(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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Reagan: I don't get it. You're dizzy because you can't follow Obama's points?
Roland, do you think Obama just made a mistake by giving mayors that much credit with Sarah Palin as a former mayor?
He's portraying community organizing as a form of voluntary community surface, working with churches - which it is!
To a lot of Americans, community organizing sounds vaguely left-wing.
It's not.
I like Obama's answers better than McCain's. His are more thoughtful.
I understand moderating the post but CNN is taking away freedom of speech by not posting all the comments. If you call this a live blog that anyone can join in, then you need to keep it that way and not censor what you want to hear!
I don't understand how people can believe anything McCain says. He looks like a used car salesman when he smiles, it is obviously fake. On the other hand, when Obama smiles, he looks natural. That say a lot to me, but maybe I am just biased...or am I?
On a day where we were not going to have partisan politics what is up with the dude from Time that clapped during and after McCain's responses and NOT once with Obama. I like the selection of Judy Woodruff as she always is independent but again, CNN is feeding pig with no story here. You want to be trusted, then don't show preference with either language or body language, report the news and ask the questions. Tell Time Magazine Editor not to clap for one and not the other. Show respect for both, no matter who you are.
Every day, I tune to CNN on Sirius, and every day I hear a Sarah Palin speech. It is always the same speech, despite being given on different days in different places. Often, CNN plays almost all of Palin's redundant speech then cuts away during McCain's speech.
(1) Why does CNN treat Sarah Palin as though she is the candidate
rather than McCain?
(2) How is a Sarah Palin speech news? She is not announcing new poilcy. She's not even using a new stump speech.
Your coverage of Palin has been excessive and not sharp enough. One of the CNN commentators during the day wanted to talk about the comments about Community Organizer during the republican convention and continually referred to how Guiliani made the remark–with ZERO mention of the fact that Palin used it and continues to use it. Anyone listening would not have known Palin was using the line, as well. Deliberate? You tell me.
You frequently let your Republican guests get away with the most ridiculous falsehoods without questioning them. You repeat what is said without the probing questions one might see from the BBC, for example.
And I am sick of your fluff pieces on Palin. Please get back to the issues and stop letting the Rove republicans succeed in turning everyone's head away from what really matters to the American people–jobs, healthcare, security.
This forum has to be a big win for McCain. It is such a snoozefest, most people have probably changed the channel. McCain has the momemtum right now. This forum will not change that!
Roland, that would just lead to more broken promises.
"Anyone can be president, just check the requirements in the constitution. 1. Age 35 or over. 2. Born in the USA. 3. Can't be in the active military. That's it. What is all the fuss about qualifications? If the founders wanted more they would have spelled it out. Palin meets the requirements."
you can't be serious. this is just a glimpse into the retarded thinking that gets clowns like george bush (and his dad) into the white house. what a poor, poor argument. you, sir, like so many others, are an idiot... and probably retarded. according to your ridiculous logic: michael jackson, oj simpson, danny bonaduce, courtney love, ozzy osbourne and tom cruise are all qualified to be president.
nice work, dummy. hey, wait a minute... your name IS george... is that you mr. president? wow, finally something that DOES make sense.
Buchanan you are you to say that this will not change a person votes. I would rather have McCain change a vote on the issues rather then character attacks.
Roland,
We know he can do that. Look at his "tape watching" on...
The Surge
Rescinding Bush's Tax Cuts (and taxing not hurting the economy).
Offshore Drilling
ETC
You call it tape watchiing. I call it POLL watching.
Roland, I am a teacher and the union owns your guy and basically both parties. They say it is for the children, No it is for their base and pocketbook. The same will happen with govt sponsored service.
Obama's answer to his response to Palin's shots at community service is the best answer I've heard to a question in the entire campaign. He stayed positive and focussed on joining forces with others, and expressed how important community service is to shaping young people.
Its amazing to actually learn and be inspired to do something for a country that has not done squat for me in the last EIGHT YEARS
BK – Truth be told I dont think we can afford 4 more years of the current administration. Funny how they scream dems are tax and spend liberals yet the last dem we had in the oval office reduced the deficit but the republicans have taken it to record levels and all you can say is that we cannot afford to change things? If America doesn't do something soon we will soon realize we are in the same position Rome found itself. A suprise to realize you are on the decline.
BK
We have a $10 billion a month war in Iraq. How are we paying for that?
roland, your ideas are inspiring and thought provoking
Anyone who is anti-tax clearly doesn't understand that without taxes, no matter how good or bad your intentions are, they can't function. The government needs taxes, and frankly not just on the poor or the rich. Look at other countries such as Canada, very high taxes in comparison with us, yet they and many others have free healthcare.
Of course, stopping the war would let up on the whole increasing the budget deficit by 400+ Billion dollars thing. But hey, I'm not the prez so what do I know?
If Barack is elected our next President, I hope all the people who are speaking so harshly against him remember what they said when we're able to go around the world with pride and how we'll be welcomed again because we have gotten back our standing with the world by not tryimg to bully everyone else around and trying to force them to be like us.
I SO AGREE WITH YOU ROLAND !!!!!!
Reach
Ask Licoln, ask Marshall, Ask King.
Progress is made when you reach further than your fingertips.
What is within you reach is easy to attain...and to lose.
But when you reach for that which you can not see;
Move in faith toward that you will not realize;
Then you will make progress
Clay, you are right on... the media has put way too much attention on the lipstick comment. I mean Lehman brothers is going down in flames, and the Government just took over Freddie and Fannie and all we can talk about is lipstick on dogs and pigs?
Roland, Obama got to hear McCain and his answers and Obama is still uh uh and wishy washy. He is too weak.