The Legal Intelligencer Blog

Gun Concerns in Philly... Nation

Clinton’s Take: She said the U.S. Supreme Court might have trouble finding constitutional Washington, D.C.’s complete ban on all guns. She said there can be a balance between gun control and gun rights.

What works in New York City probably wouldn’t work in Montana, she said. Clinton said she wouldn’t support a federal law that tried to apply the same rules to all jurisdictions.

She would reinstate the “100,000 cops on the streets” policy that was created under her husband’s administration and make sure local police departments have access to federal information on illegal gun use.

Obama’s Take:  He said the U.S .Constitution, as a general principle, gives Americans the right to bear arms, but that doesn’t mean the government can’t constrain that right. He compared it to the right to own property and the government’s ability to create zoning laws. He said he never favored an all-out ban on handguns.

-Gina Passarella, Staff Reporter

Hillary Gives Shout Out to Rendell... Hillary

In case you didn’t catch where Sen. Clinton stands on a certain issue, you can check out her Web site. She has mentioned it twice so far… HillaryClinton.com..

She also gave credit to Gov. Edward G. Rendell for keeping foreclosure rates low in Pennsylvania. She said he saw the problems coming – unlike President Bush – and did a great job of keeping the numbers down.

-Gina Passarella, Staff Reporter

 

Iraq First Real Issue Discussed in Debate

Almost an hour into the debate, questions turned to real issues in the campaign instead of missteps in the campaigning.

Iraq was the topic and both senators defended their positions to pull troops out of Iraq – within 60 days for Clinton and 16 months for Obama.

Moderator Charlie Gibson questioned whether the senators were suggesting they knew better than Gen. David Petraeus.

Obama said it is the president who sets the mission and the general who carries it out. Clinton said the country needs to pay attention to other issues like Afghanistan and regain its credibility with the world.

“We don’t know what will happen if we withdraw,” she said. “We do know what will happen if we stay mired in Iraq.”

-Gina Passarella, Staff Reporter

Clinton Asks for Gift From Bush/Cheney Camp

Sen.  Clinton continually brought the debate back to who could really beat Sen. McCain, pointing to ways the Republicans could criticize Obama in the general election.

"I wish the Republicans would just apologize for the Bush/Cheney years and not run" a candidate, she said, adding that clearly won't happen. 

Obama defended his ability to handle himself in the general election.

"I can take a punch, I've taken some pretty good ones from Sen. Clinton," he said.

-Gina Passarella, Staff Reporter

Fireworks Fizzle as Debate Begins - Candidates Defend Recent Gaffes

The fight for a win in Pennsylvania’s Democratic primary has been blazing a trail across the state for weeks, but the fire seemed to burn out when the two candidates took the stage at the National Constitution Center. The debate between Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama took a subdued, respectful tone as the two focused on the need for the party to come together to beat Sen. John McCain in the general election.

Neither candidate, however, would say they would take the VP spot if they lost the primary and neither would agree that if they won they would sign the other on as VP.

The first half hour of the debate was focused on recent criticism of Obama’s comments about “bitter” Pennsylvanians and his pastor’s much-discussed comments from the pulpit.

Clinton was just asked a question, via video from a voter who said she lost his vote over her misstatements about her trips to Bosnia.

Both candidates were put on the defensive, admitting they misspoke.

Obama was just asked about wearing an American flag pin – he is not in this debate but put one on yesterday. He said he loves this country and his story wouldn't be possible anywhere else. This is the kind of "manufactured issue" he said his opponents are making that don't get to the important issues.

Gina Passarella, Staff Reporter