(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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Wow, does Senator McCain have 2 personalities? He was awesome in the beginning. When he got teh nomination, something happened and he become a totally different person. Tonight got his awesome personality back. If he becomes the President. which personality will of his will dominate?
Roland you are confusing a crowd that likes the message McCain said and performing on a stage.
I have been public speaker it is clear the things Obama does. Please don't insult my experience.
Then you have to LOOK for the subtle things he does. Not easy to pick out sometimes. Its showmanship tricks.
He raises his voice to egg on the applause and speaks faster as well to excite the crowd (hi isn't a gifted speaker for nothing)
I don't think McCain cares to do that much at all.
Service-Learning-Advocate,
They just mentioned it!
GO OBAMA!!!!
Obama is right, volunteerism is a value that should to taught early in life, but much earlier than high school, it should be started in grammar school. It seems that it comes from the home, the parents.
The irony here is that both McCain and Obama are fighting, sometimes bitterly, over who is the better uniter!
Why did'nt Judy ask McCain for specifics?
Bay give me a break. Tell me one good reason you dislike Obama?
Roland,
Right on! From a Veteran you hit the nail on the head "Service is either righteous or not whether you are gay or not" AGREED! McCain can't have it both ways...
Wow! Sen. Obama would have had us organize as a community of first responders. Now, that's a wonderful idea and so concrete. That's the kind of leadership that we need.
Bay,sounds like a coward to me
I agree that the panelists must bring up the point of why Columbia U. does not allow the military to recruit on campus. The military discriminates against gays and lesbians. If this is a country that supports service leadership does it make sense to reject qualified courageous men and women on the basis of their sexual orientation? Columbia is right to refuse a discriminatory organization like the military to recruit on its campus.
Finally some specifics!!! Thanks Obama!
Oh, Bay! The moderators also told John McCain they also had a minute left before he gave an answer.
Don't be so snippy.
Again, Bay why are you being so negative, he gave a solid answer that would he thousands of college students like me!
I wonder if Mccain supports Sarah Palin's "Drill Baby Drill" chant. Its very difficult for me to understand how the Politicians and people overlook one simple fact that oil is Going o run out. Drilling in Arctic can be one temporary solution but how can drilling provide energy independence for America, when we all know that oil is going to run out one day.
Also, I have not heard anything from either sides about Biofuels as alternative energy source. Recent research has shown very strong promise with Biodiesels and other forms for Biofuels. I wonder if either party sees this as a future fuel source.
yeah right Mccain can give a good speech. Does he have brain to steer the country out of the recession and morgage crisis and higher inflation. Com'on guys. American people need to wakeup. Hope they do not make the same mistake they did in 2004.
Bay – Senator Obama is not lofty, he is very intelligent and likes to educate people on what he means when he says something.
What some people consider lofty, others consider thoughtful.
Every election has always been about "change" NC
@ bill...
obama don't talk in soundbites...his answers are ALWAYS nuanced...regardless if that's a good or bad thing
Service-Learning-Advocate,
I meant to say Obama, just mentioned it!
Bay, please just go away we have heard enough from your party the last 8 years. Your damage is done just leave!!!
The requirement of citizenship is participate in the democracy. To understand our government and participate in the political debate. To elevate the concept of political discussion beyond the banality of personalities. Great minds talk about ideas. Small minds talk about people.
Oneal-he said 911 because they were specificly asking him about 911....the questions was not when does the country come together/