Interpreting the Third Presidential Debate

Finally, they had a debate worth watching. No more ties, no more flowery vague answers without substance, this time they gave us something on which we can chew. On October 15, 2008 Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain came together for their final presidential debate. Unlike the previous two debates, the candidates would answer questions that are important to Independent voters. This time, they would define themselves as the better presidential choice.

In previous debates both candidates started strong by giving good answers to difficult questions. However, McCain’s delivery lacked style, while Obama is noted for his calm demeanor, smooth delivery, and use of elegant language. In this debate, however, the America’s observed a better McCain—a McCain, who had quick, witty comebacks to subtle Obama jabs.

The debate focused on domestic policy. The first question, which helped define the candidates, focused on the differences between the candidates’ economic plan and what made each candidate’s plan a better one. McCain began the discussion. After McCain attempted to gather his thoughts together while rambling about how angry America’s are, he discussed some of the details of his plan to save the housing market. His plan included putting a floor under the housing market in order to reverse the decline in home ownership. It also included using 300 billion of the Stock Market bailout funds, to buy the repossessed homes that many American’s lost during the home mortgage loan crisis. According to McCain’s plan, the government would renegotiate the mortgages in order to keep people in their homes.

Although Obama agreed that McCain is right about getting American’s back into their homes, he disagreed on the methods McCain would use to achieve the goal. According to Obama, by the government purchasing homes at prices that are greater than the home’s value, it would benefit the banks, leaving the taxpayers to foot the bill. Obama acknowledged that what ever means they found to accomplish the goal would have to “include a financial proposal where Americans are in the position to renegotiate their mortgages.” Obama said the best way to achieve this is by focusing on the economy—by fixing our health care system, energy policy, and educational system. Most of this could be accomplished by using the “core principles” of Obama’s plan.

The “core principles” of his plan focused on a “rescue package for the middle class” that included tax breaks for 95% of Americans, raising taxes on individuals who make $250,000.00 a year, ending tax breaks for companies that ship jobs over seas, giving a tax credit to companies who create jobs for Americans, and allowing Americans to have “access their IRA accounts without penalty if they are experiencing a crisis.”

McCain was quick to remind Obama of Joe Wurzelbacher (know to the media as Joe the plumber), a man who challenged Obama in Ohio in regards to Obama’s tax policies. Though Joe is a small business owner, according to Obama’s plan, he would fall into a higher tax bracket. McCain insisted that “sharing the wealth” is not the solution and that the government shouldn’t raise anyone’s taxes during a crisis. McCain reassured small business owners that he would keep taxes and low and give affordable health care to their employees. After Obama explained to American’s that McCain is only concerned with giving tax cuts to large corporations, McCain explained that Obama’s plan has socialist values.

Another defining point question focused on the cost of their proposals. This question reminded them that with the enormous deficit, and vital economic problems that the upcoming president will in inherit, how did the candidates expect to achieve their administration goals—specifically, what programs were they going to cut back, alter, and terminate?

Obama was the first to answer. First, he reassured American’s that they would “get their money back” from the $750 billion rescue plan that was implemented as a result of the Stock Market crisis. Secondly, he talked about living beyond our means. Then he discussed exchanging programs that don’t work for programs that do. According to Obama, his administration will not pile on the more expenses. The administration will “pay-as-you-go” by removing the expense of a faulty program and replace it with a productive one. As an example, he mentioned removing the 15 billion debts in Medicare subsidies to insurance companies when Medicare doesn’t work. He also mentioned paying for young people’s ability to go to college by implementing an energy policy. The energy policy will remove the money we borrow from China, to give to Saudi Arabia, which in turn, will pay for education.

McCain talked about a spending freeze, and an energy policy that would eliminate funds that we are sending to “countries that don’t like us very much.” The energy policy would create jobs. He talked about taking a hatchet and a scalpel to Washington spending. Specifically, he mentioned eliminating subsides for ethanol and the tariff on imported sugar-base ethanol from Brazil. He also mentioned terminating the marketing assistance program.

Although the debate got a little heated when the question of attack ads came up, the meat of the debate was focused. McCain counterattacked when Obama compared him (McCain) to President Bush. “Yes. Senator Obama, I am not President Bush. If you wanted to run against President Bush, you should have run four years ago. I'm going to give a new direction to this economy in this country,” McCain said. Even with the sensitive issues such as the racist accusation against McCain by Congressman Lewis, and how Obama did not defend McCain when McCain defended Obama regarding terrorist accusations, both candidates remained calm and focused. Other hot topics included Obama’s associations with Aarons, accusations of McCain and Governor Sarah Palin being associated with segregation, church bombings, George Wallace, not to mention the reoccurring theme of Joe the Plumber.

Although the candidates’ needed to confront some of these concerns, it was not the center of the debate. The focus of the debate was the issues that are concerning Americans—issues such as the economy, education, health care, taxes, and the ability to pay for the promised recoveries.

Obviously McCain, unlike Obama is not the great debater. He does not have the style and delivery of Obama. However, he (McCain) managed to convey his message well. Now it all comes down to what is important in each individual’s life. Based on the context of the candidates’ message, I believe the Joe the Plumbers are most likely to chose McCain, while the modest incomes are most likely to choose Obama.

Sandie RH Hart

Beaumont, TX

McCain VS Obama Debate Part II

There is some discussion about who won the first Presidential Debate. In fact, many objective viewers agreed that both candidates, Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain "seemed to be on their game." Since there doesn't seem to be a clear winner, people all over the country anxiously awaited another round of battle strategies and hot topics. On October 7, 2008 many Independent voters sat on the edge of their seats as they watched the second debate, listening for defining points that will ultimately guide them in the voting booth.

The debate was about the economy and foreign affairs. The first half of the debate focused on the economy. Both candidates started strong having excellent answers to difficult questions. For example, the first question focused on the fastest, most positive solution to bail Americans out of an economic ruin. The question mentioned retired citizens and workers who are losing their incomes.

Obama opened the discussion with a excellent "rescue package" for the middle class which would include tax cuts, help for homeowners so they can stay in their homes, road and bridge projects that keep people in their jobs, and a reliable health care system. McCain's "reform package" included energy independence, eliminating contributions to countries "that don't like us very much", reduce government spending, low taxes for all Americans, and a new government home loan. According to McCain's plan, he would "order the secretary of the treasury to immediately buy up the bad home loan mortgages in America and renegotiate at the new value of those homes—at the diminished value of those homes and let people be able to make those—be able to make those payments and stay in their homes."

Later, the moderator, Tom Brokaw asked the candidates to prioritize the following issues—health care, energy, and entitlement reforms such as Social Security and Medicare. While McCain believes that he could work on all three at once, Obama insisted that government, like families need to prioritize. Obama would focus on energy first, followed by health care, and then by education. Though the two candidates were running neck to neck up to now, Obama took the lead. Primarily, McCain's answer seemed vague and Obama appeared decisive.

McCain made a comeback when the questions focused on foreign affairs. Sparring toe to toe, both candidates made valuable points when it comes to affairs like Afghanistan, the Russia and Georgia predicament, Iraq, and diplomacy. However, one question determined the tie breaker. It focused on whether the candidates would commit US troops to support and defend Israel should they be attacked by Iran despite American efforts. Though McCain opened the discussion with talk of diplomacy, he stated with great enthusiasm "…we obviously would not wait for the United Nations Security Council…we can not allow Iran to get a nuclear weapon."

Though Obama agreed that we cannot allow Iran to get Nuclear weapons, he did not directly state whether we would wait for the United Nations Security Council before defending and supporting Israel. Instead he talked about diplomacy and working more effectively with other countries. Like the priority question, the candidates' answers gave a slight lead. Obama's answer seemed vague and McCain's appeared decisive.

Overall, this debate was disappointing. The candidates were not asked to elaborate their plans for our future. They were not forced to explain the details of their proposals. For example, will McCain's $5,000.00 tax credit cover the annual expenses of reliable heath insurance? Is the $5,000.00 tax credit a one time deal, or will Americans get it every year? How can the government afford to give American's a $5,000.00 tax credit when we have the expense of the war, Stock Market bailout, an enormous deficit, homeowners rescue plan, and the promised tax breaks for all Americans? How will Obama reduce 95% of American taxes under the same conditions? How will he implement and pay for his health care promises? What about implementing a ceiling on health care, pharmaceutical companies, and physician care? This debate seemed to be "more of the same" finger pointing campaigns—basically, a recap of the first. Since the presidential race is so close, the candidates should be asked truly tough questions—questions that will define them.

As it stands, the Democrats/Liberals will support and defend Obama. The Republicans/Conservatives will do the same for McCain, leaving the Independent—the central voters to figure out whether to swing left or right.

Sandie RH Hart

Beaumont, TX