(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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Barack Obama won this Forem tonight hands down! Palin doesnt know squat about foregien policy, just talking points from McSames Campaign.
Let's keep in mind that firefighters and police officers put their lives in harm's way. 9/11 proved that.
Obama is considerably more specific on issues than the wishy-washy McCain who tends to dance around the issues.
Roland you are right. We need to stop putting one level of activism for this country over another. If the military people here want to ask questions. then ask McCain why he has voted against or has not been for most bills or legislation to help veterans on education, services, healthcare, etc.
Secondly how can you encourage people to join the military now, when we have an obvious view that is skewed by a mismanaged war, troops being push beyond their limits, ill equipped resources, etc.
no disrespect to mcain and our military. but being a pow and serving in our military does not mean that u can help our economy and better our health plan. i see alot of vets living on the street. let me ask u what did there military experence do for them.
Regarding Peace Corp...I am member of Americorp. This organization provides services here in the US. We are in schools and communities around the country. Members provide a variety of services from tutoring to medical services to rebuilding after storms.
He is very calm
Maybe if we put as much emphasis on finding the best and brightest to serve in diplomacy and valued it we would not need to send as many men and women into harm's way in war.
Hey Bay,good idea about the teachers and while we are at it,lets get rid of some political hacks like yourself that divide our country rather than try to unite it?
The main difference between McCain and Obama is McCain is straight to the point and Obama is so wishy washy. His answers are long and winding . I think Obama is not too confident anymore on winning this election. The Democrats were so cocky before that it will bea cake walk beating any Republican nominee. But they never anticipated the resilience of McCain and the discovery of the superstar Sarah Palin.
Khyati Desai–your so right. If more importance was put on community service-world wide-then maybe, just maybe there would not be a need for military service.
Bee Explain What Way Roland is talking – and are you really meaning that there are only whites allowed in the "White House"
I don't think we can afford Obama and all his programs.
Roland,
Would the special tax for the military include retirees.
Roland, I think you missed something. No government and Freddie and Fannie never exist.
Must agree to giving our men and women of the military specific tax so that pay will raise.
McCain says we don't need governement. Then what they hell is he running for office for?
The Bushies plan to give Georgia over $2B this year.
Who is the lobbyist for Georgia?
Why doesn't anyone ask who the candidates will choose for cabinet members? The vp waits for a crisis so they can step in. We are at war...doesn't anyone want to to know who the Joint Chiefs of Staff would be, or the Secretary of State? This is what matters!!
Why does Judy W. have to keep giving McCain's answers to Obama, when he's already been allowed to watch/listen and formulate his answers from McCains???
I don't believe a word Mr. B. Hussein Obama is saying. He is a little too arrogant and sure of himself. He talks in lofty terms for a man who has very little applicable experience. I am sorry, I've tried but I just don't get the hero worship that the media has for him.
Read 'Band of Brothers' and tell me community service stacks up.
Concerned: I agree with you; CNN would do a great service if they would publish both candidates policy papers on national service. They are both on Mark Halperin's The blog and are revealing to voters who want to educate themselves beyong 30 or 60 second answer,
Roland
You speak of working in a rural locatin is somehow doing a service as if its like working in the third world.
Us your own advise and don't talk on what you don't know anything about.
You sound as if crime and gangs and murders only take place in cities and I have news for you rural areas have it to and more than fair share.
Obama makes me proud to be an American once again!