Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

EDITORIAL: Something fishy (colored) about Clinton's wardrobe
Staff Editorial
University Chronicle (St. Cloud State U.)
07/30/2007

(U-WIRE) ST. CLOUD, Minn. — The process of presidential debating was revolutionized last week when Democratic presidential candidates took the stage to answer user-generated videos from all sorts of Americans via the mass-video sharing Web site, YouTube.

Aired and presented by CNN, the debate brought on 38 questions to the candidates ranging from gun control and Iraq to gay marriage and whether Hillary Clinton would be taken seriously by an Arab state if she became president.

Overall, there was less debating than individual answers, and it was shameful to see so many questions being dodged and evaded by the presidential hopefuls.

The final question of the night was meant to lighten the mood, but essentially turned out to waste valuable minutes.

The candidates were asked to voice one like and one dislike about the candidate to their left.

We'd like to remind you all that this is a presidential debate, not kindergarten class.

But the question turned out to be less stupid than the answers on this one.

While generic praise and feeble criticisms were expressed amongst the left-side party-dwellers, John Edwards shared his opinions on the good services both Clintons have done for America and then really let Hillary Clinton have it with his distaste for her...

"Uh, I'm not sure about that coat," Edwards said with a smirk, leaning against his podium.

Clinton, of course, being the only female candidate, took a non-traditional approach of televised debate attire by straying away from the blues and blacks worn by her male opponents and wearing a salmon colored coat.

For a serious debate in one of the most important presidential elections our country has faced, it's shameful to see John Edwards waste our time by making comedic jabs about his female challenger's wardrobe when he should be using that time to challenge and present the voters with thoughtful aspects of other candidates' positions on important issues.

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