Hillary Clinton debate gaffe video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B0uHybfmmY

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Above is the video that shows clinton struggling with whether she supports the legislation the Governor of NY has proposed that would grant illegal immigrants driver's licenses.

I personally feel that she did bungle the answer by not answering it in politico speech, but that the answer DOES actually make sense. She is IMO not being treated fairly as a candidate on this, but that is life in the fast lane when you are the presidential front runner.

She clearly states in her inital attempt to answer the question that the issue is a failing of national policy, closing with the statements "No state, no matter how well intentioned, can fill this gap. There needs to be federal action on immegration reform." The words "well intentioned" clearly betray simpathy to the writers of that legislation and also a belief that it in spite of their efforts it may not be an ideal law conceptually.

That is a point that is not reported in any of the accounts. Why is that? Well, in part, because the media is always looking for something to bring in reader and viewers and reporting it in the stilted fashion that they did, did bring in more viewers. Additionally, Clinton and the media have an adversial relationship dating back to her first Health Care legislative effort. When Clinton went back and said the line about "gotcha" it was stating that the media would take this out of context as they would finally have something on her. That does presuppose a lack of professionalism. It should come as little suprise that was what was delivered.

The correct answer IMO would have been to challenge the initial loaded question. (And by loaded, I do not fault Tim Russert. A loaded question is a fair tool for a debate because every candidate will voice an opinion from time to time that they might want back. A loaded question often digs up these statements and forces a candidate to weigh their answer. The question is a fair one for a reporter to ask of a candidate.)

Tim Russert: "Senator Clinton, Governor of NY Elliott Spitzer has proposed giving driver's licenses to illegal immegrants, you told the national new hampshire editorial board 'it makes a lot of sense', why does it 'make a lot of sense' to give an illegal immegrant a driver's license?"

IMO the correct answer: "Tim, that is taken out of context. The truth is the National government has failed the state governments by failing to enact a coherent and sensible immigration policy. This puts our states in the awkward situation of having to write laws to cover issues that come out of that. Gov. Spitzer is doing his best to address the immediate concerns of New Yorkers because the national Government under Bush has failed to address the issue in a sensible fashion. It would be irresponsible for him not to try to come up with a stopgap solution to protect NY citizens. If I am elected we will have that coherent national immegration policy and we will free the states from having to take action on immigration law."

That's probably a 60 second answer for a supposed 30 second slot, but she took about 50 seconds anyway.

Hillary was not sharp, she spent about 15 seconds of her time revealing that we have illegal immegrants. You have to get into the meat of a question like that a lot quicker. Additionally, she attempted to back up the Governor's policy on this and took a big hit over it. She should not have backed the policy as it is halfbaked liberal garbage. She should have backed the man instead, by bemoaning the fact that he is being forced to write halfbaked liberal garbage to offer a minimum of protetction for his citzens to cover the failings of the Bush administration.

Ultimately her defense of the governor's policies cost her. Maybe he will help her land NY and the surrounding states in the election. He clearly owes her. Time will tell if this worked out for her, but for now we all want to know if this is the gaffe that drops her back into a real race with Obama and Edwards.