The Wall Street Journal-20080116-Democrats Ease Way Past Racial Issue
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Democrats Ease Way Past Racial Issue
LAS VEGAS -- A Democratic debate took on a hard edge last night as moderators grilled Sen. Hillary Clinton about comments by her campaign that have been criticized as racially insensitive, and questioned Sen. Barack Obama about charges that his aides had also fueled the controversy.
But in a sign that questions of diversity are equally delicate for both candidates, as well as for Sen. John Edwards, who also participated in the debate, the discussion generally ended in accord, with Mr. Obama saying he believed Mrs. Clinton has "always been committed to racial equality." Sen. Edwards sidestepped a question about whether it was difficult being the chief rival in a race that features a woman and a black man.
The nationally televised debate, hosted by and broadcast nationally by MSNBC, began with a terse recitation of recent statements by Mrs. Clinton and some of her supporters, particularly Robert Johnson, founder of the Black Entertainment Television network, who made what appeared to be a veiled reference to Mr. Obama's teenage drug use, as recounted in a book by Mr. Obama. Mr. Johnson has since said his comments were misunderstood. Mr. Obama's campaign has condemned Mr. Johnson's remarks, as well as recent ones by Mrs. Clinton, who appeared to suggest in a television interview that President Lyndon Johnson was more responsible for promoting equality in the country than Martin Luther King Jr. Mrs. Clinton has since said that she didn't intend to minimize King's accomplishments.
The entire matter, which has captivated reporters and campaign workers but seemed to be largely ignored by the public, appeared to be put to rest last night, when Mrs. Clinton praised the "inspiring and profound story" of Mr. Obama's life and laid blame for the verbal gaffes on "exuberant and sometimes out-of-control supporters."
Regarding Mr. Johnson's comments, Mrs. Clinton said that she took at his word that he had been misunderstood. Nonetheless, she said, "what is important is what I say."
Mr. Obama said he would have let the issue pass, even if his staff didn't -- a press secretary in South Carolina made issue of the statements in an email to reporters. "Our supporters, our staff sometimes say things that I would not say," Mr. Obama said.
In contrast with previous debates, last night's contest in Las Vegas, coming a few days before Nevada's presidential caucuses, was a streamlined event, featuring only the front-runners. At times in this presidential season, debate formats have groaned with a surfeit of candidates -- up to eight. Indeed, Dennis Kucinich, who has yet to poll more than a few points in any voter survey, sued to be included in last night's event. Though he won at the district court level, Mr. Kucinich lost his bid a few minutes before the debate began, when the Nevada Supreme Court refused to take up the issue.
After the initial questioning on race, the debate seemed to drift, with candidates being asked questions such as whether they fancied themselves as managers or inspirers, and what their personal strengths and weaknesses were. After Mr. Obama said he felt he was disorganized, Mrs. Clinton responded by characterizing the flaw as possibly fatal for a president.
"You have to be able to manage and run the bureaucracy," Mrs. Clinton said, adding that disorganization in the current administration led to such gaffes as the poor federal response to Hurricane Katrina.
Mr. Obama got the last word. The Bush administration had management skills but failed, he said, because it didn't have "the judgment, vision and ability to inspire people."
