Can anyone explain why Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are not addressing the issues instead of name calling?

Do they neither one have an understanding of the issues so they have to resort to name calling?

Public Comments

1. Democrats never ever address issues. They only spout rhetoric that the voting sheep want to hear.
2. Because they are democrats, they don't addres the real issues!
3. It's called running for public office. McCain doesn't have to worry about this anymore.
4. They cannot address the issues or they may slip and let the country find out how Socialist they are. That or clueless.
5. Details.......lol......I did see Obama says..."I will fix it (add whatever here).... I guess you faint next.....
6. obama is trying to but hillary keeps starting sh**
7. I think he's totally clueless....all he does is preach "We need chaaaaange!", like a broken record. I'd truly be scared if he got in. I don't like either one, but I think she has more smarts...
8. Duh! It is what democrats do. They have been extremely successful demonizing republicans ... Liberals have to hide their own agendas ... and even deny they are liberal.
9. Hillery does address the issues. Obama does not understand the issues enough to address them, so he goes with a you better "hope" I can do something and I will not tell you what the "change" is
10. They do address the issues, but given the animal interests of TV watchers, the media tends to give most attention to the name calling, etc. Do not only consume what is "fed" to you; use your intelligence to research and seek out the truth behind the news (which earns its money by attracting a large audience, not by telling the truth).
11. Elections are another name for popularity contests. Actual issues take a backseat. They are more concerned about winning than they are about addressing important concerns.
12. They (ironically) are demonstrating the "real" leadership tactics they like to employ, and it's not a very Presidential Approach in my opinion. I want a president who has class. Charming and intelligent but with enough confidence to not back down or be swayed. Neither of these people-Obama or Clinton show the kind of integrity I want in my president. I am Independent. I don't much care for McCain either, but God.I have to vote?! don't I?
13. It's simple Hillary keeps up the basing of ABM and He keeps deafening him self from her as she is using dirt tricks just as Bill used then in his presidents,plus she is taking to twisting the truth and using a little girls trick of crying so it levies no time for Obama to tell people what we need to hear
14. I'm so sorry about the first answer. The truth is, they both have plenty of understanding about the pop-culture issues presented by the media - all of which have to do with Iraq and Iraq fallout - except Hillary's mandatory healthcare. Basically, they are running on the strategy of "why waste time beating the republicans if we're going to win by just not being them?" IMO, Hillary represents what has gone wrong with the blue party recently - albeit with respect for overcoming personal and gender issues that shouldn't have existed in the first place. She is supported by lobbyists, Chinese, and large groups of people with special interests in mind first, and positive change for the entire country second. Barack has stayed out of this until recently, seeing that her power structure is still intact, and her negativity is keeping her in the race. He is supported by actual PEOPLE (even if the majority of them aren't "like me", they're actual warm-blooded individuals). As far as issue stances, they're basically "not red", party line, tax and spend Dems, who want out of Iraq and to increase subsidizing poverty induced by failure to compete worldwide on goods and services. They have cool new "genders" and "races", but their direction is nearly the same - Hillary making more conservative changes (except healthcare) and Obama fighting congress for more progressive action (except healthcare). Please ignore my culturally dying and obsolete friend above, even if we look the same. Dying cultures tend to try to make others hurt and bring them down - eg: terrorists, kkk, Korea.
15. You're right. They don't want to talk about the issues because they are confused. The media's golden child who used to have a halo around his head (AKA Obama) is finally putting on his boxing gloves. You know what - just sit back, relax and watch the fight. Just let them beat each other down.
16. To be honest, I don't think Obama had any idea he was going to do so well. Since he is so young and inexperienced, I bet he was just trying to get his name out there, you know, like introducing himself to America. This was not supposed to happen and he is totally unprepared. So I agree with you, he probably does not have a strong understanding or any solutions for the many issues America faces. How could he? Such early success may undo him. It is easy to see a very disappointed America if he is inept as President. A quick four years and out. Then what? Join Jimmy Carter building houses fort he next forty years? Loosing this time may be the best thing that could happen. If he takes the opportunity to gain experience, take definite positions and leadership roles in the Senate, combined with his intelligence and appeal he may eventually become a far better President than he would be now. Everyone already knows Hillary. She has no intention of revealing what she really intends to do and alienate the voters in the General Election. *
17. If they addressed the issues they would eventually have to answer the following questions: 1) What EXACTLY is the problem? 2) What EXACTLY do you propose to do about it? 3) How EXACTLY will you pay for it? And if you answer those questions suddenly people will expect you to actually do what you said you'll do. Or, even worse, they'll realize that what you propose simply won't work or isn't worth the price, and they'll vote for somebody else. Politicians are scared to death of accountability. So name calling is safe. You can spin public perception, you can make the election about character, and you can rely on entirely subjective emotions. But if you say "No new taxes!" and then implement new taxes, well, people remember stuff like that. And you find yourself looking for a new job at the first opportunity. Some people say Hillary will bring home the troops, and link to stories of her saying that within 60 days of her inauguration we'd start drawing down troop levels. Look again! What she really said is that within 60 days she would appoint a committee to STUDY the issue with the GOAL of starting to pull troops out. Basically her promise to "bring troops home" is just a promise to "hold a meeting to discuss the possibility of bringing troops home". She knows what the issues are, and what the populace wants done about them, but she's too crafty to say something that will come back to haunt her. Believe a politician at your own risk.