OXFORD, Mississippi (CNN) - McCain is saying that if you meet without preconditions you are legitimizing them.
Obama, on the other hand, said he would not impose preconditions, but he would insist on preparation.
It's a very complicated argument.
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If McCain would face an issue and not wail into jibberish stories he may have stood a chance tonight. Shut him down. He should start writing children's stories. They are long winded and full of fairy tales also.
come on, that is BS. Barack doesn't legitimize anything, just because he is ready to talk to them, come on...
McCain doesn't understand!
remind mccain that the bush admin met with iran already. they talked and so what?
How is it complicated? Is it complicated because Obama is changing his position again?
Whew and I just thought it was me LOL
legitimizing? i think its clear by the danger that they impose that they are a legitimate being!
and McCain still won't make eye contact...
Talk is alot better then war.
McCain still cant look at Obama.
McCain: back in my day you k now, i vote for this and i vote for that..back in my day....
I think they are both just over-parsing here. Nobody, either Repubs or Dems, are going to have casual chats with enemies and terrorist states.
No so complicated. Obama smoke and mirrors.
Perfect example of Obama being a Flip Flopper–he want the best of both worlds
I guess you need to know the meaning of the word preparation...at other level of conversation.
Preconditions.... creates situations like Cuba. How long are you going to wait, Senator McCain?
Obama is using another word for precondition. I think McCain nailed him on it and Obama stuttered again. Obama gets heated and looks down his nose as though he is perplexed.
It's not complicated
McCain keeps twisting Obama's words and re-emphasizing the lies McCain has been telling Pay attention
Not too complicated actually, Obama got the quote from Kissinger Exactly right, but MCain said it wasnt the truth. Sheesh Bill are you not fact checking? And what is up with your CHeap shot thing? IF McCain said it about IRAN why is that a cheap shot. Please Explain.
Somebody get Obama a burger. He looks malnourished.
Hillary we miss you
please come back
Or Let me vote for Mc Cain
McCain is quite rude when he speaks. He constantly interrupts people, including the moderator, and he refuses to stop talking when its not his turn.
Not complicated to Kissinger who seems to make the distinction in the same manner as Senator Obama.
OBAMA MADE HIS POSITON CLEAR ON THIS END OF STORY.
It is not complicated! We have to confront our adversaries first with negotiation or we will always be at war!!!!
nahhh.
mcain is a loser.
Why he tried to tell a story. No one wants to hear about story.
If we are going to bring peace to the world, we must talk to anyone and everyone. War is not working for anyone.
oh please
is schneider a brother to mcbush??
my friendsssssssssssss
Do you notice that Obama is wearing a flag pin and mccain is not...huh, how unpatriotic John....
Obama never changed his position.. . .you just haven't been listening!
Obama has said the same thing for months – quit spinning DL
McCain is playing politics with his response on 9-11.
Yes, changing his mind again again again...
Why is McCain not looking at him? Why? Is he afraid to look him in the eye? All John is doing is spinning yarns about Regan and 2/3 decades ago.....get up to date buddy!
He has not changed his position. He covered this in 19 other debates, all of which some people obviously missed. He has been 100% consistent on this straight through.
I agree too! LOL had to think about it a little
It's only complicated if all you're trying to do is filter out every positive for McCain, Schneider. I wouldn't so readily admit you can't understand what was said.
There is a big difference between the words " preconditions" and " preparing" and I've heard Obama consistently say that he would meet with the President of Iran with NO PRECONDITIONS.....
The debate is getting ugly. He said, he said. Who is right? CNN please give me some fact check.
Only complicated if you're a dolt. Obama is very clear and McCain is not listening.
As usual McBush is dead wrong when it comes to this. Good job Obama!! NOW FINISH HIM!! FLAWLESS VICTORY!!
Obama/Biden '08
IT'S NOT COMPLICATED!
STOP SPINNING FOR MCLAZYLEFTEYE!
YOU PRACTICE DIPLOMACY FIRST. IF THAT DOESN'T WORK YOU GET YOUR ALLIES TO SIDE WITH YOU THEN YOU KICK THE ENEMY'S BEHIND.
BUSH DID IT BACKWARDS AND MCCAIN IS TRYING TO LEGITIMIZE IRAQ!
GRRRRR!
i thought they were the same something that needs to happen before he meets with the leaders. so esseintally Obama is now saying yes their are steps before meeting with them.
I think it is always good to prepare and know who you are meeting with and what they stand for. That's called "doing your homework."
I am opposed to preconditions because itsimply means that if you don't play nice, I will take my toys and go home.
My question is........... if he has worked and done so much for so long...... where is the positive stuff and what has he accomplished.
Obama said he would meet without preconditions, but with preparations. That is not difficult. Where are you people from?
Obama did not change his position. He explained his position.
mcshame just said we are safer than we were on 9/11 but we are far from being safe did anyone catch that
Why? Because there's no difference between the two? They must prepare, not conform to some arbitrary rules and language.
Obama= Changing my position once again...
I don't want another war without discussion first. We need the support of our allies that we lost during this unjust war in Iraq. Fighting a war that was not true (NO WMD's) is not the answer. Over 4,000 U.S. Soldiers died and imagine how many families were impacted by Bush's and McCain's war!
This isn't a complicated argument.. McCain is wrong and Obama is right! its that simple
It is not complicated. Obama is just smart. He is not changing his position. Any SMART leader would insist on preparation before meeting any leader whether he/she is head of a democratic country or not.
you expect these issues to be simple? guess sarah palin can be president then.
Obama is trying to change the definition of no preconditions. He knows he is wrong and is just too arrogant to admit it. He looks smug, naive, and arrogant.
For about half the items I see Obama taking a position on, I've found contrary quotes from him within the past 6 months. Must be hard keeping all those stories straight.
McCain is appearing to be so irritable...and that says alot .
Obama is being kind and careful and as a voter I want someone who won't get so fussy that he might hit the red button just because of his temper.
If everyone would be honest, we have not really heard and "answers" from Senator McCain. The only thing that we have heard is his hearsay of what other people have said, his times served in the past and war. Does he not have any opinion or idea of his own as a presidental candiate
Obama has come on strong with foriegn policy. I think people should be encouraged with stances.
overseas always more important than the problems we are facing in our own country first, thats sad.
bill, make sure you guys talk about mccains body language.
Talking to someone does not legitimize them. Imposing sanctions and preconditions on someone legitimizes their actions. The only way to NOT legitimize someones actions is by completely ignoring them and not even thinking or speaking about them.
it's not complicated. Preconditions means that the opposing leader must agree to ACCEPT U.S. POLICIES before a meeting can take place. Preparation means that diplomacy and logistics are undertaken before a meeting can take place. Big difference, very clear.
McCain was absolutely wrong about Kissinger. On Sept. 15, in front to colin powell and others on national television, specifically said that the next president should meet without condition with Iran. Look it up if you don't belive me. My comment will probably not even make it to post anyway
In the case mentioned, "preparation" would be announcing that meeting with Iran insinuates no change in our standing by Israel. How is that complicated?
If you go with a concluded mindset and preconditioned spirit, what do you expect to accomplish out of diplomatic talks? McCain just wants to speak the language of bombs, Obama diplomacy. Let's make a choice.
You can not win the world by increasing the number of enemies, but using direct diplomacy and increasing friends all over.
preparations: have lower division communications first
preconditions: Telling them "do everything we want or we won't talk to you at all"
makes sense to me.
Did anyone notice that throughout the night.... Sen. John McCain has avoided looking Sen. Obama in the eye. What does that signify? Also he barely agrees with Sen. Obama on any issues in order to express his bipartisan leadership.
I disagree with the legitimizing arguement. I think he believes that, but I don't think it has to be true. There should always be an open door to discussion, even if the bullets are flying.
Sen. Obama is taken the same position that President Kennedy did. Diplomacy is key to keeping our country safe and having good relationships with all countries. Let's not lose sight of diplomacy.
can you Mr. SCHNIEDER after the debate talk about Obama losing anti war voters with his push for his "justified" war in Afghanistan.
NOw both candidates want war in the middle east.
- he trying to beat mccain at his own game, and he is failing, miserably.
Obama did NOT Change Positions 'DL' Some folks just dont Know the difference!
Golly Geeeee from where Im sitting seems Bush followd Sen. Obama in establishing talks with Iran!!!! Something they opposed!
Regarding the debate –
Level of contempt by Senator McCain, he showed absolutely NO respect for Senator Obama.
I am furious with McCain’s lack of blatant disrespect for Senator Obama.
He never ONCE looked at Senator Obama throughout the entire 1.5 hr. debate.
Senator looked at Senator McCain throughout the entire debate and he addressed him by name many times.
How many times did he say Sn. Obama doesn’t understand, Sn. Obama fails to understand, again Sn. Obama is being naïve.
I think Obama is failing tonight all the way around. He sounds flustered and I don't see any true experience that is needed for president.
whats not complicated in politics...we, the united states, cannot continue failed isolation political practices...Reagan cowboy strategy does not work in the 21st century.
Obama has not changed his position he has always said he would meet with Iran., People never take time to listen and read what Obama says. It is not complicated. I feel Obama explained it again and did a great job.
911 IS MC CAIN'S SO CALLED PLAYING CARD.
OBAMA TRUMPS MC CAIN!
McCain's argument is medieval. Not talking to them is just isolation. We cannot afford it. Obama is showing a flexibility we need in foreign policy. How is that complicated?
What exactly are these preconditions that McCain is talking about? I wish he would give more specifics on what's going on now, instead of relaxing on what happened in the past. I don't like the non-answers from McCain.
John McCain is gaining my vote. I was undecided until now.
McCain clearly won that when he said, you'll sit down with the president of Iran and he'll say I will destroy Iran and you'll say Oh no you won't. and that will be the entire talk. (probably not the exact quote, but it was to that effect.)
Well Obama would at least wear the American Flag pin if he met with anyone, it is shining proud tonight, where is McCain's?
I am really disappointed in Obama right now. He is my candidate and I wish he would just say what everybody already knows and what I KNOW he believes. The rest of the world doesn't respect us because of our "bullying" foreign policy. How can we gather allies around us to enforce policies that punish rogue regimes, if the world doesn't respect us?
How can we censor Russia for going into Georgia, when we invaded Iraq for very little reason. It looks so hypocritical. We need respect.
Oh my God, he just said it!!! GO OBAMA!
It's clear that the posters here has never really read Obama's positions. This is not new. He's explained this distinction during the primaries
McCain is Bush is Republican. If you're not for us, you're against us and don't deserve to be recognized. Fairly arrogant.
McCain isn't a Republican, he isn't a Democrat, he's just an unaffiliated liar. I'm sick of his outright lying.
Preconditions and preparations are two different things..No one should be talking about Barack flip/flopping with as much flip/flopping as McCain has done in the last few weeks. Give Me a Break!!!