(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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If I'm wrong, I'm wrong, but how can Sarah Palin make statements about Community Organizers and then McCain says regular citizens do more for the community than the weathy? I feel Like Obama gave up on a great job to serve his community and that speaks volumes to me.
For both Candidates: To my understanding, our global image isn't the same any more, true or false and why? (I'm curious).
Did he really say that he wants the private sector to head up the volunteer organizations in this country? Where has he been?
"My philosophy is... [not having the Peace Corps... but having more and more military]. People... seriously. WAKE UP!! This man is trying to lead us into the gutter into WWIII!
yeah right.
Regarding community service and giving back. As a young teenage Black girl in the city of Chicago, my grandmother made me volunteer at the local YMCA. She would not allow me to be paid, and told me this was a way of giving back to the community. I hated it at the time, but grew to appreciate it as an adult. As an adult trying to provide for my family, I think that you can't give what you don't have. If you don't have a job, enough food on the table, clothes for your kids, etc...you are not thinking about giving. You are thinking about getting. You have little to share with others.
Can my party please get back to the issues before I leap to the other side. Enough with Palin. She did her job and brought attention for the convention! Now McCain I am trying my best to give you the benefit of the doubt but please address some issues and stop worrying about HockeyMom. This election is getting stupid – I don't agree with Obama but at least he is trying to stick with the issues.
I am proud to say that I and many army wives support Obama, he is OUR guy for president.
Bill Schnieder-McCain NEVER says how he is going to do anything! He knows how to talk and talk just like his VP nominee does but the devil is in the details. WHERE ARE THEY???
And oooh, no more government he says, got to save it for the military!!
And they are taking questions from the internet? How? How does McCain act nice here and then like a JERK in his ads? The disconnect is astounding and his choice of Palin says it all. He is full of it.
Also cnn,,,,i think you guys reporting is bias,,we all know racism is playing a bigger role in this election, and you guys are not reporting.can you please tell me why people still talk about is a Muslim and does not wear a pin.....also john king said white people are now supporting mccain, well you guys you know what by the year 2050 the white and minorities will be the same.then we all will be in the same level playing field.
McCain stated that the government should not be expanded b/c private organizations can handle charity work. Well, should church and state intermingle? Right wing extremists have hijacked the Republican party. I should know, I used to be a staunch republican.
He is lying... Obama among the Elist.... I don't hink he would take it.
SURELY one of these moderators is going to ask McCain, "Speaker after speaker at your convention ripped Sen. Barack Obama for being a community organizer, including your VP candidate, Gov. Sarah Palin? Was it wrong for the speakers at the podium to mock community organizers, and for the Republicans in the audience to laugh?"
The reason I am voting for Obama, is that I feel that he offers the inspiration needed to get everyone involved. He has relit that fire in many of us to think more of just ourselves but being of service to our fellow man.
I understand that he was a great service man. I commend mccain for that, but at the same time he is a straight military man. Who or what is the country that mccain is serving me my daughter and other people like me or rich people and corperation. maby his definition of country differs from me and alot of others. so i guest he is serving HIS COUNTRY.
Did he just say community orginizers do better than the government?? Wow thats a huge turn around…
no kidding – he should have already denounced what many of those speakers said at the RNC
There's Smilin' Joe! Looking good, Joe ... are you thinking of stepping aside, hmmmmm? Just curious based on your statement yesterday
Here we go!
Red State Tex-
I am a veteran and you are full of it.
ye Candy..can you believe that? MCcain..loves war..and is very uneducated. You Candy, Schneider, you all are educated. This should be an insult to u
Joe Biden is as interested as any of us in this country's future. Like many of us, he is a parent, spouse, community activist and patriot.
Attacking each other will never solve the problems. Working together, as if every day of our lives depends upon it, is the only answer.
McCain is saying "yes" to which question – asking Obama to serve in the service cabinet post? When did this become something to joke about?
Ok, I Saw Biden too. If Obama looses then it is bcs. he chose Biden, or may be bcs. he didn't choose Hillary.
Mr Roland don't mind Laura she is against truth and everything McCain said was right.
I would like to ask the candidates do they know the amount US owes
its own citizens and the world at large? Social Security, Medicaid, pay back what we owe the World Governments.
What is their plan or strategy to pay this back? What is my share, my son's share and their children's share?
While we are in this deep mess, why should I pay 1 penny to Georgia or any other foreign population?
Raman Kannan