WASHINGTON (CNN) - In their first head-to-head debate, Sen. John McCain criticized Sen. Barack Obama as a candidate who "doesn't understand" the key issues the country faces, and Obama linked McCain to President Bush on several issues.
"I'm afraid Sen. Obama doesn't understand the difference between a tactic and a strategy," McCain said Friday as the two traded jabs over Iraq.
Obama shot back, "I absolutely understand the difference between tactics and strategy. And the strategic question that the president has to ask is not whether or not we are employing a particular approach in the country once we have made the decision to be there."
McCain drew from his experience overseas as he tried to portray himself as the more qualified candidate.
"Incredibly, incredibly Sen. Obama didn't go to Iraq for 900 days and never asked for a meeting with Gen. [David] Petraeus," he said.
McCain slammed Obama for not supporting the surge, an increase of about 30,000 troops to Iraq in early 2007. Bush sent the additional troops as part of a campaign to pacify Baghdad and its surrounding provinces.
"John, you like to pretend like the war started in 2007," Obama shot back. "You talk about the surge. The war started in 2003, and at the time when the war started, you said it was going to be quick and easy. You said we knew where the weapons of mass destruction were. You were wrong."
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No fight to it.
Education, personality, ability to live today (not 40 years ago), temperament, diplomacy, just to name a few
Obama/Biden '08
How can you be qualified to be president when you can not look at a person when discussing issues. John McCain does not hide his opinion. I guess when negociating with Russia he will hae to look at the wall. Not my idea of the future. I want a presendent that listens to both sides and makes an educated decision. John McCain is too rigid to be president!
McCain =
Leadership, Experience, Commander-In-Chief
Obama =
None of the above! Sorry people....it's just that simple.
McCain won the debate hands down. It's a shame I had to turn off CNN due to the liberal biased comments from most of the reporters...AC is absolutely the worst! Come on CNN, if you couldn't get BOTH VP candidates on, then have neither appear! If you're going to continue this liberal, biased news reporting, at least change your name to:
ONN – Obama News Network
BNN – Barack, or Biased News Network
LNN – Liberal News Network
MCCain and Obama don't have to fight over that "title," all the American people need to do is look at McCain's running mate and know that McCain doesn't have sound judgement, period. He is an idiot!
McCain, if we dont have money we cant wage wars it is that simple..
It was really scary watching McCain. He doesn't look normal. Have they done any blood work to see if he's got the first signs of Alzheimer's or dementia. Sometimes he acts like he doesn't know where he is or what he's talking about. That's not a good sign for someone we want to put out there and make decisions for us with or against other world leaders. I think he should hang it up and his wife shoud be concerned about him. If he had been running 8 or 12 years ago i think we'd have seen a totally different man but now he's a shell of what he was.
I keep going back to that look he had on his face when he was standing behind Sarah Palin. She was introducing her husband and McCain had this grin on his face that made his look, not only, fake but totally wierd. I know he and his wife can't stand being upstaged by her but he was looking like he was wondering what the heck he had done.
I wish someone could find that picture and post it.
But it's scary – he can't think on his feet, what is he going to do when that phone rings at 3 a.m.? I'm grateful for his service as a POW but that was 30 years ago – get over it. My dad was a WWII, Korean and Vietnam vet, but it doesn't make him president material.
I think that over and over, Obama showed that he has the temperment and judgement to be President, and McCain doesn't. McCain is skilled at using a hammer, and thus thinks that every problem is a nail. Obama is a much better judge of which tool is required for different situations. It's like he said at the debate on the discussion of expense reduction. McCain suggested a broad spending freeze across everything but defense. Obama answered: use a scalpel, not a hatchet. Figure out what should be cut first, and then cut appropriately. But McCain just never sees it that way – he just wants to start swinging his hatchet at the budget, and start swinging his hammer at foreign situations. I trust Obama's judgement and temperment to figure out the right approach to different situations.
McBush was smug and rude, and looked @ Obama like he was not
good enough to be on the same stage as Mcliar, he made me sick...
Got Hope !!!!
The objective of the surge was to give the Iraqi leadership ocntrol over the country's security. This has not happened. And, there are more troops in Iraq now than there were before the surge. So tell me Senator McCain: How is this a success?
How can CNN say they are not biased for Obama, first the will print very few pro McCain posts here, and second there had to be a reason that Obama e-mailed everone to watch the debate on CNN. Roland Martin, Campbell Brown, Jeffrey Toobin and Jack Cafferty are just a few of the commentators who delight in trashing first Clinton and now McCain, so their guy Obama can win. There are others, but these four are the worst. Martin and Cafferty foam at the mouth with anger and rage, and Toobin called Clinton witch right on the air. Brown hates McCain because his campaign called her out on her biased reporting. Yeah, I would say CNN is a little biased, I would bet this doesn't make the blog
In the debate, McCain could not shake off Obama. Obama was still in the mix. McCain actually looked frustrated. Most seasoned politician usually underestimate The Illinois Senator and brand him as "not ready or inexperienced". This was the same fatal mistake that the other nominees used. Now they are out of the race. Obama actually came to this debate as the underdog due to the subject of foreign policy. What Obama showed America was that he is a fast learner. He is learning to be Presidential and that is what is keeping him ahead in the polls. This is why every major attack on Obama is strong. It always seems that Obama will not weather the storm. The more you attack him he just shakes the "dirt" off. Now here is the key to this matter. He does something else. When he shakes off an attack he just stomps it under his feet like dirt. This makes him get higher and higher because he has so much "dirt " under his feet. The only way is up. It is his ability to fight that is giving him the edge. You can't fight Obama by looking at him. His "good looks and smile" will distract you. That why Mccain would not look at him.
And another thing – All Mcliar did was talk about his past.. The world is a difference place now.....
Hey wake up – this is now not 25 years ago !!!
Vote for HOPE !!!!!!
They both are unqualified. Not one word about the Constitution. Not one word about illegal immigration. Not one word about the federal reserve. Not one word about impeachment.
They sound the same to me.........
Mccain should know by now in order to put Country First we have to give up the war in Iraq or at least let the Iraqi people pay their own bills. I am voting for Obama.
Obama showed what he really is. A political hack, a product of the corrupt Chicago political machine. He's a disgrace to this country, and electing him President would be a disaster.
Well, if the bailout goes through we won't have any money in government for domestic programs. All of tax dollars are going into the pockets of the already wealthy, wall street fat cats, defense companies. This 700 billion dollar bailout is the last money grab before bush leaves office. And they will have achieved their goal. It's back to the dark ages for all of us. You want your food and drugs monitored for safety, no more. FDA will have no money. You want your roads and bridges repaired, no more money. they will become toll roads and you can just pay for it. Can't afford the money for the toll, just too bad. This is the new America aftermath of the GWB. It started with Ronald Reagan and here we are. The oligarchy is alive and well.
BREAKING!
The real reason McCain is at his office making phony phone calls is to prevent going on the road with Palin. He's hoping to take the attention away from her after her disasterist interview on CBS. McCain will hide out in his Senate office for the remaining of the week until the coast is clear and his Campaign team think of a solid reason to remove Palin from the ticket.
the fact that mccain couldn't look barack in the face proves to me he's intimadated of his intellect, and he's jealous of him, he should be ahsamed of himself for his condecending demeanor, there was a debate about who won the debate, but i bet obama will win the next time hands down, he's the real deal, he's not fake and phoney like mccain, why did they hide sarah palin last night, she's not ready for prime time
Every time Palin and her experience are mentioned, the first thing that should come to mind is, 'would it be better to have an inexperienced VP, or an inexperienced president'. Hmmm.... Let me think.
I was amazed at how John McCain couldn't or wouldn't even look at Obama during the debate. I have never been a McCain fan but last confirmed... John McCain is a sad old man. ...and some of his answers were STRAIGHT OUT LIES. He lost hands down.
McCain..what a question...Obama ain't got it and won't cut..
Obama is a better speaking Bush...remember Bush flew into
Washington promising change...Well, the rest is history...do you want
more change of the same by Obama..?????????????
Come on, Obama=No Experience, you know if the show were on the other foot, you would not be whining because Sarah Palin was interviewed and Joe Biden was not. Besides, CNN tried to get Palin's comment, but she was "unavailable".
You wingnuts are so hell bent on hating that you have no sense of balance, nor any interest in it either.
Hypocrit, hypocrit!
What I saw was the fact that McCain did a lot of tap dancing around some of the questions and outright lied about Obama's record and proposed policies. When a child lies to you, they do not look you in the eye. McCain was doing just that. He was hoping that Obama would just go away by just pretending he was not there. It was evident that he really dislikes Obama who showed him the utmost respect last night.
I think what really made McCain mad was the fact that Obama was tossing his own words back at him. This is when McCain seemed to fidget more and when he snickered more. Coping mechanism to keep from blowing his "cool".
When dealing with super powers of the world, who do you really want to be dealing in negotiations, someone who acts so unprofessional or someone who will treat you with respect?
To Dan ohio ex rep. – I am ohio ex-dem. Don't blame McCain – who could look at the lying face of 'o' and 'o' certainly didn't show any respect with his "now john".
If McCain views traveling abroad as the highest pinnacle of foreign policy experience, why did he choose Palin?
It seems like selective logic. Then again, that seems to be how he justifies tax giveaways to the richest people during an economic crisis, so why am I surprised?
It's really funny how McCain says he looked in Putin eyes and saw the letters KGB and couldn't even look at Obama. What a leader..
McCain = ABSOLUTELY NO JUDGEMENT and his so-called EXPERIENCE = 26 YEARS of deregulation. What he spouted last night was lies, just like Bush. McCain supporters are most likely old, ignorant and racist.
After The Beating Mccain Took On His Own Turf The Title Belongs To Obama!
Obama was right about Iraq and McCain was WRONG!!! Obama was right about staying the course in Afghanistan and McCain was WRONG!!! Obama was right two years ago Washington needed to do something about the out of control mortgage lending and McCain was WRONG!!! Obama was right that Kessinger said he would meet with Iran's leader without conditions and McCain was WRONG!!!
We need a president understands the future and not a president living in the world of yesterday and the years he was a POW. Our country cannot be fundamentally secure by a man who thought our economy was fundamentally sound.
Obama/Biden!!
My favs were when Obama literally threw his words back into his face. He could not deny that he said them, although McCain does that often, because it is all on video for the world to see.
I also loved that Obama took him to task for the bomb, bomb, bomb Iran and the fact that he said he would not meet with Spain.
McCain needs to go back and really look at the tapes of the debate and figure out why the polls will continue to support Obama right down to the one that counts on Nov. 4.
CNN POST THIS
Mark Halperin's Grades for the First Presidential Debate:
Obama : Overall grade: A-
McCain: Overall: B-
CNN Telephone Poll of 524 Adults:
Who did the best job tonight?
BO: 51
JSM: 38
Who would better handle Iraq?
BO: 52
JSM: 47
Who would better handle the economy?
BO: 58
JSM: 37
CBS Poll Results Suggest More Uncommitted Voters Saw Obama As Debate Winner:
Who won tonight's debate?
BO: 39
JSM: 25
Draw: 36
Who got better tonight?
BO: 46
JSM: 31
Who would make the right decisions about the economy?
BO: 66
JSM: 44
RE: OBAMA = NO EXPERIENCE
Come on CNN, if you couldn't get BOTH VP candidates on, then have neither appear!
They invited Governor Palin to come on but she declined, just as the McCain campaign has declined a lot of opportunities for Governor Palin to speak. You sure spilled a lot of venom towards CNN when they have a lot of Republican pundits such as Alex Castallanos, Leslie Sanchez, Bill Bennett, etc. When one side hides its eyes and its candidates, it makes it hard to report the facts my friend. Sunshine is the best disinfectant. Make your candidates available and maybe your claims can hold water. Don't be secretive, therefore there won't won't be the perception the Republicans are hiding something.
McCain could not look at Obama and came across as rather rude by patronizing his opponent.
His VP pick now requested to minimze the debating time to 2 min!!! AND CAN'T GIVE A STRAIGHT ANSWER.
I forgot- he's a war hero, and that alone should qualify him??????
LMAO – He did not even succeed in his only mission.
On top of this McCain does not seems rather detached from what people actually go through.
5000 tax credti for everybody that buys their own health insurance? ROTFL – how are single parents supposed to do this? (Let's say you make 30000/y, you might pay 10000 for daycare and 10000 for health insurance – which leaves you with 10000/y OR 800/m for housing, food, gas to get to work........ )
REALITY CHECK, McCain!!!!!
JUST GO AWAY – I sure hope people will start seeing through your sharade by now!!!!
America need Obama?Biden. John McCain is too dull, Palin describes the ticket, Palin show no knowledge of any thing.
It is repellent to hear Barack Obama, a graduate of a college that banned ROTC, a state senator, and a U.S. senator for about 20 minutes, a man who has never worn the uniform of his country, lecture John McCain about the role of the military. What nonsense. Obama should go back to law school or his talky position in the U.S. Senate.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
America need Obama/Biden. John McCain is too dull, Palin describes the ticket, Palin show no knowledge of any thing.
Deb n Texas, you silly piece of fluff. Was McCain an "idiot" when he voluntarily stayed for five years in a 4X6 room tortured daily when he could have left. He lives by a code. You and the Holy Redeemer live by name calling.
Washington Post (Robinson)-The Debate: The All-Important Grumpiness Factor: Here’s the politically incorrect way of phrasing one of the central questions about tonight’s presidential debate: Did John McCain come across as too much of a grumpy old man. That might not be a nice question, but it’s an important one. Americans like to vote for the nice guy, not the grumbling prophet of doom. Throughout the 90-minute debate, McCain seemed contemptuous of Obama. He wouldn’t look at him. He tried to belittle him whenever possible - how many times did he work “Senator Obama just doesn’t understand” into his answers? His body language was closed, defensive, tense. McCain certainly succeeded in proving that he can be aggressive, but the aggression came with a smirk and a sneer
Dear CNN,
First, I would like to thank you for your daily broadcast of the news and current events,(Politics)! I can't understand why people are confused about the posture of Sen. John McCain during the debates. If people would be honest and offer "talk straight "as all the adds continue to communicate coming from his campaign. He comes across to my family and many, many others within our sphere of influence as though Sen. Obama is beneath him in every way and if nothing else trust me because " White is Right"! There, it has been said! Now let us talk about it!! My husband and I have been registered voters republican, Christians yes, however, we will not vote for McCain/ Palin.. Too many 1/2 truths or just lies! He has had issues in his personal life that have yet to be dealt with in all fairness. Character issues that speak to who this candidate and prospective first lady really are. When I look at Sen. McCain's posture toward Sen. Obama as gracious and servant like as he appeared. It reminded us of the deep, dark,ugly, places in our history. Don't look at "them" they don't mean anything, don't acknowledge as they are not your equal and are not worthy. This was taught in the days of slavery and inequality, it is not true nor is it right!! So, i don't know if this will reach you or if you will share it but, all the voices hundreds, we have contacted across the states will be voting for the intelligent, articulate, even tempered wise candidate, Sen. Obama and his very poised and beautiful wife!!!
All I know is that Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by 175,000 votes, yet we have to see and hear Obama. Obama's talk is his forte – McCain held his own Obama is a talker – McCain is a doer and so is Hillary Clinton. McCain & Clinton – Presidential material. Obama – role player, inexperienced, full of himself and has a wife who is patriotically challenged. NO OBAMA, NO WAY, NO HOW.
Cnn pos tthis
Washington Post (Robinson)-The Debate: The All-Important Grumpiness Factor: Here’s the politically incorrect way of phrasing one of the central questions about tonight’s presidential debate: Did John McCain come across as too much of a grumpy old man. That might not be a nice question, but it’s an important one. Americans like to vote for the nice guy, not the grumbling prophet of doom. Throughout the 90-minute debate, McCain seemed contemptuous of Obama. He wouldn’t look at him. He tried to belittle him whenever possible - how many times did he work “Senator Obama just doesn’t understand” into his answers? His body language was closed, defensive, tense. McCain certainly succeeded in proving that he can be aggressive, but the aggression came with a smirk and a sneer
People saw what they wanted to see during the debate..the only opinions that matter will be voiced on Nov.4
McCain may have YEARS of experience but that really hasn't done anything to benefit the people on MAIN STREET...we can't help when the candidates were borm or how old they are...no one ever denied that he has the YEARS of experience..they just KNOW that he isn't fit to be President..it's just THAT SIMPLE...
Nor should anyone deny that McCain does not have the TEMPERMENT needed to lead a nation..he couldn't even look his opponent in the eye...mark of a DISHONEST person!!!
GOBAMA...
McCain/McPalin are Bush's flunkies (Dumb, Dumber, and Dumbest). Take your pick. It really does't matter, they're all DUMB........... America wake up!!! Forrester Gump-Life is like a box of chocolate, you never know what your going to get or Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't. Caution: Read the box of types of chocolate selection, that way you'll know what your getting, and select the "Mounds" bar you can't go wrong.
McInsane is a Nut-Basket Case...
TO THE CNN McCAIN SUROGATES
To the people who appear on CNN regularly and do their best to spin it the McCain Republican way.
Not doubt you are intelligent and articulate and you have done your best but NOW IS THE TIME to TRANSITION. McCain is loosing ground and this will start to shift quickly. In a few weeks McCain speaking points and sound bites will be old hat and not in demand anywhere.
Here is some advice:
1. try to sound more neutral and more analytical
2. try to be more knowledgeable of international factors – when Obama wins the international stir will be huge an many organizations will be looking for key speakers and US experts
3. Try NOT to say anything too negative about Obama – as you know it is on tape and can come back to haut you on future opportunities and projects
4. Plan for eight years as it is likely that Dems will be there for at least two terms
OF COURSE if you don’t have any bills to pay and you are independently rich like McCain – what is it? -12 house and 16 cars? – something like that ! or have wife who has 100 million in beer YOUDON”T NEED TO TAKE THIS ADVICE
The rest of you should started planning the transition – on CNN appearances as there won’t be much need for McCain surrogates in a few weeks.
Best wishes!
None of the Obama supporters have mentioned how rude Obama was to McCain during the debate. Instead they have been chastising McCain for notlooking at Obama.
Please, people.........did you not see how often Obama tried to interrupt and cut in on McCain while he was speaking? That was rude.
He got his time to speak, then tried to butt in on McCain's time.
Also......Obama seemed almost angry when McCain talked about the dog tags given to him. Obama's response was " I have a dog tag also".
The problem for me was the abrupt matter-of-fact tone he used when he said it, no emotion, no sense of caring. Don't tell me no one noticed!!??
I understand rooting for your candidate, but let's be fair in our critisizm.
John McCain is making the same fatal mistake that the other previous contenders made when sparring with Obama. They brand this fighter as " inexperience" and it is not working. The McCain Camp is only jabbing with the " inexperience " theme. They continue to estimate this crafty young fighter who has dodge many blows from both sides of the political ring. That last match with the Clintons was won halfway through the bout. The McCain camp thinks they are fighting a lightweight match because Obama is young. Obama is a heavyweight. They are hitting below the belt with scare tactics to divert people from the real issues and this could backfire. In the debate McCain constantly said to Obama..."What you fail to understand.......". What McCain fails to understand is that if he don't truly start to recognize Obama's skills in politics, he could find himself faced down in the ring in November.
McCain is just an angry old man that would stoop to anything to win this last chance. He way beyond his prime and I really don't think anyone wants Sarah "the cheerleader" Palin as President.
If McCain doesn't allow Palin to do interview, press conferences, spinning, and only allows debating if kid gloves are allowed, why is it CNN's fault? The truth is, the McCain campaign keeps that pitbull on a short leash and it is going undercut her credibility if it already hasn't.
McCain's total lack of judgement, and is not be qualified. Supported Bush in the wrong war, supported de-regulation, Bush's economic policies of spending and reducing taxes for the very wealthy and oil, picked Sarah Palin, has approved campaign adds that are out-right lies, and he know it! McCain has not been a maverick in 8 years, he's now a Bush, Rove man all the way.
Obama is not only the brightest man to serve and seek the job, he has contiually worked accross party and ideology lines for common ground and for the greater good of our country and all Americans.
Obama will be the greatest president since FDR!
I'm sure CNN would have loved to have both VP candidates on the show but as you know, Little Sarah is not allowed to talk to strangers(the press).
Have you noticed that McCain and his followers are seeing bias EVERYWHERE now?! Whoever doesn't agree 100% that their candidate is the bee's knee's (CNN, Washington Post, New York Times, etc...) is somehow biased.
Can it be that these orgainzations have just taken the blinders off and are seeing what actually IS instead of what you WISH?
WAKE UP!!! Just because someone doesn't always agree with you doesn't make them wrong. And agreeing with you doesn't make them right either!
If I was an undecided voter which I am not I would not consider voting for John McCain so the polls do not surprise me. Barack Obama came across as a caring leader with the conviction to do the right thing to better our country. John McCain does not represent what we need at this time and would not make a good president. Too erratic and seems like he could blow up at any minute. I thought he was going to lose it for sure. He looked uncomfortable and he was very rude to Barack Obama. No eye contact. Is he the best choice for president? No. Barack Obama will be a better leader for the USA.