[Commentary] Hillary Rodham Clinton’s dominating CNN/YouTube debate performance tonight flipped the script on America. Or it should have.

No longer should the question be: Can a woman be president? With her fourth in a series of crushing Democratic debate performances, the question everyone in America should be asking themselves: What have we been missing by eliminating more than half our population from the  application process for this job since the late 18th century?

Much will be made of the differences in foreign policy answers between Clinton and U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Il. When asked whether they would take on one-one-one sessions with a series of dictators, evil-doers, if you will, Obama noted that President Ronald Reagan spoke with Soviets at the same time he was calling their nation an “evil empire.” Of course, that’s back when we were playing against nation-states — and under what amounts to Marquis of Queensberry Rules compared to today’s foes.
Clinton answered next, saying that she wouldn’t agree to the premise of the question, that she’d sure not promise (to someone on YouTube) to meet with any leaders within a year. She’d send “high-level envoys” and work “back channels” first, and not allow backwater dictators even a hint of sunlight for “propaganda purposes.” It was the sort of nuanced answer from someone who has been in the room, knows how to play the game. In other words, HRC’s answer was devastatingly competent.
But her best stage work came in response to just the sort of question that her detractors love to use. Not even bothering to conceal his contempt for Clinton, a YouTube questioner asked her how she could deal with Muslim nations and other patriarchal places in the world that discriminate against women.
She quickly noted that she’s been to more than 80 nations as a senator and former First Lady. Again, in the room.
“I believe there isn’t much doubt in anyone’s mind that I can be taken seriously,” said Clinton, who seized the No. 1 ranking in this debate.
Then, for good measure, she again flipped the script on the cad who asked this question. It is entirely appropriate for the United States, in fact, even preferable, to have a woman president dealing with Muslim nations and woman-subjugating locales. Brilliant.
Clinton had one of the better policy responses as well, suggesting that $50 billion in big-oil subsidies go to green energy R&D.
“It’s time we started acting like Americans again,” Clinton said.
When asked the dynastic question, the Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton scenario, she recognized what most reasonable Americans do: One of the bulbs in the post-1988 POTUS string of lights is a burnout. In a letter: W.
“I think it is a problem that Bush was elected in 2000,” Clinton said. “I actually thought someone else was elected."
Ranking the rest of the candidates is particularly challenging tonight because of two reasons: the gulf-like difference between Clinton and the pack and the wild format of the “debate” in which not all candidates answered each question or received equal time. That said, one can make the case for the following rankings of the debate:
2. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.
Some of this has to do with expectations. He’s been just plain awful in earlier debates. I've seen kids look less awkward at spelling bees than Richardson in those last debates. But tonight he showed some of what those of us in Iowa have seen on the stump. On gays in the military, Richardson strongly said that men and women who are putting their lives on the line shouldn’t get a lecture on sexual orientation. He connected with the anti-war crowd (in other words, most of the nation now) with a strong answer on Iraq — getting out in six months with no residual troops. ‘No politics, get it done.” The minimum wage for teachers idea — 40K — good; and the plan to verify “paper trails” with voting surely should resonate with Dems.

3. Senator Christopher Dodd.
The Connecticut veteran just looked comfortable up there. All of his answers were solid, and for being in his 60s, Dodd seemed to embrace the New Age debate format and roll with it as well as anyone. Powerful answers on Katrina response. Strongest specific plan on global warming: corporate carbon tax and 50 mpg standards. Missed Opportunity: when asked what family members have served in the military, Dodd should have noted (even though a bit off the question) that his father, Thomas Dodd, prosecuted Nazis at Nuremberg. No one in the field can top that, and that connection is actually one of the most admirable things about Dodd. A man whose dad was nailing these guys at Nuremberg has to have some of the right stuff, right?
4. John Edwards
The former U.S. senator from North Carolina conducted himself with grace and dignity. The crowd shots to his wife were big winners. He seemed genuinely outraged by poverty and some of the health-care nightmares and concerns people talked about in videos presented during the debate.
5. Barack Obama
Obama is playing not to lose. He’s like a golfer laying up on a par 5 going for a sure par when he’s down. As someone said to Sergio Garcia as he approached the 18th hole in the British Open Sunday: go with the driver already, Barack. Sure, with the fund-raising success he’s having, it’s way, way, way too early for major risks. But mix it up a little. He started to when a You-Tuber asked an obnoxious question about whether he is black enough. Obama started in on this line about getting cabs, how well, you know … and then he went Rotary Club nice, saying he believed in the “core decency” of the American people and that we all really do want to get along. Who didn’t want to see Obama take this guy’s virtual head off in his answer? Obama’s A. Phillip Randolph-like dignity is admirable. Still …
Obama’s answer on gay marriages is the best among  the candidates and one that will sell in America. Government can call relationships between gays a civil union, turn it into a paperwork thing for hospital visits and property rights. It’s churches that should decide whether a union of two people deserves to be called a marriage.

6. Joseph Biden
The veteran U.S. senator from Delaware showed strength and courage of conviction, to be sure. But he gets the last slot of the legitimate candidates because of his dismissive attitude toward the freewheeling YouTube format. Yes, senator, I agree, some of the questions like the last one, where you were asked to look to the person to your left and say what you liked best and least, were crazy exercises, demeaning to a serious process in a most serious time. Biden clearly appeared to believe that he is above the carnival nonsense of this YouTube format. Which he is. He’s also perhaps above the moder
n-day process for running for president. He could hold his own in a Senate floor debate on slavery in the 1850s, though — back when people actually read books and carried extensive vocabularies. Can we set up a computer-generated debate between Biden and Henry Clay of the Whigs? Great defense of his vote to fund troops in Iraq: Some of the money would go to armor for vehicles that could save lives.

7. Dennis Kucinich
He just looked so happy with himself when Anderson Cooper was showing his campaign ads on the big screen. He’s clearly an attention addict. The campaign would be better off if he switched to heroin and headed to the alleys of Cleveland.
8. Mike Gravel
 In past articles and debate analysis pieces I’ve given this former U.S. senator from Alaska credit for his work in releasing the Pentagon Papers during the Vietnam War and in raising awareness about the ludicrous war on drugs. He’s earned a place in history. But his childish finger-pointing at Obama and Clinton tonight should earn him a trip off the stage and back to a life of relative obscurity. A “South Park” send-up would be a nice parting gift.