October 15, 2008
Posted: October 15th, 2008 09:16 PM ET

HEMPSTEAD, New York (CNN) - John McCain accused his rival Barack Obama of being a "class warrior" as they locked horns over the economy Wednesday at their third and final presidential debate.

McCain, the Arizona Republican, asked why Obama would raise taxes on anybody during an economic crisis.

Obama countered that both he and McCain want to cut taxes, but that his plan would cut taxes for "95 percent of American families," more than McCain's plan.

McCain insisted that the government needed to help keep people in their homes, "putting a floor" under falling home ownership in the face of the mortgage crisis.

Obama, an Illinois Democrat, countered that McCain's plan could end up being a giveaway to "the banks" rather than to homeowners.

Filed under: Barack Obama • Economy • John McCain • Presidential Debate


Gretchen   October 15th, 2008 9:26 pm ET

What the heck is up with McCain tonight? He looks like a deer caught in Hummer Headlights! Weird.

Al   October 15th, 2008 9:26 pm ET

Look how much Mcain is winking his eyes a sign of insecurity and lies

voter   October 15th, 2008 9:26 pm ET

David

I guess Joe the plumber has a business under the bush administration. I think not since Bush favors sending jobs overseas. Businesses are not making it and are closing down.

Kris K in RM CA   October 15th, 2008 9:25 pm ET

Obama wants to help the people who are going to contribute to the Social Security base so we can collect our share of social security in the future. Obama wants all of us to earn more and have more. He is not limiting the rich he is encouraging all of us to do better. I liked the Obama stated we all are responsible going forward to making America solvent.

Keith   October 15th, 2008 9:25 pm ET

When Obama raises taxes on those evil big corporations, see how many of you socialist liberals lose your jobs.

David   October 15th, 2008 9:25 pm ET

McCain JUST said he opposed the war in Iraq!!!!!!!!! What??? Did I hear that right??????

steven   October 15th, 2008 9:25 pm ET

Go Obama / Biden 08

mmd   October 15th, 2008 9:24 pm ET

Mccain and the repg have looked out for their kind of warriors for eight years.

Its our, regular people time. No more, you and your kind have taken it all. Hopefully we can rebuild wealth with Obama.

Mike   October 15th, 2008 9:23 pm ET

I guess McCain wants to continue to give more money for the wealthy on wallstreet and screw the rest of us in main street!!

michael/ fruitland park, fl   October 15th, 2008 9:23 pm ET

if mccain knows how to do all of these things he says he can why hasn't he introduced any legislation to make these ideas come to fruition

J. Bean   October 15th, 2008 9:22 pm ET

McCain keeps bringing up the same old stuff that we've already heard Obama's responses to. he interrupts. McCain IS old and, his crap is also getting old!

DJ   October 15th, 2008 9:22 pm ET

Obama needs to call McCain out on the claim of Obama's vote on raising taxes for people @ $42K

xavier   October 15th, 2008 9:22 pm ET

McCain is giving a weird vibe tonight. I think we are witnessing the begining of the end.

Heartlight 3, Maui, HI   October 15th, 2008 9:22 pm ET

So if everybody's taxes get cut, how does he think we're going to pay for buying all the mortgages and building the nuclear plants and paying for the never-ending war? Keep borrowing more money? The reason we pay taxes at all is to pay for running the country. All these tax cuts the Republicans have been pushing for all these years have caused us to have to borrow money to do all the stuff and still our infrastructure is falling apart and our schools are not educating our kids. He's going to balance the budget by giving all his wealthy friends tax cuts? I am a bookkeeper and I know that reducing the revenue stream does not increase the profit.

voter   October 15th, 2008 9:22 pm ET

I guess McCain just lost Iowa with not funding ethanol tax break. ethanol made from corn creates jobs in Iowa.

SANDRA FOR OBAMA/BIDEN   October 15th, 2008 9:21 pm ET

MCCAIN YOU ARE A JERK!! SENATOR-PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA KNOWS YOU ARE NOT BUSH YOU ARE WORST THAN BUSH!!!

Citizen   October 15th, 2008 9:21 pm ET

McCain literally said that he does not believe in spreading the wealth, which means that rich guys will not have to pay taxes under his administration. And poor people will get the screwed. What a dope.

Al   October 15th, 2008 9:21 pm ET

Feel bad for Mcain, I use to like the guy...but to late John too 'old'

J. Bean   October 15th, 2008 9:21 pm ET

I'm liking McCain less and less. He is smug and self-righteous. At least Obama listens when McCain speaks. McCain gives his chit-eating grin and looks out into the crowd. How rude!

Accountant Guy   October 15th, 2008 9:21 pm ET

Awesome job Barack. You are on your game tonight and very presidential.

Obama/Biden '08

White Christian Mother for Obama   October 15th, 2008 9:20 pm ET

IF we cut taxes on EVERYONE... then who is going to pay for programs for things???

Obama keeps the spending lower by taking out more taxes on wealthy who CAN afford it and who have been Getting HUGE tax breaks for the last 8 YEARS!!

So in reality Obama is balancing more of the cuts for raising taxes and McCain wants to spend more of EVERYONES tax money, to give us help.. so we loan our tax money for tax breaks... REALLY SMART (dumb)

Carrie Pa   October 15th, 2008 9:20 pm ET

McCain can't even complete a sentence.

Linda32   October 15th, 2008 9:20 pm ET

That's funny considering the cell tower story that just came out.

EVN   October 15th, 2008 9:19 pm ET

...And It Begins....

Lorraine   October 15th, 2008 9:19 pm ET

My McCain is a bit snippy tonite :) LOL

David   October 15th, 2008 9:19 pm ET

Obama is quite clear that Joe the Plumber is not hurting in this crisis, and Joe should not be able to keep low taxes and buy his company at the expense of many other Americans who are struggling to simply pay their bills. This is exactly what McCain stands for - Joe the plumber who is able to afford to buy a company in this economy versus those others who are struggling!

DJ   October 15th, 2008 9:19 pm ET

across the board freeze w/o consideration is foolish. if mccain knows how to do all this, why hasn't he shared the ideas with bush??

mccain is all for spreading the wealth around – as long as its spread around the super-rich corporate heads

jeff   October 15th, 2008 9:19 pm ET

McCain seems so unsure about what his administration would have to offer. I really think McCain isn't sure what he would do.

Obama's Sister   October 15th, 2008 9:18 pm ET

This from the man who owns more houses than I have fingers.

Give me a break.

He is like that old man on his porch yelling at all the kids in the neighbor, "Get off my lawn!!"

dustin   October 15th, 2008 9:18 pm ET

well i think mccain is a joke, but with that said, all debates should be in this format, doing a much better of entertaining me....still waiting for bill ayers to come up.....loved the line about mccain must have been watching some of john mccains ads.

oboeanon   October 15th, 2008 9:18 pm ET

Go Obama!

Obama/Biden '08!

bnavoter   October 15th, 2008 9:18 pm ET

geez, mccain really seems to be tripping over his words or something. he just can't seem to answer the question coherently...

Ryan   October 15th, 2008 9:18 pm ET

True, and funny since he's talking about a socialist.

No Longer Amused, Las Vegas   October 15th, 2008 9:18 pm ET

another deceptive shot

J. Bean   October 15th, 2008 9:18 pm ET

What is going on with McCain's eyes? Wide open and batting them. Is the light bothering him or what?

I like the moderator–he keeps bringing them back to the QUESTIONS!

Barbara - 65 yr old white female in NC   October 15th, 2008 9:18 pm ET

McCain is still stumping. Nothing new. Ho Hum

White Christian Mother for Obama   October 15th, 2008 9:18 pm ET

OH my gosh... McCain is not getting it.. he is so dense!!

He doesnt get into detail like O bama does. He has no precise plan and he jumped on Obamas Wording to twist it around.

Obama is winning so far here!!

Stacy from Loudoun County VA   October 15th, 2008 9:18 pm ET

Well, I see two warriors. One warrior that is looking out for the corporations and the other looking out for the workers.

Robin   October 15th, 2008 9:17 pm ET

McCain is NOT doing well at all.

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