Obama-McCain Presidential Debate Reaction: HuffPost Bloggers Weigh In

Nora Ephron: Ringside:

There was a moment, when the debate ended and the wives came up on stage, where I actually knew, or thought I knew, who had won. I'm sorry to say it, but it was John McCain. McCain had come into the debate having spent the week as the King of the Loose Screws, but he got through the night without a sign of his irrational behavior, and that seemed like a big win for him. I was, by the way, the least pessimistic person in the room where we watched the debate, a room full of blue-state pinkos, and our hearts had collectively sunk as we watched Obama miss opportunity after opportunity to score a knockout punch -- as the men in the room tended to put it. READ MORE

Madeleine Albright: A Breakthrough Night for Obama:

He responded knowledgeably, thoughtfully and confidently to the toughest questions on the economy, Iraq, and terror. Meanwhile, Senator McCain spent so much time attacking his opponent, he neglected to show how a McCain-Palin administration would differ from Bush-Cheney. READ MORE

Arianna Huffington: A Good Night for Stasis, a Bad Night for Reality:

It was a good night for Obama because, when 83 percent of the country believe we are on the wrong track, standing toe-to-toe with McCain on foreign policy is all you need to do. And Obama clearly did that -- scoring strong points on the lessons of Iraq, where he pointed out all the ways McCain had been wrong on the war. He even landed a zinger: "John, you like to pretend the war began in 2007." It was a good night for McCain because, after a week in which he'd been bleeding like a hemophiliac in a barbed wire factory, tonight stanched the bleeding. READ MORE

Sean Penn: Tonights Debate Loser: You and Me:

The real debate is being played out right now, as pundits and viewers analyze, argue, and dissect the presentation in search of a winner. Since I don't know who the winner will be, I figured I'd talk about the loser. That would be, you and me. ... The result is another frustrating piece of American media that is at once far too polite, and at the same time, dismissive of an American public's need to know anything beyond jingoistic self-aggrandizement. READ MORE

Robert M. Shrum: We Now Know Who the Next President Will Be:

Tonight I think we know who the next President will be. The debate was a crossroads. For two weeks, John McCain has lurched down a dead-end road on the economy, lurch from happy talk about "sound fundamentals" to gloom about economic crisis; alternately out of touch, confused and self-contradictory; then desperately reaching for another stunt with his blundering, transparently opportunistic intrusion into the financial rescue negotiations which crimped his debate prep. He clearly could have used more. READ MORE

Will.i.am: Where My Mind Went After the Debate:

i'm glad that senator obama brought these domestic issues to a foreign policy debate... because fixing "home" would alter our foreign relations... maybe investing in "home" would allow America to add value in the world other than our military... maybe investing in "home" would make the rest of the world have faith in our judgment... READ MORE

Paul Reiser: Obama Underwhelms, McCain Patronizes:

I hate to start sounding like all the blogs I read, but I have to say, I did want to see more fire. I did want him to let the anger loose. I did want him to slap back at McCain's endless patronizing tone. (I did like when Obama responded that he did indeed know the difference between a "tactic" and a "strategy" -- and even threw a pointed glance at McCain when he next used the word "strategy.") But while I sure don't want to see him at this point be anything less than or different than who he is, I sure would like a little more fight. A little less patience. A bit less politeness. READ MORE

Adam McKay: Obama Didn't Give Secret Code to Terrorists; Wins Debate:

Tonight was an easy game plan for Obama; don't accidentally say the "C" word and don't grow a beard at the last second and talk about banning kite flying. Because of a slew of frankly insane emails that have circled this country for the past few months claiming that Barack is actually a Muslim terrorist and that he introduced Lindsay Lohan to drugs and once tried to kidnap the cute kid from Jerry Maguire, mostly what Senator Obama needed to do tonight was show up and be his articulate and knowledgeable self. Mission Accomplished, which of course now means things get super ugly and complicated. READ MORE

Erica Jong: Flatlining the Debate:

I wish Barack Obama had lifted himself above Mc Cain's snooze-lines. At times, he seemed infected by McCain's lethargy. But Obama was clearer and cleaner in verbal style than he's ever been. I wish he weren't so generous in acknowledging McCain. Perhaps he is too kind to his mean-spirited rival. He is more gentlemanly than he needs to be. It must be a great burden not to seem "uppity." But his new clarity was certainly welcome. READ MORE

Sheryl Crow: Tonight's Presidential Debate: Victory for Obama, More of the Same from McCain:

While McCain has an immense amount of experience in the military, there was never a moment that I perceived him as a levelheaded peacekeeper but instead looked like the same kind of defensive leader we've had for the last eight years. While Obama was talking about Afghanistan, Senator McCain was still selling the surge and the idea of "winning the war," a war that no one feels can be won. John McCain's entire message revolved around Iraq. He seemed to be in complete denial that our country is in a much less secure status than before 9/11, when it is clear that we have thrown a rock into a beehive. READ MORE

Chris Durang: Barack Did Great, McCain Okay But Angry

I was relieved by Barack's energy and strength and, yes, passion to win tonight. The last few times I've seen him be interviewed ad hoc he answers with many hestitations and "uh's"... he's choosing his words carefully, and that's good for governing. But for reaching voters and for winning a campaign, he needed to show more passion and energy -- and he did that tonight. I loved his ability, most of the time, to correct McCain's misleading use of "facts" that aren't facts -- best example, McCain said he couldn't believe that Barack Obama actually voted NOT to give the troops the money they needed. READ MORE

Bob Barr: The Debate That Wasn't::

There's not a dime's worth of difference between Senator McCain and Senator Obama. The viewers of this first presidential "debate" missed the opportunity for a true debate. ... Accountability was not present in tonight's debate; just the repetitive refrain that the taxpayers have to pay for the mistakes of Wall Street, no matter what the cost might eventually add up to. On foreign policy, I was getting dizzy with all the places they want to inject our military forces. Both McCain and Obama need to be reminded that our military comes under the Department of Defense, not the Department of Offense. READ MORE

Michael Seitzman: Barack Obama and the Return of Grace:

Ironically, the very thing the McCain campaign is now crowing about as an example of McCain's victory -- the fact that Obama granted his opponent the courtesy of pointing out the places where they agree -- is the very quality of leadership that McCain continues to falsely claim as his own. "I have a record of reaching across the aisle," is the repeated line. He claims to have made a career of putting "Country First," yet we only see him engage in behavior that has divided this country for far too long, effectively putting country second and putting McCain First. If he truly endeavors to unify us, then the first thing he needs to do is to stop turning every disagreement into a battle between heroes and villains. READ MORE

Roseanne Barr: Obama the Thinker and McCain the Saber Rattler:

McCain seemed old and out of date while rattling the Israeli saber for war with Iran by referencing the Holocaust, which I found to be disturbing and despicable and obsolete, as are all of his militaristic solutions that underline every issue he addresses. I found Obama to be a lithe thinker who is open to solutions and new thought. I found him to be inclusive in his comments while McCain was exclusive, and had that familiar Republican sneer that is a required accessory for his demographic. READ MORE

Jacob Heilbrunn: McCain's Debate Message: How To Lose More Friends And Alienate People:

It was Barack Obama who came across as the insurgent seeking change, while McCain represented the Republican establishment. Obama landed the crushing blows by pointing out the obvious: the Bush administration's, and by extension McCain's, obsession with Iraq for the past eight years has only succeeded in crippling American power and security. McCain, he noted, has been wrong, over and over again, in predicting that Iraq would be a cakewalk and that there would be no real ethnic enmities inside it. READ MORE

Max Bergmann: Major Gaffe: McCain Said Pakistan Was a Failed State:

McCain just badly misstated the history of Pakistan. For someone claiming extensive foreign policy knowledge, this is simply not acceptable. McCain said Pakistan was a failed state before President Musharraf came to power. That is not true. READ MORE

Bob Cesca: We Can't Afford More Of The... Smirk:

It ought to be clear by now that Senator Obama has the temperament to be an effective chief executive. Where Senator McCain was unserious and petulant, Senator Obama was forceful, sharp and, at times, magnanimous. Hell, Senator McCain couldn't even look Senator Obama in the eye. Not once. Instead, Senator McCain snickered and smirked during the discussion of very serious issues. Where have we seen that behavior before? READ MORE

Comments

[JustusG-S]

I thought it was interesting that McCain said, "Everything I know about leadership I learned from my Chief Petty Officer." I thought that this was a bad move on his part. Sure, it's great to have a commander-in-chief who knows about the military, but having a president who only knows about leadership from the military? Really?

[conservemycountry]

You think McCain only knows about leadership from the military? I think his experience in Congress for over 30 years in the trenches of Washington provides plenty of leadership compared to Obama's 2-3 years. His experience there outweighs the military - even if he did learn from his CPO. If it's socialism you want, vote for Obama. He did not win the debate, although listening to CNN would make you think so. How can anyone be so duped into listening to the drivel on television? Obama must have said "uh" a hundred times. I see him as a "stop and let me think a few years" kind of leader.

[populucious]

I really want to address the number of proudly liberal pundits who have expressed disappointment, disdain and general ennui over the fact that Obama did not unleash a terrible verbal smackdown upon John McCain.

As a proud Obama supporter, I get where you're coming from, even though I think you're wrong. You want that moment where Obama looks McCain in the face and tells him exactly what we personally are feeling about him. But you must remember, the debates are not for you, or me, or the people who know with all confidence for whom they will be voting in November. There for those still trying to figure that out.

As shameful as Bill Clinton's Tour of Faint Praise Damnation for Obama has been, he did make a point on the Daily Show that people who already love Obama do not need Bill Clinton to tell them he loves Obama too. If Barack Obama had unleashed whatever that nuclear smackdown might have been on McCain, it would have been so gratifying for those of us already on his side, but it would have gained him nothing.

Poll results this weekend bear this out. Obama discussed concrete elements of his platform while McCain was nasty and condescending. People looking for a reason to vote for one or the other were given actual reasons to do so by one candidate, and nothing but more of the same from the other. This is how debates are won.

[wendynyc]

We have not heard anything from the Obama camp as to why he was so un-aggressive towards his opponent. Doesn't he know there are thousands of his supporters worldwide waiting for someone to punch these guys back after all these years.
We do not want polite, dull, well behaved dems toeing the line - look at Nancy pelosi, Harry Reid - 16% approval rating....

[SaintSatinStain]

It was clear to me that Obama won the debate, but he will not be the next president. There are enough 'white' folk who will not vote for a 'black' man or woman to defeat Obama. They will vote with their race and not in the best interests of their families, future for their children, and their pocketbooks. I am sorry to bring you down, but it is the reality. I did not support Jesse Jackson because he was not qualified. I don't do symbolic votes. I am 'black.' My first choice was Ron Paul. Obama is far better to be president than McCain. The American people, at least 51 percent, are racist. They are scrambling to find other reasons like trying to indict Obama for his friends and acquaintances. These are spurious charges. I know a mafiosi, a communist, and a former bank robber. Does that make me a bad person? Who doesn't know someone who may have crazed opinions, radical views, or who have committed bad deeds? Guilt by association is the cover for latent racism.

[kissmydonkey]

I really don't believe that the amount of people you think will vote their race is going to happen. Not this time, not this election, not with these candidates. That's like saying more than half the women in the US will vote for McCain because Palin's a woman. I'm a white woman who is adamantly voting for Obama because I truly believe he has the right vision, credentials, temperament, and integrity to be President at such a crucial time in our country's history. I know there are a lot of racists in this country but you have to admit there is so much more diversity here than there has ever been before. There's probably more bi-racial people than blacks or caucasians. Furthermore although I don't associate with racists, those that I have come across really don't put women in high regard either.

[badbob12]

I am an old white male. I will be voting for Obama simply because I think we need some new ideas. Racist people do exist. I have been around many. Being white and male allows me easy access to these views. However, your assessment of 51% is insane. Not having actually calculated, my number would be more like 5%, and I think I probably have much better 'inside' information than you. When Obama is president, and it is clear that he was also helped by many white people, can we please finally stop having to listen to all this constant crap about most of us being racist? It would also be very nice if in the future every single incident/issue were not somehow twisted into being related to your race.

[GingersPawPaws]

is there a site we can go to send suggestions to Our Candidate?

[leoeris]

Who is this Nora Ephron woman? Is she new?

[unite4change]

What's sad is poor white people are still falling for McCain. Last night, McCain talked about earmarks, deregulation and preserving Bush's tax cuts. Our state has received plenty of earmarks, there are a good thing for us from republican senators. How will deregulation and preserving Bush's tax cuts help poor and middle class people? McCain realizes, when everything else fails, you can count on racism in America and that what he is counting on. Poor, uneducated, uninformed whites that actually believe they have something in common McCain because he's white. Sad commentary.

[William1950]

The one thing, the one line that I wish Obama had pounced on was when McCain was talking about the "failed state" of Pakistan and how bad governments lead to bad economies... Obama should have asked in in deed McCain had just spoken of our own Country?

[Tidyus]

Think McCain couldn't look Obama in the eye because he knew he had told lies about Obama, said false things about him. Even this morning's paper with a picture of their greeting befote the debate Obama was looking at McCain smiling and McCain averted his eyes. It was like Obama knew McCain couldn't look him in the eye. Did anyone note duing this campaign that both Hilary and McCain would accuse Obama of the practices they themselves were guilty of, often before they would do or say the ugly thing? McCain's accusation of Obama putting himself or his career before "the country" was often true of McCain. Hilary's game seemed to be 'I'll accuse him first, then I'll do it and then if he accuses me, I'll say he started it.'

[bigfated]

Obama: Thoutful, introspective, realistic, even tempered, obviously intelligent, youthful and vigorous..­....backed by a serious, experienced, well spoken running mate. LIKE A WINNER!

McCain: Impulsive and rash, braggart, unimaginative, brimming with disdain and anger, appeared somewhat forgetful----or dim-witted, and clearly too old for the enormous task at hand......and saddled with a genuine cipher for a running mate. LIKE A LOSER!

[Blackstock]

Obama Won! It wasn't even a contest.I'll grant you that McCain showed he's not as pathetic as most of the people he's surrounded by right now and rose to the occasion to perform at a more credible level than some of us expected but he still came across as an old, out of touch has-been whose best days are well behind him.

No one walked out of that debate hall thinking 'John McCain represents the future for America'. Barack Obama was cool under pressure, methodical and clear. He also did a better job with his facts. For the US to rebuild the foreign-policy bridges it needs to our next president needs to be a respected diplomat with a steady hand not another risk-taker whose picking fights with...SPAIN!

Obama 1 - McCain 0

Obama will crush McCain in the next two debates and we'll see that McCain temper flare.

[Gould123]

I'm surprised the way Mccain smirked,sn­ickered,la­ughed an undignified factial reactions were not part of anyones blog! Both men did well! Mccains behavior kept distracting me, and was not presidential at all1

[peace1970]

Wow, talk about negative, and these are his SUPPORTERS?? How disappointing, I was looking forward to some good stuff from these people....some were great, but the majority were SO negative..
I thought Obama did WONDERFULLY, he had to hold his own and he did, and mccain had to hit it out of the park and he DID NOT!!
Nuff said.
Obama/Biden!!

[jbgnyc]

Thank goodness for viewer polls all of whom clearly saw Obama as the winner. I don't get it with you "pundits." So many of you wanted blood on the floor (McCain's) and anger and outrage from Obama. The vast amount of Americans clearly don't want more "knockout punches." They want results, a plan, thought-provoking ideas, calmness, clarity. They don't want attacks and "punches" and quips and sound-bites. I, too, worried about Obama's steady but forceful demeanor. I feared viewers might not get it. But they did. Bigtime. (Obama won both CNN and CBS's viewer polls by double-digits).

Obama went into this debate 20 points behind in some polls in terms of readiness to be president. Today, he's even or better. Pundits. America just announced they are ready to elect a smart, gifted, highly-prepared Black-American as president. Barak Obama won. BIG.

[Dovespeace]

You voiced my thoughts. I turned off the pundits as they sometimes seemed out of touch. I think strong leadership means you can say another person is right in areas you agree with and stand in your strength when you disagree or are making your own points. I, like jbgnyc, believe we have had enough blood letting in this country to last for lifetimes. I am tired of a media that seems to get its energy from manipulating drama. They, like vampires, seem to get their energy from blood letting.I am thankful for Obama and for his grace under fire. I am thankful he remains level headed when the juggernauts of drama wait breathlessly for the sword to strike. We have had enough of the gladiator games these past eight years. We need to listen to our own gut instincts instead of reacting to the propaganda machine. The blood letting has been that of our beloved America. Thank you jbgnc and others making comments whose consciousness about change embraces a new kind of debate. What have you won if you leave a carcass for the vultures. McCain really was his own worst enemy. The question is who has the intelligence, the strength, the heart, and the grace to bring about the change we need to heal America and bring her back to the glory of her foundation here and abroad.

[Snow97]

I could not help noticing that, while Barack Obama was speaking, John McCain often appeared to be scoffing or sneering in profile.

It struck me as childish and self-defeating. Suddenly, we weren't dealing with issues that dealt with our country's position and prestige in the world, but the class bully and the smart teacher's pet. Guess who I want to be the next president?

[char aud]

You were not alone - we noticed that too! He acted so immature and his body-language showed how mad he was, I kept wondering when he was going to throw something at Barack - and to bring up the issue of ten town halls was ridiculous. People I think the best is yet to come, the next two debates are going to be "knock-out's" McCain will not even know what to do with himself.

We've seen McCain bully Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee at the Primary debates, but hey his "Waterloo" is awaiting him and is going to knock him flat on his back, without even throwing a punch, he can bat his eyes all he wants and wriggle and shake around because that's all that's left for him to do, he cannot keep up!
Obama/Biden