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

[heather europe]

I agree. The world consider America as a bully. Something should be done if American wants to have a good reputation again(?).

[PT6]

Yes! A wise Observation by a Wise Person!

OBAMA PROVED HE IS FULLY QUALIFIED TO BE COMMANDER IN CHIEF!

ON IRAQ Obama said to McCain,

You said, "It would be quick and easy" "You were Wrong"
You said. "We knew where the weapons of mass destruction were" "You were wrong"
You said, "We would be greeted as Liberators" "You were wrong"
You said, "There would be no violence between the Shia and Sunni" "You were wrong"

Even the ALBRIGHT and Kissinger's video of two weeks ago supported Obama’s position in negotiating at high levels with IRAN, while McCain opposes that as Bush has over the last eight years.

McCain showed how close he is to Bush in nearly every foreign policy.

McCain made a bid for Veteran support but Veterans rank him at only 20%, while Obama is ranked at 80% by Veterans.

CNN Poll: Clearly on Foreign Policy especially Iraq it was Obama 52% McCain 47%.
And Overall it was Obama 51% and McCain a very weak 38%.

[ShakeYourComplacency]

Madeline, I agree that Obama did well, and that it was necessary for him to lay out his presidential plans. But McCain's mission was different. It was to throw off the yoke of Bush, establish himself as a maverick, label his challenger as the most liberal member of congress, position himself as a "straight talker," and pull a get out of jail card from the mistakes of the war and the economy. And you know what, he mostly did that. This is because Obama didn't undercut him, as he should have. So in the next debate, you'll see a little more "presidential" looking McCain, who plans on piling on some more lies on top of the foundation he laid last night. This means any future barbs Barack has planned his way may be less effective. The solution for Obama is to drive his knive deeper into McCain, otherwise it will have little effect.

[ericmike]

altho that plays well with us, his supporters, not sure independents and undecideds like to see it get to that level.

[preemptivelove]

agreed. it's a bit of the old cliche about bringing a pea shooter to a knife fight. obama needs to cut way deeper, as mccain is super vulnerable on many fronts.

[bitterindependent]

that approach works with obama's base which he already has, but the attack appoach that you speak of does not work for independents and undecideds that get a caricature of obama as a crazy far left extremist in the FIXEDnews media.....in the debates his job is to get the remaining undecideds with the best approach.....i think that obama's approach was appropriate considering how many undecideds changed their perception of obama after the debate(see fox poll of voters in the audience).....this is also why mccain went on the attack so aggressively.....mccain has not fully convinced his base so late in the game......

[Liberty 21]

What I found most amusing was McCain's attempt to find his "sound bite" or his memorable Reagan line. He kept trying to bait Obama with "he doesn't seem to understand" but McCain couldn't deliver the line the way a great communicator would, so it come off as weak and condescending.

McCain grew more and more frustrated that Obama wouldn't step into his right hook; wouldn't take the bait. Each time McCain would throw the line, Obama would use a judo move of intelligence and judgment to deflect it off. McCain repeatedly attempted to score points with "the surge". But Obama wisely used that ploy to point out all the opportunities that the United States has missed out on. Missed opportunities to make progress both domestically and internationally as a result of Bush's blunder in Baghdad. The war that never should have been.

McCain tried to earn patriot points by displaying his bracelet honoring a fallen soldier; Obama said "I've got a bracelet too, from the mother of Sergeant Ryan David Jopeck". She doesn't want any more mothers to have to go through what she has with the loss of a child from this stupid war. Obama scored more patriot points than McCain by honoring the brave sacrifice of U.S. soldiers and their families; and reminding us that McCain was willing to "muddle through" Afghanistan. A mistake which has allowed the real terrorists to reform and once again become a threat in Afghanistan and throughout the world.

[Icantbelieveher]

And McCain kept saying Obama didn't understand, but it was clear that he did understand. I think McCain was hoping he could make Obama appear clueless, but he's dealing with an intelligent man here!

Did anyone notice that Barack called McCain by his first name, but McCain kept saying "Senator Obama" in a most condescending way! And he kept shifting on his feet, like he was nervous! He didn't look so confident to me!

[bitterindependent]

correct wise men fight fire with water....the more mccain tried to bait obama, the more calm and consistent obama's answers came out.....notice that as the debate went on mccain looked more and more frustrated with these poor attempts to bait obama...

[lemmonesque]

if there is a god, obama will beg ms. albright to take the position of her choice in his cabinet. she's truly the only one who can save us.

[gbkc]

i wish ms. albright could run for president

[katok]

Madeleine,

Could you please write to Herbert Walker Bush'41 and tell him his son needs a timeout. Bring him home, get him some help.

[timberdoodle]

I just don't get the point McCain and his cronies are getting at by insisting a country has to conform to their desires before having discussions with them on all levels. Don't they understand the objective of diplomatic talks and negotiations is to try and reach an agreeable resolve suitbable to both parties.

Americans have to realize they can't tell other nations how to run their country and then threaten them with harm or sanctions if they don't do what the U.S. tells them to do. This Bush/McCain policy has shaped the world's opinion of the U.S. and with Obama speaking of a change in tactics with a more consiliatory approach is why he is so popular world wide.

[LAThinker]

Right on

Obama 08/12

http://www.ucubd.com/Index.aspx?id=739&cid=3147

[provgrays]

With this looming financial crisis, why didn't Obama mention the Keating Five?

Doing so would not have been playing dirty. That debacle showed in bold relief that McCain is for the health and prosperity of corporations, first, last and always.

[Omidal]

It is politics after all. You sometimes have weapon on your arsenal and do not want to use right away. So long as you are ahead you keep these weapon stash away.
When the right time comes you unleash them on your adversary.

[Egalitare]

Let's remember that this is the first of 3 (hopefully) debates, and that this one was focused on Foreign Policy, that is before the $700B gorilla came out.

I bet that Team Obama is still testing the best manner to discuss Keating without it seeming like simply throwing mud. It's important that Keating not just be mentioned, but that it be tied to the way that Wall Street has called the tunes with regard to deregulation for 30 years.

[spinningmadlyon]

how would that help? McCain was CLEARED of wrong doing . . . all it would do is give him another platform to preach about reform and clearing out corruption. You memory might be a little weak . . . it was Democrats who were knee deep in the savings and loan corruption. Is that actually what you want to shine a light on?? We better hope McCain doesn't bring it up himself promoting his "maverick" brand.

[provgrays]

You're simply wrong.

McCain was given a slap on the wrist but he was right in the middle of bailing out Keating's savings and loan and others. His long term ties to the gambling industry are coming out and that's the same thing:

Protecting corporations to the detriment of the rule of law and the American public.

Nothing wrong with my memory. As your man says, "You can look it up."

[provgrays]

Though McCain was formally cleared, he was accused of using "poor judgement" in the Keating Five matter. That nebulous accusation does not pass the political standard for the appearance of impropriety.

It short, it stinks and Obama would have been well within his rights to bring up the Keating Five. McCain's gambling ties would have bolstered the idea even more.

[Zan-Gah]

Good question. I hope the interviewers will put it to McCain: "How would a McCain/Palin administration differ from a Bush/Cheney administration?

Zan-Gah

[macohmz]

You wouldn't lie to us 700 billion times in a row, would you?

[Groovacious]

Right on Madeleine!!

[Everybody Should Vote]

The Debate: Live Analysis
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=73&ArticleName=The+Debate%3a+Live+Analysis

Sept 26 Polling Update
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=72&ArticleName=Poll+Update

Obama 292, McCain 246
http://voteforamerica.net/electoral.aspx

[littleblackcat]

Isn't it wonderful how a simple, one-paragraph post can say so much so succinctly? Kudos to Madame Albright, for summing things up beautifully.

[StephCaster]

Ditto.

[DogLeg]

I mentioned this, also, here. It did not make it, evidently.

[itschuck2c]

In 1994, in her role as the United State's UN permanent representative she led efforts to deny declaring the massacres in Rwanda genocide . The State Department instructed the White House press secretary to avoid using the words "genocide" and to substitute the terms "acts of genocide". She also led resistance to a new mandate to a new UN mission towards "ensuring" stability and security in the provinces of Rwanda .

In 1996 she was also criticized for defending the sanctions of Iraq under Saddam Hussein in an interview with Lesley Stahl on CBS's 60 Minutes. When asked by Stahl with regards to effect of sanctions against Iraq: "We have heard that half a million children have died. I mean, that's more children than died in Hiroshima. And, you know, is the price worth it?" Albright replied: "I think this is a very hard choice, but the price — we think the price is worth it

I wouldnt put a lot of stcok in her words..nor do I think Barack would have approved.

[UWorlds1]

With McCain distain and disrespect for Obama, he reminds me of Cheney's distain of the human race.