Town hall: Clinton's classroom and Bernie's rearview mirror

[riversedge]

Hillary is at her best when fielding questions in Town Halls--she has had them since she stepped in this race.


Town hall: Clinton's classroom and Bernie's rearview mirror
http://us11.campaign-archive1.com/?u=47c9040f6ff957a59bd88396e&id=0f2e8c3bd7&e=4bc8ead8d6

Hillary Clinton is at her best when she’s fielding wonky or philosophical questions with room to explain herself. And twice Wednesday night during a town hall in Derry, New Hampshire, moderated by CNN's Anderson Cooper, she comfortably embraced the role of professor and turned the town hall into her classroom.

First came a question about assisted suicide from a man who is suffering from terminal colon cancer. “This is the first time I’ve been asked that question,” Clinton said. By the time she had wound her way through the ethical challenges of the issue, Clinton even said she had a country whose policies could serve as a case study in mind: the Netherlands.

Later, Clinton was asked by a rabbi how she stays humble while possessing the ego necessary in presidential politics. Clinton cited Catholic priest Henri Nouwen’s book “The Return of the Prodigal Son.” “(The message) basically is practice the discipline of gratitude,” she said, explaining that limitations necessitate reaching out to more people and that critics should be heard. “But at the end, be grateful. Practice the discipline of gratitude,” she said. “And that has helped me enormously.”.......................

[NurseJackie]

2. There's a big difference between being listened-to, and lectured-to.

Hillary has clearly shown what a good listener she is, and the town halls definitely play to her strengths.

[Gamecock Lefty]

3. Amen, NurseJackie!!!

[Armstead]

4. You missed something

"Bernie Sanders doesn’t like to talk about himself much. And really, as a candidate vying to lead a forward-looking “revolution,” he doesn’t have to. But when he does, it works...."

[riversedge]

6. I did not miss it.

[Armstead]

8. Just sayin' it's misleading to take balanced assessment and selectively cut out the otehr half

It basically said they both did well in different ways in response to personal questions....NOT that Hillary triumphed

[riversedge]

13. i can put what I want of an article in my OP. And readers can click the link if they desire.

[Armstead]

15. And I can put the other side into a response

nyah,nyah...and this exchange sounds like two junior high students (both of us), so time to move on.

[riversedge]

16. No one said you could not.

[mcar]

5. Great answers!

I'm sorry I missed it. Somehow I didn't even know it was happening.

[riversedge]

7. I almost missed it as I was focused on Thrusdays--tonights msnbc debate...

Actually I saw a few mentions of it--but I thought --they got the wrong day--then I looked into it --as the sun was setting and I was out shoveling a lot yesterday (beautiful outside right now)--and I realized --oops--that is just a few hours from now.

[mcar]

9. Surprised they did them two nights in a row

But NH is near so it does make sense. I love seeing HRC in a town hall format.

[thesquanderer]

10. I actually didn't like the assisted suicide answer.

On one hand, yes, it was a great touchy-feely moment for her.

But in the end she took no position, and basically said, this is something that is going to require a lot of thought.

This is not a new issue. This has been a major concern in this country for a long time, not just among philosophers/ethicists/doctors/lawyers, but even in "everyman" conversations, going back at least to Dr. Kevorkian. States are actively legislating it.

http://euthanasia.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000132

She gave what looked like it was going to be a great preamble leading to actually saying what her actual personal thoughts about it were, as complicated as it is. But ultimately, all she said was, it's hard, we're going to have to consider it carefully. Well, duh.

In the end, it was an impressively elegant avoidance of answering a question.

[Armstead]

11. She does that on every issue

Sounds very eloquent....But ultimately leaving one wondering "But what did she actually SAY?"

That approach typifies why nothing gets done these days ...It's a handy way of kicking all the cans down the road

[MineralMan]

12. Now, there's a complex issue. There really isn't a simple answer

for it. People feel differently about that topic, as they do about many topics. I'm sure that Hillary Clinton, like most people, is conflicted on that issue. I know that I am.

It's simply not one that can be answered yes or not, categorically. Her answer was appropriate for someone running for office.

[Arazi]

17. Its an easy answer - its a private decision between patient, dr and families

[riversedge]

14. It is a critical issue for many families and people. I am proud that she is

thoughtful and reflective. And I trust she will study the issue.

[thesquanderer]

19. Has she not studied it since the last time she was asked about it?

see:

http://assisted-dying.org/blog/2008/04/07/presidential-candidate-hilary-clinton-supportive-of-oregon-assisted-suicide-law/

Despite the headline that says she supported the law, her actual answer (quoted in the text) was more wishy-washy.

Q: Would you have voted for {Oregon’s assisted suicide law} if you were a resident of the state?

A: I don’t know the answer to that.

Though she did also say that, "with appropriate safeguards and informed decision-making, I think it’s an appropriate right to have." So there was at least some semblance of support there, which I suppose is what the headline is based on.

She did put her toe in the water in that answer. But if she hasn't studied the issue further since 2008, I don't know why you would trust that she will study the issue further this time. She actually gave less clue about her position now then she did in 2008. Maybe she's in the middle of evolving.

[Arazi]

18. Agreed

It's an easy answer - its a private medical decision between the patient, doctor and family

Period.

Nobody else gets to be in the middle of that.