Third Presidential Debate Reactions

Pundits have already begun to weigh on tonight's debate. Here is a roundup of some of the reactions.

Marc Ambinder:

Tonight, we saw a McXplosion. Every single attack that Sen. McCain has ever wanted to make, he took the opportunity tonight to make.   Around 30 minutes in, McCain  seemed to surrender the debate to his frustrations, making it seem as if he just wanted the free television. His substance suffered; it didn't make sense at times.

New York Times:

This debate was a lot more confrontational than the first two, with Mr. McCain repeatedly taking jabs at Mr. Obama. Whether it was enough to reverse Mr. McCain's sagging fortunes remains to be seen.

Josh Marshall:

It seems like we've now seen McCain's Ayers/ACORN primal scream. I'm not sure Obama knocked anything out of the park. But at the end of it, I don't think McCain landed any solid punches either. And McCain was often incoherent and a bit kitchen-sinkish. Basically a draw, though if recent polls are any indication, the draw in debate terms may hurt McCain since people do not like McCain's attacks.

Andrew Sullivan:

McCain seemed almost wistful. Obama ended on "sacrifice, service and responsibility." Obama won this for the third time. A small prediction: there will be YouTube mash-ups of McCain's facial reactions on the split screen. And they will have a longer life, for good or ill, than many of the substantive exchanges.

Johnathan Chait:

I thought John McCain was more effective and coherent tonight than in the previous two debates. He mostly controlled the terms of the debate, in part by defining the average American as a plumber who earns more than $250,000 a year. His points, though often inaccurate, were not always rebutted (in part because Obama simply didn't have time to rebut every allegation.)

However, McCain lost the overall message of the debate. The cost of McCain's sharper tone was that he sounded more like a dogmatic Republican. Obama was softer, let many points go, but was much more effective at sounding like a moderate.

Mark Halperin:

McCain: Substance: Grade: A-
Style: Grade: B+
Offense: Grade: A-
Defense: Grade: A-

Obama: ubstance: Grade: B
Style: Grade: B-
Offense: Grade: C+
Defense: Grade: B+

Comments

[JohnnyKay]

I see the same John McCain who panicked on the USS Forrestal, and ended up causing the deaths of 134 better qualified, courageous men and injured 161.

I see the same John McCain angered by his wife's accident and loss of 5 inches in height, he chose to cheat on her with Cindy.

I see the same John McCain who graduated fifth from the bottom of his class, showing no class as usual.

I see the same John McCain darting a tongue over his parched lips in an obvious stage of Alzheimers.

I see the same old, same old and wonder why someone who might actually care about him, hasn't asked him to step aside not just for the good of the country, but for his own mental health..... unless too many know he's too far gone?

I see Obama winning in a landslide now, with the few who will actually vote for McCain as angry, as uninformed, and as pathetic as their candidate.

pity

[snarkopolitan]

To be fair, nothing I've read says that the Forrestal incident was McCain's fault, including the Rolling Stone article. A missile accidentally launched from another airplane hit one of the bombs his plane was carrying. I may have misunderstood---but it seems that he did nothing to start the fire.

He did not, after saving himself, do his utmost to help fight the fires, though he gave a brief assist to some men hauling equipment in the stairwell. Then he went to the cafeteria while others gave their lives to save the ship. He may have been in shock---he did just get nearly blown up, and he did have to dive through flames---I would say he wasn't a hero, but not a villain either, that day.

[NationalTreasure]

SAY IT AINT SO JOE1

“John McCain did great tonight in the debate. But every time John mentioned “Joe the Plumber,” some of us in the campaign banged our heads against the wall. If Steve Schmidt had any hair left, I hear he would have been pulling it out tonight. He reportedly screamed at John’s debate prep team tonight (out of earshot of reporters, of course). “You idiots - he’s related to Charles Keating… of the Keating Five scandal!” They thought they had a real live Joe Six-Pack who’s spurned Barack Obama’s tax plan. But what they forgot to do was check on Joe Wurzelbacher’s background.”

“Turns out that Joe Wurzelbacher from the Toledo event is a close relative of Robert Wurzelbacher of Milford, Ohio. Who’s Robert Wurzelbacher? Only Charles Keating’s son-in-law and the former senior vice president of American Continental, the parent company of the infamous Lincoln Savings and Loan. The now retired elder Wurzelbacher is also a major contributor to Republican causes giving well over $10,000 in the last few years.”

http://www.eisenstadtgroup.com/2008/10/15/joe-the-plumber-wurzelbacher-related-to-charles-keating-oops/

[rmreddicks]

Vetting isn't on the McCain's campaign's strong points.

[rmreddicks]

or make that "one of". Hell, I'm starting to feel like John McCain, what with the typos.

[AngryCenter]

awesome

[JohnnyKay]

Had John McCain learned from his absence-of-vetting choice of Palin, he'd have known 'Joe the Plumber' isn't even registered to vote.

So much for a thoughtful candidate snaking a tongue in the first stages of Alzheimers, in the last stage of his political career.

[ClareP]

This was interesting -- I wonder if any of the media will actually follow it up?

Joe “the Plumber” Wurzelbacher related to Charles “the Crook” Keating. Oops.
http://www.eisenstadtgroup.com/2008/10/15/joe-the-plumber-wurzelbacher-related-to-charles-keating-oops/

[Prayforchange]

I can't really say there was a clear winner on the issues. Obama debated not to lose, and looked calm in the process. McCain looked scary, and tried to much with the whole Ayers nonsense, and to be on the offensive, this was not the format for that.
Here is a cool political short film/ad http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KzbJtG9V2E

[ancientgirl]

Joe the plumber was in my belief a plant.

[ConstitutionCrusader]

After watching some "Joe The Plumber" footage on youtube, I must say I find the whole situation highly suspect... Something is very fishy about all this...

[HurryUp1212009]

Joe the Plumber is SO STUPID he doesn't know the difference between the company's gross revenues and his net income. And, how many uncommitted voters across the US can even HOPE to make $250,000 next year????
I make around $50K and this whole paradigm DID NOT RESONATE with me at all. Plus, I know the difference between a small business' gross revenues and how much goes to the owner, after expenses.
This rube will be LUCKY to pay tax on $25,000 on his business; MEANING HE WON"T PAY ANY TAXES UNDER THE OBAMA PLAN!!!

[SoCalNick]

This is why Joe must have been a plant..either that or just another guy who thinks because he has done the JOB for years he can be a BUSINESSMAN. 1000s fail thinking this every month.

[clsmithj]

Does Joe the Plumber really make $250,000 a year or does his company make that much? $250,000 an individual is a lot of money, and if you make that much, you should not be whining that you're not going to get a tax break fro Obama.

[jade7243]

Nope, the average Joe doesn't make that much. Try closer to $42,000 (journeyman) to $51,000 (licensed) per year.

But Joe the plumber was always voting for McCain.

[Waltb31]

Apparently "Joe the plumber" is not registered to vote:
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1008/The_Joe_file.html?showall
More neocon fraudulent spin.

[jamuelle]

Keep in mind, that is for the union. Employers still have to pay fringe benefits. That is the health and wellness, pension, etc. So, really, when you say someone is pulling in $42,000 to $51,000, that is their take home net. Never mind the thousands per person each month the employer has to pay in benefits for union members. Think, would you really want to lose those benefits for health care and have to find your own? In the union, you wouldn't have to, that is part of the package. But is it any wonder why lots of shops are going non-union? $5000 tax credit wouldn't cut it. Not even close. Ever been injured on the job and had to have workers comp? You have to pay your own fringe benefits when that happens if you are out for an extended period of time. That is not fun.

When you hear Joe speak, he isn't stupid. He knew what question he was asking and what answer he was looking for.

[sunnyjane]

Egged on by his vice presidential candidate (Hmmmm), his Republican backers, his campaign advisers, and his innate take-a-swing character and his radical base, McCain took the low road and attacked Obama from every corner.

Obama, on the other hand, came out for the middle class, the disadvantaged, and actually, everyone in America who has been smacked silly (whether they're smart enough to realize it or not) by eight years of Republican policies.

From goolies and ghosties and ignorant Republicans, dear Lord, deliver us.

[Krikkit]

Mark Halpern watched the first 10 minutes of the debate and then he must have turned it off and wrote his opinion piece. Apparently he didn't see the train-wreck of McCain's last chance. Obama's karma ran right over McCain's dogma dude.

[egal]

Pretty much, yeah. Except maybe the first 7. Had he made it in 10, McCain would have the C+, and it would be his highest rating.

[HurryUp1212009]

I think it's obvious who Mark is going to vote for, and the debate didn't change that. He was clearly looking at the debate through the prism of his own biases... McCain looked downright simean for 90 minutes, Obama looked like a guy who ought to be calling "Drapes to Go" in the next couple of weeks.

[SwingingFromCenter]

You should have read his entire article instead of that snipet. The guy was so far in Johnny's pocket it wasn't funny.

[nubret2008]

Even if Plumber Joe would earn more than 250k a year his tax would rise from todays 36% to 39% under an Obama administration. C'mon folks 3% are NOT a decision point if you want to start a business!

[OxamsRazor]

Not just that -and I totally agree with your NuBret- but Joe's logic is totally off. What will Joe the Plumber do if middle class American's don't have the disposable income to pay for his services? Anyone who has ever been short on cash knows that the last thing you spend money on is any kind of home renovations -LIKE PLUMBING!! What's he going to do when the foreclosure rate goes up? Who's plumbing will he fix then?

This is actually a great example of bottom up economics. What's good for the middle class will be good for Joe.

[brooklynite77]

Thank you, this is EXACTLY how I see it. I wish Obama had said that!

[jamuelle]

Plumbers don't just do remodels and new construction. What happens when something breaks? What happens when you go out on a job, do the work and then don't get paid? We aren't just talking about frivolous spending. Sometimes things break and have to be fixed. And in this economy, that is about all there is right now. Fixing broken things.

[SFreeborn]

Clearly, Mark Halperin was judging this debate by a different set of rules, or perhaps he is practicing contrarianship.

[nostalgia]

Can someone tell me what is wrong with "spreading the wealth"? McCain wants Joe The Plumber to keep all his wealth to himself. This is very cynical to me. Don't Americans want to share the wealth together? If your toes hurt, wouldn't the whole body hurt?

[dutchman]

This touches a nerve for me. EVERY president ever in office has presided over wealth redistribution. The only question has been in which direction. And under Bush, an unprecedented amount of wealth has been transfered from:

The middle class to the rich
The young to the old
The "free' world to oil despots like Saudi Arabia and The Sudan
and now, from the savers to the lenders.

By helping those that have completely missed out on what little economic growth there has been under Bush, Obama can do far more to revive spending (responsible for 2/3 of the economy) and improve the balance sheets of millions who are otherwise staring at financial armageddon, than by McCain's plan of benefitting only those at the top.

Dutchman

[AngryCenter]

Well said.

[Pennsylvanianne]

It never ceases to amaze me that some Republicans don't see wealth distribution is in their OWN best interests. Paying just a little more helps fund education programs that educate and help kids get decent jobs instead of letting them fall into selling drugs and contributing to crime. It helps create health preventive programs that keep people healthier longer, instead of taxpayers having to pay higher costs of emergency room and long-term health care for chronic problems. It helps with home ownership programs that keep up property values. When we all have a piece of the American dream, it's better for all of us.

[jamuelle]

It is called Buying Civilization. (I can't remember who said that, but I didn't come up with it on my own. Trying to give credit and all...)

[Phaedrus21]

It's fine when it's labeled as a "stimulus package".

[ghenry]

Mark Halperin, you have been hanging out too much with Sarah Palin.

[miamia]

Who is Mark Halperin and what debate was he watching?

I didn't hear substance in McCains rants.

I thought Obama's answers were clearer in comparison to what McCain was saying.

1. Troops as teachers with no teaching credentials.
2. The only option for fixing schools is more school vouchers, even if there aren't enough for all of the students to leave public schools.
3. No choice in the cases of health of the mother.
4. Obama should apologize for something said by Lewis about McCain's hate-fest rallies.
5. Government should pay the difference for homeowners with upside-down mortgages but government is not the solution.

He's all over the place.