(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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McCain is a basioc contradiction in terms. Conservatives the world over believe (as a rule) in the Margaret Thatcher concept that "there is no such thing as society", just a group of individuals striving to achieve what they can. This attitude is fundamentally at odds with the idea of community service unless it is done as a way to make the rich feel better about themselves. Hence why conservatives opposed basic measures like the minimum wage, equal pay etc throughout the generations and left it all down to the trickle down free market.
Well obviously no one "owns" the word change... but McCain's message has grown eerily close to Obama's message. He seems to say, "Vote Republican because we're not Republicans." It just doesn't make sense, and his adopting this exact message of his opponent, even if it is 100% genuine, makes it SEEM as though he is just playing politics.
I can already see McCain alienating us further than Bush has which is a pretty impressive feat
MCCAIN EXCUSED THE RICH FROM COMMUNITY SERVICE. . . AND YET, TO TOUCH THE ECONOMY!
Bay,.... I can tell you are all excited.. but not all people are.... and another thing... GOP maybe 1 pt up in the POLLS... but the polls have nothing to do with the Electorate map..... now if you want to brag... try taking the lead in that... the only person that has bragging rights is Obama and company... you can believe the hype but the maps... keeps us" DEMS " in line....
McCain is playing nice for the national audience tonight, but tomororw he will be back spreading lies and putting down all of Baracks accomplishments and stealing his theme of change. What a joke
McCain clearly utters the phrase: "Frankly, I'm divorced from the day to day challenges of Americans." That's a pretty bad slip-up that seems like a line to be used by Democrats in future ads to show how long McCain has been in Washington to really bring change that Americans are seeking.
Is anyone going to comment on that major slip-up?
Why is so much community service or volunteerism needed? Is it not due to the inequality in our society. I live in Japan and income dist. is more equal and so there is less need. The role of gov. should be to balance this more, and we wouldn't NEED to volunteer to help others so much!
Bill, believe it or not their are people in the country who do not look to the government to solve problems.
shouldn't Mccain be golfing?
I agree with you, Roland. Sometimes missionaries give the ultimate service, too.
Pandering here, I think Mr. Bill Schnider has so much insight into what is actually being said. I am done talking and am only going to read what you all have to say. Peace
It bothers me that the Republicans throw out names like Teddy Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. While both of those men were Republicans, the Republican party they were a part of, socially liberal and fiscally conservative, is dead. Those two men would not even recognize the party they built.
Bill you hit the nail right on the head while McCain fails to understand is that he has voted with Bush 90% of the time and he thinks is a good thing.
A pundit yesterday said McCain was scoring points with the "lipstick" attack because, while it was obviously a contrived case of false outrage, it forced Obama to go on the defensive.
It seems to me this is only true if the news media takes the "attack" as legit. If the news media actually stood up to crazy comments, it would be McCain on the defensive.
Why, upon hearing McCain's false umbrage, wouldn't the news media grill the McCain camp about their obvious lack of integrity? Why go to Obama and force him to respond to such lunacy?
Did anyone pick up on this line from John McCain, "I have it easy. I can go to Washington and get away from the day to day dealings of the Average American". Please do not let this comment go unnoticed by the media. A man that is running on a reform of Washington, and wanting to put country first, has a running mate that mocks community organizing and a Presidential candidate that is admittedly out of touch with the American people he wishes to go to Washington and get away from.
I just watched Sarah Palin and she did not know what the Bush Doctrine was when Charlie Gibson asked her what her position was on this policy. How can she be even Vice President if she does not know what policies are in place.
what am I hearing? we're the ONLY country in the world concerned about others? about freedom? I don't think so...
How can Obama be commander in chief ! knowing nothing but talk
Tell me please !!! I do not trust him at all.
somebody ask mccain if he's such a reformer, then why is he using all the same tired bush campaign tactics, why did he support nearly all of bush's policies, and why did he choose a running mate that is basically just george w bush with lipstick. honest question, no?
As an Australian, I find McCain's comments about 'exceptionalism' astonishingly arrogant, especially in terms of generosity and equality. This kind of attitude does nothing to show him as able to engage with either domestic or foreign issues, and, despite his protestations that he does not intend to denigrate, he has succeeded only in showing he is capable of ignoring terrible injustices in his own country and incredible freedoms and equality in others.
We need to do more to combat HIV/AIDS here in America with the incredible transmission rates among a few demographic groups. It's an epidemic here too.
This is not a discussion about issues. What is this? I'm starting to get bored. Who are these guys?
McCain is OLD! Lou Dobbs is OLD! OLD people have effed up this country long enough, let the next generation take the reigns people.
Yes, Madeline.
Community service is nothing without folks volunteering themselves.
Being forced is ridiculous and unnecessary.