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America Finally Gets a Presidential Debate, Because Candidates Gave Them One
Viewers Thursday night finally got something closely resembling a debate between the two candidates for president -- though moderator Bob Schieffer, good as he was, didn't have a lot to do with it.
I'm crediting instead all the complaints about the last two debates between John McCain and Barack Obama, in which both men avoided questions they didn't like and ran over time limits like a crowd of shoppers at a Christmas Eve sale.
Clearly, the format of this debate also fed interaction, as both men sat at a table within feet of each other, needing only a nod and brief word of "response?" from Schieffer to bring an energetic rebuttal.
Early on, I got the feeling this was the kind of clash that would play better for McCain over the radio than on TV. Visually, the Republican echoed all the attitudes voters have been telling pollsters for the last week or so they dislike: bitter anger, impatience, a dismissive contempt for his rival and an impatient glee in unleashing attacks he thinks might damage his opponent.
Obama on the other hand, played a safer game -- batting back the expected attacks on former Weather Underground member Bill Ayers, contentions that he wants to tax small business and John Lewis' comparison of the rhetoric during Sarah Palin rallies to racist activists during the civil rights era.
But he didn't respond to some accurate complaints from McCain -- that Democratic ads have mischaracterized his stands on illegal immigration and stem cell research -- instead, reaching for independent voters with a passionate middle-ground justification for abortion rights.
CBS anchor Schieffer mostly scored by setting the table with interesting questions and getting out of the way, interrupting only occasionally to move on when both men seemed willing to keep arguing points. "By now, we've heard all the talking points," he told the candidates at the start. "Let's try to tell the people some things they haven't heard."
Watching part of CNN's coverage, with its controversial gauge from a sample of uncommitted voters providing real time indications of their opinion, you saw their interest rise whenever talk turned to the struggles they were facing every day, dipping when the discussion veered into campaign tactics and old history.
I will break with many pundits arguing that McCain's 20 references to Ohio plumber Joe Wurzelbacher was an inspired stroke -- to these ears, it felt more like a campaign tactic, particularly when the references kept coming well into the debate. It felt even odder when Wurzelbacher, wading through the expected round of post-debate interviews, clearly favored McCain though he would not admit it -- saying Obama tap-danced around his questions like Sammy Davis Jr. in an uncomfortable moment during an interview with CBS anchor Katie Couric.
(Points to CBS News and Couric for nailing the first TV interview with Wurzelbacher, though she loses half those points for putting him on so late in the network's coverage that he literally was able to answer just one question on network TV, before they moved the interview to the Web)
McCain's declaration that "I am not George Bush, if you wanted to run against him you should have done it four years ago" was a line conservatives probably loved. But to those leaning toward Obama, it probably sounded like a flip response to his candidacy's biggest weakness -- its association with a deeply unpopular president.
I was surprised by the snap polls from CBS and CNN showing a big win for Obama (53 to 22 percent in Obama's favor in CBS' poll? Really?) I don't think McCain ran the table like he wanted, but he did raise his rhetorical game. Unfortunately, the bases he kept touching -- lower taxes, school vouchers, anti-abortion ideals -- were issues electrifying the GOP base with little appeal for swing voters. Ditto with the grouchy attacks and petulant campaign complaints; that stuff just convinces voters you care more about your own pain than theirs.
By mostly keeping his calm and occasionally reaching for the independents -- even while describing GOP supporters calling for him to be killed during rallies -- Obama narrowly "won" a debate that felt much more like a vigorous clash between two skilled politicians than previous exchanges. Thank goodness they both decided it was time -- just in time for voters.
Read more reactions to the Obama-McCain Hofstra Presidential Debate from HuffPost bloggers
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A genuine TKO. McCain knocks out McCain in 3!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyxzHfM0ULM
John McCain tried way to hard last night for a game-changer, it didn't happen. All we saw from him was a myriad of facial expressions that made me think he was more qualified to be a face-contortionist at a circus, rather than a President.
I believe the prob was the format for each of the four debates. Yet, it's the two parties which determine that. So we get lowest common denomenator-type debates. Everybody RUN...
HomeComing Queen Palin's got a GUN!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59mOukUZNUo
Obama's got VISION: Yes, We Can Can:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVwpMB8QAUU
McCain's View:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKVBq4VbC6w
I enjoyed last night's debate. I thought it was better then the first two put together. Just my opinion.
Sorry - being snide and angry just is not tantamount to presenting a competent debate. The fact that McCain huffed and puffed and then just purely LIED simply is exhausting. If that's what debating comes down to, count me out. Once again - the person with the best grasp of the ISSUES won the debate, hands down, no contest. And as for Joe the Plumber - probably best to check out evidence and comments on the site. He's no working stiff getting ahead in the world. He appears to have been a major plant. He's from a family related to the disgraced Keating, by all counts, and he does NOT pay the taxes he already owes. So much for image. McCain did nothing good yesterday. He has no plan other than to continue to give tax breaks to the wealthy and hope it oozes down enough to keep the rest of us quiet. Bah.
Yeah, McCain had nothing to do with the more debate-like tendencies of that debate. He was sort of an irate passenger poking fun at another man without realizing that he was concurrently making fun of th people t whom he was supposed to cater.
mccain raised a lot of things last night it seems.
His eyebrows.
His mouth in smirk after smirk.
His temper.
And the level of vitriol.
The 3d and final debate was the one the American electorate has been waiting for.
McCain was at least true to his word when he vowed to muster up the courage to confront Obama with the absurd accusations Republicans have been making about Obama since the primaries.
Voters recieved keen insight into the true nature of the competing candidates, and moderator Bob Schiefer is perhaps the top newsman in America.
And Obama aswered the criticisms with unique calm. Of the two, who seems most likely to keep his head in a crisis?
Did no one catch that McCain said we fought the Gulf War to protect oil reserves in Kuwait rather than for the "Kuwaiti Democracy" as promised?
On a less serious note, he also said Sarah Palin was a breast of fresh air, instead of breath of fresh air.
I missed the breast part but KO mentioned it.
Got Milk!
Of course he did.
Something that always get left out of the conversations about candidates and their 'policy and plans' is something so fundamental that it makes all of the conversations seem idiotic: that's the Congress. All the talk of candidates policies presume that we're electing him or her to be all-powerful czar, that whatever he declares to be done, will be. One of the horrors of the Rove-Republican regime - at least as how I imagine the founding fathers would see it - is that the White House and Republican-controlled Congress were in almost total lock-step, and the crucial check and balance of oversight and opposition almost vanished. But the way it has more-typically worked, as the framers intended, was that the Congress was in charge and the President was really only a convenience for the directing of its will. Yes, presidents have introduced and achieved important legislation and policies. But the notion that people will, in fact, have the tax rates or health policy or even the budget that a president calls for is far, far removed from reality. The more important thing to get from campaigns is a measure of the strength, character, intelligence, and humanity of the person we direct to lead us.
All I know is this. If McCain is elected, I think all of us Americans should demand that Mr. Grimace debate someone he abhors in this split screen format at least once a week....because we will need something to lift our spirits during the second Great Depression.
That format worked. They should stick with it. (Even though it favored McCain.)
The moderator did a pretty good job, asking followup questions, although he did let McCain interrupt Obama too much and he let McCain ramble on more than he let Obama. The bias was clear.
I noticed it to, mccain would make some outragous claim, and then would move one- and mccain would ask Obama a question and then interrupt him. what was that about
First giving credit where it is due:
1. I think McCain stepped up his game (though much of the rhetoric has been heard before ad nauseum). It was the closest we've gotten to a "debate" with back and forth exchanges, challenges of statements, etc. Had he done so earlier, he might have had a chance.
2. The commentator, who leans obviously to the right normally, was better than I expected. He asked some good questions, and allowed the candidates to get into the "meat" a little more.
3. McCain seems to have done some homework, and at least was able to begin to talk about actual issues to some degree. Some were rehashed Obama ideas, some were totally out of left (right?) field; but at least there was conversation.
That being said -- He could not defend the indefensible:
1) Palin as a VP pick; and continued "support" of her lack of preparedness
2) Allowing racist and unpatriotic rhetoric to flourish at his rallies (before he got called on it, and then discouraged it only when it was done by members of his own party), BECAUSE OBAMA WOULD NOT AGREE TO 10 TOWNHALL MEETINGS!?
3) (Mis) spending tens of thousands of supporters' cash, and valueable time on negative and attack ads, rather than putting forth a coherent platform.
I think the country CLEARLY saw the vast and varied differences between the two candidates.
Anyone "undecided" at this point is only lying to himself. The rest of us aren't buying it.
I have to agree with you. I was actually worried during the first half of the debate because it seemed like McCain had the upper hand. He actually came to fight and I think that actually threw Obama off a little. There were times when I felt that Obama should have fought back, but did not. By the end, however, Obama got back into the swing of things and ran it home.
The question is: Was this performance too little to late for McCain, and was Obama's performance "good enough".
I agree with many of the posts. Though I'm a Dem, I'm not a strong Obama supporter (he's a little too far left for me), I appreciate that he at least has a plan. This debate showed once again, that McCain's desparation has led him to dark places he probably never intended to go. Like Clinton, he figured he had this thing all sowed up. After all he as the experience. I think McCain's blunders started with his VP choice. McCain misjudged the loyalties of women and, more importantly, chose someone that by his own definition is not qualified to be president. McCain has contradicted himself in such serious ways that even the republicans are struggling to support him. Because his plans and visions have not resonated with ordinary citizens he's forced to attack Obama's character, believing that in order to elevate his campaign he must tear down his opponent. McCain didn't realize that every word could and would be fact checked and disseminated in minutes, muting his attacks on Obama's character. Given the turmoil in our economy it's more important for McCain and Obama to stress their visions to help the country. The character attacks are a side show and do noting to sway my vote.
This was more like what a debate should be. I actually think McCain "won" this one, but more because of Obama's choice to remain quiet and sit on his lead. While McCain was agressive and appeared to get his points across, Obama cam across as disinterested. In the end though, I don't think it will be enough. The next 19 days will tell.
I saw Obama as calm, measured, and reasoned, not disinterested. I'm truly sick of the venom from McCain. Google McCain and POW/MIA families - he once HIT a supporter in a wheelchair for some reason. He is not a well person, and last night it showed.
Sit on his lead? That's pundit-talk.
No Mccain seemed angry and impatient- If you look Obama has not changed the way he engages Mccain it is Mccain that has to change how he engages- Mccain had to come our fighting- he has been talking about how he was going to Kick Obama's A#$% all week, what did you expect for him to do- Nothing- but he just came off as desparate and angry and he was rude- Obama showed that even thought this man hates me and is yelling, and condescending to me- i will remain calm and let him say his peace before i say mine. and that is what he did- he let mccain destroy himself- with his impatients and lack common decency. That is what i saw and so did many others and that is why Obama contiues to win those debates- Mccain is to raw when you need more finess
Maybe in previous debates obama was just bored. He and Clinton got in some fun exchanges. Obama holds back alot; he gives his opponents rope to hang themselves. When McCain said he was a Federalist, Obama surely knew he meant ANTI-federalist. But he didn't correct him. I think we underestimate Obama's skill in the ring. His ability to stay cool, and hold back is truly something. Clinton and McCain could not match his restraint. And we know Clinton is a master at sparring and spin. If we truly compared these to stroke for troke there'd be no question on whose fit to lead our country.
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