AmericanPapist Comments
Not surprising, I thought McCain made some pretty strong points against Obama. On the other hand, Obama made a couple of points most people can agree with, but his conclusions were almost always wrong.
Best part: When Obama got smacked down, by Brokaw. :-)
Worst part: that voters who didn't watch will only see McCain's 'that one' line, and miss the few mildly interesting points of the debate.
The media and the moderators are doing their part to help Obama. That is, avoiding the serious issues like abortion, religious freedom, same-sex marriage, etc.
They realize that McCain, for some reason, isn't being aggressive and pointing out the link between Obama and Fannie Mae or nailing him on abortion in the public eye. As long as Obama can continue to squeak by on these and many other issues until November, he'll probably win. The media is well aware of that so they are positioning cushions all around his campaign.
Exactly, Joseph. I wish that McCain had gone truly maverick and brought up these important issues. The whole debate (outside of the 'zen' question :-)) was very safe and on the talking points.
Yawn.
Tom Brokaw, in his desire to protect Obama, did a disservice to Americans by choosing inane questions.
That last question was completely silly and irrelevant.
This debate looked like the 10th round of a very long boxing match, and both contenders were tired.
I watched the whole debate on CSPAN and I have a difficult time seeing how watching it would change anyone's mind.
These are sad times when the truth about issues that are on everyone's minds, whether you agree or disagree are held back from us: None of the questions in the debate referenced immigration, abortion or same-sex marriage, issues that have been prominent in American public policy debates in recent years. If McCain does not have the guts to speak about them, he does not deserve my vote! And I will never vote for Barack so I what do I do now?
BORING!
McCain needs to hammer Obama on these issues...he us trying to take the moral high road by not attacking Obama. Obama is a great speaker and I think many of these undecided voters are more enamored by how Obama speaks rather than what he says.
Watching the US election from afar, just because of the impact of any US adminitration on what happens on this end of the world, I'd say that choosing that kind of questions serves Obama's campaign and not McCain. I hope the latter will find a way of bringing up morals issues, which are part of the American values, to the forefront. Then people will see who Obama is.
David B:
I LOOOOOOOOVED that, when Obama was like "I want to respond", and Brokaw is basically like "Um, no. Your campaigns agreed to a time limit, and a format. Shaddup." I was disappointed the other time he let Obama talk again, because he just wouldn't shut up.
I was pleasantly surprised that Brokaw held his ground against Obama. On the other hand, I thought it was onceited when Obama said "When I'm president." So much for humility.
The media is making a big deal out of McCain's "that one" comment, but the comment that struck me the most last night was Obama's, "Some of you may remember the tragedy on 9/11."
Why, yes, Senator, I believe I do recall that...
Hopefully, in the next debate, ( which is supposed to focus on domestic policy) abortion, ESCR, gay 'marriage,' immigration, etc, will be dealt with.
We should e-mail Bob Schieffer(?) and remind him to bring those issues up.
P.S. I laughed at Obama's Ricky Richardo "green behind the ears" mistake. Isn't it 'green,' and 'wet behind the ears'? :-D
Obama talks like a ghetto rapper! I disagree completely that he speaks well.
I dunno, I was put off my McCain, but I think the debate was just a culmination of things. If I were American, I'd probably abstain/spoil the ballot.
@Anonymous... have you ever listened to a rap song before?
I just watched the debate. McCain attempted to point out that Obama had very personal ties to Fannie Mae, but, I suppose, without the hard data sitting in front of you, what he said just sounded like typical presidential debate talking points. He definitely didn't hammer it home. Not only that, Obama would simply follow up by saying, in summary, "my opponent is a liar, he and the current administration is at fault".
He got the memo, without the audience staring at the hard data, one can say anything and come off as telling the truth.
I think McCain won the debate on those points, but that's only because I'm aware of the Democrats link to the sub-prime mortgage debacle. The average liberal who only reads news from the MSM probably thought that McCain was guilty of calumny and that Obama's false charge that the financial industry meltdown can be linked to McCain and Bush is the true one.
I don't think these debates really matter. Like I said, unless every American watching them has the hard data sitting in front of them and are objectively seeking the truth, they will only be scoring on style points. And usually who get the higher score is who they are predisposed to favor anyway.
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