raised by a single mother and his grandmother, learning to accept responsibility for his actions, being a community organizer in Chicago.

But Clinton seemed to hint at her marital problems with her husband, former President Bill Clinton, in her answer.

"Well, I think everybody here knows I've lived through some crises and some challenging moments in my life," she said to applause. "But people often ask me, 'How do you do it?' You know, 'How do you keep going?' And I just have to shake my head in wonderment, because with all of the challenges that I've had, they are nothing compared to what I see happening in the lives of Americans every single day."

She went in to say that she was honored to be sharing the stage with Obama, and the two shook hands.

Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University told Reuters the moment was a good one for Clinton. "For her supporters, moments like those reveal why much of the criticism of her candidacy and personality are simply not true."

"It was the moment she retook the reins of this race and showed women and men why she is the best choice," Howard Wolfson, her communications director, said in a statement.

But if it was a good line, perhaps it was because it had been road tested. Our Elections Editor, Beth Donovan, recognized that President Clinton used it in New Hampshire in 1992. And she wasn't the only one.

Josh Marshall at Talking Points Memo offers this comparison:

Clinton, 92: "The hits that I took in this election are nothing compared to the hits the people of this state and this country have been taking for a long time."

Hillary Clinton, last night: "You know, the hits I've taken in life are nothing compared to what goes on every single day in the lives of people across our country."

Another Xerox moment, perhaps?

Others are reading the comment differently. They see it as recognition by Clinton that she may not win the contest with Obama. The New York Daily News referred to it as "a gracious moment, but also one that could be read as a concession preview if her teetering campaign doesn't rebound."

8:56 AM ET | 02-22-2008 | permalink

Comments

And I always thought Fox News was the worst at calling political favoritism "fair and balanced". NPR has reached new lows in jumping on the media frenzy for a new political fad, Obama. I'm just waiting for Morning Edition and All Things Considered, to introduce themselves as "the no spin zone". Oops, that would be another Xerox moment. Fitting for NPR's Obama mania.

Sent by John Waggener | 9:26 AM ET | 02-22-2008

I think there's a flaw in this argument that Hillary's closing remarks are "xerox" though, because the comment that - hey, yeah, I've had hard times, but honestly, there are a lot of people who have tougher times" isn't really intellectually original. Many people say this all the time, and Hillary was asked a direct question: "what has tested you most as a person?" She's pointing out the obvious here, and telling us why she wants to be president - not because she's had a hard life and deserves it to prove something about herself, but because we ALL have had challenges, and she wants to offer solutions for the rest of us.

On the other hand, the "Xerox" moment for Barack was specific. The actual text of a speech by someone else (no matter that he's a supporter or not) was scripted into his stump speech. And more than the "two lines" he suggested in the debate.

The point is, if Obama is asking us to trust him as someone who can lead by example, but his example isn't his own, then what kind of administration would it be? Who's words, policies, and actions will we be subject to?

We've already elected a "uniter, not a divider" who has a "vision" for us and the world, who proved that he was a great campaigner. But it turns how he wasn't so good at governing.

Real change? How about competency.

Sent by A. | 9:37 AM ET | 02-22-2008

When I heard Clinton say that it is disingenuous for someone to pass someone else's words off as their own, I couldn't help but think of 'her' two books, the first of which (It Takes a Village) was written by Barbara Feinman Todd. Clinton (or perhaps the publisher) gave Todd no credit. Others have speculated that she could not be the sole author of 'Living History' either. Which is worse to pass off as one's own, a line in a speech or an entire book? I say the book.

Sent by Drew | 10:11 AM ET | 02-22-2008

In response to A.

Hillary's "competency" may be best examined by looking at her campaign. Her national campaign is easily the largest organization Hillary Clinton has presided over in an executive capacity.

So far, her campaign has suffered from incompetent management (Patti Solis Doyle), intra-organizational deceit (Clinton hiding her loan from Solis Doyle), racking up debt (remember that $5,000,000 loan had to be repaid by Clinton's donors), refusing transparency (tax documents), near-comical ineptness (failing to file for a full slate of Pennsylvania delegates) and the incredibly poor strategies of Mark Penn. (The firm that includes Mark Penn, Mrs. Clinton???s chief strategist and pollster, collected $3.8 million for fees and expenses in January alone; in total, including what the campaign still owes, the firm has billed more than $10 million for consulting, and other services, an amount unparalleled in campaign history for a chief strategist.)

Under Clinton's leadership, her campaign has been running into the ground. They've taken her from the inevitable nominee, to the wounded nominee, to the long-shot limping along painfully to the finish line. They apparently had zero plan to deal with the campaign past Super Tuesday, hence the near bankruptcy of the campaign and loss after loss after loss to Obama's superior campaign organization. (Remember when Clinton herself said the contest would be over February 5th?)

This is what you have to look forward to on "day one". A return to the cronyism, fiscal mis-mismanagement, inept administration and secret, closed-door meetings.

Her attacks on Obama's using some lines from a speech that was knowingly and willingly provided by his friend and supporter Deval Patrick and their common writers, comes off as desperate and petty.

It's sad to see this inter-party bickering (and yes, I'm now taking part in it, I recognize.) In the end, I will vote for the candidate who secures the Democratic nomination. But I'll only be happy voting for Obama.

Sent by Sonmi | 11:20 AM ET | 02-22-2008

Did no one else notice that just the day before, Hillary Clinton shouted "Yes we can!" at her rally in South Texas? Xerox that.

Sent by Marla | 3:50 PM ET | 02-22-2008

Of course Hilary can say that she borrowed "yes we can"(si se puede) from her friends with the United Farmworkers (who endorsed her). Now that anybody that has read Obama's and Clinton's positions should have a pretty good idea as to where each candidate stands. From now on, we have to put up with "silly political season," until the final primaries are held. So far I'm sticking with Barack.

Sent by Roger | 5:05 PM ET | 02-22-2008

In her ads and in the debate, Hillary Clinton all but calls Barack Obama a plagiarist. Immediately after that she answers a question with a response that NPR commentators, guest analysts, say is one of her finest moments. Watch the video: http://digg.com/lbv.php?id=5365345&ord=1
Who's the plagiarist?

Sent by Joe Santana | 11:19 AM ET | 02-23-2008

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