should Obama have spoken in response?

[fryguy]

or is there some tradition that the "leaders" give the reply? after the speech at the convention it would have been nice to have seen some energy in the dem's response....

[davidwparker]

1. No.

[high density]

2. No thanks

He's already not off to a good start, IMHO.

[jody]

3. Why? He is not qualified to respond. n/t

[Albert Einstein]

4. He voted against us twice. I wanted to hear Barbara

At least NBC spoke to her.

[gordianot]

5. No, There will or should be permanent damage over Rice.

His star melted away.

[fryguy]

6. i'm pissed at the rice vote also

but are you saying that you're turning your back and writing off any senator that voted for her?

[gordianot]

11. Yes, I'm tired of pragmatic DINO's.

Obama's vote would have symbolic, sometimes symbols are important. He did not have to speak out, but could have voted. This is a terrible start, this is why we lose to Republicans. It saddens me he was/is being billed as the future of the Democratic party. I hate to see such potential being wasted.

[frankly_fedup2]

8. I agree. He is on that committee, agreed that Rice lied; however,

he followed the other Dem's on the committee that basically said she should not get the job, but they are going to vote yes for her to get the job.

As far as his speaking, he is a junior senator. Nancy Pelosi is the minority leader and she handles the job very, very well.

Obama has not earned that right yet. Just like Hillary Clinton. She is still a Junior Senator as well and has not earned that right even with all of her experience in the White House, she gets no special treatment either.

[DefenseLawyer]

10. Biden voted for Rice, lots of people voted for Rice

I think Rice is unqualified, was terrible in her confirmation hearings and should not be Secretary of State. That being said, she was going to be confirmed, so how would a vote against the President's choice for his cabinet have accomplished anything, other than a "moral victory"? I think at some point in the real political world you have to choose your battles. I'm not going to start hating one of the rising stars of our party because of what was in reality a meaningless vote.

[bigwillq]

7. No. He's been a U.S. senator for what-a few weeks if that

I think Obama, and I like him a lot, needs to wait his turn just a bit.

Plus, I'm a little pissed that he voted for Condi, although I think he had other intentions in mind when he voted for her.

[umtalal]

9. NO.

[AntiCoup2K4]

12. Obama ran over to shake Junior's hand like a goddamned groupie

...so far, he's not living up to his impressive hype machine at all.

[CWebster]

14. I watched him do the same thing with Miss Condoleeeeza nt

[Silverhair]

13. NO. He needs to aquire some time and seniority in the senate.

Right now, he is a rookie, NOT a leader - yet.