Wednesday was a difficult day for The American Independent News Network, which is the larger entity that operates The Iowa Independent. Our chief executive and founder announced two of our sister sites would close and their content would be moved to The American Independent.
A recently introduced bill could have far-reaching impact on the U.S. sugar industry, including American Crystal Sugar, a farmer-owned cooperative that locked out 1,300 Midwest workers on Aug. 1.
The chairman for Herman Cain’s Iowa effort says the campaign “relied more on the word of farmers than Washington regulators” in deciding to run an ad containing claims the Environmental Protection Agency says are false.
The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.
And in Clinton-Obama matchup, Obama wins with superior spontaneity and authentic moment with Biden on race
With a command of details on China, foreign policy and education, U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd, who also just seemed more alert, on the balls of his feet intellectually, this afternoon displayed a separating statemanship in The Des Moines Register Democratic Presidential debate on Iowa Public Television. It was his day on the stage.
Barely registering in the polls Dodd’s “win” in the debate is something to be seen in a vaccuum.
As the race in Iowa — and New Hampshire and South Carolina for that matter – turns into something of a fight for a razor’s edge divide between the party’s two leading lights, Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, Obama’s superior spontaniety and moving and authentic moment with Sen. Joe Biden allowed the Illinois senator to score more points than Clinton.
In the most memorable part of the debate, Des Moines Register editor Carolyn Washburn asked Biden to respond to questions about some clumsy comments he’s made over the past year dealing with race — namely the time he referred to Obama as “clean” and “articulate,” as well as that now well-watched YouTube video where he pontificates about Asian-Indians being as common in 7/11′s as stale hot dogs and Slurpees.
Biden — to applause from his fellow candidates — said he entered politics because of civil rights and that he has strong support among minorities in Delaware.
“It may be possible because I speak so bluntly that people misunderstand,” Biden said.
Obama, who was standing next to Biden, jumped in to defend his Senate colleague in what was clearly one of those rare genuine moments in politics.
“I have absolutely no doubt what’s in his heart,” Obama said. “I will provide some testimony, as they say in church, that Joe is on the right side of the issue.”
Obama, quoting Martin Luther King, Jr., also talked about the “fierce urgency of now,” and showed some heft and confidence in answering a question about what he would do early in his presidency. Obama said: call in the Joint Chiefs of Staff and chart a new course in foreign policy, bring in his attorney general and restore a respect for the the Constitution and personally lead a health-care overhaul. He sounded in command and presidential, and while subtle, this performance, seen largely by party activists, could dispel some of the concerns about lack of experience.
The best comeback of the afternoon belonged to Obama as he nimbly managed a question about why several former Clinton Administration people were working with him.
“Hillary, I’m looking forward to you advising me as well,” Obama said.
Clinton’s answer on her first days in office wasn’t nearly as presidential as Obama’s.
“Well, I’m going to be busy,” she said. Sure, she elaborated. But Obama’s use of “joint chiefs” right away, followed quickly with the “my attorney general” came across as more leading man whereas Hillary — on the day the Golden Globe nominations were announced — seemed like what many people see her as, a supporting actress from a series of 1990s movies that inspire notions of nostalgia from many, and dread from others.
I’ve called several of the previous debates for Clinton but in reviewing my notes not much stands out with her today. She did handle a Farm Bill question well by going with the obvious answer: follow the lead of U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa.
For his part John Edwards, the former North Carolina senator, stays on message with his John Grisham lawyer against the world routine. But Edwards did have the most intriguing policy idea of the debate: a national teaching university that would be similar to one of the military academies. He coupled this with bonus pay plans for teachers and some wicked-good populism in blasting the suburbs.
“What you see in America is very wealthy suburban schools that get everything they need and then very poor rural schools,” Edwards said.
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, great on the stump out in our small communities, is just not a good debater. But he did earn points for himself as a potential vice presidential candidate early on today by giving a nod to the Clinton years on an economics question. What’s more, Richardson talked about wanting to get rid of junk food in schools and then acknowledged that his New Year’s sesolution is to lose weight so he’s consistent here.
In barely a minute, Dodd managed to sum up the United States-China relations, why “we don’t have access to their shelves” and the need for more “thoughfulness.” It was one of the more impressive substantive — and eye-opening — answers I’ve heard during the debates.
On his A-game again, Dodd had a wonderfully constructed answer about the marriage of security and concern for human rights in our foreign policy.
“It ought to be a part of the seamless conduct of our foreign policy,” Dodd said.
Because of the dynmatics of the race here in Iowa — with a varsity and junior varsity contest of sorts — you have to examine Dodd and Obama separately. Or do you?
For weeks now, I have had the theory that Dodd would make a strong running mate for Obama should the Illinois senator get the Democratic nomination — even though this would run counter to conventional wisdom about picking a vice presidenntial candidate from a key state (Florida or Ohio) or going with a Southerner or Latino.
As I reported earlier, Dr. Steven Kraus of Carroll observed something a few weeks ago at the Jefferson-Jackson dinner: Dodd, a U.S. senator from Connecticut, and Obama clearly have respect for each other.
Dodd is simply a classy senator who can answer questions with reliable competency. Yes, the Southwest likely will determine the 2008 election, and sure, a Richardson vice presidential nomination makes sense because of this. But Dodd is fluent in Spanish as I saw firsthand when Lorena Lopez of La Prensa and I conducted a joint interview with him. If Obama gets the nomination Dodd complements him in a number of ways as a running mate — including his ability to campaign in Spanish.
Dodd won’t make mistakes out there and with his reassuring white hair, the elder statesman would be a nice balance for Obama. Youth and wisdom. Age and experience.
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