In Debate II, John McCain twice laid out the criteria for how the American people should judge the candidates: In tough times, we need someone with a steady hand on the tiller.
By that measure, Obama was the clear winner. He was centered where McCain was scattered. Forceful where McCain was forced. Presidential where McCain was petulant.
In the first debate, McCain wouldn't look at Obama. In this one, he referred to him as "that one." The contempt was palpable, and unpalatable.
In the run-up to the debate, McCain lowered himself into the sewer in a desperate attempt to portray Obama as dangerous, untrustworthy, a risk too big to take.
But Obama's measured reasonableness totally countered that caricature. You could fault Obama for not being particularly inspiring, but you could not miss the rock steady competence he exuded -- authoritatively delivering substantive answers to questions on the economy, health care, taxes, and foreign policy.
He scored with his history lesson, reminding voters of the economy the Republicans inherited, and how they squandered that inheritance.
He scored with his reminder of how much the war in Iraq is costing America and the enormous strain that puts on our economy -- as well as our national security.
He scored when he declared that affordable health care is a "right" of every American and not, as McCain put it, a "responsibility" of... he actually didn't specify who.
And Obama scored big when he gave voice to the vast gulf between the two candidates' -- and the two parties' -- position on the role of government in our lives, invoking JFK's commitment to put a man on the moon in 10 years as an example of what can be done in fueling a new alternative energy-based economy, and pointing out how government investment played a key role in developing the tech advances that have driven our economy for the last two decades.
McCain, like Palin last week, couldn't decide if government is the enemy or the deep-pocketed benefactor that is going to buy up all the bad mortgages in America.
Is "a government-bought house on every lot" the 21st century equivalent of "a chicken in every pot"?
McCain also provided the debate's strangest moments, twice chiding Obama for backing an "overhead projector" in a planetarium, and raising the idea of "gold-plated Cadillac" insurance policies that pay for hair transplants. Huh?
McCain also told us he knows how to fix the economy, knows how to win wars, and knows how to capture bin Laden. Is there a reason he's keeping all these a secret?
The debate ended on a question Tom Brokaw described as having "a certain Zen-like quality": "What don't you know and how will you learn it?"
Both men used the opportunity to pivot from the Moment of Zen into impassioned but familiar stump speech stories about single moms (Obama) and absent fathers (McCain), about the American Dream (Obama) and the country put first (McCain), about the need for fundamental change (Obama) and the desire for another opportunity to serve (McCain).
At the end of the debate, Brokaw asked McCain to get out of the way of his Teleprompter, so he could sign off.
Brokaw might as well have been speaking on behalf of the future: Senator McCain can you please get out of the way so we can get on with it?
Read more reactions to the Obama-McCain Town Hall Debate from HuffPost bloggers
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLv4mtwsRos
My son, who missed the debate, asked me what Senator Obama's response was to being referred to as "that one". Surely Senator Obama must have had the urge to take McCain out back and open up a can of South Chicago whup a__ on him. But once again he prevailed with his calm, confident, knowledgeable and Presidential demeanor. Senator Obama outshone his opponent by effectively addressing the real issues that concern the middle class. It's become even more apparent that McCain will do and say anything to win, honor be damned. If he and his surrogates continue their current fierce campaign of fear and smear politics, it will be entirely appropriate for Senator Obama in his final debate closing remarks to address Senator McCain as follows, "John we've worked together in the past and I have hope that with the healing that comes with the passing of time, we will be able to work together during my administration, but, right here, right now, I have to tell you that I am genuinely embarrassed for you. I've meant it when I've honored your service and expressed my admiration for the courage you displayed in captivity, but you have besmirched your name and your honor by running the most vile and mean-spirited campaign this country has witnessed in modern times. And so tonight all I can really bring myself to share with you is shame on you, John McCain, shame on you.
He used technicalities to remove his three African American opponents from the ballot in Chicago. He clearly values winning more than he values the will of the people.
His “new” ideas for “change” are just a bunch of obsolete Canadian policies. Canada discarded these Obama policies starting around 1996 because they just don’t work. Clearly Obama does not value new ideas or change – or honesty. The Canadianization of America
He said that small town Americans are bitter and cling to their guns and religion and they have lost faith in government because they have lost jobs. Clearly Obama is a racist and an elitist who wants to help these small town Americans by replacing their self-reliance with dependency on government – if only that darned Bill-of-Rights didn’t keep getting in the way. America Clings to the Bill of Rights
He blames Republicans, deregulation, and free-markets for the economic crisis when the real cause is Democrats, regulation, and government. Even worse, throughout 2008 he has tried to worsen the economic crisis for political gain by trying to reduce confidence and trust. The Great Depression of 2008
He used dishonest tactics to train and finance a dishonest and racist ACORN agenda to create a proliferation of subprime loans. O’s Dangerous Pals
All the commercials, pundits, gaffes, personal attacks, and the MSM will not dictate the outcome of this election. THE GROUND GAME IS WHERE ELECTIONS ARE WON, AND LOST!
Before you go to the next left leaning article to comment on, or right leaning article to start an argument with a repug (which will no doubt end with them calling you an unpatriotic socialist wimp) I suggest that you get in the game.
Please visit my personal fundraising page below:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/craigcubberly
If you cannot afford to donate money there are many other ways to help below :
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/statepages
Take a look. It is a lot of fun, and very satisfying to get involved. You will really feel as though you are making a difference.
Thanks Craig
I would love to see bumper stickers on cars all over our Nation saying "Vote for That One".
That One For President
I (heart) That One
That One/Biden '08
too much fun.........
This is from a 1965 Voting Rights Act National commercial: Things Are Changing
http://current.com/items/89388751_obama_08_things_are_changing
So many of the issues are identical to today. And yet, in vast ways as a country and people, we've come a long, long way...
Examples:
(1) McCain won't even look Obama in the eye when he addresses him
(2) McCain's older daughter states in an interview that "NO family knows or has experienced war like MY family has..."; talk about being rood & insensitive to the THOUSANDS of other U.S families that have relatives fighting overseas!!
(3) McCain refers to Obama using terms such as "that one"... show him the same respect he shows you & use his name!!
(4) Palin refers to Obama as "our opponent"... the man has a name woman, use it!!
Unlike MILLIONS of Americans, I don't fully follow nor do I trust ANYTHING that news stations report just based on the fact that they're all so one sided & deceptive to a certain degree. I personally think ANYONE who bases their full opinions on what the news reports about anything is just stupid. They're just telling you what THEY want you to know or hear, if