(CNN) –On the anniversary of the September 11 attacks, presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama each take the stage to discuss service and civic engagement in a forum at Columbia University.
What do you think of their ideas? How does the role of service determine what kind of nation we live in? What does national service mean to you?
Along with CNN Senior Political Correspondent Candy Crowley, CNN Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider, CNN Political Analyst Roland Martin, and Republican strategist Bay Buchanan, thousands of you weighed in.
Click "comments" below for a look at the entire conversation.
From CNN Politics
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Obama is blowing McCain away. I can't wait for them to debate and I know that the better candidate is on stage right now.
Another great Idea Scholarship for teachers willing to teach in failing schools
I am just getting in on this but..
If Obama and McCain reference each other and ideas that they agree with... I don't think that is a good thing for either campaigns.
Roland that is a great question
How can we expect our young people to serve when they are being place in situations such as wars that are predicated on blatant lies. Shouldn't those that served be told the truth about why they will be sacrificing their lives. Most of the young folks out there defending this great country of ours are poor why the rich folks are making the rules. Few of the rich military members are actually doing the grunt work instead they are busy hiding the truth. Again, one who is so cynical at this point. What is the purpose of this forum?
Senator John McCain talk about how he is going to extend military, get more fund for the Peace corp., America corp, and possible created new programs that has to do with service. Those ideas are great, but McCain campaign is about lowing taxes. What I want to know? Is why didn’t your correspondent asks a follow up question? Such as, How you are going to pay for these programs without raising taxes?
Even do Obama heard the questions before coming out here its very clear here someone is more thoughtful before answering a question.
What's Bay Buchanan doing there ? Why didn't you also invite a democrat strategist, like Carville or Mrs Brazile ? Mrs Buchanan seems to watch a different forum than we are.
Thank you Senator Obama for recognizing the Foreign Service, and USAID. As the mom of a Foreign Service Officer the validation is appreciated.
Mr. McCain sounded great this evening, right on with all the questions, I was very impressed.
Roland, please you need to listen to what Sarah Palin said on Charlie Gibson's interview.Oh my goodness.You will be shocked. Tell your cnn team there they need to scrutinize all irrelevant replies she gave to Charlie Gibson. This will be news tomorrow.
Excellent point Nick......just ask Paris Hilton .......didn't she promise to use her celebrity to do some good in Africa after she had "do time" for her D.U.I.?
Roland, how disrespectful and rude! To the Lt. Col.! Would you have said that if he had been a supporter of the other candidate?
what happened to objectivity in the media. The media especially CNN runs the same tired speech that Paln gave at the GOP convention, she is lying this has been proven by many different sources including CNN and she is still seen lying over and over again, I thought that the media was supposed to be the watch dogs, Not the Lapdogs!!
I have been amazed at how people can believe that a person, regardles of race or gender, can lead the most powerfull country in the history of mankind with vertually no experience and didn't even grow up in America. I firmly believe that if you have not had any military experience or a family history of military experiece, you do not have any concept of how to defend freedom or what that takes. If you have not witnessed the horrows of not having freedom; i.e., Russia, China, Vietnam, Iraq, Africa, Korea, Germany you can not understand at what lengths we must go to maintain our freedom. You can not defend freedom with ships, airplanes, bombs. It takes, people. Look at Iraq. All the might of the US can not eliminate a huge number of casualties until the people take charge.
It is clear to me from his choice for Vice-President that John McCain is under pressure from the advisers to George Bush who have run this country into the ground with their Darwinian economics. The task for Barack Obama is to convince the undecided voters that he is not a socialist who believes that the government should run the country, that he is for strong national defense, that he is for energy independence, that he is for reform of the health system, that he is for immigration reform, and that he is not indebted to the traditional supporters of the Democratic party, like the teacher's union, trial lawyers, and other similar groups. If he can do this, he will be elected because America is fed up with Karl Rove and his kind.
that is what I have been saying this whole time
LOL ... A wonderful idea Roland .... Wonderful
Why is Obama being asked these cushy, feel good questions, with inserted negativity by the commentators; one of which said an article of Obama's plan is in this week's Time magazine? These are stupid questions that defeat the purpose of this so called discussion.
Also, this isn't a litmus test to determine his qualifications and abilities to lead OUR country but a good old down home type gab fest that America does not need to hear for this very important election!
This is a complete waste of America's time!
ask if the 2 candidates w9ill be willingf to denounce any and every Plum Book applicant who cheated, ever, on Social Security taxes.
Does Obama come across Angry and Fake? Just my observation!
Why is there a Republican Strategist in here but no Democratic Strategist?
I can not believe that for the most part I have stumbled upon a forum with intelligent and thoughtful comments.....how great is this?!
What I've heard tonight is John McCain telling me that military service is the only true way to serve your country while Obama is saying that making the lives of your fellow Americans better and/or safer in any way is service.
I agree with Obama's platform.
More people died on the the streets of Chicago last year then on the battlefield in Iraq last year.