Certainy one thing is clear. The Obama campaign needs to better prepare their surrogates, particularly up against an eloquent congressperson. I thought the specificity of the question, and the inability to back off was a bit of a se-up.

This does not mean that Barack Obama does not have "accomplishments," only that this particular interviewee was woefully unprepared. Too bad the Clinton camp has so little to criticize that they have to stoop to making a mountain out of this molehill!

I support Hillary. However, this issue does not make the smallest dent in the American public's impression of Obama. He has swept them off their feet and can do no wrong. Hillary's only chance is to come out with a rock solid, specific economic plan, and focus on that non-stop, no other issues. Focusing on these other failings of Obama are burning valuable time. Let the press take care of them.

It's funny that the insular Clintonites didn't notice that their negative attacks got them a 17% thrashing in a state they were winning a few weeks back.

So now they've got more negative attacks... going after some state senator who flubbed on Hardball. So, what, now I'm going to vote for Hillary?

Clinton's campaign is incompetent. Why would you expect her administration to be any different?

Do your homework, ABC:

Judge Him by His Laws - Obama's 12 year record as senator

"People who complain that Barack Obama lacks experience must be unaware of his legislative achievements. One reason these accomplishments are unfamiliar is that the media have not devoted enough attention to Obama's bills and the effort required to pass them, ignoring impressive, hard evidence of his character and ability. Since most of Obama's legislation was enacted in Illinois, most of the evidence is found there -- and it has been largely ignored by the media in a kind of Washington snobbery that assumes state legislatures are not to be taken seriously. (Another factor is reporters' fascination with the horse race at the expense of substance that they assume is boring, a fascination that despite being ridiculed for years continues to dominate political journalism.)"

So now after the 10th straight win, its tear down Obama time, but she's in the solutions business. What a joke!

Every little word uttered, every look, the Obamas need to know they have a magnifying glass AND a microphone up their butts! If Obama steps right, then left....'he's not qualified to be commander-in-chief'.
He is just as qualified as you are hillary, just as qualified!

Its gonna take Obama and his peers to start bragging about the legislation he co-sponsored/sponsored, so its remembered when folks sit down with the 'gotcha' media. He has done plenty (much more than hillary) and he needs to put that information out there.

"Give me a break! I've got news for all the latte-drinking, Prius- driving, Birkenstock-wearing, trust fund babies crowding in to hear him speak! This guy won't last a round against the Republican attack machine. He's a poet, not a fighter."

How hard would it be for ABC News to actually do some research, instead of just typing up Clinton attacks every day. Seriously, folks, this stuff is easy to find:

During the first eight years of Senator Obama’s elected service he sponsored over 820 bills. He introduced:

233 regarding healthcare reform,
125 on poverty and public assistance,
112 crime fighting bills,
97 economic bills,
60 human rights and anti-discrimination bills,
21 ethics reform bills,
15 gun control,
6 veterans affairs and many others.

His first year in the U.S. Senate, he authored 152 bills and co-sponsored another 427. These included:
- the Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Act of 2006 (became law),
- The Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-proliferation and Conventional Weapons Threat Reduction Act, (became law),
- The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, passed the Senate,
- The 2007 Government Ethics Bill, (became law),
- The Protection Against Excessive Executive Compensation Bill, (In committee)

What HAS she done for 911 familes??? First responders are dying every day and are being denied benefits! Just look up the Feal Good Foundation. If you care about those who were victimized by 911, look for foundations who actually get funding to them because Hilliary and her colleagues have left them and they're families with NOTHING, while voting to waste money on wars against those who had NOTHING to do with 911! Her record is nothing to brag about. Just like Barack all talk, no facts.

Thin record? Hardly:

- Graduated first black president of Harvard Law Review having won trust and support of conservative members.

-- Passed over 600 high-money law firm offers to work for civil rights practice at fractional pay.

-- Added health insurance for 20,000 children, welfare reforms, earned-income tax credits, and increased minimum wage in Illinois.

-- Reformed death-penalty cases, requiring that interrogations be video-recorded. Passed Illinois Senate 58-0. Signed into law by Illinois governor who first opposed Obama’s bill. Obama succeeded by building consensus with conservative opposition.

-- Opposed Iraq war publicly, long before invasion. Accurately depicted it as of undetermined length, undetermined cost, undetermined objective, with a great likelihood of civil war breaking out.

-- Expanded program to locate and dismantle stray Russian WMD with Republican Senator Lugar.

-- Passed major ethics and lobbying reform bill with Russ Feingold, insisting upon tougher restrictions around gifts, meals, etc. And extended the interval preventing exiting congress members from moving directly into lobbyist positions.

-- Toured Kuwait, Jordan, Israel, and Palestinian territories, telling Palestinian Authority Abbas that US would never recognize Hamas leaders until they renounced mission to attack Israel.

-- Cosponsored Secure Orderly Immigration Act by John McCain. Passes Senate 62-36. Makes undocumented persons who have been here 5+ years only allowed to stay and apply for citizenship if they pay back-taxes, learn English, and have no criminal record.

-- Communicated frankly to Michigan automaker executives of need to increase fuel-efficiency standards by at least 3% per year.

-- Many aisle-crossing bi-partisan solutions throughout 10 years of senate experience (8 state, 2 federal).

-- 100% approval rating from the League of Conservation Voters, Planned Parenthood. National Education Association gives him an “A” on their most recent scorecard.

-- In Illinois State Senate sponsored 780 bills, 280 were signed into law.

-- In first year as US Senator, held 39 town-hall meetings throughout his state, sponsored 152 bills and resolutions, and cosponsored 427 more.

-- Designated US Senate point person on ethics by Speaker Harry Reid.

You Clinton folks aren't going to get anywhere with more attacks. Not to help the other side, but it's definitely part of why your losing in every state, and why Obama beats McCain in every poll while Hillary can't. Give up the anger, my friends.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/03/AR2008010303303.html

That is why the blind can't see. In your case, ABC has chosen to write silly articles. I wish someone would ask questions on why McCain wants our troops to die in Iraq for another 100 yrs, he said he doesn't understand the economy and changes his position on important issues like immigration. I guess selective memory comes with old age. Hope he's listening to the American people, we want a changes and I don't care who offers that possibility and we don't want another Bush.

I didn't have my Red Bull this morning -- I'm a bit jittery today. I will say this -- as much as Affirmative Action played a role in Obama getting where he is today (don't sit there and tell me you think it had NOTHING to do with the doors it opened for him AND his wife), having said that -- Obama (AND his wife) walked through those doors and have done pretty well for themselves since. Your race (if you're a minority) or your parents (if you're a Bush) can get you into an Ivy League school, but neither of those things can help you graduate with honors -- which is what I think (though I'm not certain) Obama did, and C Average (at best) Bush did not do. I think Obama is smart (aside from being a chain smoker with small children in the house [and car?]), and is inspiring in (his?) speeches. Bush is neither. Hillary, is neither. Ron Paul 2008! (Just kidding, Ron Paul is a nut!) I'm not going to endorse anyone, but suggest that you'all who think that the candidate across the aisle from your political views is EVIL -- step off, they all want America to succeed. We need to find more common ground. This fighting and mudslinging makes everyone, including the country look childish.

While I admire Obama greatly, he is severly lacking the experience required to be a US President. I fear if he is elected he will be way in over his head. I am a resident of Texas and an Independent. I am supporting Hillary. If Obama is nominated I will be supporting Macain.

Let's take a closer look at who's really qualified and or who's really working for the good of all of us in the Senate, Obama or Clinton.

Senator Clinton, who has served only one full term - 6yrs. - and another year campaigning, has managed to author and pass into law - 20 - twenty pieces of legislation in her first six years.

These bills can be found on the website of the Library of Congress www.thomas.loc.gov, but to save you trouble, I'll post them here for you.

1. Establish the Kate Mullany National Historic Site.
2. Support the goals and ideals of Better Hearing and Speech Month.
3. Recognize the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
4. Name courthouse after Thurgood Marshall.
5. Name courthouse after James L. Watson.
6. Name post office after Jonn A. O'Shea.
7. Designate Aug. 7, 2003, as National Purple Heart Recognition Day.
8. Support the goals and ideals of National Purple Heart Recognition Day.
9. Honor the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton on the bicentennial of his death.
10. Congratulate the Syracuse Univ. Orange Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.
11. Congratulate the Le Moyne College Dolphins Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.
12. Establish the 225th Anniversary of the American Revolution Commemorative Program.
13. Name post office after Sergeant Riayan A. Tejeda.
14. Honor Shirley Chisholm for her service to the nation and express condolences on her death.
15. Honor John J. Downing, Brian Fahey, and Harry Ford, firefighters who lost their lives on duty. Only five of Clinton 's bills are, more substantive.
16. Extend period of unemployment assistance to victims of 9/11.
17. Pay for city projects in response to 9/11 18. Assist land mine victims in other countries.
19. Assist family caregivers in accessing affordable respite care.
20. Designate part of the National Forest System in Puerto Rico as protected in the wilderness preservation system.
There you have it, the fact's straight from the Senate Record.

Now, I would post those of Obama's, but the list is too substantive, so I'll mainly categorize.

During the first - 8 - eight years of his elected service he sponsored over 820 bills. He introduced

233 regarding health care reform,

125 on poverty and public assistance,

112 crime fighting bills,

97 economic bills,

60 human rights and anti-discrimination bills,

21 ethics reform bills,

15 gun control,

6 veterans affairs

His first year in the U.S. Senate, he authored 152 bills and co-sponsored another 427. These included **the Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Act of 2006 - became law, **The Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-proliferation and Conventional Weapons Threat Reduction Act, - became l aw, **The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, passed the Senate, **The 2007 Government Ethics Bill, - became law, **The Protection Against Excessive Executive Compensation Bill, In committee, and many more.

In all, since entering the U.S. Senate, Senator Obama has written 890 bills and co-sponsored another 1096.

An impressive record, for someone who supposedly has no record according to some who would prefer that this comparison not be made public.

He's not just a talker.

He's a doer.

the healine is misleading and quoting the host of a show that put up a picture of Osama Bin Laden to represent Obama for a story may not be the best source. Teddy/Mike, did you actually look at hsi legislative record before you put this piece of 'journalism' out?

OK, so Obama is for change, like everyone else, but what is he going to change specifically and how? Changes are not always for the good. Sometimes they become disastrous. Specifically, what is Obama planning on changing rather than attempting to solve the existng problems, as promised by Hillary? He comes through as another motor mouth: all talk, no action, something like GWB.

To the poster who wondered what Hillary has done for 9/11 victims, here is an excerpt from Tha Atlantic, Nov. '06, pg. 65:

...The day after September 11, she surveyed the devastation at Ground Zero with New York's other senator, Charles Schumer. Realizing the need for federal help, she called Byrd first thing the next morning. "We're in real trouble, and it's goimg to take a lot to put the city back together. Can you help?"" This time Byrd agreed at once: "Count me as the third senator from New York." With his assistance on the Appropriations Committee, New York secured $20 billion in recovery funds, and Clinton likely cinched her reelection." .....

She's not like Guiliani, and she doesn't deserve bashing on 9/11.

Did Chris Matthews really ask an Obama supporter a tough question? Or was that a tough question? Nothing. The guy said nothing.

Get your facts straight...it wasn't Hardball all though Chris Mathews had thought it was but was soon corrected that it was not. Should have fired back at Chris and asked him what he ate for breakfast 4 days ago. The question was totally out of the blue. It wasn't that the Senator couldn't answer it was more that he was taken by surprise because they were supposed to be talking about Obama's recent win in Wisconsin and how he thought he would do in Texas. Nice try Chris. Next time remember which program you are on before opening your mouth!!

He makes me proud to be a Cuellar.
Love you Hillary.