All the while you're missing the main story of John Edwards being the candidate who is being the most effective in exploiting and exposing the weakness of the Democratic front runner. Check out this Edwards video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qggO5yY7RAo

Excellent ad. And one that will kill her in a general election.

But John Edwards is the story here. Not Barak Obama.

The Associated Press reported earlier today that advisors to Hillary Clinton acknowledge, in the AP's words, that it's a "clear and long-planned strategy to fend off attacks" on Clinton "by accusing her male rivals of gathering against her." The idea, the AP said, is to "change the subject while making Clinton a sympathetic figure, especially among female voters who often feel outnumbered and bullied on the job."

Would you like to revise and/or extend your remarks?

It's not what Clinton said, it's what her campaign operative Penn has been leaking to the press. Of course there is the possibility that Clinton is just a girl and has no idea what the men on her campaign are saying, but I wouldn't respect anyone who put that argument forward.

Your readers, at least, might remember that Hillary didn't cry "gender." She mentioned it, certainly, in a speech at the women's college from which she graduated. But she never said, "don't pick on me." I have always been a fan of Hillary's. Until Debate Night, I liked Edwards and Obama, too. But since I've seen that they have nothing to contribute to the public conversation except their "gotchas" about Hillary, there's not even a small chance that I'd vote for either of them -- or for Chris Dodd, who once was a respectable man. And incidentally, would 50% of the electorate say they'd vote for him?

Judith Birk Fullingim

Please provide examples where the men on stage attacked Clinton on the basis of gender (or even implied an attack based on gender).

I have seen a couple of people making reference to how Hillary - if elected president - will have to deal with "some of those foreign middle eastern leaders who think her gender should be wrapped in goat skins and scarfs with only air holes to breath."

Isn't a bit offensive to suggest that we should be selecting our leaders based on the prejudices of leaders of other countries? Hasn't the Bush administration already sent out Condoleeza Rice and Karen Hughes to be our emissaries to these same benighted countries? Would it be appropriate to say that we shouldn't have a Jewish president because that might not go over so well in the Arab world? Should the civilized world just stop selecting female leaders because leaders in the Middle East might find them too "girly?"

I'm beginning to suspect that this whole attack on Hillary's "weakness" or "whininess" or whatever is just a indirect way for the anti-Hillary faction to play the gender card whilst pretending that they're not doing so. Unfortunately, the Clinton campaign created the opportunity for you to do so with their clumsy spin, but my oh my, you all certainly jumped at the opening, haven't you?

wait till giuliani takes his whacks. Or some of those "foreign" middle eastern leaders who think her gender should be wrapped in goat skins and scarfs with only air holes to breath. Come on, Hillary, to take this stance is unbecoming a woman with such a sharpe knife and leather-skinned hubby sidekick. If these guys are getting to you , you'd better buckle-up for the next level of this contest. You might start by stopping the flip-flopping that the giuliani campagin now has on film and will be using in his first filmmed attempt to "swift-boat" you. This is only the beginning and you've already wilted...

Give me a break you fake liberals!

You can bet if Obama is the nominee and he is engaged in a major battle against Republicans for the office of president (who will SURELY be race bating) He will talk about 'the race card' He's holding it for now... thats all, he's a politician like all of them.

None of you are talking about Obama's embrace of anti-gay biggot McClurkin... and did Russert ask him about that-no, he asked Obama what he was wearing for Halloween!! and had 23 hostile questions for Hillary.

It disgusts me that Salon.com has become Hillary bashing central. Argue about issuse, sure but this denial of the fact that she was being attacked by 6 men is weak. It is significant that she is a woman fighting in an all male arena. Obama's partial black heritage does not compare to this situation and to equate them is just plain dumb.

I'm so glad that Obama is taking a stand and he is doing it in a firm and gentlemanly fashion. I understand that the media would really like Obama to hit Hillary hard, but fortunately he's got more class than that.

Hillary should not get a free pass just because she's a woman just as Obama should not get a free pass because he is African American. They should all state their positions and be questioned on their positions. That's what debates are about.

Frankly, I think this is the beginning of the end for Hillary.

Why "that that" when "that" is sufficient Obama...why?

sorry, zandru, but the sighted among us would "all agree" that obama's a black man. if that bothers you, the repubs have a lovely white robe for your adornment. and hordes of supporters should you decide to make a run for office.

Are you kidding? That response sounds like something that Bush's press secretary would say to brush off a reporter's question. It sounds arrogant and condescending.

But it really is a ridiculous waste of time to belabor this non-issue.

That would have made him seem dodgy and petulant.

Only in the eye of the beholder.

Sorry, picko, I don't buy that.

Once again Senator Obama shows how to conducta dignified campaign. Senator Clinton got hit with tough question just like any front runner would. She proved she can play with the "boys", and is a "politician" as she never answered the questions.

Anyone who spins this as a ploy aganist Hillary because she is a

woman is coping-out for women. I think she proved she will be able to stand up to nasty republican attack IF she wins the primaries.

Clinton and Obama remind me of of my 2 senators, Fenistein and Boxer. Hillary is like Feinstein (republican lite), and Obama is like of Senator Boxer, says what he intends to do and sticks by it. This woman will continue to support Obama.