(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
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
Roland
Obama was the first to talk about it, yes. but that isn't enough anymore. Americans don"t believe teh words of politicians anymore. They want more. Obama had a chance to finially do something about chance. He choose not to–so he is still all talk.
Mccain had a maverick reputation–but even that didn't convince the voters. Palin was the bold action needed to convince them.
I hear McCain talk about volunteer service, but without an office to coordinate the activities of these volunteer organizations, then I don't see what John McCain is talking about can be effective.
Mike most colleges are have problem receiving federal grants from goverment now! Who cares about the ROTC! If they don't need or want them, so be it.
I would like to know why Senator McCain thinks the American people will accept a virtually unknown person with no knowledge of world affairs as the VP. Since she accepted the nomination she has been hidden away from the media and guarded like a precious china doll. We know nothing of her from her own mouth. Given his age and health history the American people need to know that his number 2 is capable of handling the position of POTUS should something happen to him if he were to be elected. This woman is currently under investigation for ethics violations in Alaska and is stonewalling that investigation by every means she and the McCain campaign can think of. How can anyone think she will be an up front, honest, and competent VP or God forbid President when she is refusing to cooperate in that investigation to clear her own name, refusing to turn over pertinent emails and she is trying to quash the subpoenas that are to be issued to her staff who are also refusing to testify. If she were the person McCain is trying to portray her to be she would corporate fully and insist her staff testify freely to clear this matter up.
Paula Neustatter, Virginia
McCain may bar his quote "campaign," but he won't refuse to bar those 527 groups from trying to swift boat Obama. More hypocrisy and Bush politics as usual. How is that a change agent?
Laura, Lipstick on a pig is figure of speech, one that John MCCain used when referring to Hilary"s Health Care plan. So were you offended then> Obama wasn't talking about Sarah Palin... but I think its funny that after all the community organizer bashing he is now changing his tune for this show!
I also agree with Roland martin's take on term limits. I believe the reason why things are such a mess is because the same old people are allowed to stay in their positions. New blood is needed. And please tell me why as a retired Veteran who has served this great nation at 48 years old cannot be a secret service agent, Air Marshal or Boarder patrol agent due to age and YET John McCain can be president? Tell me why age is not a restriction in that case?
mccain is lieing a LOT. I have lost all faith in him after seeing HIS convention rag on normal people. now when he has a chance to redeem himself, he didn't take it. He just lost this vote.
When Commenting on palin's experience as a small town mayor, Did McCain just say its easy for him to leave for Washington and forget about the day to day worries of towns?!?!?! WHAT?!?!
Roland Martin still can't seem to hide his Obama-sucking, Mccain-bashing patisan attitude. Everybody knows you are a big supporter of Obama, for obvious reasons everybody know
Sarah Palin is getting away with lying to the American public about her accomplishments, if not lying then exaggerating. Why isn't she being held accountable? People are afraid to criticize a woman republican on these issues. We weren't afraid take Obama down for what his minister had to say–he certainly wasn't lying to us. He opened his heart. Obama has the leadership we need for this country. McCain, who picked Palin, does not have good answers to questions that matter to the American people.
John McCain just said, "I have the good fortune of being in Washington and not have to worry about the day-to-day challenges Americans face." He said this when asked a question about the role of being a mayor in our society.
He dogged the question about Palin mocking Barark Obama's service as a community organizer. She was wrong and he did not want to criticize her. He is not a maverick.
Oh, gosh, now he is blaming his tone of attack on the fact that Senator Obama didn't join him in town hall meetings. What a shame to use that as an excuse for negative attacks and advertising. Now in the second sentence he is praising Senator Obama. That is a hypocrasy!
I got an email from John McCain asking for money and help with housing volunteer to help them fight against Barack Obama. I was turned off by John McCain using the following "Please consider this opportunity to adhere to John McCain's call to serve a cause greater than self! On the evening of November 4th you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you did everything possible to secure the future of our nation." Obviously, his idea of serving a cause greater than self is giving to his campaign.
I am seriously laughing at blogger Freedom Lovin Patriot. I love how people from the left keep attempting to compare Senator Obama's "experience" to Governor Palin's "experience." It is almost as if they think Governor Palin is the the presidential candidate. The fact is she isn't.
I really admire and support Obamas plan to offer financial college credit in exchange for community service and non profit volunteers. I thought McCain skipped over that question.
Excellent point Bill. It's like, make up your mind.
I just thought about something.... McCain reminds me of the move the Manchurian Canidate.... he is the mother and Palin is the son!
I love that question. OMG we might get some real questions asked
I agree Bill...just because you served in the military doesn't mean you know how to reform Washington. He's been in the Senate for 26 years! What is his voting record? What has he done to change it but vote with Bush 90% of the time.
LS, not necessarily true.
Mayors do have tough jobs.
Think about it for a moment. Federal government passes down unfunded mandates to the states, the states pass them down to the cities, and it's left to the mayors to jack up sales and property taxes.
Everything rolls downhill. That's just keeping it real.
He constantly contradict himself. This is the guy some people want as there comander and cheif a walking contradiction. He wants us to not look at his actions but listen to his words.
I do not understand why anyone wants the government to control their lifes, money health insurance, social security, people should be responsiable for themselfs.
Roland,
Sampling, word!!!!
Ajay, excellent point.
Humble ... hmmm. I'd love to debate someone about the level of McCain's humility
McCain knows working people are in economic crisis, yet still supports tax cuts for the wealthy...
so if you know the economy is broken why give more to the Rich??