LIVE BLOG – Obama and McCain's Third Presidential Debate NOW!
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The final presidential debate is happening now at Hofstra University, in Hempstead, New York, less than three weeks before Election Day. Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain will address the nation about their economic and domestic policies, despite discussion of these topics in previous debates.
Watchword readers, please join Missourian Public Life reporters Chad Day, Mary Elise DeCoursey, Molly Harbarger, Holly Jackson, Amanda Kushner, Liz Lucas, Catherine Martin, Regan McTarsney, Shelby Prucha-Mitchell, Hayley Tsukayama, Spencer Willems and Amanda Woytus in the comments section below as we fact check and make commentary on the questions and answers from the candidates in the final debate for the presidency.
Also see the Watchwords’s Twitter to follow the debate with Mélissa Bounoua.
For more information on the candidates and the issues see: Obama’s campaign site and McCain’s Web site. Also, Factcheck.org, PolitiFact.com, and RealClearPolitics.com are good non-partisan resources concerning the election.
Also, as you follow the debate on your TV, let us know who you think is winning: [polldaddy poll=1000030]
News for thought during the debate:
Since the global economic crisis has been an issue since the first presidential debate, the men have answered several questions about their tax plans during the first two debates. Previous Watchword live-bloggers found that despite claims by McCain, “Obama will only raise taxes on high income small business, the ones that make over $250,000,” but unlike Obama and Biden keep saying, his “tax cut would affect 95% of ‘working families,’ but not everyone.” and McCain’s plan has been slammed for “taxing employer-provided health benefits, which will wipe out most of extra income from the tax credit.”
In addition, there was breaking news this week in the form of each candidates economic rescue plans – Obama unveiled his Monday, and McCain reported his Tuesday. Expect to hear those plans explained and defended.
McCain also said that he will call out Obama’s relationship with Bill Ayers during the debate. See below for a blow by blow synopsis:
Filed under: Elections, National Politics
Will McCain really go on the attack against Obama tonight and if he does is he committing political suicide?
Interesting thought, Chuck. We’ll have to see what plays out…
Well McCain did say he was going on the attack. IMHO he better stick to what he is going to do about fixing the issues.
One of the first questions I heard about this debate was, “Who is Bob Schieffer?” Time did a quick bullet point bio of him, here: http://tinyurl.com/3f323r
CNN just said Obama is up 8 points in their polls. They predict McCain has to represent and can’t slip up if he wants to stay afloat.
Bob Shieffer told the Washington Post that he would hold the candidates to answering the questions without shifting onto talking points. Let’s see how that goes.
http://grindstonerockquarry.wordpress.com/2008/10/15/look-for-schieffer-to-call-candidates-on-question-dodging/
Bob Schieffer has pledged to get the candidates to speak specifically.
“By now we’ve all heard their talking points. We’ve heard the general outlines of what they are talking about. The time has come to be a little more specific. It will not embarrass me, if they go off in a different direction, to say, ‘Excuse me, could you focus on the question that I just asked?’ ”
http://news.bostonherald.com/news/2008/view.bg?articleid=1125178&srvc=2008campaign&position=5
Good thought eklucas. It appears that we are thinking along the same lines.
Here’s a more extensive look at the candidates plans on reviving the economy. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/15/us/politics/15elected.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=Candidates%20offer%20a%20clear%20choice&st=cse&oref=slogin
Obama is looking right in the camera, and McCain was looking at the crowd. Which way is better?
Holly as Joe Biden says “look me in the face” when you talk to me.
Watching CNN’s “Uncommitted Ohio Voters” scale, it’s clear that Obama’s doing better with women, and McCain is doing better with men.
I think looking into the camera is a better approach, it gives more of a feel that the candidate is actually talking to the viewer, not just to the people there.
This is a side note, but I’m from Ohio and my hometown, which is a small Appalachian, has been so swamped with voter registration and absentee ballots, that they just sent mine yesterday. It’s a crucial state indeed.
I want to meet this Joe Plummer guy
Obama is citing the Tax Policy Center in saying that his plan provides three times the amount of tax relief to middle class families.
http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/
McCain does not get it about how Obama is presenting his tax incentives at all.
Who is Joe the plumber? I want to meet him.
Obama should just sit back and take it. I hope Obama doesn’t hurt his chances in the polls
Here’s NY Times editorial writer who sees a need to raise taxes.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/09/business/09view.html
FYI – Hofstra University had to cut special vents above the spot where each candidate will stand during the debate, to improve air flow so they won’t perspire as Richard Nixon infamously did during the first-ever televised presidential debate.
They also had to supply the campaigns with the exact water glasses they would provide the candidates this evening.
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/politics/ny-poprep135881829oct13,0,3380429.story
Who do you think will win this debate?
McCain’s citing the The Tax Foundation. Here’s the U.S. corporate tax rate comparison.
http://www.taxfoundation.org/publications/show/23561.html
Joe the Plumber is Joe Wurzelbacher of Toledo, Ohio. From FOXNews: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,438302,00.html
*Fixed the link
I want Joe the Plummer to spread the wealth around too… unfortunately, this argument about America’s tax-structure, ie, how we should “spread the wealth” pretty much comes down to whether or not you believe in “Vodoo Economics” (thank you Ben Stein!)
That’s funny eklucas about the vents. My roommates were just talking about how McCain looks nervous and were hoping he wouldn’t start sweating because he looks so uncomfortable. Given the pressure everyone seems to be putting on him to do well tonight, I wouldn’t blame him.
Fact-checking the first question:
1. Barack Obama will cut taxes for 81 percent of tax payers, not 95 percent as he keeps repeating.
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/750/
Joe the plumber does not have a long term job with out Bob the home builder IMHO.
mccain looks like he’s sick…do you trust palin as the president??
It will be interesting to see whether McCain prefers to attack Obama or tell people about his own policies. So far, it seems the former is outweighing the latter.
Here’s an article from Hofstra’s School of Communication magazine about how the school was able to get the hosting gig:
http://media.www.pulsemagazineonline.com/media/storage/paper1039/news/2008/05/02/CampusCuts/The-Great.Debate-3351500.shtml
Maybe the University of MIssouri should make a bid to host the debates in 2012…
Mary Elise – if he will cut taxes for only 81 percent, then why is he promising 95%? What about dividends? Why does he keep referring to Warren Buffet who won’t be taxed as much because he gets his money off of capital gains?
McCain has voted numerous times against all forms of Alternative energy:
http://www.johnmccainrecord.com/environment/
Health care will be a big topic tonight, I’m guessing. Here’s a copy of Obama’s health care plan http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/issues/HealthCareFullPlan.pdf (PDF) and McCain’s http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/19ba2f1c-c03f-4ac2-8cd5-5cf2edb527cf.htm .
2. While John McCain does plan to extend the Bush tax cuts for those making over $250,000, we can’t immediately verify Barack Obama’s statement that it would result in $200 million in additional tax breaks for large corporations. Anyone else have some insight on the math?
The Washington Post fact checker on “John McCain’s fantasy war on earmarks.”
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2008/05/mccains_fantasy_war_on_earmark.html
Ah McCain is mad because Obama called him on his voting record….lol.
Here’s an article describing the facts on national debt that Obama was describing.
http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/US_Federal_deficit_reaches_record_high_of_$455_billion
Here’s the Great Depression program McCain was referring to:
http://www.answers.com/topic/home-owners-loan-corporation
It started the suburban movement, but also created a lot of the housing segregation we see now.
Ouch! Only way McCain can balance a big budget is if the wife takes the checkbook away.
First of all I’m no big obama fan by any means, but just by hearing each talk obama is much smarter by any means and mccain talks about supporting the troops…keeping our troops in Iraq, getting them killed and dismembered does not exemplify “supporting the troops”…its time a new outlook on all our nation’s problems is taken by a different party…..BY THE WAY that was a good line mccain just said about wanting to run against bush…probably coached to say it though
“If you want to run against George Bush, you should have ran four years ago.”
Is this one of many “knockout” attempts by McCain tonight to be more aggressive?
A little off topic here, but why on Earth are politicians still referring to pork barrel spending? Especially McCain? Pork barreling owes its birth to slaveholders delving out salt pork to slaves from actual barrels of pork. Where is the PC police on this one?
I noticed McCain used the word “we” when discussing the Depression program, however he was just a small child at the time…
“A New Direction”
McCain’s current buzzword.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=safari&rls=en-us&q=a+new+direction+mccain&btnG=Search
National debt as of today: $10,298,245,323,064.07
Each citizen’s share of the national debt: $33,774.12
http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/
Molly, during the last debate it was $10,191,378,873,350.90. It has gone up that much in a week…
http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/
McCain’s comment about Bush was rather aggressive. Obama seems to be ready for it though.
mccain has scars from disagreeing with his party
No Chad McCain was called on his support of Bush and he got mad. It is a fact McCain is a hard line Bush supporter even though he denies it.
The scariest part about the debt clock, is that it recently ran out of room to display the national debt. http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/10/09/national.debt.clock.ap/index.html
Oh here we go with the attack ad questions.
Wow Bob is really egging them on for a little big of a fight – are you willing to look each other in the face and talk about nasty campaign ads? I’m intrigued.
I’m grateful for this question – neither candidate has lived up to their clean campaign pledges.
Real Clear Politics tracks state polls…
Today Missouri is tagged as a “battleground” with West Virginia and North Carolina.
Poll Average:
McCain: 47%
Obama: 48.8%
(http://news.yahoo.com/election/2008/dashboard)
Is anyone else fairly impressed with Mr. Schieffer? A head-on question about negative campaigning.
Omg McCain is lying out his face. :O
Playing the victim, McCain?
Stanford has archived all the presidential ads:
http://pcl.stanford.edu/campaigns/2008/
Was he just invoking Barry Goldwater as an admirable historical figure? Revisionist historians agree, the man was a little too out there. Also, was he implicitly align Obama as Kennedy, the dead president?
I was very impressed by Schieffer. I like his no nonsense attitude, and his effort to talk about negative campaigning, which is always part of politics but not always directly addressed. Very impressive.
So what if Obama’s campaign is spending money….what is the big deal with that?
I think the original question was to tell each other face-to-face what they’ve said in ads. Neither of them are addressing that.
Schieffer is going for it. This is a really great question, but should we be spending time talking about it during the debate?
Here’s some statistics on money spent in the Obama campaign. The same information is available for other politicians on the same website.
http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/summary.php?cycle=2008&cid=N00009638
Not really biased by far but on the money and backed up by facts:
http://www.johnmccainrecord.com/index.html
Ya McCain because your health care plan blows chunks. That is why people are not wanting to vote for you.
It will be hard for Obama to cut taxes for 81% or 95% of tax payers when approximately a third of tax payers end up with no tax burden at all when they file taxes, and Obama’s plan would push that to 44%.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122385651698727257.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
By the way guys, if you too want to put a stop to wasteful Pork Barrel spending, go to McCain’s official Facebook site.
http://www.facebook.com/inbox/?ref=mb#/johnmccain?sid=746bc55842b033f76a388342d72bdc07&refurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fs.php%3Finit%3Dq%26q%3DJohn%2BMcCain%26ref%3Dts%26sid%3D746bc55842b033f76a388342d72bdc07&ref=s
I think they’re wasting valuable time in this last debate talking about smear ads… I would hope Americans understand the ads for what they are and wouldn’t need McCain or Obama to let them know they’re not 100% true.
So I don’t know how I’m ever going to check this, but Obama charged that 100 percent of John McCain’s ads have been negative or attack-oriented. What do you think Obama’s percentage has been?
Obama has used almost only money he raised for his ads, while almost half of McCain’s ads were paid with RNC money.
http://wiscadproject.wisc.edu/wiscads_release_091708.pdf
Here’s what Rep. Lewis said: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/10/11/john_lewis_condemns_gop_campai.html
Mary Elise somebody posted a link a lil ways back.
Here’s an article about the ad suggesting Obama “pals around with terrorists”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/14/AR2008101403202.html
McCain’s making a lot of this public financing issue. Here’s a good letter from the Washington Post to give some background:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/16/AR2008041603315.html
The U.S. does have the second highest tax rate for businesses according to Citizen Economists. “With an average combined federal and state corporate tax rate of 39.3%, the United States has the second highest corporate tax rate in the world, next only to Japan.”
http://www.amateureconomists.com/blogs/2008/08/25/high-corporate-tax-rates-making-united-states-uncompetitive/
Hmm, is it appropriate to talk about campaign ads during the debate? Maybe not, but it’s something new and will boost the ratings in the long run.
Whether candidates have control over the people at their rallies is one thing, but McCain hasn’t addressed what Palin’s said about Obama.
McCain is lying bad that he has repudiated every time bad things have been said about Obama. That is a lie.
This looks interesting. It’s a NY Times political blog post about “the cost of going negative.”
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/15/the-early-word-the-cost-of-going-negative/?scp=3&sq=negative%20attack%20ads%20obama%20mccain&st=cse
This is an article saying McCain noticed a woman who yelled “traitor” about Obama, but didn’t confront it. It has a video as well.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/10/obama-called-traitor-agai_n_133613.html
As an attendee of a lecture called “When Anchormen Attack: Gender and Race in the Election,” I found out that John McCain was once asked “How do we beat the bitch?” by a rally member, when Hillary was a front runner. Though he never agreed she was a bitch, he laughed and said – “that’s an excellent question.”
Ayers came in – here’s from a NYT caucus story:
“These names, Ayers and Wright, could be a sign of how desperate Mr. McCain is feeling.”
(http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/15/what-to-watch-for-during-the-final-debate/?nl=pol&emc=pola1
Factcheck.org examines Obama’s relationship with Ayers:
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/he_lied_about_bill_ayers.html
Wondering who is Bill Ayers, and what’s the back story to this?
http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/individualProfile.asp?indid=2169
Yes Obama going to put McCain in his place on the Ayers issue once and for all.
McCain has alot of skeletons in his closet but do you see Obama bringing that up? No you do not.
Fact check has a long piece on McCain’s ad about Ayers, which factcheck said was wrong. Which, goes along with the previous question.
Factcheck says: Obama specifically acknowledged working together with Ayers on a charitable board, and didn’t deny getting some early political support from him.
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/he_lied_about_bill_ayers.html
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2008/02/obamas_weatherman_connection.html
“Whatever his past, Ayers is now a respected member of the Chicago intelligentsia, and still a member of the Woods Fund Board. The president of the Woods Fund, Deborah Harrington, said he had been selected for the board because of his solid academic credentials and “passion for social justice.”
“This whole connection is a stretch,” Harrington told me. “Barack was very well known in Chicago, and a highly respected legislator. It would be difficult to find people round here who never volunteered or contributed money to one of his campaigns.”"
To be fair to John McCain and the “traitor” comment, he took the microphone from a woman at a rally last week who said she wasn’t voting for Barack Obama because he’s an “Arab.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-uptake/mccain-responds-to-arab-a_b_133820.html
Must be nice having Warren Buffet, the richest man alive, backing you for president…
McCain and the Republican Party need to give up the Ayers angle, it doesn’t work.
Obama did well by listing who has influenced some of his beliefs.
Does anyone know who Bill Gates is backing for president?
Who do you think would win of the election was between Biden and Palin?
if not of*
Joe Biden most recently was in Jefferson City rallying for the campaign. Our reporter Joel Walsh got to speak to him – http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2008/10/09/biden/.
I wonder if Palin will come to town, too?
Obama: I think Biden would make a great president if anything happened to me.
Does McCain really feel the same way?
Obama avoided making any comparison to Sarah Palin’s lack of experience.
Just for you Tigers, Chase Daniel and Warren Buffett supposedly exchange e-mails frequently.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/joe_posnanski/10/08/daniel/index.html
Biden vs. Palin REDUX
Obama just fielded that one very positively.
HOLD UP
Interesting point Sen. McCain. Palin as a role model for women? Any women out there want to field that?
McCain was with ACORN as a representative once before so how dare he even bring up associations.
I think Obama is winning this debate so far how about you folks?
Why is McCain commenting on Palin’s husband? Has anyone commented on Biden’s family?
Sara Palin does not represent women like me. That’s a misstatement if I’ve ever heard one.
I would think that the Democrats would procure more funding for special needs families than a Republican administration… Shouldn’t the Republicans be able to pay attention to those families without having baby Palin as the poster child?
This poll from a website devoted to topics for women, says women see Sen. Clinton as a better role model than Palin. The credibility of this poll might be up for debate since it’s not one of the big five.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/10/06/2008-10-06_poll_women_say_hillary_clinton_makes_a_b.html
Chuck, what’s the source for this? Would be interested to read.
“McCain was with ACORN as a representative once before so how dare he even bring up associations.”
Schieffer is again asking for specifics. Will they deliver?
I also wonder if Sara would be agreeable to having a pay cut, if elected as vp, since Mr. McCain does not believe that women should be paid the same as our male counterparts, because we are more of a liability?
Wow, I really liked the way Schieffer phrased this question. Very specific, which should hopefully give some very specific answers/numbers, not just broad statements.
From Factcheck.org concerning that $860 billion in new spending:
“That’s based on a McCain campaign estimate of how much Obama’s new proposals will cost, without figuring in any savings or reductions in spending. Any increase in funding and any created program counts as “new spending” in this estimate, whether or not it is offset by decreases in spending elsewhere.
The nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget has found that both Obama and McCain are proposing combinations of tax and spending policies that would increase the federal deficit. It found that in 2013, Obama’s proposals would produce a net deficit increase of $286 billion, while McCain’s major policies would produce a net deficit increase of between $167 billion and $259 billion.”
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/factchecking_debate_no_2.html
I agree with you reganmctarsney on that issue.
McCain much more negative in his response. Also, Joe Biden on dividing Iraq into the zones it was divided into when it was under British control.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1555130,00.html
Little known fact: U.S. gets most of its “foreign oil” from Canada.
http://www.independent.org/newsroom/article.asp?id=2306
Also, here’s today’s Fresh Air on NPR with the guest being a columnist from the Anchorage Daily News. I haven’t had much time to listen to all of it, but it’s an interesting perspective.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95725546e.com/
According to Nobel Peace Laureate John Byrne, director of the Center for Energy and Environmental Policy, Nuclear power plants are not a good idea because each plant costs between $3 billion and $4 billion dollars and will encourage increased use of energy consumption.
McCain on oil and energy:
http://www.johnmccainrecord.com/environment/
“There’s no doubt that NAFTA needs to be amended. I’ve already said I would contact the president of Mexico and the prime minister of Canada to make sure that labor agreements are enforceable. But I did want to just go back briefly to the issue of trade and human rights that you had mentioned. We have to stand for human rights, and that should be part of the trade equation.” – Obama
Source: 2007 Des Moines Register Democratic Debate Dec 13, 2007
Here is a similar link to Obama on energy:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/newenergy
Obama said China is manipulating its currency, but the US Treasury said China is not doing so in a report last year.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-12/20/content_6333989.htm
McCain makes a good point about Obama’s “eloquence.”
It’s hard not to fall into the trap of what politicians say…it’s not nearly always what they do. But McCain’s fooling himself if he thinks he doesn’t do the same thing.
Biden was the one who always pointed his finger at Obama and Clinton, saying their ideas are nice, but their actions speak louder than their words.
Hey! Meet Joe the Plumber. I bet he didn’t know he was going to be so famous. I wonder if he would’ve still asked his question had he known.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/10/spread-the-weal.html
Here’s some info on free trade agreements:
http://www.export.gov/fta/
It just seems that Obama is talking Presidential while McCain is talking attacks.
Obama and McCain energy plans ala CNN.com
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/05/energy.plans/index.html
Bob Schieffer is doing a good job. Maybe because he has covered every presidential campaign and been a floor reporter at all of the Democratic and Republican National Conventions since 1972.
Americans do consume 25 percent of the world’s oil while holding less than 3 percent of the world’s oil reserves, according to Natural Resources Defense Council.
Here is more information about reducing U.S. oil dependence: http://www.nrdc.org/air/energy/fensec.asp
I definitely like the table setting better than the podiums, it makes it seem more like a conversation. What does everyone else think?
Bob Schieffer is no stranger to politics, and he’s a legendary reporter. I’m glad he’s the moderator.
The CNN voters are NOT HAPPY about McCain’s tying this energy talk to Hugo Chavez. McCain just took a precipitous drop.
Who is Joe the plumber? Answer here: http://wire.factcheck.org/2008/10/15/joe-the-plumber/
I really like the table. It’s really bringing out the tension between two men who clearly have minimal respect for each other as candidates.
The Ohio Uncommitted Voters chart on CNN is all over the place – sometimes I think they just play around with the knob on the machine…
Here’s an interesting article comparing Hoover’s problems to what we’re experiencing now.
http://www.laprogressive.com/2008/10/15/herbert-hoover-redux/
Some facts on the candidates’ health care plans:
According to the Tax Policy Center, a non-partisan collaboration of the Urban Institute and Brookings Institution, McCain’s plan would increase the national deficit by $1.3 trillion over 10 years and trim the number of uninsured Americans by 1 million in 2009 and 3 million by 2013. But after that, the number of uninsured would rise because the tax cuts would not keep pace with the rising cost of premiums. Obama’s plan would cost $1.6 trillion, but reduce the number of uninsured people by 18 million in 2009 and 34 million by 2018. But, far from covering everyone, the Center projects that 34 million would still be uninsured in 2018.
McCain on Health Case:
http://www.johnmccainrecord.com/healthcare/
Here’s another good overview of the men’s health care plans – http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/health_care_spin.html
Lay off Herbert Hoover! That poor guy got into office at the wrong time.
Obama’s health care plan from his campaign website:
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/healthcare/
OMG Not Joe the plumber again:O
I think the Palin quote “Say it ain’t so Joe!” would apply here… Different Joe, though.
Hey easy on Herbert Hoover, Iowa’s only President. As an Iowan, I well understand how he got goated.
joe the plumber should have been moderator
Still more fact-checking on health care. By the way, Politifact is down.
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/health_care_spin.html
It’s true that the uninsured cost the average family about $900 a year in premiums, according to an MSNBC report. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8144237/
McCain does not want to look at Obama while Obama os speaking. That is bad.
Andrew Jackson… astute observation. very funny.
McCain does not want to look at Obama while Obama is speaking. That is bad.
As someone watching from England,(at 3am!) I personally think McCain is doing his best to lead the discussions and pressure Obama but it’s Obama who is coming out on top by in the main having the decent responses.
Joe Six-Pack, Average Joe, Joe the Plumber…
Why is it that Joe sounds like the average American?
Is that why Joe Biden doesn’t go by Joseph? Is that supposed to be more colloquial?
The Lewin Group says that Obama’s criticism of the costs of health care for older people:
“Under Obama’s plan, premiums would increase for younger, healthier people and decrease for older and sicker Americans because the premium could not be based on health risk. Under McCain’s plan, it would be the opposite because of the cross-state sale of insurance, the group says. But, the group finds that both plans would reduce premiums; Obama’s by providing a tax-credit to small businesses and establishing a federal reinsurance program, and McCain’s by getting around state minimum coverage laws and reducing premiums in the individual insurance market by creating federally-subsidized high-risk pools.”
Here in Columbia University Hospital writes off upwards of $50 million for indigent care, mostly coming from people using the emergency room as their primary care provider.
Anyone else impressed by the amount of statistics politicians are able to memorize? I don’t know how they keep it all straight.
McCain’s $5,000 tax credit is for families. Individuals get $2,500.
Obama looks bored.
I agree with you Pete Holman.
Obama said ya’ll… Does that happen a lot?
The average health care policy is less than $12,000 per person according to the National Coalition on Health Care.
“In 2007, total national health expenditures were expected to rise 6.9 percent — two times the rate of inflation. Total spending was $2.3 TRILLION in 2007, or $7600 per person.”
http://www.nchc.org/facts/cost.shtml
Secret revealed: I am Joe the Plumber.
I have a great health plan. Here goes: Let’s provide FREE healthcare for our senior citizens. They have worked all of their lives and healthcare should NOT be a concern of theirs.
Also, let’s provide healthcare FREE basic, preventative healthcare for our children up to age 18 and if they are enrolled in college.
How to fund it: Our tax dollars that go to GIVING Medicare to people who should not qualify (illegal immigrants that choose to hop the border and drop the baby on US soil.)
For the people that are employed: We pay for our gold-plated cadillac health insurance in a group plan that is reasonable and covers everything from preventative to breast implants, if that’s what we choose to have. If you are paying insurance, there should be no limit to what you want for your own healthcare. Any suggestions or tweaks?
Whoa.
Pulling out the Roe v. Wade!
Yeah. McCain still has a salty taste in his mouth from the last debate. But I must say he is doing much better than the last debate.
Chamber of Commerce on McCain’s plan: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/10/07/US_Chamber_chilly_toward_McCain_plan/UPI-44581223424411/
Wikipedia:
“A litmus test is a question asked of a potential candidate for high office, the answer to which would determine whether the nominating official would choose to proceed with the appointment or nomination. (The expression is a metaphor based on the litmus test in chemistry.) Those who must approve a nominee, such as a justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, may also be said to apply a litmus test to determine whether the nominee will receive their vote. In these contexts, the phrase comes up most often with respect to nominations to the judiciary.”
mccain used to oppose the overturning of roe v wade. not sure when he changed his stance
McCain’s stand on this issue now at hand:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/31/us/politics/31abortion.html?ref=politics&pagewanted=print
Someone should find Joe the Plumber and ask him what he really wants and really thinks. Get on that, Columbus Dispatch!
McCain is a dirty, dirty debater. He doesn’t base his analysis on facts and constantly personally degrades Obama. Going strictly on politeness I’m surprised Obama hasn’t left the room yet.
Roe v. Wade — a personal choice. Should be made between the mother and/or father. LEAVE IT ALONE. It is none of either of ya’lls business!
Has Obama gone on record about approaches to Supreme Court nominations?
Supreme Court justices’ stances on pro-life/pro-choice (from NARAL).
http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/issues/choice-in-the-courts/supreme-court/supreme-court-biographies/
McCain’s throwing around the word “qualifications” but not explaining what that means… Like how long they’ve been practicing law?
Wow. A straight answer. From a national politician. “I believe Roe v. Wade was rightly decided” – Obama
Thought this was interesting, explaining why the Supreme Court is especially important in this election.
http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/forumy/2008/10/why-supreme-court-matters-in.php
McCain also has a blinking problem.
Both politicians gave fairly straight answers, McCain did say he did not agree with Roe v. Wade and he thought it was a bad decision.
Has anyone noticed the body language? They are both speaking volumes in… McCain’s have consistently shifted all over the place, heavy blinking, he’s tense and has been very interuptive. Just wondering if anyone has noticed how many times McCain’s knickers have been in a knot.
“Important issue”
That’s an understatement, Obama.
I think McCain’s probably pressured to support the overthrow of Roe v Wade because of the right-wing.
Can a president change the culture of America?
Ah McCain openly says he is pro life not pro choice.He just lost the women’s vote right there. It is a woman’s right to chose as it should be.
I have noticed body language…whenever they show McCain in the background while Obama is talking he has a very smug look on his face. Both candidates have laughed at one another’s response, which I think is a rather immature way to debate.
Go, Obama! Yes. I want to get paid the same or MORE than my male counterpart.
Joe the Plumber is married…so lets ask Jane the Plumber how she feels about Roe v. Wade.
My roommates and I have noticed McCain’s blinking as well. We’ve also been debating the correct way for the candidate to react when he disagrees with what the other is saying. Which do you think is more beneficial? Smiling, shaking the head, talking over them…?
Anyone care to watch the third-party debate? It’s being held at Columbia Political Union at Columbia University in New York City this Sunday.
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/15/still-to-come-the-third-party-debate/
“Opinion polls have found that most people in the U.S. broadly support abortion rights but are less comfortable with the procedure later in pregnancy.”
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/109060.php
Brenda that is because McCain knows he is on a sinking ship that is going down fast.
From 1999:
“That can become a difficult balancing act, as Mr. McCain learned the hard way when he talked with editors of The San Francisco Chronicle on abortion last August.
Asked about the Supreme Court’s landmark Roe v. Wade decision, he said, “I would love to see a point where it is irrelevant and could be repealed because abortion is no longer necessary.” He added that “certainly in the short term or even the long term, I would not support the repeal of Roe v. Wade” because repeal would “force X number of women in America” to undergo “illegal and dangerous operations.”
The answer drew a wave of criticism from conservatives, who thought he was backtracking from his anti-abortion record. Now, whenever he is asked about abortion, Mr. McCain immediately points out that he has consistently voted against abortion in his 17 years in Congress and says that he would support repeal of Roe v. Wade. He then goes on to argue that both sides on the polarized abortion issue should try to work together on adoption. But this response often proves unsatisfactory to social moderates in New Hampshire, who are trying to decide whether to vote for him or Bill Bradley.”
FACT CHECK:
The Facts: Under the rules of the Illinois legislature, only yes votes count toward passage of a bill. Planned Parenthood calculated that a ‘present’ vote by Obama would encourage other senators to cast a similar vote, rather than voting for the legislation [and asked Obama to vote 'present' as a strategy]. NOW never endorsed the Planne Parenthood strategy of voting ‘present,’ saying “They were horrible bills, and we wanted no votes.” Illinois NOW and Planned Parenthood had different voting strategies on the abortion issue. It was impossible for Obama to satisfy both groups at once.
http://www.ontheissues.org/Social/Barack_Obama_Abortion.htm
Did Obama not fully answer McCain’s question about fines for large employers who don’t provide health insurance? Seems like he danced around that one.
Well I think in Obamas defense he was doing that primarily when he was being personally insulted. He remains more stoic than his counterpart which is think is necessary. Shaking head is affective but exhaling deeply, smiling, and talking over them is loser-esque.
mccain keeps saying ‘pro-abortion’.
On no, last question! Time flies…
Do anecdotal examples persuade you guys?
McCain’s stand on Education:
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2008/06/mccain_nclb_is_adequately_fund.html
I wonder what Obama and McCain will wear for Halloween?
Obama’s views on education:
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/education/
Obama’s “Pay for Performance” for teachers is one of the worst education ideas ever proposed. I would like to see a performance plan that would work across the board. There are way too many variables involved in the classrooms across this country to base teachers pay on test results.
I’m pretty sure that during the last debate when Obama listed his platforms in priority, better education was last. I’m not saying he’s not dedicated to it, but I feel like health care, the economy and energy come first for Obama’s change.
This is kind of funny:
Obama masks outsold McCain ones on Amazon:
http://theobamapound.com/2008/10/obama-halloween-mask-outsells-mccains/
Reganmctarsney: They will dress as each other. Obama as McCain and McCain as Obama. LOL.
“Senator government?” looks like McCain’s senility is begininning to creep in.
I know people have commented on the possibility of extremists threatening Obama’s life. But McCain just may expired of his own accord.
The question you have to ask yourself america – Do you want Biden or Palin for president???
McCain does not support the middle class going to college:
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=106&session=1&vote=00241
@ reganmctarnsey: I think it would be wonderful if they went as their running mates.
Abortion is a important issue to feminists. Here is a pretty angry entry about Obama’s views. They think he’s not as radical as made out to be, but support his views.
http://menstrualpoetry.com/obama-radical-feminist
Brenda
Grow up….are you going to make a decision based on your perception or someones posture. You must be a liberal.
Obama would fund the $4,000 American Opportunity tax credit through spending cuts and offsets in the tax program.
What about homosexual rights, I thought they were the civil rights issue for the twenty first century?
Here’s some statistics on education:
http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d07/
Absolutely… put some responsiblity on the parents to control and influence their children!
I personally just all around prefer Obama’s viewpoint, focus, and dare I say, apparent “fairness”!
And the body language is a big barometer for me.
Pete,
I prefer Biden
WHERE IS McCAIN’S LAPEL FLAG
In August McCain had information about supporting charter schools on his campaign Web site. As of last week there was almost no mention of charter schools.
Daniel,
I was think the same thing. I wonder if Fox News will make a big deal about that.
Finally we are hearing about education…the first time I’ve heard anything about it in weeks
What do you think about who came out on top of this debate?
Daniel,
I was thinkng the same thing. I wonder if Fox News will make a big deal about that.
Let’s keep it polite and civil here. No personal attacks please. Leave that to the candidates.
Mary,
It’s not about posture… anyone who’s studied anything about human behavior recognizes that verbal communication accounts for a very low percentage of what’s truly being said!
A statement like “grow up” speaks volumes about maturity… not intended as an attack.
McCain looks robotic.
Good point Daniel – media ripped Obama about the lapel flag issue. Will they do the same for McCain tonight? Sarah Palin’s lapel flag pin was huge and glittery during the VP debate.
MARY,
Any educated psychologist will tell you there are deep rooted indicators of personality and personality disorders, as well as lying and discomfort, that are easily read through body language.
Wouldn’t Obama make a handsome president? He looks so strong! Go, Barak Obama!
This McCain “On the Issues” site does mention charter schools:
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/John_McCain_Education.htm
im curious how competition among private institutions is going to increase the quality of public schools, which dont have to compete.
Good catch on the lapel pen. It will be even more interesting if FoxNews doesn’t bring up the issue.
They had a nice moment for a second there… agreeing on their kids shoddy public school system.
How does education link to autism?
Catherine,
Thanks. But it’s not on his official campaign Web site.
Concerning government funding of public schools, from the book “The Shame of the Nation” by Jonathan Kozol:
“The present per-pupil spending level in the New York City schools is $11,700, which may be compared to a per-pupil spending level in excess of $22,000 in the well-to-do suburban district of Manhasset.
McCain voted against funding Head Start. He lies horribly.
Alex,
I don’t know….Let’s ask Palin
I thought Palin’s son Trig has Down’s syndrome? For a second, McCain made me think he has autism…
I’m will to bet it (lepal issue) never makes mainstream media
He’s gonna find a “cure” for autism??
What’s that like pop a pill and no longer autistic.
Wow I’d vote for a president who could do that. Could he find a cure for death??
Like I said, let’s provide info and your opinions on the issues or the candidates, but not about each other, please.
Eew- mydebates.org is hosted by MySpace.
That’s kind of weird…
http://www.myspace.com/mydebates
Regan- I was thinking the same thing when I was redirected to myspace, weird!
reganmctarsney,
lol…….
I don’t think McCain said the word “maverick” during the entire debate… I wonder why?
Alex – do kids with autism not go to school?
So who won this debate boys and girls?
I heard nothing about Maverick! Good point!
Does anyone watch Big Brother? For some reason their final pleas remind me of that show when they try to plead not to be voted out of the house… but 100x more serious.
Yes but we’re talking about the flaws within the educational system, and across the board spending freeze is not going to help ANYone go to school. It’s a beautiful thing they’re taking initiative but it’s one of the one stable things within their case, it seems to me.
Obama gets my vote – he kept to the point in most cases, he remained positive and he maintained his composure better.
Daniel – I kind of hope it doesn’t appear in the media. It shouldn’t. However, since they’ve brought it up before, maybe it’s only fair.
Wow! There are four third party candidates running for president. I didn’t know that.
Gibney,
I just glad he did not say “MY FRIENDS”
That’s it folks! No more debates for the presidential candidates…
I vote Obama. Moderators last word was cute.
“Go vote now, it will make you feel big and strong.”
Oh, Bob.
What a great job moderating. It’s the first time to me this season that a moderator felt like a true journalist.
A Fact Check from earlier in the debate, John McCain keeps bringing up Barack Obama’s refusal to join ten town hall meetings across the country. Politifact calls it half true:
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/569/
Yeah, I definitely give Bob an A +
Sounded like McCain REALLY dislikes Obama
Obama said, “Thank you…”
McCain said, “Good job, good job, good job,” trying to cut Obama off.
Holly – “That’s it folks! No more debates for the presidential candidates…”
Third party candidates debate this weekend as mentioned earlier in the thread by another poster.
msnbc just declared Joe the Plumber as the winner of the debate.
I agree Bob did well tonight.
“Go vote now, it will make you feel big and strong.”
Cute.
Bob did a good job, indeed. He tried to get the candidates to answer specifically, and I think he succeeded a few times.
Good point, John! I’ll say the last debate from the Democratic and Republican candidates.
John McCain did get angry!
I don’t give a rats about their hurt feelings! LOL
Ya Joe the plumber for President!!!
Bob won the debate. VIP moderator for this election season.
The official Watchword Poll says Barack Obama won the debate.
Big talk on CNN about “reaction shots”… what one guy was doing while the other guy spoke. relevant or not?
Holly I think all of the polls will say the same thing tomorrow.
NBC news is talking with 6 undecided voters in Virginia on what they think about the debate tonight.
On the economy:
1 thought McCain was stronger
3 thought Obama was stronger
2 undecided
3 said they know people who won’t vote for Obama because of his race.
All 6 said they know people who won’t vote for McCain because of Palin.
1 is more likely to vote for Obama after tonight.
3 are more likely to vote for McCain.
1 is leaning towards Obama, but still undecided.
MSNBC doing a poll of voters in K.C. live.