Watching the MSNBC Democratic debate felt like an obligation rather than a choice. The questioning was notably more detailed than usual, but it didn’t take long for Hillary Clinton to reference Saturday Night Live, suggesting that maybe Barack Obama needed a pillow for comfort.
Clinton quickly tried to distance herself from her past support of NAFTA, but the host came prepared, quoting her own words from 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2002, when she openly supported the trade deal. Now, with Ohio’s primary on the horizon—a state deeply affected by NAFTA—Clinton’s sudden shift in stance appeared disingenuous, and she was called out for changing her story.
Throughout the debate, Clinton repeatedly invoked Obama’s name, often starting her answers with, “Senator Obama said…” It seemed like a desperate attempt to throw stones at an opponent who was gaining ground. Watching the two use these tactics on each other was a refreshing change from their usual strategy of attacking Republican opponents.
Clinton tried to paint Obama as reckless, saying, “He said let’s bomb Pakistan.” However, she did come across as more specific in her responses compared to previous debates and may have been winning on substance—except for her frequent reliance on mudslinging.
Meanwhile, Obama delivered a memorable line: “Once we have driven the bus into the ditch, there are only a couple of ways to get out. The question is who is deciding to drive into the ditch.”
At one point, Clinton quipped, “Tim, you ask a lot of hypotheticals,” which was one of the few things I found myself agreeing with. The questions felt overly hypothetical and convoluted, almost like the essay portion of an SAT exam, preventing either candidate from delivering concrete, relevant answers. Ultimately, the debate left viewers with more questions than answers.
