Presidential Debate 3 - What Happened October 15, 2008
Posted: Friday, October 17, 2008
by Judge Dred
The presidential debates of 2008 are over.
John McCain and Barack Obama met face to face for the last time at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York.
This was make or break time for McCain, who needed a decisive victory over Obama in order to close the gap in the polls. This night was a study in contrasts.
John McCain looked angry, was aggressive, and spent a majority of his time attacking, grunting, speaking in sarcastic tones and spoiling for a fight. Barack Obama was calm, cool, reserved, collected and measured in his responses.Obama spent most of the night blocking the jabs thrown by McCain. Bob Schieffer appeared to have more control over the debate than his predecessors.
There was the question about the Vice Presidential choices being ready to take the Presidential reins if the unthinkable happened to Obama or McCain. Obama gushed about Joe Biden's knowledge of foreign policy, leadership abilities, and willingness to lead. McCain talked about Sarah Palin energizing the Republican base, fighting for special needs families, being a Washington outsider, a breath of fresh air, she's a reformer and has a child with Downs Syndrome. Oh, and her husband is a pretty tough guy. America, help me out with this one. Did McCain answer the question? Is Palin ready to lead? He never said so. Obama sidestepped the question asking him if Palin was ready to be president. McCain did say that Biden would be ready.
The mudslinging involved in the campaign was questioned. McCain looked misty eyed as he talked about Congressman John Lewis comparing him and his running mate to George Wallace, segregation, deaths of children in church bombings, incidents that occurred in the Deep South during the Civil Rights Movement, and wanted Obama to repudiate those remarks. Obama responded with the things that that have been said at the McCain - Palin rallies, such as "terrorist" and "kill him", and Palin never attempted to silence those audience members. Obama did not repudiate any remarks, and McCain said he was proud of the people that came to his rallies.
The strangest moment came when the abortion issue came up. Obama is pro - choice, McCain is pro - life. Obama made the case that he voted against a partial birth abortion bill in Illinois because it did not contain a provision for the mother's health. McCain responded by saying "The health of the mother line has been stretched by the pro - choice movement". I simply don't know what to say to that.
There was more to the debate, where the two candidates traded blows over taxes, health care, energy and yes, who would be a better President for Joe the plumber. ACORN and William Ayers were talked about. McCain stated, "I don't care about a washed up terrorist". Good, then that should take Ayers out of the mix in the future. Overall, the debate didn't provide any knockout blows for McCain and Obama provided his usual calm responses. McCain constantly interrupted Obama as he spoke, provided sighs and snorts for background noise, and could be seen on the split screen making faces and rolling his eyes. Not exactly presidential, was it? Now, the rest is up to us. America, make your choice on November 4th, regardless of who your choice is. Don't pay attention to polls, make your voices heard. Until next time.
JD
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Top-level comments on this article: (8 total)The debates are a reality show whos prime time is only once every four years and that is lucky for us. It reaches us "the masses" or perhaps we should call ourselves "them asses!"Arlene:My poor ears! Arrrggghh. Seriously, I Wanna Be The President 2008 had its final episode air on Wednesday. Let's fast forward to November 4th and move on. Thanks.JD
JD, I enjoyed reading this which isn't usually the case for political commentary for me. I liked that you appeared to remain unbiased. I like that you didn't know how to comment on one of McCain's statement regarding Pro Choice. And, you hit a home run when you told us to ignore the polls and vote! Sound reporting and advice. Thanks! Enjoy a great weekend.Hi Avis,Sorry about the delayed response. I try to view debates down the middle, so that I can gather all information from both sides. That McCain statement.....well, that was uncomfortable, to say the least. I think every American should get out there and pull the lever, don't fall for the"My candidate is ahead/behind" syndrome. Thanks.JD
hey jd,this was a well written, interesting article that explained the debate i watched. thanks for sharing,best regards,sueHello Sue,Thanks for commenting. This campaign is almost at a end, thank goodness. I will say it until I am blue in the face, come on November 4th!JD
JD,
I watched the debate on CNN. Usually I just listen to it on the radio, until a friend and a relative talked about certain visual cues I thought prudent to see for myself. Some of it was frightening, let's leave it at that.
The "You should have run against Bush" statement was one of McCain's more intelligent, among an otherwise predictably ideological boilerplate. I think where Obama is lacking is in mean-spirited offense, which is ironically one of the attractive things about the man, a testament to his pro-diplomacy platform.
I'm wondering what either of these guys think about poor people, not just the middle class and "Those who make over $250,000."Hey Gregory,I think the Bush statement was McCain's best moment of the three debates. The visuals, yes, I will leave that alone. It is to Obama's advantage not to engage in the politics of diversion, discussion of issues is a distinct disadvantage for McCain.As we stand now, the poor are being walked on, the middle class is taking it on the chin, and the $250,000 and over crowd - Obama will make them pay more, McCain (see his multi-millionaire wife) will leave them alone. Thanks for reading and commenting.JD
JD, good review of the debate. While I don't necessarily agree with all of your assessments, you do a great job of reporting the way you see it.Hi Rob,Thanks for commenting. All I can say is we can agree to disagree on some things. I would rather see a race run on issues and the candidates different points of view, not on associations, etc.JD
Hi JD! Good explanation ot the debate. I will be one of those who will be out there on Nov. 4th.God bless,Hi Michelle!Thanks for reading. I call em' as I see em'. The tension is building, and I will certainly be out early on November 4th. Thanks, and God bless you and the family.JD
Sorry I didn't find anything different then what hadn't been said already 100 times over by them. A few changes but nothing dramatic like I will immediately bring cut Usury on Credit cards thus plutting actual money immdeiately back into the hands of all Americans without costing the tax payers one cent. Much talk but no way to walk.Hi Robert,One of the main reasons to watch the debate was to see if one of the candidates would make a major boo-boo. Since it didn't happen, the clock is running out on both of the campaigns. Can't happen soon enough. Thanks.JD
Rally the troops, and let our votes be heaqrd resounding around the world as we march forward to add jobs, educate the children, care for the ill, and comfort the elderly! (How's that for the "vision" of the oracle?)(smiles)Hey Walter,Not the oracle........The One !! LOL. Thanks.JD
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