(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 or Bill,
Why has anyone explained the "turnaround time" of drilling for oil?
The Republican side keeps saying "drill now"...but from how I understand it, it will take quite a few years before we actually see a level of production that would alleviate today's supply problems.
I don't think McCain is blaming Obama for the community organizer remarks. However, you should remember that it was Obama and his pundits who degraded Palin's experience as "mayor of just a small town" and Governor of Alaska. When you accuse someone of having no experience, you should expect that she will defend herself by questioning your experience as a community organizer. Mayors have important responsiblities no matter how small their towns are.
OK, some subjects are being covered. How about congress giving itself a raise and the rest of america staying at the smae pay and trying hard to make ends meet. Why don't they ask McCain or Obama what they'll do about congress, I hope they enjoyed their Five-week payed vacation, cortesy of the tax payer.
Just have to mention that as I am watching Sarah Palin's interview with Charley Gibson that her potential vice presidency is a scary proposition....when asked about her opinion on the Bush Doctrine, she looked a deer in the hedlights....tried to get Charley to give her the answer firs...but he waited until it was veryb clearf that she idn't have a clue. Why oh why didn't John McCain ask her these questions before offering her this very important position? I am perplexed.....
What is his vision for the future of this country?
I've lived in three countries and, though I hope to live abroad again, American (and American's) are exceptional in many ways. My wife thinks that Judy is trying to bait Senator Mccain.
Elenor Young...in theory I agree with you...but what should happen when people "can't" take care of themselves? We have no problem approving a billion $ for Georgia but New Orleans can't be rebuilt in 3 years?!?
im a collage student ive done over 100 hours of community service but when i watched the GOP convention they put down community organizers i think that's a shame these people go into bad neighborhoods with high violence and high crime rates im from a bad part of new york i wish i had people like Obama to put them selves on the line to help others who really need it.
bay – Palin was the bold choice? Palin would have us go to war with Russia? She did not even know what the Bush Doctrine is? That is your party's problem – you have absolutely no ideals which you stand for. McCain could have nominated a serial killer and you would try to explain to us why that was such a great choice. I am always amazed at how suppusedly intelligent people will sell their country down the river(to China) in order to stay partisan.
Your positions change monthly – how can anyone take you seriously? The Daily Show summed it up well when they played those clips of you guys only 3 months ago and how every position has totally swicthed.
You have no ideals or integrity left and we are tired of watching our country on the verge of dying in order for you to continue to get all of that lobbyist money you can suck up. How do you sleep at night. Honesty and intergity are valuies lost on your Party and it is why people are leaving them in droves. If you guys were just honest about what you stand for, maybe you had a chance. Instead we get the deceit and lies. same old stuff
Running his campaign is one thing he cant sepperate from Bush. The same people who ran Bush campaign is running McCains.
He is side stepping that question about the negative campaign. He can't answer it. Oh and back to the town hall meetings excuse.
The Republican Way...Lie, Cheat & Steal.
Mccain is a hypocrite and will say and do anything if he thinks it will get him a vote. All he cares about is himself. If he cared about the future of the country, he would have selected a qualified person who would be ready to become President if something were to happen to him. He stated in an interview a few months ago that he would select someone with the experience and qualification to become President. Now he wants to change the way Republicans operate. He's willing to say and do whatever he thinks people want to hear.
He's also contradicting himself.
This isn't a good night for McCain.
yes big voter turn out because Obama inspired us to change.
I am all for a woman in the white house and even the vice president's house, but Palin is not the woman this country needs. She is saddly mistaken if she thinks she can speak for working women. She thinks she is funny and tells stupid jokes about pitbulls and hockey moms. These are just stupid comments that no one running to become this country's second in command. I think her speeches are shameful and an insult to women.
Brilliant! We ought to move to one party. Doesn't China have on party?
John McCain is now whining about how the forum is set up!
McNoBrain talks about the need to *not* have forced service.
WHY ARE THEY NOT ASKING IF THE US HAS BENEFITED FROM 'FOR PROFIT' COMPANIES LIKE BLACKWATER.
The above it a criticial question. No person of wealth I know would allow their children to join the service. This means the rich never put their flesh on the line
Candy
has it ever occurred to you that the reason people struggle is their own choices? Not every family needs a second car, cellphones cable and an x box.
Mrs. Buchanan.......Your husband knows we made a mistake by going into Iraq.......our President and the administration made an even bigger mistake by not asking Americans to sacrafice the way FDR did during WWII........To rap Senator Obama who was against the Iraq war from DAY 1 is disingenous.
I am glad that they are really nailing him on his negative campaigning.
TR his hero the first imperialist pres. he talks freedom asked the fillipinos, the puerto ricans and the columbians that TR TOOK FOR OUR panama canal.
OK, Bay, as a Republican, is age an issue for you in this prospective president. I'm sure it wasn't for Ronald Reagan, so should it be for McCain? Why is there such focus on age. He really doesn't seem his age to me. He appears quite youthful for having been in politics for as long as he has!
I just wish that the media would get back to focusing on who is actually running for president and not on Sarah Palin.
IS this man kidding me – I left the US cause the nation does not provide people with the basic in life health and dental care – high pay – union protection -
nothing you get lies and white racist crap – black republicans and others who are to scared to call those like Bay Buchanan out – your code words can no longer protect or hide you – YOU ARE A RACIST SEXIST EVIL PERSON