Debaters: Sen. Barack Obama (D), right, looks at Sen. John McCain as he makes a point Friday during the first US presidential debate, at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Miss. (Jim Bourg/AP)
In McCain-Obama debate, a clash of two visions
By Alexandra Marks | Staff writer/ September 27, 2008 edition
Oxford, Miss. – Against the backdrop of what could be the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama presented starkly different visions of how they would lead the nation during Friday night’s high-stakes debate.
In what was perhaps one of the most substantive encounters in recent history, the two candidates clashed on everything from tax policy to the war in Iraq to how they’d handle the growing threat from Iran.
Senator McCain repeatedly tried to paint Senator Obama as naive and untested, while Obama regularly sought to tie McCain to what he called the “failed policies” of the Bush administration.
Both countered the attacks with a sense of command and control. Obama called for a new approach to foreign and economic policies, calling the current economic crisis “the final verdict on eight years of failed economic policies promoted by George Bush and supported by John McCain.”
As he touted his credentials as a pork-barrel-cutting maverick, McCain regularly quipped “you don’t understand” to Obama. “It’s well known I have not been elected Miss Congeniality in the United States Senate nor with the administration,” he noted twice.
“It was one of the more competent debates we’ve seen in a long time. There were no major gaffes. It was data-driven, and both spoke clearly to their constituencies, as they should have,” says Allan Louden, a debate expert at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C. “I would rate it as a draw, but if it’s a draw, the draw goes to the challenger and that would be Obama.”
Several instant polls during the debate gave the overall advantage to Obama on handling the economy and Iraq. By a margin of 51 percent to 38 percent, viewers said Obama did the “best job” overall, a CNN poll found. A CBS poll of undecided voters found 40 percent said Obama won, and 22 percent gave the nod to McCain. But such immediate reactions are often short-lived, coming before each campaign begins “spinning” its view of the encounter to the public through the media.
Immediately after the debate, both campaigns sent a battery of high-profile supporters to what’s called “Spin Alley” in the Media Filing Center in Oxford to declare their candidate the clear winner.
“John McCain won this debate by a wide margin. The entire debate was fought on McCain’s ground,” says Charles Black, a top McCain campaign adviser. “The economic segments were largely on federal spending and he was talking about his record of cutting spending. Then you moved into the foreign policy segments, and on every single one of them – Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Russia – McCain was able to show experience, knowledge, judgment, and Obama was on the defensive the whole time.”
Obama’s defenders were just as adamant that the Illinois senator won the debate.
“Obama made the case for change on domestic issues and foreign policy,” says David Plouffe, Obama’s campaign manager. “What John McCain did was basically defend the policies of the last eight years. Again, this was supposed to be John McCain’s debate, his home court advantage – but Barack Obama commanded the foreign policy segments of this debate.”
There were several heated exchanges. The first concerned federal spending and tax policy. McCain said “we have to “get spending under control in Washington,” pointing repeatedly to the $18 billion in so-called earmarks – money for special projects slipped into bills by individual members of Congress.
“He has asked for $932 million of earmark pork-barrel spending,” McCain said of Obama. “That’s nearly a million dollars for every day he’s been in the United States Senate.”
Obama agreed that the “earmark process has been abused” and needs reform. He noted he’s suspended any more requests for his state.
Then he turned the tables on McCain, attacking the Arizona senator’s tax plan for wasting far more than $18 billion a year by “giving $300 billion in tax cuts to some of the wealthiest corporations and individuals in the country.”
“What I’ve called for is a tax cut for 95 percent of working families, 95 percent,” Obama said.
McCain countered that he wanted tax cuts, as well. “I want every family to have a $5,000 refundable tax credit so they can purchase their own healthcare,” he said.
Obama shot back: “Now what he doesn’t tell you is that he intends to, for the first time in history, tax health benefits….”
On foreign policy, two of the more heated exchanges dealt with Russia and Iran.
McCain attacked Obama for saying he’d be willing to sit down with some leaders like Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad “without preconditions.” Such an action would “legitimize him,” McCain said. “That’s not just dangerous, that’s naive.”
“Let me get this straight, we sit down with Ahmadinejad and he says, ‘We’re going to wipe Israel off the face of the earth’ and we say, ‘No you’re not?’ ” McCain said.
Obama said that was absurd – that he would of course respond to Ahmadinejad’s “nonsense.” But he reserved the right “as president” to talk to whomever, if he thought it was in the national interest of the United States.
“The idea is that we do not expect to solve every problem before we sit down to talks,” he said, noting that even the Bush administration has now come around to seeing the need for talks with Iran.
McCain also accused Obama of “a little bit of naiveté” in his initial reaction to Russia’s incursion into Georgia this summer, because Obama called for “restraint” on all sides.
Obama called that a mischaracterization and said he’d been ahead of the curve, warning the Bush administration “back in April” about the presence of Russian peacekeeping troops in Georgia, which “made no sense whatsoever.”
“We have to have foresight and anticipate some of these problems,” Obama said.
During the debate, McCain rarely looked at Obama and never once called him Barack. Obama, by contrast, smiled wryly at some of McCain’s attacks and repeatedly called McCain John. It had the feel of a father-son encounter, some analysts said, with the older man touting his judgment and experience and the younger one calling for change and a different set of priorities to be used in making judgments.
“McCain was primarily past-looking – looking back to the record and his experience. The premise was the past predicts the future,” says Kathryn Olson, a debate expert at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. “Obama was more future-looking, focusing on plans: His message was we need fundamental change because the past doesn’t necessarily predict the future.”
Comments
2. ericmiami | 09.27.08
Will the Palin-Biden debate even take place? If it does, that will be the end of McCain’s being able to claim any kind of judgment.
3. Donna | 09.27.08
McCain’s overall demeaner showed what an ******* he is. If he treats people like Mr Obama that way, How is he going to care about the average US Citizen?
6. Faye Steverson | 09.27.08
I am sick and tired of all this giving government officials a raise when the people who work do good to buy groceries, gas and pay their health bills. For once I would like to see the congress and house of representatives try to live on a salary of less than 20,000. a year and keep up their life style. Obama wants change? Well, why doesn’t he try to live like us and see what change is all about. I believe that McCain would be a patriotic president and that he wouldn’t turn tail and run. A true servant would see that the American people want our stuff (products and revenue) back over here, not sent to other countries and fill their pockets when ours are now empty.
7. Ernie Hyde | 09.27.08
It looked like Obama won to me. But for the issue of the bailout, why can’t the gov. pickup the deficiencies of the mortgage payers based upon their income for a period of time and perhaps give those individuals who signed up for too large of a burden a chance to sell their property. The lenders would have less defaults and the home owners could keep their home for a specified period or maybe could begin paying the whole mortgage. It seems to me that bailing out the elite and the fat cats accomplishes nothing but to tell them to do it again and show us some more greed. Only a thought.
8. Ricardo Taylor | 09.27.08
It is endlessly amazing that a person who has had no executive experience , no military background , no legislative record , no known accomplishment in life can speak on any subject whatsoever . He even knows why the chicken cross the road.
9. Jean Raymond | 09.27.08
The day talking, in an effort to understand, influence, lead is viewed as “naive” is the day we’ve all failed. Refusing to engage in conversation is exactly where the Bush administrations failed.
McCain attacked Obama for saying he’d be willing to sit down with some leaders like Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad “without preconditions.” Such an action would “legitimize him,” McCain said. “That’s not just dangerous, that’s naive.”
10. jon | 09.27.08
For the life of me, I can’t understand how anyone would be *undecided* now.
Both candidates expressed their very different takes on the nation, and the world.
The key to me, was that Sen Obama showed he’s not an *empty suit,* as the GOP talking point suggests.
And it’s on that basis, I think Sen Obama *won* the debate.
People who still wondered, whether Sen Obama has the knowledge, & moxie, saw he does. So, now it’s up to the *undecideds,* to decide which direction they want the Country to go.
For the rest of us, I suspect we all thought our candidate *won.*
11. Mitchg | 09.27.08
It’s frightening to think that we could soon have Dr. Strangelove as commander & chief. McCain demonstrated his petulant, childishly sarcastic side in last night’s debate. Just as McCain refused to look eye-to-eye with Obama, it’s easy to see how McCain would similarly refuse to talk with any foreign leader who wasn’t already in full agreement with him. McCain looked emotionally unstable last night.
12. Citizen Jane | 09.27.08
Mr. McCain certainly was correct in suggesting that he’ll never win any awards for congeniality. His behavior during the debate was condescending and rude. He was rude to his hosts at Ol’ Miss and to Americans in general in his childish wavering over whether or not he’d even show up for the debate. He was rude to stand up David Letterman. His general demeanor during the debate was petulant and sarcastic. How could a man with such poor social skills hope to gain respect from foreign leaders and bring countries together?
13. Steve Erwin | 09.27.08
Mr Obama is too polite with Mr McCain.
He should emphasize his differences. These are the attitudes that will get America off to a bright future, as opposed to Mr MrCain’s reverence for the outmoded and defunct thinking of a bygone and irrelevant era.
Mr McCain’s position is consistently reactionary. His militant resistance to change is characteristic of Mr Bush and the past eight years of economic, political and moral devastation.
Mr McCain’s and Mr Bush’s thinking is what got our country into the compromised, weak and demoralized position we find our selves today.
14. Charles Lewis | 09.27.08
Why did Obama have to look at his bracelet to get the name during the debate to counter Senator McCain’s description of the one he wears. He appeared childish in saying ” I’ve got one too, and then had to look at it to see whose name was on it.
15. Kerry | 09.27.08
It was predictable that McCain would bring up the past over and over from the Vietnam War to the 80’s, but yet we couldn’t see why that was relevant to today’s problems.
All my wife and I saw was an angry old man who didn’t have the Ba%$# to look Obama in the eye and only stood grinning and often angrily pounting like a little kid. That isn’t the way for a leader of a country to respond or interact with anyone he doesn’t agree with.
We saw nothing executive in McCain last night as we started watching the debate as McCain backers, but he lost 2 votes last night and we are voting for Obama…He looked like a President and along with the miserable interview that Palen gave CBS she and McCain aren’t ready to lead anything.
If McCain / Palen are the best our party has, we are in a lot of trouble for many years and I blame it all on Bush; He’s the tax spending liberal and they should seriously switch those labels around. Republicans = liberals & Democrats = conservative…
16. Dean | 09.27.08
Obama was very cerebral and gave an excellent outline of what he would like to do for our future. McCain was still potraying his cowboy attitude and dwelling too much on the past.
17. Jena | 09.27.08
To all American,
We were all waiting for Obama to show if he is fit to be President. Boy!!Did her prove he is fit or what? He is a presidential material, calm, collected, articulate, balanced, smart, educated, handsome and can challenge the world with dignity and respect, and the main thing he proved to the world that he is not irrational but wise by his behavior.
On the other hand, Grandpa McCain, looked grumpy, nervous, mad, upset, with attitude, and everyword came out of his mouth like a scorning uncle.
I was undecided until last night, but I am 100% for Obama/Biden ticket, because everytime I think of Palin, I feel like I am gagging and going to vomit, and to have a McCain and Palin ticket is beyond my tolerance. No way, No how, Absolutely I can’t.
18. Nancy in Michigan | 09.27.08
McCain couldn’t even look at Obama. He had to work too hard to keep his famous temper in check. Even at that he was arrogant and condescending. Notice how he didn’t dispute that he plans to start taxing health benefits. He changed the subject instead. Look on his website, he’s planning to take away the tax deduction companies get for providing health care. So how many companies would continue to provide it? And if they still do, he’ll make the employees pay taxes on the benefits as if it was income. That, along with making employees put 25% of their social security deductions into the stock market (with Wall Street in free fall, is he nut?) McCain is the wrong man for our times.
19. Mike | 09.27.08
My feeling was that it was truly a debate of philosophies. I personally like Obabama’s philosophy. I feel it is more progressive and interactive and that would help rebuild US prestige with the rest of the world. If I was Barack, I would stress that you have experience but it has not helped us avoid any of the current messes, so now it is time to try something more in line with the 21st century and the global economy/workplace.
My worry these days is that we ( the US ) talk a lot about the impact of Iran, North Korea, Pakistan and now Russia but I never seem to hear the European Union agree with us and step up to the plate with their own solutions. Either they are trying to avoid the US or the news media is not covering enough of our foreign interactions. I suspect it is the former argument and that shows we our current foreign policy with all its experience is wrong for the times.
MC
22. Mike | 09.27.08
McCain,the Tin Man, needs some oil to free up his parts and maybe a little heart. The Scarecrow is in need of straw and seems to overcompensate for lack of stuffing and on the job experience. But the Scare crow is doing a good job of scaring us that the next 4 years of the last 8 years will keep the crows converging on Washington. Thing is,the Tin Man,when freed up with a little oil seems to have a better suit of protection to deal with the elements and if he finds his heart,he may be quite a leader.
23. midwestmidwife | 09.27.08
Thank you for a concise report without the spin! I have to say I enjoyed the debate, I really did. I thought both candidates articulated their ideas well. I supported Obama previous to last night, and have to say he was impressive last night. His demeanor of calmness and confidence compared to the smugness and condescension of John McCain. Obama and I are the same age and my father is a retired naval officer (21 years)- at times McCain came across as father figure- the ugly side!! patronizing and lecturing…pulling from his vast well of wisdom and experiences…unfortunately, more of the same of the last 8 years!!
On another note. I am a rural Kansas farmer with 4 children, we home school, attend church, can’t see our neighbors (1.5 miles away), shoot guns when necessary for coyotes in our sheep….PALIN DOES NOT REPRESENT SMALL TOWN WOMEN!! She is out of her league. Someone put her out of her misery and say enough is enough!
24. mary | 09.27.08
After this week of apparent dodging, I half expected McCain to show up unprepared in this first debate, and was therefore surprised that he seemed well prepared and fully up to the exchange. However, his continual message that Obama “just doesn’t understand” didn’t play as well as his advisors perhaps thought it would–especially when Obama, in significantly nuanced statements and responses, showed that he clearly did understand the issues, particularly in the crucial military-foreign policy areas. McCain’s vaunted foreign policy and military expertise is shown, up close and under fire, to be retrograde, reverting to the perspectives and solutions of the 20th century. Obama’s willingness to recognize and apply different approaches to dealing with rogue regimes distinguishes him as forward-looking, not naive, and recommends him to 21st-century political leadership. In this sense, he wins this first debate by a significant margin. Die-hard McCainians aside, many voters, especially those who remain undecided, will finally be convinced that Obama is fully ready to be commander-in-chief, as well as president. The debate format serves Obama’s cause well, and he was wise to resist McCain’s “September surprise,” and to insist that McCain come up to the mark.
25. Larry | 09.27.08
We are well aware of the leftist viewpoint of the Christian Science Monitor, therefore we know which side the Monitor supports–Barack Obama and his scary marxist mentors. Just how wide is the gulf between Obama and someone like Chavez in Venezuela,or his newfound KGB friend in Russia, Putin? Not too wide, theoretically speaking? Communism collapsed in Russia, was driven out in Eastern Europe, continually mutates in China until only the tyranny aspect remains, and rises and falls in South America like patches of weeds that soon dry up. Why then would Mr. Obama imagine that this form of socialism could work in the USA, and why does the Christian Science Monitor continually strike this clanging note of anti-traditional, pro-socialist, relentlessly liberal opinion? The atheism and agnosticism of Marxism match very poorly with the teachings and traditions of Christian Science, so therefore why does the Monitor continue to sport the name? The emphasis has shifted away from Christianity, and even from science, and has now become the essence of “monitoring”. Is monitoring a kind of practicing for the advent of this unpleasant big brother in North America? Why would anyone even want to go near such a concept?
26. Leif Hatlestad | 09.27.08
Ms. Olsen is very confused. Both candidates do speak often of the past. McCain promises his brand of maverickness warrants his separation from the past 8 Bush years. It is the same past, the Bush-McCain tie, Obama believes is our future, if McCain is elected. Ms. Olsen might look at McCain’s record and find that his aversions today are often lies.
27. Leslie (L.V.) Eads | 09.27.08
Iam only 56 and have seen this federal government of ours pushing towards socialism and communist ways instead of allowing us our freedom as it used to be. The foriegn public population in this country has risen greatly in recent years and laws have been put on the books we don’t even know about.
28. Paul | 09.27.08
Obama showed his presidential demeanor, while McCain revealed the mean-spirited approach so evinced by the Bush administration. My question remains, if Ms. Palin is a heartbeat away from the President’s Office, where was she? This has convinced me that the ticket to back is Obama-Biden.
29. Jodie | 09.27.08
This debate highlighted well the philosophical differences of the candidates. Obama sees problems and seeks to discuss our challenges and engage with people to move towards solutions. McCain let’s his hardened ideology cloud his view and refuses to engage with people who don’t see the world exactly as he does.
30. Fred Peters | 09.27.08
Okay, let’s see if I have this CHANGE thing right.. When the democrats got control of Congress, year and a half ago, cause “The People”, wanted change, the following was true: Consumer confidence stood at a remarkable almost three year high, regular gas sold for $2.19 and the unemployment was under five percent.. but the same good people who gave us the Korean War, and an dishonorable take over of the Embassy in Iran, wanted Change.. So.. we got CHANGE.. Consumer confidence has tanked, gas is down from $4.50 to $3.50 a gallon, unemployment has skyrocketed, Our home equity has dropped by over ten Trillion Dollars, one percent of our homes are in foreclosure, and we have on Wall Street a financial Crisis like we havent seen since the Great Depression.. ALL IN THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF.. I’m a seventy seven year old disabled Vet.. Korean War, two Purple Hearts, Silver Star and fought fourteen months without a break.. Doesn’t take a genius to see we’ve Changed in the wrong direction.. and the CONGRESS, Democratic controlled, have sure been changing things.. How much more of me do you folks want?? I’m almost Changed to death…
31. jose | 09.27.08
“ Obama gets The McCain beat down in debate”
No doubt Obama camp is happy they kept lowering expectations for his debate performance because Obama got his clock cleaned by John McCain who kept the young inexperienced candidate looking immature and childish talking in circles. All Obama could do was interrupt with bogus claims of “lying” and looks of frustration and despair. (Not a good performer, unless someone writes a pre-written speech for Obama to study or read on teleprompter) On Iraq and all else, Obama keeps looking to the past instead of the future? Where’s the change Obama? McCain understands the next president has to look to the future and secure not only victory but also stabilizing a fledgling democracy. Obama kept up his all season stupid rhetoric, the war was wrong, the war is wrong, I’m black that makes me qualified to be president!
Especially since he stupidly picked 30 years in Washington, pro war supporter Biden (whose son is a lobbyist) as VP. Slapping the face of 18 million democratic voters, who David Axelrod said he don’t need. Again proves Obama is unstable and does not have the experience to make important decisions or have control over this great country.
Obama said seven times or more that he agreed with McCain. That’s good for McCain because when McCain is President Obama can work with him to get needed reforms through a failed Congress. McCain displayed a thorough knowledge of world affairs. Obama did not! And talked in circles and really had no coherent thoughts other than his main talking points from his pre-written campaign speech.
Bottom line; Obama got “ The McCain beat down” only because of the lowered expectations Obama just barely got across the finish line. Obama definitely finished dead last. No surprise we all know Obama is not good on his feet, as Hillary wiped the floor with him 20 plus times! Bottom line McCain had a great night while Obama is going home licking his wounds. Of course you can expect to hear the tabloid cable news , better known as Obama News Networks CNN & MSNBC media made fairy tales, that he was great, too bad for CNN that voters finally realized these two Obama news networks are not very truthful and bias. They offer voters looking for facts…NOTHING…
32. Gary Maclenna | 09.27.08
My feelings on the debate last night are all one sided. The country is in serious trouble with finances, yet anytime Senator Obama directed oversites on the Republican administration Senator McCain would smile and sometimes even border on laughing. I guess when you are rich and have no worries about finances you can do that. Myself being in the lower middle class and a baby boomer getting ready to retire in the near future I take the economy very serious. My income is from the construction trades, and we have been hit really hard I also think it is going to get worse before it gets better. Where is the money going to come from to pay unemployment benefits? Oh I forgot another tax payer burden. The word is CHANGE, this country needs it now. I was undecided about my vote but now I know where I am going!
33. Olna Reeves | 09.27.08
I was relieved that McCain did not do what Reagan or W. did in past debates, and pull out some distractingly catchy phrase, e.g. “There you go again” or “fuzzy math, fuzzy math.” If “naive” was it, it didn’t work. Obama is not naive. McCain, on the other hand, when he isn’t controlling his rage in a “kindly old uncle” act, can seem stubborn, and narrow. He can’t even convincingly say the war in Iraq was a HUGE mistake, or admit that there wouldn’t be any Al Qaeda in Iraq without Bush’s war there.
McCain came off as a rigid old man, who was not cordial or civil enough to even look at Obama. Frankly, I’m sick of looking at hawks like McCain hearing them justify their disastrous war in Iraq, and on top of that, his consistent policies to deregulate and privatize (or keep private, as in medical care), pretending that none of his core philosophies had anything to do with this economic disaster we all face. Worshiping Reagan’s trickle-down economics is OVER. Wait until store prices start leaping up, and there is more job loss. Who is going to care about more huge tax cuts and loop holes for the hedge fund and super rich set. People are starting to get it, and it makes them furious.
34. Harold | 09.27.08
Obama was not in the senate when the Iraq war started. Why does he lie about voting against the war before it started and why does nobody ever question his lies?
The democrat party left me in the mid sixtys when they became the party for the welfare and people to lazy to work. The blue collar workers should realize by now that they really don’t have a party. All they have is union leaders wanting their union dues, that desert their unions when they need help and a democrat party wanting everything they make to give to those who live so well on government help, they refuse to work. Does anyone ever notice who fills their shopping cart with the most and the best at the supermarkets? Its not the working people who pay with cash.
35. Charlotte Birch | 09.27.08
What was missing was Hiliary Clinton. She would have chewed up and spit out John McCain.
36. Jeff Neil | 09.27.08
It was a pleasure to view two capable men express their differences so intelligently and respectfully in a live, lengthy, televised debate. Both John McCain and Barack Obama demonstrated they have the ability and leadership qualities necessary to be President. However, for America to have spent so much money on Iraq only to pull troops out prematurely, would be a gross error of judgment. The very many precious young lives sacrificed there by US and allied forces would have been all in vain. John McCain’s clear and sensible understanding of foreign policy, tips the scales heavily in his favor and makes him the better choice as the next President of the United States.
37. Shawn O’Keefe | 09.27.08
I wasn’t able to watch the debate. I don’t have a tv and cannot afford one. I wanted to read an unbiased review of debate and came to your site. Thank you for the insight, and candid review. I liked the comments from the debate experts. Thank you, Shawn
39. Ben | 09.27.08
I was very impressed with Obama’s performance. I thought he did a much better job at rebutting McCain’s points, and his arguments were better articulated and more appealing. While I usually vote republican, This election I’m voting for Obama. I appreciate the intelligence, clarity, and leadership Obama offers. And the fact that he has Joe Biden as VP rounds out the ticket with military experience.
40. Donald Sigmon | 09.27.08
Is it too late to get “None Of The Above” on the ballot? After watching both candidates, I’ve about decided that neither of these men are capable of making the hard decisions needed to get this country back on its feet or lead it through a recovery that should impact each and every citizen. We’ve ignored the lessons of history and the warnings of fiscal conservatives, buying into the lie that - as the TV commercial touts - we can have it all, and we can have it now. Politicians at every level of government fed the fantasy, buying votes with programs that seemingly delivered something for nothing, and too often, selling their votes to the highest bidder in order to remain in office.
Now, as my Mother would say, the chickens are coming home to roost. For too many Americans, any talk of a bail-out is literally a day late and a dollar short. Having spent like drunken sailors, we are waking up with homes we can’t afford, cars we don’t own, and bills we can’t pay. Too many of us treated home equity as our personal ATM, too many failed to weigh the downside of leveraged debt, too many bought into the myth of a perpetually-expanding fiscal universe. Somehow, the national focus became, not “a chicken in every pot”, but “a Lexus in every garage”. Our greed was only exceeded by our naiveté, believing that it couldn’t happen here, it couldn’t happen now, and it couldn’t happen to us.
Personal sacrifice is such a quaint, old-fashioned concept, but I believe that is the only way to get our country back on track. We’ve mortgaged our children’s future, now we are in danger of bankrupting them as well, selling their birthright for a pittance. As Michael Bloomberg observed the other day on Meet The Press, the bill is coming due. Are you ready?
41. Frances Coverson | 09.27.08
As a Republican, I will for the first time be voting for a Democrat presidential candidate. The deciding factor was the ability of Obama to address foreign policy with the strength he showed in the Friday night debate. McCain’s list of actions on foreign policy is predictable. Do we as Americans induce some of the terrible misfortune that befalls us? Will four more years really help America? McCain was a sad reminder of the Viet Nam years; as we were told there could and would be a victory. Thousands of lives were lost and today Viet Nam has become a place that tourist seek out. In Viet Nam we were in the wrong place, fighting a war we had to win. My choice is Obama who demonstrates an intelligent, proactive position in regards to foreign policy.
42. Frances Coverson | 09.27.08
As a Republican, I will for the first time be voting for a Democrat presidential candidate. The deciding factor was the ability of Obama to address foreign policy with the strength he showed in the Friday night debate. McCain’s list of actions on foreign policy is predictable. Do we as Americans induce some of the terrible misfortune that befalls us? Will four more years really help America? McCain was a sad reminder of the Viet Nam years; as we were told there could and would be a victory. Thousands of lives were lost and today Viet Nam has become a place that tourist seek out. In Viet Nam we were in the wrong place, fighting a war we had to win. Let’s keep America safe with an intelligent, proactive choice.
43. Arash Kaman | 09.27.08
I believe this debate was won by Mc Cain. Mc Cain was right when he said Obama has repeatedly said that if president he will negotiate with suppressers of the world starting from Ahamadi Nejad’s of Iran to the likes of Chavez! Although he touched on it but Mc Cain ought to have demanded from Obama what would engament which is a term Obama camp is substituting for negotiations serve in its entirety? Engaging with Ahamadi Nejad will deliver legitimacy to an illegitimate regime that long has lost its constituency? It will tell the people of the region especially the western educated one’s that regrettably the western heritage which fundamentally laid on the principle of man’s right to live with dignity and away from constant fear of state falls into disreputation and dis creditation! The fact of the matter is that among the three axes of the evil the most evilest was the regime in Iran which unfortunately for the people of Iran and the rest of the world it was not deallet with decisively. It’s high time to adamantly fight a regime that is unprecedented in its cruelty. If N. Korean regime remains infamous on its suppression, Tehran’s regime greatly exceeds that. The reprehensible event over this issue was when the envoy of this regime under the title of president was allowed to speak at a forum (U.N.) which the collective wisdom of mankind established after freedom aspiring people within the embodiment of mankind shad blood to deliver it as a means to protect humankind from infliction of oppressors. And when he was allowed to lecture the world on behest of the most brutal regime in present history the chairman of U.N. which most fundamentally was established to rescue mankind from those of Ahamdi Nejad’s extends his hand to shake the hand of a inhuman regime’s envoy in recognition of his address and I suppose implicit affirmation of his regime! That is why it is perhaps an aspiring wish to wonder if the next president of U.S. seeks to open a consensus to rid the world from self proclaimed oppressors acting as legitimate rulers. The regime in Tehran is not just another oppressive system. The regime is fundamentally intent on eradicating the western form of governance and tradition. Just think how beneficial it is for all people around the world to remove this unpopular regime that beyond the brutality it has imposed it hasn’t delivered any constructive proposals or relieves which can be interpreted as solutions to problems human beings are facing. The regime is simply a form of Stalinism with an Islamic face! The world would be far better if this regime is removed instead of being engaged with!
Arash Kaman
Tehran/ Iran
September 27, 2008
44. Dr. Rob | 09.27.08
Lets face it, Borack Obama has the right attitude and dimeanor, but has no experience. McCain has the experience but lacks the confidence and well he is an old song. Is this the best the country could come up with? Seriously….We as a nation are in trouble. Think about your next choice in life….it may be the biggest one we all face. Either way, this is not a winning term in my eyes. We need someone with carisma, power, understanding, confidence, leadership, passion, and can walk the walk and not talk the talk. Obama talks a nice talk but unfortunately McCain has walked the walk.
45. Robin Sims | 09.27.08
This debate demonstrated how change really matters. No indecision like saying no debate, then debate would make a a strong president. Obama is clearly the who and where and exactly when our country needs. The entire debate demonstrated the inherent characteristics of each man. Obama was open to McCain in his style and presence, clarifying and qualifying with poise and dignity toward McCain. The McCain character portrayed a man of intolerance, distance and disrespect for Obama. McCain’s message of change is a simple one, cuts. No strategy is that simple. Obama delivered a profile of change and spoke with the inherent poise of a leader with common sense.
46. Duck Soup | 09.27.08
The NYT gave far too much credit to McCain in this debate. The NYT basically said that Obama TKO’d McCain on the economy but wouldn’t call the foreign policy part of the debate the TKO for Obama that it actually was.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/27/opinion/27sat1.html?hp
At least the NYT got this part right:
“Mr. McCain came to the debate after one of the more ludicrous performances by a presidential candidate. With the markets teetering and Washington desperately trying to find a bipartisan solution, Mr. McCain tried to make the biggest question of the week whether he was actually going to show up for Friday’s debate.
Mr. Obama dominated the economic portion of the debate, arguing that the Wall Street disaster was the fault of the Bush administration’s anti-regulation, pro-corporate culture. He called for a major overhaul of the financial regulatory system. Mr. McCain stuck to his talking points, railing against greed and corruption. He showed little sign that he understood the fundamental failures in government illuminated by the market crisis.”
47. Danny | 09.27.08
The most important lesson I’ve learned over the last 8 years is that we need a President who is intelligent and honest and, most importantly, has good judgment. We cannot fully anticipate what the events, challenges and problems we will face the next 8 years will be (who would have thought that we would experience 9/11 and the world-changing events shortly after George Bush took office), and all we can hope for is a President who will understand the events and their implications, foresee the consequences of his decisions, excercise sound judgment and be honest with–and not betray the trust of– the American people. It seems clear to me that, of our two choices, Barack Obama is the only one who can and will do this.
48. My view | 09.27.08
I was disappointed that Obama did not challenge the fact that all veterans are not happy with McCain. He vetoed the new GI bill and health care funding. What’s up with him doing that?
I thought McCain was very rude and smug, not even looking at Obama. He’s like a curmudgeon.
It’s okay, he’s got a Palin “bridge to cross”. That should keep him busy this week.
49. Ann Zegler | 09.27.08
Each time McCain repeated his pre-packaged and condescending response to Obama, “I think you don’t understand,” it made me think of McCain’s choice of Phil Gramm for his Chief Economic Advisor. Knowing that Phil Gramm is the man who led our country during his 18 years in the senate into this deregulation induced financial collapse, starting with the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, which allowed commercial and investment banks, like Citigroup, to more easily merge, I just kept thinking, “Oh, he gets it alright.” We all “get it.” We all understand how Phil Gramm would complete the destruction of our economy under a McCain administration. Phil Gramm would almost certainly be Treasury Secretary under John McCain. We all need to understand what is ahead for our country if McCain-Palin is the next administration. It would leave a very sad legacy for our children and grandchildren to salvage.
50. mr.clean | 09.27.08
I have watched and heard enough of Obama that scares the heck out of me. I’m not too impressed with McCain but will certainly vote for him….or vote against Obama.
I believe Obama will continue the work that Clinton started, the complete socializing of our Republic.
Why would anybody want a man that wants the government to control everything from health to housing. 55-60 cents of every dollar I earn goes to some kind of tax now! Do we want a man that will increase taxes even more? How will Obama pay for all of these government controlled policies that he is saying he will do? MORE TAXES!
Also, Obama may say he is a Christian, but just like everything else he spouts out of his lying mouth, he is a muslim and wants to convert this country to his true beliefs.
Him and his party of ultra liberal’Demon’crats want the ideas and religion of our founding fathers done away with and they will do anything to see its done.
Do you know what ‘liberal’ stands for? AntiChrist and AntiGod! Think of it. Everything that these liberal democrats stand for are againsts Gods rules of the Bible.
Even though I may not agree with all that McCain stands for, I don’t agree with anything that Obama says nor do I believe he is telling the truth when he opens his mouth.
He is a liar and the son of the Father of all liars.
McCain-Palin for me!!!
51. G-V | 09.27.08
It was a good debate. Obama won hands down. McCain lost me on many issues and he repeated himself too many times. Using same bumper stickers liners that he used at RNC is coming off desperate and insecure. McCain wouldn’t look at Obama and that showed weakness. McCains “I have a pen” line is really coming off insincere now. I don’t care that N. Koreans are 3-inches taller than S. Koreans. (why did he say that?)
Obama was on track and decisive. He talked to the middle class people. He exposed McCains lies and I didn’t know McCain had so many lies. He hit it out of the park when talking about alternative energy and the economy crisis. And he really hit it right when he talked about this is a “new” war. Missile defense is good… but what are we doing about nuclear suitcases? Clearly Obama is more up to the times with “new age” war tactics than McCain. I really like that he is for killing Bin Laden. I wish Bush wanted to kill Osama.
I’ll choose who I vote for after I watch some more debates. I’m afraid Palin is going to fail against Biden and if she does, I won’t be able to vote for McCain even if McCain does nail the next to debates. Sorry, but if she can’t face the media or hold her own in a debate, then I cannot waste my vote on “a heartbeat away from presidency”.
I’ll reserve further judgement after the next debates. But if I was to vote today, it’d be for Obama, hands down.
52. Thomas | 09.27.08
Was anyone here watching the debate or just their own candidate? If you were paying attention to both men speak they were evenly matched. Although it was clear that Mr. Obama was defensive during most of the debate while Mr. McCain was on offense. McCain showed more strength and leadership skills and that is what tipped the scale of this debate in his favor. McCain won the debate, by a small margin.
53. Gary | 09.27.08
Why is it that Dems blame Bush and the Republicans for the Wall Street disaster. Don’t you read? If you did, you would know that several attempts were made to provide oversight, but were squashed by Congressional Democrats who were receiving huge amounts of money from these companies. Dodd being the #1 while heading the Senate Banking Committee and #2 being Obama (with just 2-years as a Senator).
BTW, Teddy Roosevelt had just 2-years as a Governor before being Vice-President, and later one of our greatest Presidents.
54. Benjamin Winans | 09.27.08
Sen. Obama sounded like a parrot — “I agree with Sen. McCain…I agree with John…Barrack!”
What great resume has Sen. Obama built in his life? What accomplishments does he have? He can TALK a good walk but he doesn’t WALK his TALK. That’s all he seems to be good at…BarackTalk. What would he CUT from the budget now that we are near financial collapse? He wants to SPEND us into prosperity? What kind of nonsense is that? I liked what I heard someone say recently, “I’ve gotten a lot of jobs from wealthy people during my life. I’ve yet to have a poor person give me a job.” Gee, that’s because wealthy people start and own the businesses in America — not the politicians, not the Barak Obamas, and certainly not the poor. Get a grip, Senator Obama. If you continue raising taxes on businesses and wealthy individuals, the investment funds will flow out of the U.S. and into foreign markets.
55. S. Sandlin | 09.27.08
Say there are two “activate” buttons on the President’s desk: one for the deployment of nuclear weapons, the other for emergency contact with the leader of a country which appears to be an ultimate threat. Then ask yourself which button McCain or Obama would press first. It seemed to me they answered that question very well last night.
Say there is a job offering you are interested in. Which of the two would you want as boss? The one who might deem it prudent to ship your job overseas for the betterment of the company’s profits or the one who would want you to share in the profits by keeping it here and, thereby, for the betterment of the country.
Is there any question that, voting for McCain/Palin, you are also voting for the bullying, hard-nosed attitude of Bush/Cheney towards other nations, for job out-sourcing, and for the most cannibalistic era of capitalism that ever graced the planet? Oh, and nuclear waste? Are you willing to have it buried in your own back yard?
It’s four years we’re voting for. Seems to me there are no second chances this time around.
56. BQ | 09.27.08
When asked what spending plans would have to be altered as a result of a 700 billion dollar bailout, Obama could only talk about how additional spending was needed. I agree, Obama is nicer, more likeable and more sophisticated in the social sense of the word. However is idealogy neglects reason, as does that of most of the previous posters. Do you all really think, that if we give the govt. more control, more budget, more influence that they will magically make are lives better. Wake up the only people who can make our lives better is us. The president who makes the govt as small as possible( a military is needed, infrastrucure is needed and oversight is needed) is the president who understands govt. No guarantee McCain is that guy, maybe it is Obama. Whoever it is we as a people need to wake up and demand that our president stay out of our lives as much as possible, we all need to give up on the idea that this utopian govt. will make everything better. It is us who have made this country great and only us who can make it better.
57. Jaz | 09.27.08
The reason McCain couldn’t look at Obama or seemed condescending, I am sure is because he can hardly even believe that he is debating this unexperienced Socialist robot for the Presidency! Obama is a joke and if anyone was intelligent enough to bypass the liberal media and do a litlle research of your own, you would see why Obama = disaster for this country. You thought Bush was bad…elect Obama and see what happens!
58. J A Carter | 09.27.08
Obama was smoother, McCain more sincere. Both seemed well informed and gave substantive answers on the economy and foreign affairs but each showed a tendency to dance around tough questions on the bailout, which I found troubling. I know one wants to be seen as a “maverick” and the other as a “change agent” but neither gave any dramatic, concrete plans for the kind of change the country needs. For all they world they just looked to me like two senators bloviating.
59. nepacific | 09.27.08
Yes, a good balanced summary. I prefer Obama and his policies, but I found McCain more effective, since he stayed on-message and Obama didn’t hit hard enough on McCain’s passion for deregulation. McCain is as responsible as anyone for this economic debacle. I’m glad the public appears to have gone for Obama, however. Perhaps my impression comes from listening to most of the debate on the radio, rather than watching it on TV. Kennedy-Nixon, anyone?
60. alexas mom | 09.27.08
For Mr. Obama to have gone on and on about being able to multi-task - you might want to take one look at his Senate voting record for the past year - 65% of the time he did not vote. Guess he can’t multi-task when he’s campaigning against Hillary but he can while being prepped for a debate.
61. McRumi | 09.27.08
I think you got the Oz analogy slightly off.
McCain is the cowardly lion, all bluff and no courage to look his opponent in the eye, Obama is the tin man, builds consensus and tough as steel but needs the warmth of a heart to remember the soldier’s name on his bracelet, Biden is the scarecrow, likeable but needs a few more brain cells to keep his foot out of his mouth, and Palin is —no—not Dorothy…but Toto…..a mischievous little scamp that everyone loves but elicits more pity than respect and always has to be rescued…..Dorothy, well, that’s Hillary of course…who was let down and left stranded by the wizard..Bill, the ultimate charismstic carny con-man.
62. Robert | 09.27.08
I had to work and didn’t need to Tivo the debate. The only issue I agree with McCain on is that we should NOT bail out the housing debacle from the top down. The banks, mortgage brokers, rich investors, etc have made BILLIONs over the past 15 years by duping working ppl into bad contacts and re-selling their houses after kicking them to the curb. They KNEW (or at least thought) that the gov’t would bail them out once the bubble burst. This wasn’t a mistake; it was premeditated and completely greed based. At least we’ve witnessed what “Trickle Down” (aka what Bush Sr called “Voodoo Economics”) does to the economy. After eight yrs of the rich using their tax breaks to pry the economy dry, we have a chance to NEVER allow that to happen again. Off with their heads? No, but give the money to those who actually WORK for a living, not to those who sit in plush, inherited lofts, mocking the working man, outsourcing jobs and in-sourcing ILLEGAL labor while dipping their private parts in in-ground swimming pools. Funny how “free enterprise” and “capitalism” cease to be battle cries when they no longer favor the rich. I guess socialism is OK as long as the wealthy benefit. F them. They’ve ridden my children’s future into the ground for WAY too long!
63. Richard Beason | 09.27.08
During the Response to McCain’s statement “Let me get this straight, we sit down with Ahmadinejad and he says, ‘We’re going to wipe Israel off the face of the earth’ and we say, ‘No you’re not?’ ”
Obama said that was absurd – that he would of course respond to Ahmadinejad’s “nonsense.” But he reserved the right “as president” to talk to whomever, if he thought it was in the national interest of the United States.
It is not absurd because he has been listen to the same kind of anti-jewish talk at his church for the past 20 years and he never responded to such language. He would propably respond, Right ON Brother
64. Santiago | 09.27.08
We live in a dangerous world where religious fanatics, radical socialists, and useful idiots would like nothing better than to destroy our country. Those of you that like a naive, cute, refined, and well-behaved president should consider the consequences. I opt for a president that perhaps is not as appealing, but has been around, knows what is out there, and will put his life on the line for this country.
A president without temperament is just another Jimmy Carter. Is this the type of person we want to run the country? This is not a most likeable contest; this is the election for the leader of the free world. Which candidate will you chose, the inexperienced liberal all the way to the left or the experienced country first candidate?
This politically correctness is weakening our country. I want a president that talks the talk and walks the walk. Not a wannabe president that will say what is convenient for him to score personal points.
Democrats 08, I guess you didn’t listen when McCain spoke about cutting the excessive spending in our military projects; he referred to projects that start with a budget of $100 million and end costing the taxpayers $400 million. For you to insinuate that McCain will impoverish the military is ludicrous.
65. Сертификатор Саша | 09.27.08
Obama showed his presidential demeanor, while McCain revealed the mean-spirited approach so evinced by the Bush administration. My question remains, if Ms. Palin is a heartbeat away from the President’s Office, where was she? This has convinced me that the ticket to back is Obama-Biden.
66. patmac | 09.27.08
McCain cowered. He was utterly unable to look Obama in the eye. He oddly and somehow managed to look both angry and ashamed. No wonder he doesn’t want to go face to face with with an enemy. They would walk all over him, behaving as he does like a scared and embittered child. Only one person displayed presidential dignity and authority, and it was Obama.
67. Elizabeth | 09.27.08
I thought it was a trip when Obama said we should talk with other countrys that have the same beliefs and values as us! Wait a minute? what beliefs and values does Obama carry??? He just abandoned his church of 20+ years I’d really like to know what his beliefs and values are!
68. Zac in CA | 09.27.08
@Larry, Leslie: I get that you don’t agree with leftist economic ideas. That’s fine. What I don’t understand is your definition of “socialism” and “communism”. Here’s my take; feel free to disagree:
Socialism - the gov’t has a heavy hand in the market, with an eye to providing services for citizens, especially those considered most vulnerable and in greatest need of assistance. Possibly, some industries are nationalized (i.e. owned by gov’t).
Communism - the gov’t controls the market utterly, with an eye on distributing wealth and goods as equally as possible among all citizens. All industries are nationalized.
Right, so Obama is a leftist on environmental issues, business regulations, etc. But did he put together a comprehensive bailout/buyout package for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? No, I’m quite certain it was our Republican president and our split Democratic/Republican legislature who’ve “nationalized” the mortgage industry by buying out these massive companies. Not to mention that the very nature of a “bailout” that gives money to ailing corporations is about as interventionist as you can get, economically speaking!
In my mind, what we’ve got going on is corporatism, a sort of anti-libertarian strain of fiscal policy that considers large companies and investment firms to be the most important element of our economy. Contrast this with Marxism, communism, socialism, etc., which *always* contain rhetoric concerning the central importance of the citizenry and individuals, as opposed to major financial and commercial institutions. Heck, statist communists favor dismantling the private sector altogether; in that light, how is our current trend towards a communist society?
69. Jarrett | 09.27.08
Though I thought the debate was a little flat, there was no doubt that McCain is the candidate that best displayed presidential, decision-making ability with the depth of knowledge that is important for the world at this time. Obama is clearly an unproved entity and has yet to show he has the capability to be decisive in a difficult foreign policy situation. Just because he showed up and didn’t fumble does not give him the ‘win’.
70. pete | 09.27.08
As an undecided voter going into this debate, I thought the contrasts became very clear:
looking back vs. looking forward
disrespectful vs. respectful
single-minded vs. open minded
unwilling vs. willing
at this time in our history I think it’s very clear what we need and its NOT John McCain.
71. Spruce | 09.27.08
Harold, Something for you to keep in mind …I am a Democrat and am just as sensitive to welfare fraud as most Americans. That said, I would highly prefer welfare to the poor than corporate welfare, the kind that has skyrocketed during Republican regimes. Cronyism, no-bid contracts, secretive meetings with with lobbyists to write the regulations, cuts in capital gains taxes, inflated tax cuts for the rich, tax loopholes for offshorers and outsourcers, protection of outrageous subsidies to fossil fuel companies, deregulation, pre-emptive wars to drive defense industry stocks up 1500% in 8 years…you get the picture. Bush wants another $700 billion of our money because of the greedy institutions who have been protected by Republicans (and some Democrats) for too long.
For your information, Obama claimed that he opposed the war, not voted against the war (he made a speech before the war denouncing it).
Dr. Rob, If you want a one-issue president that will put a damper on earmark spending, then choose McCain. Well, actually two issues - possibly due to the Viet Nam embarrassment, McCain is determined to “win” (whatever that means) in Iraq, utilizing precious money and personnel in this quest at a time when they are at a premium.
Here is a copy and paste from a NYT site of what I thought was a well-written description of the choice we are given:
“We are given a clear choice, an opportunity to support our individual philosophy of top down or bottom up economics; of war or peace; of preemptive measures or diplomacy/discussion; of arrogance or respect; of equality of education for all or preserving privilege for the few; investing and respecting the ingenuity of the American middle class or honoring and trusting the ceo’s/billionaires leadership. I like Obama’s message. It represents so much of what I believe. I want to restore our reputation as a government for the people in that it provides security for all who live and work here.”
72. Robert | 09.28.08
I found these instant poll results helpful. They also confirmed what my sense of the debates was.
CBS polled 500 undecided voters. 40% said Obama won, 22% said McCain won, 38% said it was a tie.
CNN’s instant poll of 524 voters had Obama winning 51% to 38%.
MediaCurves had a focus group of Independent voters. 61% said Obama won, 39% McCain won.
The Luntz (on FOX) and GQR focus groups also said overwhelmingly that Obama won.
I am an evangelical Christian whose vote was actually somewhat lost by the Palin pick. It scared me how little McCain knew about her when he chose her, even if she had turned out to be more competent. As it is, even my friends who like her a ton are a little reticent to stake any of their reputation defending her scary interviews and seemingly contradictory record.
I think that it is pretty clear what happened tonight to everyone that is not an extreme partisan. It looks like on debate points, it might have been a tie. However, in more voters minds than not, something one of them did swung voters towards Obama. I do appreciate that the press is admirably trying not to deign to call the winner. Good informative article, CSM.
73. John | 09.28.08
I don’t understand why folks think it strange that McCain would recommend postponing this past debate considering our economy is in the worst state ever in almost a century. Considering either he or Obama shall be the next President, should the focus not be on “walking the walk instead of talking the talk” to quote Obama? 
Next, how can anyone say that Obama won the economic specific pieces of the debate over McCain, and that McCain lacked an understanding of the fundamentals? I’d argue that Obama lacks the understanding of the fundamentals. Our current state is not due only the past 8 years of “the Bush Administration”. Seriously folks! Fanne Mae and Freddie have been private for almost 40 years….and regulations revised in 1989…but the point is that this wheel was churning as soon as they were able to go private with little regulation. You can’t hold the Bush Administration solely responsible for the issues with the deregulation of Freddie and Fannie (which was the first domino..). Next, no offense but there was nothing impressive or rocket science like about Obama’s comment regarding “#1…We need more oversight”. Really? That’s #1 in your plan? What a strategy! I would have never thought of that.. At least McCain didn’t make quite so many “master of the obvious” remarks.
74. phil | 09.28.08
“It is endlessly amazing that a person who has had no executive experience , no military background , no legislative record , no known accomplishment in life can speak on any subject whatsoever . He even knows why the chicken cross the road.”
It is endlessly amazing that a person who evidently has no slight knowledge whatsoever of the opposing candidate is even allowed to vote on Election Day. The foundation of Democracy is choice, and the foundation of choice is knowledge…without knowledge (information) to base your choices on, you do not have a functioning democracy. You can put lipstick on a pig, but it would still be a pig. You can call it “The United States”, you can call it the “greatest democracy in the world”, but it still has one of the dumbest, ill-informed electorate to date.
75. W Pierce | 09.28.08
I like this fact that shows the two candidates’ differences.
Barack Obama: 1 house, 1 car
John McCain: 7 houses, 13 cars
It’s clear to me that Barack Obama understands the everyday working-person, and lives life like the rest of us. Planet McCain’s orbit is like Halley’s Comet- it only comes down to earth once a lifetime.
76. David F. McBride | 09.28.08
Obama won the debate because he kept his focus on the issues, rather than attacking his opponent. Obama shows a forward-looking change in policy, rather than defending the mistakes of the past. This is the case on both foreign and domestic policy fronts. Obama has the credibility to marshall other nations’ good will in a post Cold War era to support global peace and oppose radical terrorist actions. McCain’s continued sabre-rattling toward Russia and Iran is not the change that America needs both at home and throughout the world. Obama has shown that he possesses the intelligence diligence and judgment to lead.
77. Adam Bailey | 09.28.08
I think Barack Obama clearly won hands down. He continues to show strong leadership, and is a real man. Married to the same woman, and at his status, still owns only one vehicle. He is the smartest man on the ticket, and I was quite upset insulting Obama about not knowing a tactic from a strategy. Clearly, McCain should not be going up against a PHD schooled man, when the guy barely passed the naval academy. The whole McCain/Palin ticket is getting a bit pathetic. Anyone watching the Katie Couric interview should get psych. help if you really believe she has the ability to lead a nation.
78. Blaine | 09.28.08
While sitting at the kitchen table some 50 years ago I saked my father, “Dad, What’s the difference between a Democrate and a Republican”? and he thought for a moment and said, ” The Democrates are for the working man and the middle class and the Republicans are for the rich and the upper class”. Nothing has changed in the past 50 years to dispute that explanation.
79. DNC + RNC = ROT | 09.28.08
Spoil what? Waste what? Steal what?
Barack Obama we do not doubt your intelligence. To be an effective leader one must display honesty, compassion, & guts. Stand with Ralph Nader, Ron Paul, & Cynthia McKinney. NOT John McCain. Your choice - your move.
80. Tammie | 09.28.08
Sounds like McCain is still pouting over the fact we lost in Vietnam. Let’s face it, McCain was a playboy, riding on his father’s name, he admitted that he didn’t even know how to control his aircraft, he was so lucky that the Vietnamese pulled him out of the water, nursed him back to health and let him live. He then graduated 894 out of 899 in his class. ***?
81. Tammie | 09.28.08
Hey BLAINE, my dad told me too! The “R” in Republican stands for (THE RICH).
Obama 08
82. Rehan | 09.28.08
It is about time that we have an intelligent President. Obama is way more intelligent than McCain. Ok, McCain has more experience, more experience does not mean expertise. Infact, it is disastrous for us to have the same old policies.
83. naz | 09.28.08
I am an american muslim, and grew up in both America and the arab world and so I believe I have a unique and useful perspective. I believe that Islamic extremism and its violent, immoral followers should be exterminated not just for the security and safety of the United States of America but for the safety and security of Islam. However, I believe the ideology of both Bush and McCain and their policies will hurt us Americans more than keep us safe.
1)I have always said that Bush/McCains war strategies attempt to kill a poisonous fly with a huge club or rather extract a tumor with a hatchet; the damage left behind might be irreparable and will cause many more problems in the future. The lives of many innocent arabs (muslim and christian)are being destroyed; they have done nothing and now they have no home, no country, no children, no education, no health, no food, no water, no anything. Imagine how angry that would make you.
2)It is well known among educated arabs especially educated muslims that Islamic extremist groups feed on the “misckeen” (the suffering, the poor and ignorant). This is where they get their followers. These misckeen people dont know much about Islam so they dont have the tools needed to differentiate between truth and lies: from what Islam really says and what terrorists are preaching. Many of the suffering are looking for someone to blame as well which terrorist groups readily provide.
Hopefully you can see that 1 and 2 go hand in hand and that although it may seem that using a hatchet or club may make you look like you are tough on terror, it is the wrong approach entirely because it creates fertile ground for groups like alqida to grow their support and for new terrorist groups to sprout from.
In the end we need a much more complicated, delicate approach, as many military officials seem to be saying now. Also we must realize that the war on terror has many fronts that need to be attacked in different ways- not all militarily for reasons evident above
84. Casey G. | 09.29.08
The first debate between Obama and McCain gives a good impression about what the rest of the election season is going to be like. If Obama holds a certain position on a subject, then you can be certain that McCain is going to be of the opposite opinion. Most of the time, neither of them are right.
It’s interesting to see how McCain and Obama insult each other (underhandedly) instead of admitting to their own mistakes and faults. If just one of them would admit that they aren’t perfect for the presidency and say “yes, I did this” before the other guy points it out, I’d have to vote for him. After all, I want a president who’s actually willing to admit it when he makes a mistake.
85. Aaron Waller | 09.29.08
The race for presidency has truly begun as these two went head to head, attacking one another on what was supposed to be foreign policy but quickly switched to economic concerns. It is hard to distinguish a winner as these two were hitting each other left and right with comments and opinions. This year it is going to come down to the wire judging by the way these two went at it on Friday night. This race for presidency will truely be memorable because these two just seem to hit one anothers buttons with policies they have made and their idividual points of view.
86. Brad Cochran | 09.29.08
When I watched the debate it seemed to me like Obama was on the defense, constantly having to deny figures and votes that McCain accused him of. It also seemed like McCain was desperate to attack Obama’s youth and the most prominant thing I noticed that was when Obama was aksed a question and answered then when McCain replied he would say that Senator Obama didn’t understand and when McCain said something and Obama replied he too often usedthe phrase “I agree with Senator McCain”.
87. Gail | 09.29.08
Neither of them in my opinion are right to “change” our government. Talk about change?
http://www.campaignforliberty.com/mission/
Read about Ron Paul
88. Anthony | 09.29.08
As an African-American who happens to support McCain and Palin, I wanted to get some input from my friends who are mostly Democrat. One is a small business owner, one works for a major corporaton in managment, one is a state employee. I didn’t get to watch the debate Friday so I was anxious to hear that opinions of the debate. They all favored Obama so I asked why. Their opinions were mostly about how Bush is the blame for economy, war, and more. So I downloaded the Debate from Youtube. As I watched the Debate I wondered if my friends had watched the same debate that I was watching. What I saw and heard was a major difference of opinion on how things should be done in Washington. But McCain was clearly in charge and in control. So much so that Obama had to fabricate some figures concerning McCain’s voting record in the Senate. Barak had to lie to try and make his oponent look bad but it didn’t work. McCain simply said, “Check the record”. Barak having accused McCain of not supporting alternative energy legislation 23 times. McCain simply responds, “this was not true”.
Fact is Obama knew the correct punch lines and so did McCain, to at least maintain their political status quo. But as far as winning the debate? For once can we make an honest and intelligent decision. If a candidate has to lie in order to win a debate is he really qualified to lead the country?
Finally, people have to understand that most of what a President accomplishes in terms of legislation, must be approved by Congress. Bush or any President is not an island. If the debate I saw is any indication as to what goes on in Congress no wonder we are in the financial shape we are in.
89. Jared D. | 09.30.08
Things are most certainly heating up with McCain and Obama. A long, strong, hearted debate on foreign policy that ends up turning into economics has caught the attention of many voters. In this case, it’s really hard to determine the real winner of the debate. The debate seemed to result in a tie, since both sides presented strong arguments, ideas, and counters.
90. Jared D. | 09.30.08
And to add more, the candidates attacked each other by pointing out certain aspects of each others personalities and/or plans. McCain attacked Obama’s ideas due to his youth, inexpierence in politics, and his energetic attitude. Obama attacked McCain’s ideas because of following a policy that has been failing for eight years, and different ideas.
We are starting to see the true faces of both candidates and it would appear that a very tough road lies ahead of them until Election Day approaches.
91. Jared d. | 09.30.08
And to add furthermore, both candidates attacked each others ideas and/or personalities. McCain attacked Obama’s ideas because of his youth, lack of experience in politics, and his energetic attitude. Obama attacked McCain’s ideas because of the possibility of the ideas being failures, similar to Bush’s failed eight year plan. It would appear that both candidates are on a tough road until Election Day approaches.
92. Jared D. | 09.30.08
Things are most certainly heating up with McCain and Obama. A long, strong, hearted debate on foreign policy that ends up turning into economics has caught the attention of many voters. In this case, it’s really hard to determine the real winner of the debate. The debate seemed to result in a tie, since both sides presented strong arguments, ideas, and counters.
And to add furthermore, both candidates attacked each others ideas and/or personalities. McCain attacked Obama’s ideas because of his youth, lack of experience in politics, and his energetic attitude. Obama attacked McCain’s ideas because of the possibility of the ideas being failures, similar to Bush’s failed eight year plan. It would appear that both candidates are on a tough road until Election Day approaches.
93. M.C. | 09.30.08
I belive this article really gives you an insight view on what was really going on the debate and the competition between these two candidates. If I were to choose who was the winner of the debate I would have to say Senator Obama. Through out the whole debate McCain continued to blame and accuse Obama for being “naive and untested.” When I go back and look at what McCain attempt to get through to the public it reminds me alot of what Bush’s has tried and has failed over the past eight years. This debate was supposed to be McCain’s strong point because he has more knowledge on international affair. Obama was able to fight back and respond to what he was questioned. McCain believed that Obama was not well knowledged in this area because of his lack of experience and his young age.
94. Melona Silvestre | 09.30.08
Barack Obama — in a landslide — won the debate against John McCain. The nation’s horrific economy — for starters — has been in a terrible slide. Generation new “green” jobs and providing at least a $1000 tax credit (maybe more) to families and individuals will lead the nation to respectability. Providing tax cuts to lower and middle class families (and individuals) will allow everyone to earn more money without having to worry about dire financial straits from one month to the next month. Having an annual income of $52,000 for a family of six children is not enough to make ends meet — especially when gasoline costs are $4.00 and $4.10 per gallon to fill an automobile … not to mention food costs have been sky high over the past thirty-two months. We are taking all we can take; well we are finished with this futile economy in America.
Furthermore, check these clash videos I found yesterday about the US Presidential candidates have talked taxes. Well, it’s entitled Obama v. McCain on Taxes. Watch these statements - then vote in http://clashorama.com/index.php?id=194
95. Tammie | 10.01.08
African Americans voting for McCain is like a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders!
96. nic505 | 10.01.08
6. Faye Steverson | 09.27.08
“I am sick and tired of all this giving government officials a raise when the people who work do good to buy groceries, gas and pay their health bills. FOR ONCE I would like to see the congress and house of representatives TRY TO LIVE ON A SALARY OF LESS THAN 20,000 A YEAR and keep up their life style. OBAMA wants change? Well, WHY DOESN’T HE TRY TO LIVE LIKE US and see what change is all about. ”
I guess this person missed the fact that he was raised by a single mother on welfare over 3 decades ago(with or with out inflation=less that 20k), or the fact that his grand parents moved from a home into a tight quarters apartment because of how little they made in an effort to help him acquire a private education (sounds like the sacrifice of a non rich american family to me). Or how he borrowed student loans (an indication that he was making less than 20k a year) to attend college and live on. And finally seeing that he’s worth 790k now and if he was to liquidate everything including his 1 HOUSE he’d only have 1.1million…I say only when comparing him to other US Senators and more relevantly Senator McCain who’s worth is around the 150 million dollar ball park. Oh and his running mate who had to refinance his home in order to send his kids to college despite the fact that he’s been a Senator longer than McCain…
McCain’s dad and grandfather were Navy Admirals during the 20th century that’s at least 2 generations of decent living and per capita for the time above what 20k is worth now…He ditches his first wife for a wealthy heiress…so I think the above question of “WHY DOESN’T HE TRY TO LIVE LIKE US” would be properly pointed to Senator McCain and not Senator Obama.
97. Chris Hutcherson | 10.03.08
I would love to know if what Hilary is thinking as she watches this unfold
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1. Democrats 08 | 09.27.08
Wow, the more I watch these two it is becoming very clear what kind of President each of them would be. McCain is talking ‘vetoing EVERY spending bill that comes across his desk’ and a ’spending freeze, exception of the military and veterans’ is anyone really listening? can you say USA = Impoverished Military State under McCain? McCain would be utter disaster for the USA, disaster. You think there is growing poverty and joblessness now under Bush, McCain would bury the USA for good. Obama is the clear choice now, he offers intelligent, desperately needed progress and investment in the American people and workers. He offers solutions to education, health care, the housing and economic crisis, getting out of the money pit that is Iraq, investments in US manufacturing and green energy jobs and so much more to revive our dying country. These are the kinds of solutions America sorely needs, anything less would be suicide for America. No way, no how, no McCain.