The February 21st Democratic Debate - Part Two

(See Part One Here)

John King asked about Clinton saying "speeches vs. solutions; talk vs. action" when comparing herself to Senator Obama

Clinton: Well, I've said "all hat no cattle" about George Bush, and I think our president needs to be a lot less hat and more cattle. You can tell that Obama and I have a lot in common. We have run a vigorous and contested primary campaign which has been extremely civil, but there are differences between us. In our efforts to draw comparisons, we try to let voters know how we differ. I offer this to voters because it's part of my life over 35 years, my work on health care, legal services, registering voters, and working to make a difference. There are differences between our accomplishments. The other night a voter asked about Obama's accomplishments and he couldn't think of any. Actions speak louder than words.

Obama: Well, actions do speak louder than words which is why over the 20 years of my public service I've acted to improve access to health care, deliver tax breaks, reform the criminal justice system, open up our government, and pass toughest ethics reform since Watergate. We need to create transparency in our government so we know where federal spending is going. If you talk to the Walter Reed wounded warriors I met who were previously paying for meals and phone calls, they would tell you I've engaged not just in talk but in action.

Clinton has a fine record I won't denigrate, but there is a fundamental difference between us in how change comes about. She has said "Let's get real," the thinking being that people in my campaign and that editorial boards who've given me endorsements (including every major one in the state of TX), are delusional. These people see that if we don't bring the country together, stop the endless bickering, focus on solutions and reduce special interests that have dominated Washington, we won't get anything done. People understand that it's not just a matter of putting forward policy positions. If we can't inspire the American people to get involved in their government, and get beyond divisions, we will continue to see gridlock in Washington.

Campbell Brown asked about the plagiarism accusations Clinton launched against Obama

Obama: There were two lines in speeches I've been giving over the last 2 weeks (out of 2 years) that Deval Patrick suggested I share that words matter. The implication that they don't diminishes how important it is to speak to the American people. The notion that I had plagiarized from one of my national co-chairs suggested that I use it is silly. This is where we get into silly season and people start getting discouraged. They want to know how we are going to provide jobs, good wages, health care and affordable college. What I've been talking about in these speeches is not just hope and inspiration. It's a $4,000 tuition credit for every student every year in exchange for service. It's changing our tax code so working families get relief. It's bringing an end to the war. These are specific concrete detailed proposals which I've been working on for years. Senator Clinton has a fine record - so do I. We should not be spending time tearing each other down. We should be spending time lifting each other up.

Cambell Brown asked Clinton "Is it the silly season?"

Clinton: If the candidacy is about words, then they should be your own words. That's a very simple proposition. If you look at the YouTube video, it does raise questions. Barack, you are a passionate eloquent speaker. I applaud you. But when you look at what we face in this country, you have to unite people around very specific goals. We both know we're going to have to work hard.

Your health care plan leaves people out. I've called for a moratorium on foreclosures - you said that won't work.  Even Bush said we have to do something. We have to overcome the entrenched opposition that some of us have been fighting for for a very long time. I believe passionately in getting quality affordable health care to every American.

Obama: I think that Clinton mentioned two specific issue areas where we've got some differences and I'm happy to debate those. We both want universal health care and 95% of our plans are similar.  My plan is a system in which any person can get coverage that is as good as what we have in congress, or we will subsidize it. We'll emphasize prevention and improve technology. I also want to make sure that we're reducing costs for those who already have insurance - my plan reduces costs by $2500 / year.

The philosophical difference is that Clinton believes we need to force everybody to purchase it. But the reason that people don't have insurance is not that they don't want it -- but that they can't afford it. My plan does more than anybody's to reduce costs. The notion that I'm leaving people out implies that we differ in our goals to cover everyone. We just think there's a different way to do that.

I admire Clinton for her efforts to bring about national health care in the 90's, but I think she did it in the wrong way. Senator Clinton went behind closed doors and excluded even members of congress - and it was much more difficult to get Congress to cooperate. We need to open up the process - American people have to be educated about how it will come about. We need to change how it gets done in Washington or nothing will get done.

Jorge Ramos asked about Clinton's inference that she is ready to lead on "day one" and Obama is not

Clinton: I believe I am ready and I'll leave it to voters to decide. But I want to go back to health care.

I think it's a substantive difference. He has a mandate for parents to insure their children. If we don't mandate coverage, everyone will pay the hidden tax to make up for the lack of insurance. As Edwards said, it would be as though Social Security were voluntary or Medicare were voluntary. It's not just philosophical. You look at what will work and what will not work.

Obama: When Clinton says mandate, it's not a mandate on government - it's a mandate on individuals. She's right; we have to find out what works. Massachusetts has a mandate. In some cases, people are paying fines which means they can't afford premiums which means they don't have coverage. Clinton said we'll go after their wages. Both of us seek to get to universal health care. I have a substantive difference on how to get there.

Obama: That mother will get that health care under my plan. The reason a mandate for children can be effective is that we've got the ability to make that affordable. If the parent isn't covered, it's because they're not being responsible and the children don't have the choice. Adults will be able to afford it under my plan. If some are gaming the system, they will be penalized. The notion that I am interested in leaving people out is not true.

Jorge Ramos went back to what Clinton meant about being ready on Day One

Clinton: I mean for more than 15 years I've negotiated for our country and other countries. I've served on the Senate Armed Services Committee, and worked as a leader on behalf of Homeland Security. We have serious problems that pose a question about presidential leadership and that offer opportunities. When you think about everything that is going to happen, I believe that I'm prepared and ready on Day One.

Obama: I wouldn't be running if I didn't think I was prepared to be Commander in Chief. My number one job as president will be to keep the American people safe. I will not hesitate to act against those who would do America harm. We should use our military wisely. On the single most foreign policy decision was whether or not to go to war in Iraq, I showed the judgment of a commander in chief. That has significant consequences. It diverted attention from Afghanistan - and al qaeda is now stronger than in 2001.

(He spoke about an Army captain he'd met who was given a rifle platoon of only 24 soldiers instead of 39 because his soldiers were sent to Iraq.) It was easier for them to get Taliban weapons than to be properly equipped by our government. That's a consequence of judgment. On every critical issue on foreign policy - like Pakistan and the war in Iraq --  that have come up, I have shown the judgment to lead. That's the leadership I want to show when I am president of the United States.

John King asked about facing John McCain with regard to Iraq. Is Iraq better off today because of surge?

Clinton: The premise of the surge was to create space and time for the Iraqi government to make the decisions that only it can make. Putting more of them [soldiers] in would provide more security in some areas. The purpose of the surge has not been fulfilled. I would ask the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and my security advisors for a plan to begin withdrawing within 60 days.

Obama: It is indisputable that we've seen violence reduced in Iraq. It's a credit to our brave men and women in uniform. We honor their service, but this is a tactical victory imposed upon a huge strategic blunder. While we debate McCain, it will be much easier for the candidate who was opposed to invading Iraq in the first place to argue about a subsequent decision. Iran is the single biggest beneficiary of our invading Iraq - that's a debate I'm happy to have. The incredible burden placed on the American people, starting with military families and the fact that we're still not doing right by them - the fact that we're spending 12 billion in Iraq - means we can't engage in infrastructure improvements, or deliver on health care reforms. We have to have that argument with McCain because he said he's willing to have troops in Iraq for 100 years.

...and there's more here...

(Disclaimer: The context of this article is not meant to be an exact verbatim transcript but is substantially accurate.)