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Subscribe to RSSNBC's Kelly O'Donnell talked with both candidates for Delaware Senate, Republican Christine O'Donnell and Democrat Chris Coons, after their first and only debate together. Below, the full clips of the interviews and some excerpts.
Christine O'Donnell on Wednesday's debate
I think last night's debate was certainly a tipping point. The way I described it was we've shattered my opponent's glass jaw. I think over the next couple of weeks you're going to hear the pieces of glass hit the floor.
On the media craze over the race
The media frenzy, as you experienced, is overwhelming and it's not something I welcoe. But I have to laugh because as I walked away and told reporters to please step in line, I looked over my shoulder and there's my opponent taking my leftovers.
On her response to the question of which recent Supreme Court decisions she disagreed with.
I'd like to address that Supreme Court decision -- I mean question. If you'll notice, Wolf said what recent Supreme Court decision did I disagree with. I immediately thought of the second amendment. I immediately thought of Citizens United. And I said to myself, I can't think of a recent Supreme Court decision. And unfortunately that's been mischaracterized. Maybe because that's the only thing they can attack me on.
KOD: Did you feel a litle stupmped by that?
COD: No I just felt like I didn't have an answer because his question was, what recent Supreme Court decision do you disagree with? And under Roberts and under Rehnquist I've been very pleased with the decisions that have been handed down.
Chris Coons on what he thought President Obama could do for his campaign stumping in Delaware for him.
President Obama is going to be joined by Vice President Biden, who represented Delaware and held the Senate seat here for 36 years. And I'm honored to have the active support of the president and the vice president. But frankly I'm running to be the independent voice for Delaware... I'm grateful for the input, grateful for the support, but frankly, I'm making it clear. I'm running to represent Delaware.
On whether Christine O'Donnell is qualified to represent Delaware in the Senate.
That's a decision that Delaware's voters are going to make on Nov. 2nd. I think the debate we had at the University of Delaware certainly raised some questions about whether she's studied up on the current issues that would face any senator who would take this seat.
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The water has officiallyoffically been "chummed"...:)
I lol'd.
Christine's career is running for office to pay for her expenses. She is a republican re-packaged as a tea party candidate, with nothing but sound-bites like Palin. Anyone who doesn't agree is a socialist/communist/marxist (take your choice). If people vote her into office along with Angle, Palladino and the rest of the "tea party" folks, I pity those states.
Well, O'Donnell and Palladino don't really have a shot at winning... Angle on the other hand could quite possibly take over Reid's seat. I'm not sure if that says more about the voters in Nevada or more about Reid's innabilty to sell himself...Perhaps a little bit of both. In any other election year, candidates like O'Donnell and Angle would be nothing more than blip on the radar... but of course this is the year of the 'angry' voter.
Can't last more'n a term or two.
I am actually curious as to what will happen in the next election cycle if some of these candidates are elected. Granted, it won't be O'Donnell, but Angle and Rand Paul I think have legitimate shots. Will the Tea Party still back them after they realize that nothing has really changed? Will they still be as pumped and vocal when the people they sent to Washington end up just like every other politician on the Hill?
Jeff.
In my opinion none of that makes any difference. At this point I think the general attitude is that ALL politicians are corrupt (or at least to be eyed suspiciously) and the only way to suppress their hunger for money and power is to have a balance in numbers between the two parties in order to keep the power grabs to a minimum. Essentially pit them against each other and then they can do less harm.
That's the way I see it.
I agree with you. What we have seen is that when one party controls both houses of Congress and the White House, things tend to get a little out of hand. We saw it with the Bush Administration and now we're seeing it with Obama. I think in order to keep a balance, both sides need to be FORCED into cooperating. We saw good things happen when Clinton had to deal with a Republican Congress....
Jeff.T
That's a big negative if the Dem's didn't have a majority in the House and Senate this term I would guarantee you that nothing would have been accomplished these first two years. When the opposion party entrenched their heels and said NO they didnt do it as a matter of good governance, it was just to spoil the agenda of the President. When you are dealing with an opponent who will rather shut down government than to compromise as been recently stated by Sen Demint then there's no way to force teamwork.
Term limits maybe the only solution.
"and there's my opponent- taking my left overs"???
What a hoot! Hey, Christine- y' mean, like, 'sloppy seconds' or something?
What an absolute TWITT (wait, let me go to spell check- this doesn't look quite right, somehow.....).
I guess O'Donnell doesn't quite understand that simply because she's a media circus doesn't mean she's a viable candidate. News flash for you- they're all clamouring for you instead of your opponent for the same reason people slow down to look at accidents on the highway.
And you know she rehersed that 'glass jaw' comment in front of the mirror for days before the debate.
Exactly Drive-By... "taking my leftovers" - what an egotistical, bad-mannered, ill-informed TWIT (there, I fixed it for you lol). Hope she's watched the re-run of the debate and knows now that the Russians left Afghanistan in 1989, so it would have been difficult for the Americans to "continue the fight" with them in the 1990's. Facts can't be covered up by a coy, self-satisfied smile.
Dejavu1-
I think Drive-By meant it a little differently. Lets play Wheel of Fortune:
TW_TT
I'd like to buy an 'A'....
Come on Jeff...BIG MONEY... BIG MONEY! lmao
Thanks between you & DBO it's time to clean the screen againb! ;0)))
That woman is delusional. Her concept of herself is totally unrealistic. I can't believe anyone would actually vote for her. I would be embarrassed to admit it if I voted for her.
And we have a WINNER! JEFF T- C'mon down!!
I'll take Tea Bagger for $500 Alex!
Answer: Who are just plain bat sh!t crazy!
Heartlight: Gotta disagree with you on this one... compared to Palin she sounds like a songbird!
Palin on the other hand makes my ears bleed every time I hear her!
I wish it were funny, but it's not. We have candidates that are running for office that are totally unqualified and the media and voters treat it as it's some sort of game. I listened to the Angle /Reid debate last evening and it sounded more like a sitcom gone awry. Sharon Angle didn't have a clue about what she was saying, she was just floundering trying to remember what she had rehearsed. It was a complete joke. At one point Harry Reid pointed to all the jobs he had created in Nevada and Angle's response was that he wasn't in Washington to create jobs, he is there to create policies. HUH!!! Shame on you Harry Reid for creating jobs. And shame on Sharon Angle for saying that pink ribbons don't cure cancer.
And then when we read blogs this morning, we find out people think she did a good job. One person commented on First Read that Angle appeared normal. If she is normal, then I don't want to be.
Since when does the qualification for United State's Senator boil down to "normal"? (In this case, that qualification is hardly fulfilled in any measure)
Agreed. Personally, I'd like someone better than 'normal' representing me. Of course, I know a lot of people get mad at the idea of others being smarter than them and don't want some 'intellectual' in Washington running their country. I for one don't want Larry the Cable Guy making policy decisions, but thats just me.
Hey, that reminds me- where's Joe Wurzzlebacher been lately? Hell, if O'Donnell can mount a campaign, and raise money on Hannity's screwball radio show, he sure as heck could, too!
Larry the Cable Guy: "Let's get er done" "Anyone know what page we're on?"
Tea Partier: " Doesn't matter -just... smile and stab... smile and stab, all together now... socialism, fascist, nazi, gubment, patriot, take my country back". What's for lunch... Emma, pass the pork.
Rambutt,
You interpretation of the Angle/Reid debate was amusing but about 180 degrees out from that of most observers... Vegas newspaper headline was "Angle Mops Floor With Reid"....sounds like you were watching a different debate...it's not possible that you're one of the left wing radical wackos that still support Harry Reid, is it ?
Ramboet
And then when we read blogs this morning, we find out people think she did a good job. One person commented on First Read that Angle appeared normal. If she is normal, then I don't want to be.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Reality check, Rambutt...you're not normal so stop letting it bother you.
Oh, and Angle wins Nevada by a minimum of 10%....take it to the bank..
Coons' lead has been cut in half since the debate...can he hang on by his fingertips until Nov 2nd ? Depends on how bad the folks in Delaware want a "bearded Marxist" representing them in the Senate....although they couldn't do much worse than Joe Bite Me...
Hmm.... a bearded Marxist, or a bearded clam with a partially funcioning brain....
Hmm.....
To summarize your comment, "Blah blah blah blah MARXIST, blah blah blah blah BITE ME"
Let us know when you have any more one-liners to regurgitate.
Hey "O". Have you sent in your donation to the U.S. Chambers of Commerce yet. Glenn Beck is counting on numbskulls like you.
Hey Rambutt,
Has Barney Frank made his weekly donation with you yet ?
I guess you think these polls bought and paid for by the republican party actually mean anything. Furthermore I don't know what polls you have seen but nothing has changed since the dimwit won against her own party. She is still losing by a heck of alot more than any other.
Dems better hope their self proclaimed Marxist candidate wins....this is the only race they want to talk about since it's the only one where they have a shot at winning...Dems couldn't lose Delaware, could they ? Really ?
One big frustrating thing about politics is candidates like O'Donnell. The second frustrating thing is people buy what they are selling regardless if it will hurt them in the end.
I said it earlier, Jody- they still can't get over Obama's win, and will throw whatever is handy through the window- Birth Certificate, Teleprompter, Taxes too high (actually, lowest since 1950), the deficit, jobs the wealty right sent overseas, you name it. It doesn't have to reflect sanity or reality in any way, shape or form. They aren't acutally buying it themselves, they just don't know what else to do. None of what the right is pushing is in 98% of these people's best interests or accrues to their well being .
Is that why all the Dems are running on their accomplishments under Obama ? This Dem Congress will go down as the worst since the Civil War...That's why a lot of current Democrat representatives will be looking for a job after Nov 2nd,,,They should be glad they're not all in jail...
They are running on their accomplishments but if all you watch is Glenn Beck and Foxx you will only hear what they want you to hear. I am pretty sure the republicans aren't running on their accomplishments. Oh yeah they have none
If you're not watching Fox then you're only getting the news that Obammy wants you to get...
You see, what is going on is simple, those who believes that left has gotten away with many things, that rich is losing and core controllers are down does every possible to elect brainless foolish to office. my surprises are how the citizens are buying this nonese.
They only allowed her one debate ...she's a huge risk the min she speaks ! But all i can say if the republicans get back in the rich get super rich and the others get screwed.
Dems couldn't possibly lose Delaware, could they ? I thought that was their one safe state...and now with 18 days to go O'Donnell has cut the lead in half...Nah, that could never happen, right ? I mean she really doesn't have a chance, right ? Right ?
osamaobama we all know you are one of the kooks no need to spew your crap. Lets see I am looking in my crystal ball and O'Donnel is going down. Also just for your future info. Sarah spawn of the devil Palin is crawling back in her hole. Lets see what crap you spin on November 3rd. I am pretty sure we won't be hearing from you at least not under this name.
Dems better hope their self proclaimed Marxist candidate wins....this is the only race they want to talk about since it's the only one where they have a shot at winning...Dems couldn't lose Delaware, could they ? Really ?
Wake Up Everybody there's some witch craft taking place the republican have lied cheated stole every since the house was painted white!!! so wake up and stop blaming a man who's just had 22 months to try and turn around a 8 year old pile of @!$%#!!!remember this is not just for us we must speak for our children i show don't want the tea poopers I mean party governing my child in the future or Sarah Pailin or O'Donnell, so think about that that's a scary thought isn't it? the republicans are strictly for the rich that's why the rich keep getting richer and the poor keep getting poorer, have you heard that the republicans want to reduce the minimum wage are you awake yet? please don't give up without a fight go vote nov.2nd if you don't vote don't hope,wake up everybody no more sleeping in bed no more backward thinking it's time for thinking ahead!!! President Obama is but one man with one hand tied behind his back by the republicans and those who just sit on the side lines and complain he need some help remember he didn't put us in this mess bush and the republicans did so instead of asking our wonderful president who was brave enough and had the courage to take on this difficult job of being our president some people ask this question who's the least of two evils? the answer is clear President Obama and the democratic party hands down!!!things won't get no better if we just let them be and that's what those snakes (republicans) are wishing we do nothing at all on Nov.2nd let's fool them again as we did when we elected President Obama lets show them that they really don't know us as well as they think they do!!! God Bless America The Land I love!!! Tina Marie Clark lyricistleo59@yahoo.com
Tina; Very good assessment of the situation we are now in. It is a sad day when some of our people will vote for a candidate based on nothing more than lies. As I watch Republican candidates ads on tv I have come to realize every one of them are spouting the same exact talking points. "I'll bring back jobs" "I'll cut spending" "I'll repeal health care". Good talking points that appeal to their base but what will they say if elected? Nothing!!!! They will find that nothing is going to change so long as we have greedy corporations sending our jobs overseas in order to boost their earnings for shareholders. Had Pres. Obama not acted to invest in our economy we were headed for depression. We have a President who is taking bold unpopular steps to bring our country out of disaster and the Republicans are fighting against him only because he is a Democrat. His successes might give him a second term. That is what the fight is all about. Just wait. If either or both houses gain a Republican majority after Nov. 2, the President might as well stay up in the White House family quarters because Republicans will guarantee he is successful with nothing and we all slide downhill because of it.
When asked about recent Supreme Court decisions with which she disagreed, Christine O'Donnell said "there are so many" but could not name one. Now she chooses to reinvent the question and her musings about the answer. Oh, the word recent threw her off; she immediately thought about the second amendment. Well, Christine, what about the second amendment? Do you know what the second amendment is? Has Ms. O'Donnell made her voting record of the past 20 years public? I very much doubt that she voted in every election, national or local. Her answer (finally) regarding a Supreme Court decision sounds memorized and thankfully the reporter did not ask her to speak in depth about her opinion. Again, does she know how the government got into the mess that she claims to be able to fix? Perhaps while she was playing at witchcraft and enjoying the 20 or so years of college life (she finally received her college degree this year after taking a required course and paying her tuition, probably with campaign finance money) Christine forgot to read the newspapers that announced tax cuts for the very wealthy by both Bushes, their outsourcing of American jobs to 3rd world countries and the large monetary incentives to businesses to do so, the rising number of unemployed, many of whom joined the military to become target practice for Bush's illegal wars, let's call them invasions, of countries that Bush knew contained no weapons of mass destruction. If anybody is to blame for the 9/11 attack, it should fall on the shoulders of George W. Bush. It happened on his watch, he created the distrust and hate that rose up in the extremist Muslim community by destroying a country and its infrastructure. Come on O'Donnell, you know so little and care so little, except for what you stand to gain as the too-cute, but aging mouthpiece of people who really don't care for you or the rest of the American people. After you lose your race, who will need you? We already have one Palin--and one is too much.
By the way, Christine, lying about your opponent's record doesn't make it true. There is a website called www.truth.org that checks so-called facts for their veracity. You might want to take a look at it after the election when you have plenty of free time.
Ditch the Witch, and the ones running for Senator and Governor of California!
Listen up Dems: Which of the Four Horsemen of the Acpocalypse is Oblaba? Can anyone name that?
If DE vote this bagger into office then they deserve what they get...this womans views shows how dumb and shallow she really is...cannot tackle complexed issues...IS AMERICA BECOMING A COUNTRY RUN BY IDIOTS? GOD PLEASE SAVE US.....
you got that right it all began when we puy that socialist promise breaking crack smokeing.chicago thug non experienced obuma in office,and how come no dems running for reelection are tunning on thier great acclomplishments like obuma care which 20 states are alreadt delcareing unconstitutional plus the stimuis who helped nobody exept put us in more dept the pres has had two years and a trillion dollar but yet unemployment is at 10% what happened to the 8% promissed by obuma/just another lie and prommise broken. I think all the dems running for reelection should have to tell the public that they voted for obuma care, cap and trade, stimulis.afterall if it is so good for the country what are they affraid of, they should be proud of the way they screwd everybody and admit it.
Gitane, When WE THE PEOPLE support the candidate, you get nervous why? Go check and see which of the Four horsemen is Oblaba
reading some of the blogs here brings me to a heart felt request. If so many of you in De. wants Coons, Please don't vote him into the senate, The rest of the country doesn't want him. If he is the best you can do in De. Please don't send anyone, and the rest of the country will be better off for it. The rest of the country knows what harry's pet is all about. keep him in De. please and vote him into your local government so he can Tax you some more.
I feel compelled to offer my opinion again. I see a lot of malicious baloney here. She's not perfect by any means, but most of what I hear is "old stuff," being used to smear her. I don't understand how Coons is even in the running. With all of her "problems," he is the last person in the world this country needs at this time. We have record spending, record deficits, a stimulus package that didn't work, and a health care bill that they had to "pass so we can read it." Now you want to send in a replacement that is more of the same. I don't understand. Delaware, being one of the many, owes the rest of the states a senator with some restraint in spending our tax dollars. We all have a stake in your election, and are therefore entitled to an opinion. If O'Donnell doesn't live up to expectations, and represent the electorate responsibly, I'll help you remove her next time around. Coons will continue to help destroy us all.
What's happening is really simple to understand. An analogy might be; to crash a website, all one needs to do is overload the hits. That is exactly what Washington is doing to our country. They are overloading this country with massive spending and debt which is going to cause our demise if we can't turn it around...and fast! We all are going to be affected negatively with this huge problem. Please do your fair share. I'm from Nevada and we are doing our best to remove our professional politician, our national embarrassment, from Washington. We are all in this together.
It's your vote that counts. Please make it a responsible one. Note: There's no name-calling, or bad language in this argument. I know "common sense" isn't so common anymore, but if you find yourself in a hole, one should stop digging (borrowing). Give her a chance, and stop the smear.
If Mike Castle and Coons were on the ticket in De. then the people of De.would have no choice in the election, because both were Democrats.
Mike castle should run again in the future, but his name should have a D beside it. If you vote for cap and Tax, then he is as much fixiated on Taxing as Coons and Mike Castle ( I like also ) should certainly not be in the Republican party.. I am sure you can depend on your cap and tax vote from Coons, because Reid will tell him to.
Coons and or Christine, will be newcomers to washington. I don't expect either to be policy makers, But they will be a vote in the Senate. How you want your senator to vote, is how you should vote, come Nov. 2 .
You like sleaze and dealing behind closed doors , vote Coons
You want some one with a willingness to listen to the people and cast their vote accordingly, vote O'Donnell
you want entitlement programs, Tax, Borrow, Spend to the point your children will never have a chance to be more than average, vote Coons
You want small government, innovation,free interprise, a chance for your children to accomplish, flourish and benefit both country and the citizens, without government impediment, Vote O'Donnell.
You want Oppressive Taxes taking away significant income from the people and businesses, in the name of fairness, Vote Coons he has a proven record.
you want more welfare recipients depending on government, you want someone to be a pet or trained flea for Pelosi/ Reid, Vote Coons..
The choices are simple, and it is your vote, Cast it for how you want your senator to vote in Washington.
If O'Donnell wins in this election Delaware will be the laughingstock of the entire country.
AND If Coons wins your candidate can bring the same pride to De. that Pelosi brings to Calif. and Reid brings to Nevada.
I can help you with your choices, by simply removing the names of the candidates.
If you like commie care then vote Democrat.
If you like cap and trade then vote Democrat.
If you like high taxes vote Democrat.
If you like shocking poverty induced by high taxes vote Democrat.
If you like all your rights taken away vote Democrat.
If you like to be unemployed vote Democrat.
If you want more failed economic policies vote Democrat.
If you believe the media with stories like the recession ended in March vote Democrat.
If you hate America and freedom vote Democrat.
If you Like Marxism and want to be a communist vote Democrat as 98% of all Democrats are Progressives.
This woman is Palin twin, how in the world did they get to be elected candidates to run for such high offices of the people of the United States of America? I mean we all need to re-look at what is happening in America, this should never be happening in America, we are a strong and serious country and our government officials should reflect our strengths, not cause us to be looked upon as something out of a comic book. Americans, we can do much better.
I re-worded it a bit, it sounds much better, and more enlightened, don’t you think?
How in the world did we get so many to be elected candidates in such high offices of the people of the United States of America? I mean we all need to re-look at what is happening in America, this should never have happened in America, we are a strong, serious and a once prosperous country, and our government officials should reflect our strengths, not our weaknesses, and not cause us to be looked upon as something out of a comic book. Americans, we can do much better. Come November we can begin to vote out many of the clowns in Washington, and in 2 years we can vote the Fools that are left out. Many of us feel very passionate about the situation, just like you and can not wait until Nov. 2, to restore some of our dignity. America can survive B. Obama who is after all, merely a fool. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools such as those who made him their president. We must somehow find a way to restore common sense and good judgment to the electorate, that is the biggest challenge we face.
I am an Hispanic Voter Nobody Tell Me or Suggest Me How To Vote It Is My Constitutional LEGAL Right.
I won't "misdirect" my vote. I won't vote "stupidly". I will vote to better the country not to destroy the country. I won't vote according to special interests. I will vote according to my conscience.
HERE ARE SOME REASONS WHY I WILL ALWAYS VOTE FOR DEMOCRAT CANDIDATES:: McCarthy + Nixon + Agnew + Mitchell + Sloan + Liddy + Haldeman + Ehrlichman + Reagan + Quayle + North + Bushes + Cheney + Rumsfeld + Ashcroft + Gonzales + Paulson + Rove + Gingrich + Bachmann + Palin + O'Reilly + Beck + Hannity + Limbaugh, O'Donnel and many, many others.
Diente35, Here are the major reason I won't vote for Dems, Liberals, or Progressives. In most countries of the world, their progressive programs have failed and millions died. The fact is their programs don't survive as they have to have other people's money to implement it and sooner or later all the social programs fail. Unrest follows. People die. History has shown that govts become totalitarian and repressive. When I read the history of the Democratic Party and found that its ancestor was the American Communist Party in past years, I was glad I was born into a Conservative family of business and free enterprise. Its not perfect but it does not carry the stench of death and repression.
I'll be so glad when this midterm election is over. I am tired of the constant negative propaganda coming from the right! This crap has been going on for more than two years, non-stop! Unfortunately, starting November 3rd, this crap will be ramped-up to jump-start the 2012 election! And, taxpayer money will continue to be used in paying the salaries of more senators and congresspersons who will be campaigning instead of doing the people's work for which they were elected to do.
I will wager that Christine O'Donnell will not win Delaware's senatorial election; but, we will be hearing from her, just as we have been hearing from Sarah Palin since she and McCain lost in 2008. Christine will not have to worry about living off of campaign funds, Fox will make her a millionaire during the next two years. She may also put her name on a few books and call herself an author and get on the speakers' forum and charge $75,000 a speech and $10,000 for a photograph with her, as has Sarah Palin. So, in my opinion, Christine O'Donnell will win more by her not winning the election. Opportunities awaits her! Unfortunately, for many of us, we won't be rid of her, just as we have to continue hearing from Sarah Palin. Fortunately, Christine will not have to renege on a commitment to Delaware for personal gains and profits as did Sarah Palin.
Lastly, this midterm election - senate, house and governor races, will add to the control of big corporations and multinationals on our government. They have the Judicial Branch in their pocket and are on the brink of putting the Legislative Branch in their pocket. Presently they have at least 23 Republican governors at their beck-and-call and will add to this majority with the results of this midterm governor races. As is evident, they are seeking to take over the Executive Branch in 2012. So folks, say good-by to democracy and say "hello" to! Oligarchy and Totalitarian.
Benjamin Franklin said it well, "We have a Republic, if we can keep it." The possible outcome of this midterm election will bring an end to our Republic because we blindly gave it away!