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LIVE DEBATE BLOG
October 07, 2008 9:03 PM
That's it for tonight folks -- two down, just one to go. Check back for more analysis tomorrow morning, as always, in The Note.
9:28 pm CT: Before the dizzying spin begins -- I find it hard to declare a winner. Tie goes to the frontrunner, perhaps, in the conventional wisdom? I don't see McCain hitting things that shake it all up.
9:27 pm CT: From Ron Claiborne: For those who care about debate style: Obama watches McCain raptly whenever McCain speaks. McCain again is having a hard time looking at Obama when he speaks.
9:25 pm CT: McCain makes actual physical contact with an actual real-life voter.
9:23 pm CT: Why do politicians like saying "petrodollars"? And who cares whether candidates think Russia is an "evil empire"? Red Sox fans think the Yankees are an evil empire -- and, as it pains me to point out, the Yanks haven't won in a while.
9:17 pm CT: I'm not seeing any big breakthrough moments -- McCain is better relating to the audience, but Obama is having what qualifies as emotional connections. Maybe it's the format -- but I'm not seeing anything that changes any trajectories so far. (Anyone else ready for this format to be retired?)
9:14 pm CT: From a colleague: No winners in this debate. But there is one loser…Tom Brokaw. What is he doing here?
My take -- he's enforcing silly rules, or trying to. Then asking follow-ups that tend toward less light, not more.
Watch for this line from GOP mouths -- this wasn't a "real" town hall, and that's why McCain didn't "win."
9:12 pm CT: Getting some e-mails on something I missed earlier -- McCain didn't really engage on the "sacrifice" question, while Obama did, evoking the post-9/11 period.
9:11 pm CT: Then McCain attacks Obama for being a hawk -- "Sen. Obama likes to talk loudly."
9:10 pm CT: "We will kill bin Laden, we will crush al Qaeda." Those were Obama's lines.
9:08 pm CT: I can't imagine a single voter caring about the debate that just played out on Iraq. Not that it's unimportant, just that it's played out.
9:06 pm CT: The word "Ayers" has not been uttered tonight. Neither has the word "Keating."
9:05 pm CT: A friend who's keeping track notes that, more than an hour in, there have been six questions from people in the auditorium. Six.
9:03 pm CT: ABC's Ron Claiborne, on the "That One" line: "Tonally, seemed dismissive, maybe even contemptuous. It could provide Obama camp with an opportunity to onsinuate more than that, even racially-charged, a version of the phrase "you people." Obama press people quickly noted it in e-mail to reporters."
They did. One Obama supporter e-mails me to call it his "get off my lawn" moment.
9:02 pm CT: Obama finds a good stride talking about McCain's "wrong judgment." This was one of his better moments at the first debate, too.
Also, John McCain is taking a lot of notes. Seems like he's scribbling something every time the camera cuts to him.
8:59 pm CT: McCain: "America is the greatest force for good . . . " I don't think many listeners would disagree. I don't know, I legitimately don't, whether people want to hear about it at this precarious time. Maybe McCain is onto something -- it reminds me of Romney at his best in the primaries. But it does muddle a bit the I'm-not-Bush message.
8:58 pm CT: Don't hate on Delaware -- that's where Biden's from . . .
8:56 pm CT: An emotional connection, by Sen. Obama, on healthcare -- talking about his mother's struggles with insurers toward the end.
8:55 pm CT: Is health care a privilege, a right, or a responsibility, Brokaw asks. And America answers: Who cares? I just want to make sure I have it, for less money.
8:53 pm CT: In the un-green race to pass out as much paper as possible, the McCain campaign is destroying the Obama campaign once again. Aides scurry about handing out paper copies of the press releases every reporter gets via e-mail, several times over, usually. No Obama paper, as in the previous debates.
8:50 pm CT: Should healthcare be treated as a commodity? Obama talks about what an important and vital issue this all is -- and then . . . waiting . . . waiting . . . waiting. "We have a moral commitment as well as an economic imperative to do something . . . " This might have been a good opportunity to score on an emotional level, not a policy one.
"Do the math," McCain says on his healthcare plan. (Because he didn't right there.)
8:48 pm CT: Who voted for it? "That one!" McCain said, pointing, with that weird smile he sometimes cracks.
8:46 pm CT: Brokaw a stickler for the rules -- how much time being wasted trying to enforce them, though? Enough for an extra question?
8:43 pm CT: Almost halfway in, it's McCain attacking -- with a smile. He's the happy warrior so far, trying to stay optimistic while drawing the distinctions he needs to. No big game-changers yet, though.
8:42 pm CT: McCain calls for an up-or-down vote on entitlement reform. Sounds like something real there.
McCain: "Sen. Obama voted 94 times" to raise taxes. "That's his record." That's a laughable charge and McCain knows it.
8:41 pm CT: From ABC's Bret Hovell: McCain continues to attack Obama in almost every answer and Obama either responds or, sometimes, doesn't. But Obama's not putting McCain on the defensive at any point.
8:39 pm CT: Meanwhile, are all these questions turning into an argument over who's going to raise your taxes?
8:38 pm CT: Obama can tell tired jokes too: "The Straight Talk Express lost a wheel on that one."
8:37 pm CT: Brokaw slaps down Obama's attempt at a follow-up to the follow-up.
8:35 pm CT: Obama's tax proposals "like nailing Jell-O to the wall." I haven't tried, but that would sound difficult. Cute line. Then the meat -- Obama's tax hike is a hike on small businesses. "I've got some news, Sen. Obama -- the economy is bad."
(Waiting for the oppo research that points out McCain saying the "fundamentals of our economy are strong.")
More from the rah-rah McCain: "Let's not raise anybody's taxes."
8:33 pm CT: Obama raises the "revenue side," gingerly. That means taxes. He's engaging on the issue here, to his credit on an intellectual level. This is a key bridge for him to build -- he needs voters who are hearing a whole lot about his tax hikes to think about this as leveling the playing field, not making people empty their pockets.
"Those of us like myself and Sen. McCain who don't need help" -- that's similar to a Kerry line in 2004.
8:29 pm CT: McCain doesn't get real specific on cuts either -- in fact, tonight he just proposed a new spending program inside the Treasury department at the same time he's talking about his "spending freeze." Did you feel that thaw? By the McCain campaign's own count, this new program would cost $300 billion. With a B.
"We're not rifle shots here. We're Americans!" McCain says. (Sorry, but this one seems forced.)
8:25 pm CT: "We're going to have to prioritize," Obama says. Top of the list is energy, and energy independence. "And we can do it." Health care grabs No. 2. Then No. 3 is education. But wasn't the point of the question what you can't have?
8:23 pm CT: ABC's Bret Hovell points out that that is indeed a new McCain proposal: To have the Treasury department have the ability to buy up struggling home loan mortgages and renegotiate them at the new value of the home so that people can make their payments.
An intriguing debate tactic, to have that in his hip pocket.
But, from ABC's Ron Claiborne: How is this different than his HOME program to buy up subprime mortgages taken out since 2005 by "credit worthy' homnowners facing foreclosure and give them a new loan, fixed, based on current home value? He says 400,000 people would be eligible for that. Is he saying now -- can we infer -- he's talking about ALL troubled loans, a much bigger program? If so, that would be a change from his position last spring when he said people who got in over their heads and shouldve known better and speculators shouldn't be helped.
8:20 pm CT: Again, that would be McCain saying a voter's name, instead of starting an answer, "well, look." For what it's worth. And McCain calls out for bipartisanship -- this is reaching to the center, really a key goal of his tonight. Your contrast: Obama blamed George Bush, McCain said bipartisanship. WAIT -- spoke too soon -- this was really to set up a he's-a-liberal attack.
8:19 pm CT: Obama says there's "blame to go around," and then applies it in one direction. "Sen. McCain voted for four out of five of those George Bush budgets," he says. (That was an unprovoked jab, it seems.) Then comes more laundry list out of Obama, nothing really outstanding there.
8:18 pm CT: So far, both are playing populist cards. In the early discussion on the economy, I don't see either one distinguishing himself on the big question of the moment.
8:17 pm CT: Obama says he wants to "change the culture in Washington." That and other bromides are sure to fix everything, right?
8:14 pm CT: Obama needs to correct McCain's statements, "not surprisingly." (Was that necessary?) But he's not staying above the fray -- this isn't above-it-all Obama tonight early on.
8:11 pm CT: Now both candidates are touting the bailout package. (And why is McCain still talking about how he suspended his campaign for this.)
First attack -- Senator Obama and his friends, and his cronies, who defended Fannie and Freddie. This one is a bank shot, sort of hard to explain (lots of meanwhiles). But it looks like McCain is jumping at opportunities tonight, even when they're not directly offered. "Others took a hike," McCain says.
And -- McCain right up in voters' faces. Really moving in close.
8:08 pm CT: "Not you, Tom." (What did Brokaw do to deserve that dig?) McCain drives the right NUTS by mentioning Warren Buffet for treasury secretary. (They'll be much happier about Meg Whitman.)
Obama: "Warren would be a pretty good choice." So far, the Sage of Omaha is winning the debate.
ABC's Jennifer Parker points out that McCain is mentioning voters' names -- strong connections with the audience.
8:07 pm CT: McCain is roaming the stage, playing to his strength. And comes out with a policy proposal to help people stay in their homes -- a strong lead answer, to have a meaty response to that. McCain looks confident early.
8:06 pm CT: McCain: "Sen. Obama, good to be with you at a town hall meeting." Took approximately two sentences for the first dig.
8:04 pm CT: Obama leads off -- "worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, and a lot of you, Ithink are worried." He looks back from the beginning -- "final verdict" on Bush-era policies. But he was asked about what to do next -- and leads with the bailout package. (I didn't think either of them would want to tout that tonight.)
But Obama is the first to talk about tax cuts tonight -- will be interested to see how McCain hits back on that point. He also says "middle class" first.
8:02 pm CT: John McCain quick to make eye contact from the start -- he won't want that storyline to repeat itself.
October 7, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (480)
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interesting
Posted by: Abel Lopez, Jr. | Oct 7, 2008 9:05:56 PM
Obama didn't answer the queston.
Posted by: geevill | Oct 7, 2008 9:06:20 PM
Please get these guys to answer the QUESTIONS IN THIS TOWN HALL MEETING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Terry Kendrick | Oct 7, 2008 9:09:22 PM
Obama evades the question again
Posted by: geevill | Oct 7, 2008 9:10:38 PM
Interesting that McCain mention wall street corruption, oh forget to mention he was a part of that.
Posted by: J | Oct 7, 2008 9:11:25 PM
when will they answer the question and not blame each other
Posted by: David | Oct 7, 2008 9:11:29 PM
why should housing prices be stabilized? Lower home prices amke for more affordable housing. Lower home prices make homes easier to purchase with LOWER payments. Lower house prices are desirable, just as are lower prices are desirable for goods sold at walmart, and more affordable health care.. Capitalism is supposed to lead to higher productivity and lower prices for goods and services, so why do we want higher home prices??
Posted by: Hyubso | Oct 7, 2008 9:12:35 PM
Obama Never answers any question, just talks around it.
Posted by: James Hatten | Oct 7, 2008 9:13:07 PM
Obama always agrees with McCain, I guess he can't think for him self.
Posted by: KT | Oct 7, 2008 9:14:45 PM
Obama already getting his ass kicked
Posted by: geevill | Oct 7, 2008 9:14:56 PM
Oh look. Rick isn't blogging about Obama straying off the queston
Posted by: geevill | Oct 7, 2008 9:16:06 PM
I keep hearing that the middle class need tax cut. What about the people who are below the middle class. I which I made middle class income!
Posted by: becky | Oct 7, 2008 9:16:22 PM
McCain harps on Fannie and Freddie but he has no conception of what he is talking about... The Republican nominee, Mr. McCain of Arizona, has numerous close relationships with and contributions from current and former company lobbyists.
Posted by: Jeffrey | Oct 7, 2008 9:16:39 PM
From the AP article "Palin stretches the truth in campaign"
"What's next, claiming that he didn't know two of his biggest supporters were running Fannie Mae, the subprime mortgage giant?" Palin said. "That has done harm to the American economy."
She referred to Jim Johnson, who chaired Fannie Mae from 1991-1998, and Franklin Raines, his successor who stepped down in 2004 in an accounting scandal.
But Palin exaggerated Obama's ties to Raines and Johnson while omitting any mention of a closer relationship between a top McCain aide and the failed housing giants.
Raines and Johnson support Obama but do not have strong ties to him or his campaign. Johnson briefly headed Obama's vice presidential search last spring but resigned amid controversy over loans he got with help from an executive of Countrywide Financial Corp., a lender damaged by the mortgage meltdown.
Meanwhile, until August, Freddie Mac paid $15,000 a month to a lobbying firm headed by McCain campaign manager Rick Davis. The payment came on top of more than $30,000 a month Davis was paid directly by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from 2000-2005 to head the Homeownership Alliance, an advocacy group.
Davis has not taken any compensation from his lobbying firm since 2006, the McCain campaign said.
Posted by: J | Oct 7, 2008 9:16:46 PM
Neither one of them is answering the questions. How do you get them to just give the people the answers to their questions?
Posted by: Susan | Oct 7, 2008 9:16:52 PM
I don't like him,
Wear you red !!!!
Posted by: KT | Oct 7, 2008 9:16:55 PM
other countries?
Posted by: geevill | Oct 7, 2008 9:17:08 PM
Obama finally actually answered question! 2 points Obama!!
Posted by: Beverly | Oct 7, 2008 9:17:14 PM
So Obama wrote instead of proposing any meaningful legislation?? Why didn't Obama "jump on a bill" proposing Fannie/Freddie regulations??? Obama tiptoed around the money list because he KNOWS it's true!!
Posted by: fairelection2008 | Oct 7, 2008 9:17:55 PM
Confident about the economy????What world is Obama living in. Some people will not be bale to stay in homes, nor should some of them been in the loans to begin with. Why should we buy up bad loans of people that did not read a contract, or agree to buy a home with no money down, then act like it is owed to them?
Posted by: David | Oct 7, 2008 9:18:20 PM
Cronyism: McCain shame on you:
Two weeks ago MSNBC reported that John McCain's national campaign
general co-chair, former Sen. Phil Gramm, "was being paid by a Swiss
bank to lobby Congress about the U.S. mortgage crisis at the same time
he was advising McCain about his economic policy."
Posted by: Jeffrey | Oct 7, 2008 9:18:30 PM
All they are doing is kissing the American people's butts with their rhetoric and flowery comments. I am sick of that. Please just answer the questions.
Posted by: Susan | Oct 7, 2008 9:18:50 PM
#4-Obama corrects McCain ? Hussein Obama still talks but says nothing !
Posted by: James Hatten | Oct 7, 2008 9:18:54 PM
McCain is taking shots where he has closer relationships with those he is throwing at Obama
typical Grumpy McCain
Posted by: J | Oct 7, 2008 9:19:18 PM
My one big question to Barak Obama is how can he say that he has the answer to the current financial mess when his record as a community leader in Chicago shows that he and ACORN forced many banks to lend money to low and missle income families who could not get loans to buy homes from local banks. And as a result, ACORN and Barak Obama contributes to the sub prime motrage mess. Also ACORN is incolved in voter fraud in 16 states that are battleground states and he voted against many voter reform ills that would have eliminated many of the fradulent practices that ACORN is involved in currently.
Posted by: jannlo | Oct 7, 2008 9:19:51 PM
there is a lot of talk about home loans, business loans, etc. no one is talking about credit card debt and the high percentages that credit card lenders charge users. knock that percentage in half or even to a quarter of that amount and it would help immensely. if loans are 5-6% (and savings accounts are under 4%) why are credit cards still sticking to 20-36%? that just doesn't add up. you want to help an ordinary family pay their bills?? talk about real debt that ordinary families pay every day. home payments and credit card debt and health care. it's all bundled together hand in hand.
Posted by: annette | Oct 7, 2008 9:20:02 PM
People below middle class receive tax cuts a lot already...the tax they pay out is minimum. but i guess it depends on what you define as below middle class....state a dollar figure please
Posted by: Beverly | Oct 7, 2008 9:20:16 PM
Obama used funding from Fannie May to start up his campaign! I hope McCain calls he out on it!!!!
Posted by: KT | Oct 7, 2008 9:20:16 PM
What did he say?
Posted by: Karl | Oct 7, 2008 9:21:28 PM
Obama still talking about Bush. Obama is not cutting a dime. liar
#1 liberal
Posted by: geevill | Oct 7, 2008 9:22:27 PM
KT
go read the article from the AP showing that isn't true. The AP doesn't publish lies.
Posted by: J | Oct 7, 2008 9:22:34 PM
McCain talks about his past but is leaving out his record of voting with the Bush adminstration on all their major policies
Posted by: Colette Pfeffer | Oct 7, 2008 9:22:53 PM
Nothing
Posted by: KT | Oct 7, 2008 9:23:01 PM
isn't McCain part of the Keating 5 of S+L bailout fame??? McCain fought to help Charles Keating, and not the customers of his S+L who lost money when Lincoln Savings collapsed!
Posted by: hyubso | Oct 7, 2008 9:23:09 PM
Pork barrel earmarks??????? How about the bailout that just passed. They all voted on that and it was full of pork barrel items......lies lies
Posted by: David | Oct 7, 2008 9:23:42 PM
This kind of money?!?? McCain barely knows his own finances!
Posted by: Beverly | Oct 7, 2008 9:23:45 PM
Let's DO talk about Obama's voting record shall we??? The record DOESN'T LIE!! Obama is promising the world with OUR tax dollars and he can't deliver anything but higher taxes for EVERYONE!!Ultaliberal Obama will vote to increase our taxes EVERY time!!
Posted by: fairelection2008 | Oct 7, 2008 9:24:17 PM
Way too many republican's here. If you have already made up your mind keep it to yourself McCain's Palin Choice a Profile in Cynicism and yes Beverly Obama used funding from Fannie Mae as he received contributions from the employees unlike McCain from the LOBBYISTS....
Posted by: Jeffrey | Oct 7, 2008 9:24:20 PM
Read the bill on the whitehouse web site!!!It is true!
Posted by: KT | Oct 7, 2008 9:24:59 PM
Mccain wnats to cut social security.. no money for old people, but plenty of money to bail out wall street!!!!
Posted by: hyubso | Oct 7, 2008 9:25:13 PM
How come minumem wage hasn't gone but everything else has.
Posted by: shelly benitez | Oct 7, 2008 9:25:43 PM
Amazing how no one wants to bring up the fact that it wasn't just Wall Street's greed, it was also the greed of many of the middle class americans (who have now become martyrs) and who bought outside their means and in many cases made profits off the sale of their home. No candidate dares speak the truth that this was a product of America's greed, not just Wall Street's greed.
Posted by: brandi | Oct 7, 2008 9:25:58 PM
McCain was a part of the Keating 5
Posted by: Beverly | Oct 7, 2008 9:26:01 PM
Obama wants more spending ? That means more Taxes and Bigger Government, Obama is a No talent, no brain, Puppet.The only thing he can do is talk or should I say read in circles
Posted by: James Hatten | Oct 7, 2008 9:26:01 PM
fairelection, get the facts:
PALIN: Said of Democratic presidential candidate Obama: "94 times he voted to increase taxes or not support a tax reduction."
THE FACTS: The dubious count includes repetitive votes as well as votes to cut taxes for the middle class while raising them on the rich. An analysis by factcheck.org found that 23 of the votes were for measures that would have produced no tax increase at all, seven were in favor of measures that would have lowered taxes for many, 11 would have increased taxes on only those making more than $1 million a year.
Posted by: J | Oct 7, 2008 9:26:08 PM
Obama $1 billion in earmarks including Jeremiah Wright
Posted by: geevill | Oct 7, 2008 9:27:43 PM
I actually have two questions for them.
Why does everything that you pick up in the stores say made in china?
When are they going to bring our jobs home?
Because there are so many people that are struggling that there aren't jobs out there and the state of michigan is very bad shape.
Posted by: kathy smith | Oct 7, 2008 9:28:07 PM
Way to go brandi....i agree
Posted by: David | Oct 7, 2008 9:28:25 PM
more spending does not mean more taxes as long as items not currently working are cut. spending in different areas does not increase taxes. how about the wealthy finally contribute the same percent in tax dollars
Posted by: J | Oct 7, 2008 9:28:34 PM
McCain says that he will reprice mortgages for those that made horrible decisions, which means that home values will fall. What happens to their neighbors, like us, who bought conservatively and put down 20% equity?
Posted by: Stoly | Oct 7, 2008 9:28:41 PM
J do you really think there be no tax increase at all. WOW he is going to perform the impossible.
Posted by: KT | Oct 7, 2008 9:28:51 PM
Obama keeps ignoring the debate rules he agreed to, taking unfair advantage, and talking on and on and on...
Posted by: Anne | Oct 7, 2008 9:28:52 PM
J do you really think there be no tax increase at all. WOW he is going to perform the impossible.
Posted by: KT | Oct 7, 2008 9:28:53 PM
Brokaw needs to shut Obama up if he takes too much time.
Why is McCain going first again?
Posted by: geevill | Oct 7, 2008 9:28:55 PM
I've recently read that 200 diplomats have come out recently to endorse Obama
Posted by: WhereIsTheGoodFood | Oct 7, 2008 9:29:07 PM
It will take years for nuclear energy plants to come online. What does McCain think he will do now?
Posted by: Colette Pfeffer | Oct 7, 2008 9:29:12 PM
Obama rules...
Posted by: shelly | Oct 7, 2008 9:29:39 PM
Made in china? Why because they want to work, for any amount of money. Americans are too "good" to work for low wages....Look at the unions-----outdated policies to protect entitled americans
Posted by: David | Oct 7, 2008 9:30:24 PM
Instead of baling out Wall Street, Give 250,000 dollars to every American making under 52,000 dollars a year ! That will bring the economy up !
Posted by: James Hatten | Oct 7, 2008 9:30:34 PM
tax increases to those who haven't paid the same percent of income as the middle class, a bit of fairness
Posted by: J | Oct 7, 2008 9:30:58 PM
Obama rules...
Posted by: shelly | Oct 7, 2008 9:31:12 PM
J - I'm saying LOOK AT OBAMA'S VOTING RECORD. I'm not asking you to repeat what Palin or anyone else said. The record DOESN'T LIE!! I admit Obama's voting record if sparse, but it's still there to see. OBAMA HAS THE MOST LIBERAL VOTING RECORD IN THE SENATE!! Does Obama propose on creating an oversight agency to monitor his gov't healthcare bureaucrats from robbing the program blind?? Docs will just go underground and give appointments to those that can pay more and pay on time unless they fear prosecution. This would require oversight and auditing which will cost the taxpayer even more!!
Posted by: fairelection2008 | Oct 7, 2008 9:31:45 PM
James ~ I agree 100%
Posted by: KT | Oct 7, 2008 9:31:57 PM
Boooooooorrrrrrrrrrrrrrriiiinnnnnngggg!
Posted by: Dan Baxter | Oct 7, 2008 9:31:58 PM
Gotta take a break to check the air in my tires!!
Posted by: fairelection2008 | Oct 7, 2008 9:32:25 PM
Suggestion/Question:
Why can't we have a real-time fact-checking team working during a debate to throw "flags" like in sports (foul, off-sides, etc) for false attacks and lies, to which the candidates are held accountable???
Then, we'd be able to hold candidates to making accurate assertions, and we could really see who wins the arguments.
Posted by: kaz | Oct 7, 2008 9:32:27 PM
What does Palin have to do with this debate Obamabots? Get help.
Peace corp? Is that like Hitler youth? or did Obama say we need a draft?
Posted by: geevill | Oct 7, 2008 9:33:28 PM
will mccain cut spending in Iraq?? why do we always have billions for Iraq, with no real reason to be there, but no money -- no health care, no foreclosure aid, for americans at home???
oh god, 9/11!! now obama is using 9/11! why don't we remember Oklahoma city like we love to remember 9/11. When 9/11 is brought up, the brain shuts down. white terroists we can give a pass and forget(never mention), but dark skinned terrorists, always remembered
Posted by: hyubso | Oct 7, 2008 9:33:41 PM
I guess that why they are buying rum with the bailout money...they are all drunk!
Posted by: KT | Oct 7, 2008 9:33:44 PM
agree kaz
if the moderator could throw a flag on every lie or stretch of the truth it would be a far more interesting debate
Posted by: J | Oct 7, 2008 9:34:52 PM
There would be no debate...hehe
Posted by: KT | Oct 7, 2008 9:35:37 PM
No Obama the problem is YOU not answering the questions !
Posted by: James Hatten | Oct 7, 2008 9:35:46 PM
McCain keeps talking about a spending freeze "for national defense and all but the most critical functions of government" - seems to me that that could be the worst possible thing to do. We need to cut our money going overseas and do what Obama has been saying (whether his record shows it, I don't care, he's saying it and McCain isn't), spend the money AT HOME to make more jobs. Whether it's roadwork, oil drilling, whatever, spending at home creates jobs and potentially could boost economy...
Posted by: Andrew | Oct 7, 2008 9:36:02 PM
McCain lies again....
grumpy McCain
Posted by: J | Oct 7, 2008 9:36:09 PM
Why do we always have a pro Democrat asking questions and suggesting answers to Obama. Obama is playing as though he knows what the middle class is when he made $2 million last year. Now he wants to off shore drill. Never before. The Democrats won't let anyone off shore drill and have handicapped the refineries with no increase in production.
Clinton signed the bill intgroduced by the Democrats like Barney Frank which forced Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to give mortgages to unqualified minorities. This torpedoed the banking industry and now everyone is now blaming it on Bush. He has made blunders of his own, but this banking crisis belongs to the Democrats.
Posted by: Jay | Oct 7, 2008 9:36:36 PM
Sen. McCain keeps talking about cutting back on spending...why is the U.S. building a 600 million dollar embassy in Iraq? Ther are communities here that cannot afford to build new schools!
Posted by: Jory | Oct 7, 2008 9:37:03 PM
Uh, Uh, talking about earmarks...Obama doesn't think we need a hatchet. I say chop away!! STOP OBAMA'S TAX INCREASES!! OBAMA WANTS TO ALMOST DOUBLE THE CAPITAL GAINS TAX!!!
Posted by: fairelection2008 | Oct 7, 2008 9:37:06 PM
You go McCain, he rocks!!!
Posted by: KT | Oct 7, 2008 9:37:32 PM
Just stand up and say we are waisting money in other countries to fight other peoples' battles and we need to spend the money here to save our own people
Posted by: J | Oct 7, 2008 9:37:35 PM
I just say that the best way to prove what your campaign stands for is by doing the actions in your own life first. How much did the suites that they are wearing tonight cost? Why not begin cutting things out of the government that these high dollar government officials are getting paid and the benefits that cost soooo much that they can use public transportation more....they can even give themselves and each other raises throughout the government....why does the president get paid in the hundred thousands a year when they have everything for free. Free housing, free transportation, free food, free whatever you want basically as a president so why not cut that first to prove you are serious in fixing this?
Posted by: Jarod | Oct 7, 2008 9:38:27 PM
I have a small business and used to do work with the Feds in my city. Saving them money with the products I sell. Two years ago a program was instituted requiring all Federal Agencies to purchase from particular government run programs. I researched this to find that one of the Federal Courts in my city is spending $5000.00 more per order for the same product that I manufacture. Our price was $3K and the government programs price was $8K. Mind you that was one order on one day out of the year. I can't imagine what goes on with the big purchases.
Posted by: mike | Oct 7, 2008 9:38:27 PM
It will take years for nuclear energy plants to come online. What does McCain think he will do now?
It is a problem when we think we can get something for nothing. We can't cut taxes to much or how do we pay for health insurance, education, energy solutions.
2+2=4 and there isn't any magic in how we pay for government programs. WE PAY for then!! Promised of blue sky money has gotten us into the current financial situation.
Posted by: Colette Pfeffer | Oct 7, 2008 9:38:51 PM
Give me a break, the he said she said thing is getting disgusting!!! Come on, I want to know what they are going to do to fix the issues, not what the other person is, isn't, did, didn't do. Grow up, sand fights were over in kindergarten!!!!
Posted by: rzahrte | Oct 7, 2008 9:39:12 PM
I am so sick of Obama talking about the "working" man. Do you have to make under $250,000 to work hard? My husband spent 16 years in school to get to where he is today and works harder than anyone I know. And what if he makes more than $250,000 a year? Obama has said that we don't need two houses. I thought people came to America because it is a land of opportunity. Who is he to say that working hard to get somewhere in life is a bad thing. Last I recall this was called "Socialism". And finally, he wants to raise the "wealthy" peoples taxes dramatically. Last I checked we were already paying half of our income in taxes. If we pay even more we will stop spending, and when the people with the money stop spending it what do you think will happen to the economy? No more cleaning ladies and trips to the mall. Now these folks are on unemployment. Sounds to me like he is telling the "working" class what they wanna hear. Not reality.
Posted by: Cheryl | Oct 7, 2008 9:39:33 PM
SS reform in first term,,,,you have got to be kidding
Posted by: David | Oct 7, 2008 9:39:40 PM
I just wish, someone with their so called questions, would ask BOTH men..... Since you're trying to convince us you're "for the people of the USA", why did you not fight to give the US the people the $700Billion instead approving it go to the very same companies that have helped bring us to the financial point we are right now?
The money would be split among every LEGAL citizen over 21. That money could have been taxed, so money would have gone right back into the country's account. We could have paid up our morgage loans, car loans, any student loans.
It is because of the high gas, food, electric, cost of living prices that has caused US the American people to put these so-called companies that need "bailing out" almost out of business. We havent been able to afford, the electric, the gas, the food, the student loans.
So Mccain, Obama, if you want us to believe you really and truely care about us the American people, why didnt you give US the money back we have paid in to the very companies that are kicking us out of our homes?
To me, this is the question that should be raised to these two men.
Posted by: Christopher Ewing | Oct 7, 2008 9:39:52 PM
that will destory construction companies, what is he thinking!
DUH!
Posted by: KT | Oct 7, 2008 9:40:25 PM
I worked for Duke Energy 27 yrs. Both parties keep talking Nuclear energy a must. I want to know where is the nuclear waste going to be stored that these nuclear stations are producing currently and will produce into the future for our children and grandchildren to deal with? Believe me it is a serious issue. I've worked at the Catawba Nuclear Station in SC as well as the McGuire Nuclear Station in NC.
Posted by: Lisa Propst | Oct 7, 2008 9:40:43 PM
We're screwed
Posted by: Jennywuz | Oct 7, 2008 9:40:47 PM
Somebody needs to explain to Tom Brokaw and Obama that Medicare and Social Security are NOT entitlements. I PAID FOR MINE!!!!
Posted by: Robin | Oct 7, 2008 9:40:57 PM
What about Foreign policy?
Posted by: geevill | Oct 7, 2008 9:41:20 PM
Obama promising tax cuts to 95% of us, but fails to bring up the fact that he will soak everyone else and they will move their business investments along with the jobs offshore to avoid the high taxes. Nothing new there!!
Posted by: fairelection2008 | Oct 7, 2008 9:41:35 PM
how do you get to Tom Browkaw to ask a frickin question. This whole debate sucks. Lets gets to a yes or no answer. I was looking forward to this based on honesty and no basing each other....I'm a small time law abiding homeowner who is struggling.