(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 am really, really scared of Mccain. He is calling on more people to serve in the military in the opening two questions! He is getting ready for something really big ya'll. WAKE UP!!
Afraid of what. All he is saying is people should volunteer for community service if they can. There was nothing said about more military. Slow down and take a breath!!
Our real enemies are all at home, not abroad: shallow fundamentalist religion, thoughtless behavior, avoidance of effort, self-centered action and a generally myopic view of our role in the world. We must start thinking about which areas of human endeavor we wish to lead and how we can learn to engage with other countries and people at a more genuine and meaningful level.
OBAMA IA A *R-O-C-K-S-T-A-R*
I find it interesting that Obama is able to answer quetion with a great deal of substance...McCain is all about cover responces and at that he still needs a note card???
Come on!!
Did I hear correctly or when Mcain was praising Palin did he say that Mayor have the hardest jobs and " It was easy for him to Go to Washington everday and be divorced from the everyday burdens of struggling people "" Oh My Goddess
I think that the Democrats and Republicans are dangerous for our country especially during this time. My vote will be going to Ralph Nader because he is the only one who recognizes the flaws that both parties presents.
I like Obama even I am voting for Mc Cain
I feel Some time Obama not reaching to some voters
His explanations are very high I think lack of experience
He has to learn from Bill Clinton
John McCain knew the questions and answers beforehand at the Faith Forum.
Candy, Obama is not being asked all of the same questions that McCain was asked. Some questions, Obama will have to answer from his seat, so to say.
My wife & I watch CNN all week long. We are greatly disappointed and feel that tonight's program was a waste of time. When you ask a question that concerns serving the nation and the military is mentioned, ask about why a soldier has to serve 3,4 or even 5 tours of duty.
In Australia they have outlawed incandescent light bulbs, therefore reducing the amount of energy used(For lighting) by 80%, Why don't either of the candidates think of that too??
It's interesting that a lot of media people talk about the way Obama speaks. He's spoken that way every since he entered onto the national scene. It's who he is and I don't think that he should pretend to be someone he's not by changing how he speaks and the words he uses. It's about the content of what he says.
I am appalled that McCain would refer to Baracks's lifetime of service as a Community Organizer. Wow! That's real condescending. Again McCain was blinking really fast!
Jeffrey, you hit the nail on the head with that comment. Obama knows what he is talking about. I would feel honored if he were president.
Yes Candy, America wins with Obama!
Obama is fantastic. America has to be convinced who to vote for? Are you kidding me???
This old white woman is Obama all the way baby.
I would prefer Town Halls rather than this I want to see regular citizens asking random questions not pre picked questions
Obama answers are kind of boring. He needs to short them. Unfortunately, I think that McCain does better in this kind of set.
When you are discriminated against for over a hundred years and make it to the top, like Obama has, you take nothing for granted. You want everyone to work hard just like you did. Obama isn't going to give anybody anything, but he will make sure you have a chance. George Bush and the rest of the Republicans put there guaranty of prosperity in laws and deregulation to secure theirs.
I love the way Obama speaks of a sense of "unity" a since of "community".. It makes since that we start at a community level.. If the community is together, then the city is... then the state is... the region is... then "AMERICA" is... Simple ... yet some ignore the priciple of it!! For that very reason I support him. He understand that "AMERICA" begins with us!!!
The word "family" isn't just genetics.. It's look a Websters definition of family (one of many) "group of people united by certain convictions or a common affiliation".. Hence, "community"
We don't need a government mandate to force people into community service. Force people to do something and guess what you will get, Crap work. I like the faith based programs. They put money into the hands of the people who are already volunteering. And it does not get lost in the "administration of programs. WE already have a infrastructure to do this. This community service is just another political scam so some self-serving politician can point at a program and say look what I did, and we have no means to measure if it was a success or not.
Bikul,
Yes we know Oil will run out. Everyone involved in the talks, talks about a bridge to the future. Wakey Wakey!
Nothing substantial from either candidate and nothing but more of the same rhetoric on this blog. Same old, same old. I'm outta here. Enjoy.
@ candy...it's no different from saddleback. mccain wasn't in the cone of silence...
McNain must think people are stupid... Today he says the economy is in shambles and needs to be fixed... Not too long ago (about two weeks i think) he mentioned the economy was just fine... so which one is it... Problem with John McCain is he twists he stands depending on the forum and audience... how can he be trusted to deliver...
Obama all the way...