Obama vs. McCain - Round One

[Steven]

Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain battled over spending, taxes and the Iraq war in their first debate on Friday, and Obama blamed the Wall Street crisis on failed Republican economic policies supported by McCain.

In a 90-minute televised debate, the two candidates repeatedly clashed over their economic and foreign policy approaches in a series of sharp exchanges that highlighted broad gulfs in their policy views.
But both men said they were optimistic Congress would come up with a $700 billion rescue plan for U.S. financial services but agreed the huge price tag would limit their agendas as president.

McCain said he would freeze federal spending as president on most programs other than defense and veterans' care, and accused Obama of being a big-spending liberal who could not bring together Republican and Democrats.

"Senator Obama has the most liberal voting record in the Senate," McCain said. "It's hard to reach across the aisle from that far to the left."
Obama said McCain would cut taxes for the wealthy and slash corporate tax rates. He repeatedly tried to tie McCain to the policies of President George W. Bush.

"This is a final verdict on eight years of failed economic policy promoted by George Bush and supported by Senator McCain," Obama said of the economic crisis on Wall Street.

Obama, an Illinois senator, said he would not be able to do everything he wanted in his administration because of the bailout, but said McCain's proposal to freeze spending was "using a hatchet when you need a scalpel."

More.

[Ptolemy]

Both McCain and Obama don't show much promise for the US current financial situation. McCain is too focused on the war in Iraq, and Obama is almost incapable compared to McCain's experience. Personally, I'd rather not vote for either presidential candidate, however, Obama probably will win because he can accuse McCain of more faults mainly because McCain's courier was long.

[Revolutionary]

Originally Posted by Ptolemy

Both McCain and Obama don't show much promise for the US current financial situation. McCain is too focused on the war in Iraq, and Obama is almost incapable compared to McCain's experience. Personally, I'd rather not vote for either presidential candidate, however, Obama probably will win because he can accuse McCain of more faults mainly because McCain's courier was long.

I agree, both weren't very good and were afaird to say what they thought. But If I have to choice a winner and If the debate was a boxing match I think Obama won the first round then McCain beat him every other round. Obama started sounding stupid when McCain was htting him with wanting to meet with Iran.

[Nobama]

McCain won and it wasn't even close. He played Obama and made him look stupid.

[Danton]

It wasn't a very good debate in my opinion. Neither guy really said anything we didn't know and there were no good one liners. McCain looked like c0cky and didn't really look at Obama and Obama sounded like he had no business being there.

[Ptolemy]

Originally Posted by Danton

It wasn't a very good debate in my opinion. Neither guy really said anything we didn't know and there were no good one liners. McCain looked like c0cky and didn't really look at Obama and Obama sounded like he had no business being there.

I know. It was almost totally pointless to have the debate in the first place. They talked about how they were going to save our nation's economy, but we already knew that. They talked about their actions in the war in Iraq, be we already knew that too. Both candidates this year are not really worth voting for.

[Archimedes]

Originally Posted by Ptolemy

I know. It was almost totally pointless to have the debate in the first place. They talked about how they were going to save our nation's economy, but we already knew that. They talked about their actions in the war in Iraq, be we already knew that too. Both candidates this year are not really worth voting for.

Right and wrong. Yes, the candidates did talk about many issues that we already knew about. However, they did show their opinion on many issues that we didn't know they supported/didn't support. Much of the debate was predictable, but I think I'm leaning toward McCain. He has enough experience, definitely more than Obama, to lead our nation through this economic disaster. I do not entirely support his plan for Iraq, but he does show promise.

[Ptolemy]

Originally Posted by Archimedes

Right and wrong. Yes, the candidates did talk about many issues that we already knew about. However, they did show their opinion on many issues that we didn't know they supported/didn't support. Much of the debate was predictable, but I think I'm leaning toward McCain. He has enough experience, definitely more than Obama, to lead our nation through this economic disaster. I do not entirely support his plan for Iraq, but he does show promise.

McCain is like Bush's twin, so how will he lead us through this economic disaster when Bush got us into this?

[Plato]

Originally Posted by Ptolemy

Both McCain and Obama don't show much promise for the US current financial situation. McCain is too focused on the war in Iraq, and Obama is almost incapable compared to McCain's experience. Personally, I'd rather not vote for either presidential candidate, however, Obama probably will win because he can accuse McCain of more faults mainly because McCain's courier was long.

McCain brings too many old ideas to the table. Period.

[Plato]

Originally Posted by Ptolemy

McCain is like Bush's twin, so how will he lead us through this economic disaster when Bush got us into this?

He can't do anything in a day, but he can "try" solve it.

[Ptolemy]

Originally Posted by Plato

He can't do anything in a day, but he can "try" solve it.

ANYONE can "try" and solve it.

[Pemdas]

Originally Posted by Plato

McCain brings too many old ideas to the table. Period.

Yes, this is a major problem for McCain because even though he's trying to pass himself as a reformer, people still are thinking of him as Bush's twin. It's like he's trying to disguise himself as a fish when he has a bird costume on.

[Ptolemy]

Originally Posted by Pemdas

Yes, this is a major problem for McCain because even though he's trying to pass himself as a reformer, people still are thinking of him as Bush's twin. It's like he's trying to disguise himself as a fish when he has a bird costume on.

I think that Obama will clearly win. He can't be linked to Bush in any way, so that alone gives everyone the picture of him being a reformer.