(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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I love this type of forum! CNN should do this more often. Thanks.
Grace in Florida
I want to know how McCain can refer to all of these areas of community service as areas that he will "focus on" so heavily... when it's something he never talks about as a platform of his campaign. He has vaguely talked about "serving a cause greater than your self interest" before, but he has never gone into specifics on what non-military service means to him or how to encourage it.
Compare that to the focus Obama has had on non-military service and how specific he has been on it since day one of his campaign (and before).
Any chance he'll get called out on this? Didn't think so.
so we can send people...our citizens to countries that dont like us...but we cant send our money...tell me how this makes sense. send lives...but dont try to relieve them with humanitarian relief...interesting
Bay,
McCain was not a Maverick when he picked Palin. He was pandering, and as a Clinton supporter it was an insult.
I would like to hear his plans on fixing the economy.
No Bill he said we should encourage from BOTH private and government but not FORCE service on people. Kinda ruins the idea of service.
Bill,
Have read Rove article on Obama vs Palin (www.rove.com) . Can Obama really win a debate on ear-marks, and the bridge-to-nowhere? Palin wins if it discussed in more detail.
Osama Bin Laden was educated here in the US. Also, Saddam Hussein.
To Mr. Martin,
Did you notice that Judy Woodruff phrased Sarah Palin's offensive comments about Obama's community organizing as "somewhat divisive"? Somewhat? Sorry for this diversion, but have you noticed that the 'liberal' press has been bending over backwards during the entire campaign to be "objective" (overcompensating, in fact) while right-tending press think nothing of misrepresenting Obama and over-representing McCain and Palin?
It is amazing how McCain separates himself with ANYTHING that has to do with the Bush administration. He's openly critical...even disdainful of several Bush policies.
Wow, McCain just did an impression of ME! I fell asleep watching him, too!
I do not see a blog to reply to the outrageous Lou Dobbs and his like-minded (or is it like-mindless???) guests ... so I must do it here. Just before this forum began, Dobbs and guests all smugly and condescendingly agreed that the source of outrage over the elevation of Sarah Palin is the fact that she is not "establishment". That is ridiculous!!! The primary objection to the governor of Alaska stems from the last eight years, which showed us clearly and tragically how much harm can be done by a president who is ignorant about the world at large. The consequences of having George W. Bush in the White House have verged on the unbearable. John McCain was profoundly irresponsible to put a person who is similarly ignorant in line for the presidency ... regardless of her other qualities.
First off I think woman should be offended by the republicans for trying use Sarah as a pawn to belittle them as to say is all they want is a woman in office. I have seen and heard what Hillary Clinton stands for and Sarah is No Hillary. I also think when you all think of toss up states you should also think of Georgia because we are registering record numbers of new voters.
Where do you stand on the problem of "Grandparents Raising Grandchildren?" In the United States there are more than 6 million children in the care of their grandparents. Very often these grandparents are single grandmothers. They are, more often than not, living on fixed incomes. What can our government do to help this growing population?
McCain praises churches churches churches. What about synagogues, mosques, Baha'i centers, Gurdwaras? Aren't those 20+ million Americans also doing work? Apparently, in addition age, John McCain is being told to mention God and churches as often as he can.
So much for Americans getting jobs
How can we trust McCain? He has constantly changed (read flip-flopped) his position. He has called for a civilized campaign and continues to use attack ads and Rovian politics.
McCain is talking up community organizer now...He is saying less government more faith base organization, and small group groups...wasn't his running mate Palin looking down on Barack for the fact that he was just a community organizer....There he goes again..stole Baracks message of change...and now ..is on the community organizer bandwagon...
HI
WHY IS THERE A FALSE APPLAUSE WITH MCCAIN I THINK THAT IS VERY UNFAIR TO HAVE PRETEND APPLAUDING
WHAT AND WHY ARE U ADDING THESE APPLAUDS????????????
MCCAIN IS THE PITS AND SAME WITH HIS LIPSTICK FRIEND
I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THEY WILL RUN YOUR COUNTRY IN THE GROUND AND YOU WILL NEVER EVER RECOVER. THINK OF IT THE OIL BELONGS TO THE BUSH FAMILY AND MAYBE HIS FAMILY WHO KNOWS ANYWAYS SO MUCH LIES FROM THIS PERSON
CHEERS FOR OBAMA GLAD I AM NOT A U.S. CITIZEN
Mike, I agree with you. I did not know colleges didn't allow ROTC's.
Bay, what Mccain proved with the Palin pick is that he is willing to Divide the country to Win an election!!!!!!!!!!
Culture Politics at it's best
the only dinosaur she believes existed is Barney
LOL, Roland so Mccain is down with Kanye west
how could mccain pick a running mate that makes woman pay for there own rape kits?
At least McCain gives discernible answers. At least three or four times tonight, he has emphatically declared "yes" or "no," which is a welcome change from Obama's lofty remarks. He prefaces everything, unlike McCain