A Breakthrough Night for Obama

Tonight was a breakthrough for Senator Obama, who showed himself truly ready to be president. 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. As a result, Obama answered the threshold question about his candidacy; McCain did not.

Read more reactions to the first presidential debate from HuffPost bloggers, including Nora Ephron, Bob Shrum, Paul Reiser, Arianna Huffington, Sean Penn, Sheryl Crow, and more.

Comments

[Gabeb]

Ms. Secretary, McCain claims he has the endorsements of four former Secretaries of State. As far as I know, Obama has only one, and of a Republican at that. What has prevented you and Secretary Brezinsky from formally endorsing Obama? Please stand up and use your prestige by making a statement at least as strong as General Powel's was.

[InquiringMano]

Dear Madam Albright: I am worried about the direction our nation is heading. I am an immigrant who is working hard and seen a good life here. I feel without understanding the world first, and figuring out the enemy, we cannot go around declaring war all over the world. i have a question for you. A lot of people are arguing with me saying you were born in Albania; because of some documentary they saw. Every bit of information I googled says you were born in Czechoslovakia. I refered the State Dept website and many sources but all of them say what I say. Were you born in Albania or in Czechoslovakia? Please help me end an argument about this with my good friends in Sri Lanka. I am a Sri Lankan immigrant American. Thank you.

[JustLynn]

Madame Albright... I have to heartily agree with your assessment of the debate. My intial reaction to Senator McCain was "condescending", and to Senator Obama wsa intelligent and level-headed. It seemed to me as I was watching more and more of the debate that Obama was talking about the issues and McCain was talking about Obama...and himself. Thank you to Senator McCain for his years in the service, but enough is enough already. I do not care that you were a POW and I do not believe this qualifies you to be POTUS. Instead of hearing about all the countries that you visited in government airplanes fueled with taxpayer dollars, tell me how you are going to deal with the mortgage crisis, the healthcare crisis,the proliferation of nuclear weapons,the embarrasing lack of good education in this country, and a myriad of other problems we face. Tell me how you are going to keep the middle class from becoming an endangered species, and tell me how you are going to help my children afford college.... I believe that Senator Obama is FAR and away more in touch with the realities of the middle class, and is exactly the YOUNG,vibrant politician we need to see in the White House...Perhaps with his intellectual, measured manner he can repair some of the damage that has been done to this countries standing with others around the globe......

[ILOVELOSANGELES]

I listened to ' boonoonunus ' link to MSNBC and McCain does say "horsesh.t , of course they are" in response to Obama pointing out the fact that McCain was totally confused during his interview with a media rep from SPAIN. I also heard a small reaction from some in attendance. I missed that crude unpresidential remark by McCain during the actual debates. Why haven't MSM reported this. I'm sure they know he said it. Thanks HuffPost!!!

[research]

It's irksome to us Liberals that Obama is not pandering to us.

He Is pandering to the undecided.

Obama believes he must.

Please name a candidate who won without some thing you would call pandering.

Obama's judgment has been on target so far.

[ashcom]

Yes. Obama displays wisdom and good judgment. It's clear that he thinks things through -- even on his
feet. McCain, on the other hand, displays bravado and impulsiveness. He seems to be adept at, perhaps, afterthought.

[rock2casbah]

Very true Ms. Albright. It was glaringly clear that Senator Obama looked like a man fighting for something bigger then himself. McCain looked like someone fighting for his personal glory.

HUGE contrast. As you said Obama was versed, nuanced and clear about his aspirations to help lead America out of this economic and foreign policy morass of the Bush-Cheney-McCain regime have created.

McCain was so busy trying to attack Senator Obama personally, denigrate, and patronize him and could care less than a damn about appealing to the American people with any sort of policies or fresdh ideas that he wanted to implement for change.

Come to find out I wasn't wrong, The man didn't even say middle class even once during a discussion of the economy. Just could care less. Too busy trying to score snark points against Senator Obama.

[MaynardGK]

I disagree.

For both of their parts, Obama and McCain have demonstrated they are trapped in the bubbles of their own candidacies. For all the talk of change, the public debate has changed considerably all around and these two are still battling the same talking points hashed out from their primary battles.

Obama brought nothing to the table w.r.t. Georgia, as if the only info he gets is from the evening network news. It was actually McCain who brought out the oil pipeline connection, an opening for Obama to point out how irresponsibly pointless it is to think that a "league of democracies" could bring oil to europe without Russian cooperation. Any step down this road must surely lead to continental war.

They both missed the biggest softball ever tossed, bailout schmailout.

I would think Obama would learn to think ahead more than a half of a sentence before he speaks.
maybe he can get a crib-sheet of zingers.

The whole trick these guys have to learn is how to transcend their captors. Look what it has done to poor Sarah P. !!!

[franklin opt]

"It was actually McCain who brought out the oil pipeline connection, an opening for Obama to point out how irresponsibly pointless it is to think that a "league of democracies" could bring oil to europe without Russian cooperation. Any step down this road must surely lead to continental war."

Good point. Send it to David Axelrod.

[anticommunist1]

Sorry but I have a hard time supporting any candidate supported by the woman who gave nukes to North Korea and legitimized terrorist Yassir Arafat.

[JT16682]

While McCain showed the fool's certainty in black-and-white dichotomy (sounds familiar?), Obama displayed the wise man's thoughtfulness who is able to see complex subtleties, nuances, and different shades of gray. I only wish that Obama would hit McCain harder though. He could still look and sound presidential by pointing to McCain's erratic, inconsistent, and hypocritical patterns.

[STEW2949]

Your comments madame are well stated. I believe we will be as proud of our next President Obama as we were when you graced our cabinet. Thank you.

[hollybork]

I watched the debate to see if Obama had the gravitas, presence and quick wits needed to be "presidential." I was not disappointed. He is no savior, but he is a good man, highly intelligent, prudent and thoughtful. He also - and this is very important - has the disposition and instincts of a wise man, a statesman. He may someday be a great peacemaker. My conclusion is that the American people have now seen Obama enough to know the kind of leader he would be, how poised, insightful and stolid he is. His performances through almost 2 years of grueling campaign have been reassuring in these highly troubled times. Are we good enough to deserve him? I hope so. He should win the election unless the people are a lot stupider than I think they are.

[boonoonunus]

In Jamaica, where hard line party stances are the norm, and where we acknowledge that maybe as many jamaicans and extended families live in the US, not to mention our trade relations, we are following avidly the Presidential elections. The debate was perhaps as keenly watched here.

Senator Obama sought even in this arena, to succintly clarify his position without belittling his opponent. Its a frightening idea that his acknowledgement of common ground is repeatedly identified as a weakness. Seemed rather spot on, impaling your opponent with facts and your grasp, while displaying a willingness to concur.

Senator McCaine in contrast, had obviously decided that low brow was the order of the day. His dour demeanor has been dissected, however the muttered "horsesh*t", in that arena was perhaps the icing on the crumbly cake?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/26909249#26909711.

That lovely gem can be heard at about 4.30.


Just an outsider looking in...

[JSky]

I think he was actually uttering a mumbled "course not", as in "of course not".

That being said, GO OBAMA!

[Zelda01]

I totally concur with your observation about Sen. Obama's willingness to find common ground. This is indeed a strength, not a weakness. As soon as I heard certain people were trying to characterize this as a weakness, I just thought this is a non point. If that's all the opposition can come up with, that's really good news!

[boogygran]

Nice comments, Ms Albright - I agree.

Tess the troll and her friends were busy here I see. Goodness, it looks like they're getting frantic or something.

Obama/Biden for America '08 & '12

[Pulemerci]

Clearly McCain has vast experience which Obama lacks dearly. While Obama speaks wonderfully, there's not much there. Obama may have wooed Hollywood and some Germans, but most Americans don't want the most liberal Senator in Congress to be in charge.

[crat4ever]

You must not be paying attention. Most Americans do seem to want Obama (seen the polls lately). By being liberal he is just the Senator who is farthest away from the Bush ideology! If that makes him the most liberal then that's GREAT!! And BTW, liberal is a beautiful word. We all need buttons that say "Proud to be Liberal!"

[research]

Experience destroying everything America Stands for.

Whatgood is that?

[60thStreet]

Really? That's not what the polling of Independents say. Have you read the news since the debate? I know registered Democrats definitely want Obama to win now it seems registered Independents like me do as well as a lot of converted Republicans.

I have to say i'm also impressed by how many new voters the Democrats have registered compareed with the Republicans. Did you know that, as of August ,the AP reported that there were 42 million registered Democrats to only 31 million registered Republicans. This is BEFORE the final push to the mid-October deadline. This does not bode well for Republicans!

Not much left to say about Palin/McSame except good riddance!

Oh and NO MORE BUSH! Yay!!

[Pulemerci]

I think the only polls that count are the ones that Americans go to in November. Don't forget the "Bradley Effect" when it comes to polls. I am a Democrat and still can't believe that Hillary didn't traunce everyone in the primaries. Most of the Democrats I know see right through the "Community Organizer" and his using of the race card and his thin resume. Has anyone other that Obama brought up race in this election? No one. I woldn't be surprised if McCain wins by a Reagan-loike landslide.

[wltdnfaded]

Well Pulemerci, according to this weekend's polls, it seems America does.

[Mary1943]

Pundits polls = McCain, People polls = Obama

Pundits are just paid opinions. Where I live there is an old saying, " Opinions are like butt-holes, everybody has one," but ,PAID opinions are not their own.

[rockethound]

According to the polls, the majority of Americans think Obama won the debates - and with good reason - he was measured, statesmanlike, very intelligent, and clearly ready to assume the role of President of this great country without the spiteful desperation shown by McCain. After seeing McCain grasp at Swiftboat campaign tactics and Rovian politics I have lost all the respect I once had for him. If we are unfortunate enough to get McCain for President I am sure of two things: we Americans are much more stupid than I think we are; and we will be getting another Bush 3rd term which this country simply cannot survive. Obama 08!