Obama to McCain: 'You Were Wrong'
From the start of the debate McCain wouldn't meet Obama's eye. At the end of it that hadn't changed, even as Obama gave McCain his due time and again, which the McCain camp has already turned into a video. It was the difference of someone being small, compared to someone revealing his confidence, while showing presidential temperament. On that alone Obama "won" hands down.
Hillary Clinton weighs in:
"Tonight Barack Obama displayed beyond a doubt that he understands both the gravity of the financial crisis facing America, and the challenges we face in Iraq and around the world. Senator McCain offered only more of the same failed policies of the Bush Administration. America deserves better.
"I stood next to Barack Obama in 22 debates and tonight epitomized why millions are joining me in standing with him and working hard to ensure he is the next President of the United States."
Obama's goal tonight was to simply become an equal to the "legendary" foreign policy man John McCain. He accomplished that, while showing unending patience with his opponent who continually displayed the politics of condecension, bordering on petulance that is unbecoming of anyone at this level of political prowess. I can't imagine independents appreciated McCain's sniping, and I bet they also saw that he was about to pop about half of the time.
McCain needed a win, in my opinion. This was his issue night. He didn't get it.
Obama needed to stay even with the "legendary foreign policy expert." He did that and more, while remaining unruffled throughout.
McCain didn't get the knock out he needed. Obama held his own and showed the right stuff. Plus, McCain looks like yesterday. Obama represents the future. Good night for our side.
As for the reviews, Obama gets the nod:
Undecideds Give Debate to Obama
Philadelphia Inquirer: McCain Uncertain - "McCain has been uncertain - Obama not."
Washington Post: Fact Check- McCain seriously misstated his vote concerning the marines in Lebanon. He said that when he went into Congress in 1983, he voted against deploying them in Beirut. The Marines went in Lebanon in 1982, before McCain came to Congress. The vote came up a year into their deployment, when the Marines had already suffered 54 casualties. What McCain voted against was a measure to invoke the War Powers Act and to authorize the deployment of U.S. Marines in Lebanon for an additional 18 months. The measure passed 270-161, with 26 other Republicans (including McCain) and 134 Democrats voting against it.
Washington Post: Fact Checker- John McCain raised an old Republican canard, repeated often in the primaries, when he claimed that Obama's health care plan would eventually turn the health care system over to the federal government. The Illinois senator proposes helping individuals purchase health insurance through a system of subsidies and tax credits. He is also in favor of mandatory health insurance for children. But he is not advocating a state-run health system, such as the one that exists in Britain and some European countries.
New Republic (Jonathan Cohn) Obama Tells It Like It Is on Economics - Obama just gave a terrific, honest explanation of his economic agenda.
CNN (Bill Schneider) Obama Scores a Direct Hit - Obama scores a direct hit, saying that McCain wants tax cuts for the wealthy. He's associating McCain with the Bush record on tax cuts.
CNN (Bill Schneider) Obama hits familiar chord on Iran - Obama's answer on Iran was interesting and important.because he's talking about something that a lot of American's understand. Our involvement in Iraq has strengthened Iran.
FL- Tampa Tribune (Blog) "Israel-The Next Big Argument" After arguing over Iraq, John McCain and Barack Obama moved quickly to probably the next most emotional argument in foreign policy-Israel. They got into it over a question from moderator Jim Lehrer over Iran, and McCain went for the most crucial line: "We cannot tolerate another holocaust." That hits a weakness for Obama, whose enthusiasm for Israel is questioned by some in the U.S. Jewish community. Then McCain went for another claim that's been debunked: That Obama refused to call the Iranian Revolutionary Guard a "terrorist" organization. Obama had sponsored legislation that did just that, but voted against a bill including that measure which, he said, also included authorizing an open-ended effort in Iraq.
The Caucus (Katharine Q. Seeyle) Using the Tax Word - Mr. McCain tosses out a barb to Mr. Obama, saying that you ought to hear Mr. Obama's definition of rich, but didn't provide it. Mr. Obama almost took the bait - and then switched! Instead of being driven by Mr. McCain he described his tax cut plan, saying 95 percent of people will get a tax cut "and if you make less than 250,000, you will not see one dime's worth of tax increases."
Washington Post (Live Blog) Fact Check: McCain accused Obama of wanting to stage "military strikes" inside Pakistan, which is a misleading account of what Obama famously said in 2007: That he would be willing to go after Al Qaeda targets inside that country with or without the approval of the Pakistani authorities."If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf won't act, we will," Obama said.
Miami Herald: Obama engages McCain on his diss to Spain - Barack Obama just scoffed at John McCain's assertion a week ago or two ago that he wouldn't meet with Spain's Prime Minister. "Spain!" exclaimed Obama. "Spain!" "I'm not going to set the White House visitor list before I'm president," McCain replied, getting in a dig at the presidential-seal like sign Republicans have ribbed Obama for displaying. "I don't even have a seal yet."
First Read (Athena Jones) Longer format helps - He's on message, hitting his talking points on the contrasts with John McCain on taxes, his plans for healthcare and energy independence. He seemed to cover more ground than McCain whose main points were about cutting government spending.
Follow Taylor Marsh on Twitter: www.twitter.com/taylormarsh
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You know why the American people think Obama won but most pundits think its a draw or that McCain won. Its because McCain did NOT look at Obama and Obama on the other hand was aggressive and he looked McCain down. This debate is a test whether someone can be commander in cheif and quite frankly by NOT looking at Obama Mcain looked like a Coward. Someone who is running to be a strong president should be able to LOOK at their opponent. The American people dont care why he couldnt do it they care that he did NOT. Obama by contrast was strong tough not afraid to look McCain straight down while McCain just stood their cowering. Particularly on the part where Obama said you were wrong. If therew as a knockout blow in this debate THAT was it. McCain just stood there couldnt even look at him while he said you were wrong forcefully and clearly. That was why he won.
Carol
Thanks, Taylor. Great incisive post with great links. The case is being widely made that Obama is clearly commander-in-chief material.
The sad message that I got loud and clear from this debate is that John McCain is a coward. How can you not look your opponent in the eye and boldly disagree with his policies? How are you going to "go to the gates of hell" to find Bin Laden but you can't look in the face of your adversary? Wow! Wow!
His (lack of) participation at the WH photo-op on Thursday gave me that same feeling.
Obama is clear headed, and confident. His answers come from broad understanding of issues. McCain thinks other countries don't understand anything and he has a duty to hammer to them his beliefs. He shows absolutely no respect to them. He talked of strategy and tactics but clearly he has no clue on this
Strategy - When American interests are threatened - Presidents decide to go or not to go to war -
McCain was wrong on the war
Tactic - Generals on the ground decide what tactics to use to achieve the strategy, the Surge was a tactical move to broader political stability in Iraq - The president is a civilian post, McCain is swapping the presidency with the Generals positions.
Unless McCain wants us to believe the reason for the war was in order to prove the Surge works. He is fundamentally wrong.
Alecki wrote: "This isn"t a popularity contest."
I guess McCain chose Palin because she's an economic expert.
ding, ding, ding!!! :)
The missing knock-out blow ...
LEHRER: "are there fundamental differences between your approach and Senator Obama's approach to what you would do as president to lead this country out of the financial crisis?"
McCain: ... tax cuts.
LEHRER: Senator Obama, two minutes.
Obama: My administration will be based on honesty and honest people. In my administration people who start to lie will be fired, period ! We have gone through eight years of constant lies, and now we are in this crisis, people don't believe this President anymore.
My administration will bring back honesty back to the White house, and common sense will follow second.
My opponent here has been constantly lying since he entered this race. This to the point where all the mainstream media has been talking about it for weeks now. Fellow Americans, do you want an other four years of constant lies coming from the White house ???
Obama is risky, scary and too inexperienced.
Our country is in such turmoil.
Young Americans better wake up and realize that this is a job interview.
I’ve had a business my whole life and would NEVER look for inexperience as a positive attribute.
It’s like flying an airplane. I would never select a new pilot to navigate in treacherous weather.
This isn’t a popularity contest.
McCain is the only one qualified to handle Washington’s mess and foreign policy.His ability to reach across the aisle and meet with Democrats is his finest attribute.
Obama is not willing to do that.
McCain is a hero fighting to help America.
Obama is just a narcassist that is fighting to win for himself.
I"ve had a business my whole life and would NEVER look for inexperience as a positive attribute.
It"s like flying an airplane. I would never select a new pilot to navigate in treacherous weather.
Well then John is your guy. I believe it is on record that he has crashed at least 3 maybe 4 airplanes. That's experience you can believe in.
Obviously you don't follow legislative issues or you would know BO has a history and a willingness to reach across the aisle. He willing to compromise to get things done and move forward.
Please spare us all the 40 year old hero crap. He is not the only POW out there and that does not qualify him for holding the highest office in the land. You are stuck in the past with John. Get out of the way
Make that 5 crashed planes. I would not hire McCain to walk my dogs.
Make that 5; I would not hire McCain to walk my dogs.
Well--I hate to break this to you, Alecki, but McCain picked one of the most INEXPERIENCED politicians to be his running mate. McCain's 72 years old and has had cancer three times! In all likelihood the man will not live through his first term. When you vote for McCain, you will be voting for inexperience, and you can kiss that business of yours goodbye.
"McCain is the only one qualified to handle Washington"s mess and foreign policy.His ability to reach across the aisle and meet with Democrats is his finest attribute.
-Alecki
Reach across the aisle and touch Spain?
It's McCain who is winning for himself ; winning for winning's sake. Proof? SARAH PALIN. you talk about INEXPERIENCE? McCain said on '60 Muinutes" that Palin is "absolutely" ready to be VP or even P. Really,John? I mean , Really? Stop it!
McCain is the one who helped CREATE the Mess In Washington (it deserved capitalization).
Judgement often trumps experience,now more than ever.
Obama has ALSO reached "across the aisle"...w
Young Americans are asking you now : "How can I ever get experience navigating in treacherous weather if no one will ever let me navigate in treacherous weather because I'm too inexperienced?" Pick the new guy ; he's going to be double-careful,as opposed to the old guy,who thinks he knows everything.
If it really was a job interview,McCain would NOT get the job.I'd notince how he could not look Obama in the eye (always a bad sign ; either you're lying or you're being condescending), I'd look at his resume and see he was one of the "Keating 5," see how he makes sure anything relating to those soldiers who are MIA never see the light of day,how he voted for the war in Iraq,how he does NOT do all he can to support vets,and his grandstand
I'd tell McCain : "Hey,thanks for coming in ...."
Wow. Get this guy some more Kool-aid. You just puked out some talking points with no substance behind them.
"McCain is the only one qualified to handle Washington"s mess and foreign policy."
McSame was one of the enablers of Washington's mess. Phil Gramm and deregulation? Bomb Iran?
I really thought McCain looked angry and argumentive, not the kind of leader I want representing America. Obama, on the other hand, looked calm and was a gentleman, the type of President the world needs to see now. How about a gentleman instead of another cowboy who alienates the world.
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