Obama Hits Philosophical Differences; McCain Cites Previous Warnings About Fannie And Freddy
Obama's challenge is to keep the focus on the fundamental ideological differences between the parties on the economy, as a way of distracting from McCain's claims to differences between himself and the basic Republican governing economic philosophy.
McCain's challenge, meanwhile, is to keep the focus on specific things from his record that show an independent streak, to obscure his fundamental agreement with GOP deregulatory philosophy.
Obama tries to hit this early, making the point that Republicans and McCain are latter-day converts to the cause of government intervention. "We need it not just when there's a crisis," Obama says. "Folks have been struggling before this crisis took place." That's key to Obama's message: He was talking about the economy before the crisis; one source of his political strength in the skirmishing amid the current meltdown.
He adds that we need action "not just when there's a crisis for folks who have power and influence and can hire lobbyists."
McCain, meanwhile, tries to swing the discussion back to specific moments in his record where he departed from the fundamental deregulatory thrust of his party, reminding listeners of his warnings about Fannie and Freddie.
Those are the bare outlines of the political debate and of each candidate's political imperatives on the economy.
Wait... Give a $5000 tax credit for health care? And who's going to get the $5000?
And the definition of rich? McCain's definition is $5 million.
September 26, 2008 9:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm the only one here. Ahaha.
September 26, 2008 9:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
records?? deregulation/keating 5 guy wants to talk about records?
September 26, 2008 9:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seriously though. Didn't Obama co-sponsor the bill for the website on government spending that McCain referenced?
September 26, 2008 9:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yep.
September 26, 2008 9:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
The fundamentals of John McCain's debate performances are weak.
September 26, 2008 9:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
LoL!
September 26, 2008 9:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think McCain's getting a little p.o.'d. He's getting a wierd smirk on his face.
September 26, 2008 9:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, he didn't like Obama saying "that's just not true".
Anyone watching CNN notice how Obama gets HUGE pluses whenever he talks specifics?
September 26, 2008 9:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm seeing them. He's delivering.
September 26, 2008 9:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
I like that Obama is not being aloof but is being cool and very involved in his arguments. I like that he looked right into the camera when he said we would bet a tax break. Great job.
September 26, 2008 9:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama is sharp as hell tonight. The uhhs and umm and just about completely gone.
On CNN, his responses on the audience reaction tracker are killing McCain's.
September 26, 2008 9:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
The tracker doesn't seem to track negative moment. Like you never see curves go below 50% often. Polite audience?
September 26, 2008 9:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Awesome.
And McLame throws those gratuitous fucking "insults" in and non-sequiturs - like "He has the most liberal voting record in Congress..."
O way to answer that - it's mainly just reacting to Bush's wrongheaded policies and McLame has the most conservative record.
Hahahaha!
September 26, 2008 9:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain: CUT SPENDING! CUT SPENDING!
September 26, 2008 9:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Spending money for the public good is just like flushing money down the toilet. It doesn't go to anyone, it just gets flushed down and disappears. It's magic.
September 26, 2008 9:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain: Cut spending on everything except the military.
September 26, 2008 9:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope Obama keeps pushing McMaverick.
September 26, 2008 9:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
As a Fun Da Mental, I have to say, John McDoubletalk is not only NO fun, but has not much mental about his policies either.
September 26, 2008 9:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
WOW, McCain just proposed a SPENDING FREEZE!!
September 26, 2008 9:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
I dunno if that's going to go over very well.
September 26, 2008 9:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes yes yes - the war and the money.
September 26, 2008 9:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama's holding the "Iraq war = $$$" card in his pocket, it seems. Doesn't want to throw it down until later in the debate, I guess.
September 26, 2008 9:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Well, how 'bout..." is a really bad start to a response. It sounds like we're shooting from the hip.
September 26, 2008 9:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
They both said yes, Leher. But, as Obama said, there is no way to know for sure what the situation is going to be in January.
September 26, 2008 9:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
What's up with Lehrer? The question has been answered, number 1. The president doesn't "rule" the country. Jebus!
September 26, 2008 9:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
He wants to help the VA?
He hasn't supported a VA bill in 8 yrs
September 26, 2008 9:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly. Why isn't Obama ready to go with that?
September 26, 2008 9:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
How can they say exactly what going to happen from a bill that isnt even done being made yet?
September 26, 2008 9:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
DOES MCCAIN HAVE A SINGLE THING TO SAY OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT HE WATS TO CUT SPENDING?! OH MY FUCKING GOD!
September 26, 2008 9:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
HE KNOWS HOW TO CUT SPENDING THOUGH, HE KNOWS....
September 26, 2008 9:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
WANTS*
LoL.
September 26, 2008 9:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, he wants to bomb Iran...
September 26, 2008 9:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Earmarks! Earmarks!! Earwax!
September 26, 2008 9:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes...apparently he's pretty proud of the fact that he hasn't been voted Miss Congeniality.
September 26, 2008 9:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Old Man Yells At Earmark Shaped Cloud"
September 26, 2008 9:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
A spending freeze, how cute.
September 26, 2008 9:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope Axelrod is sitting in the stands waving an "IRAQ" sign to Obama right now.
September 26, 2008 9:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
New drinking game: take a drink every time McCain says "spending" or "cut spending".
September 26, 2008 9:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
90%! Nice job, Obama.
September 26, 2008 9:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Didn't he switch on torture????
September 26, 2008 9:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Did he just say he's been a MAVERICK in the SENATE?
Jeeez.
September 26, 2008 9:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Pack it up guys, there's a new thread!
September 26, 2008 9:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Holy shit. The Independents HATE McCain talking about staying in Iraq. They HATE it.
September 26, 2008 9:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
OMFG! obama us owing this debate by attempting remain polite and high minded.
There has been at least five big opportunities for Obama to say. "John, that's a lie and you know that is a lie People can go on line and check our actual voting records."
September 26, 2008 9:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Shorter McCain: I have a record. Look at my record. I am a MAVERICK!!
um yeah. Keating 5, Torture bill, Banking deregs. Graham. The VA for which he did nothing.
Whiny.
September 26, 2008 9:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
yes! Previous mismanagement!
September 26, 2008 9:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
OMFG! obama us owing this debate by attempting remain polite and high minded.
There has been at least five big opportunities for Obama to say. "John, that's a lie and you know that is a lie People can go on line and check our actual voting records."
September 26, 2008 9:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
OMFG! obama us owing this debate by attempting remain polite and high minded.
There has been at least five big opportunities for Obama to say. "John, that's a lie and you know that is a lie People can go on line and check our actual voting records."
September 26, 2008 9:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
OMFG! obama us owing this debate by attempting remain polite and high minded.
There has been at least five big opportunities for Obama to say. "John, that's a lie and you know that is a lie People can go on line and check our actual voting records."
September 26, 2008 9:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wait! Didn't anyone catch the fact that McCain said that he would "freeze" all spending except for military and veterans?
What about schools, police, health care, Social Security, etc? Are we to believe that we don't matter to Senator McCain? That doesn't make sense to me. Bush only cared about military and foreign policy like McCain. So much for reform or change.
September 26, 2008 11:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
He looked so old and angry. Grumpy, old man who seemed to be licking his lip like a lizard every time he began to talk! It was quite annoying.
September 26, 2008 11:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think McCain was advised to derail the structure of the debate that would have allowed for direct communication between the candidates. In order to avoid any direct questions from Obama, he had to treat him as if he weren't really there.
My regret in the debate is that Obama did not emphasize that 80% of the American people think we are on the "wrong track."
September 27, 2008 12:05 PM | Reply | Permalink