(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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Roland, the personal attacks are sadly part of politics you of all people should know that, its been going on since before Lincoln, and it will continue.
inner city problems are the responsiblity of the family not the government,
Why so much emphasis of the military why do we need to be fighting so many wars? There's one and only one war we should be fighting and that is the one against Al-Queda. We wouldn't need all these extra troops were it not for the blunders of the current administration and their gunslinger attitude. With troop suicides as high as they are, VA incompitence, and soldiers returning home dead or maimed, the focus should not be getting more people into this mess, but rather fix it. We can't strong-arm Iraq into security and we can't remain there indefinetly. Our military is tied up and exhausted and we have less and less willing to join. Our country has become much more vulnerable to attack due to this great displacement of our military.
I don't know why you won't take my posts, will some one email and tell me what I am doing wrong...? I am recording this and I will show your censorship if you don't respond...
Roland, it's called the 1st Amendment – get over it !
I have been listing to these two men talk about our military and what would they do to keep ppl in the military. Well If I was the Pres. this is what I would do for the FULL military ppl : FREE HEALTH CARE , FREE HOUSING [on base] NO TAXES [at all] also they would get better pay after four years of service they would get $80,000 to 100,000 a yr. The military ppl give up all there rights just to serve us and to keep the mother land safe for us all. Also the big companies [tabacoo] would take half of there profits and put it to health care / cancer research. Also the Oil companies would take half of there profits and put it to fixing our roads, highways, bridges. WE NEED A NEW PARTY called the Party of the People. just a lil of my thoughts thx CNN
Roland, I think that Obama has constantly tried to stick with the issues but he couldn't let untruths, slandering, and distractions go unnoticed. We'd have a rerun of the Kerry campaign if he did that. His latest statements of "Enough is Enough" should be the new theme of his campaign.
They should do an actual debate so we can all see Obama stumble his way through the questions
Another example of CNN's leftist leanings... on the main page... there is a picture of Obama.. the headline states his points on being an American.... um, didnt McCain speak as well tonight? Where is his picture on the main page?
David
McCain was overly political and stale.
I honestly thing that people are afraid of Obama because he is educated.... see comments from David. I'd rather have a smart president rather than a good storyteller.
Bill, do you think Obama just made a mistake by giving mayors that much credit with Sarah Palin as a former mayor?
Obama is doing a great job and is very inspiring. Let's vote him in on November 4th.
To the young lady who said this forum wouldn't change one vote... It just did.
We do not need a superstar VP, we need one who knows what a VP does all day. I just cannot believe the break the media is giving to Palin and her lack of leadership qualities.
We need change, not more of the same GOP politics. Palin may have had a chance to bring change about, but it's obvious now with her blatant lying and half-truths that it's not going to happen from the right.
Why is it because Obama doesn't give "yes" and "no" answers, that he's lofty and wishy-washy? (BTW Jopat., wishy-washy is so 2004). These issues that are discussed are not just black and white and the fact that he discusses it from more than one side, shows he's thoughtful. I appreciate people thinking before they speak.
I agree with BK. How can we afford Obama's programs especially now?
I agree with Tom- Obama is playing the crowd. "I want to make the President cool again" Is this a strategy? Sounds like hope- thats not a strategy either.
BK...we would be able to afford all of these programs that Obama wants to implement if we were spending billions on a needless war and on high gas prices...you cant blame Obama for wanting to improve this country through worthwhile programs that help the average American...blame Bush and the Republicans for wasting our money....
The nitty gritty fact is Obama is a good talker with no experience.
Obama just said that without government there would be no Civil Rights Act.
I bet Sen. Hillary Clinton hit the roof on that one!
Remember when the Obama camp ripped her by saying that without President Lyndon Baines Johnson, Dr. King's work would not have become a reality? I know her folks are like, "Now you say it!"
Hey Cool is an Independent word too. I would like it to be cool...
Ifully agree Roland, (comment to Military guy on Service), I think this is very narrow minded since not everyone can serve in the Military (health reasons, other restrictions, possibly had a felony at a young age), but these people can definately stand out serving in other areas that we desperately need people.
I agree that the someone that is in the Military should be HIGHLY respected, but should not be held any higher that others that serve in other areas.
Hi. I live in Anchorage. Governor Palin really doesn't seem to like to make herself available to answer questions. For example, she and her staff have nothing to say to the legislature about troopergate and they seem to be leveraging their Department of Law to shelter themselves from subpoenas.
Not just with troopergate, but also more generally, I wonder if Governor Palin will ever sufficiently answer questions and address the public's doubts about her qualifications, or if we will have to settle with her soundbytes.
how come judy asked obama 2 questions and prefaced them with" john mccain said........" i thought the answers were not to be based on what the other person said. that is the reason they are there separately.....................this is what happened when he debated hillary and she got the questions first. why does he always need and be givens clues? and the media isn't biased.boooooooooo
This is why so many people like Obama especially young people, because he is the one simple thing he's paying attention to them.