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Tonight we finally got to take a look at the two candidates for the upcoming Presidential election in a face off. When the night started with a 700 billion dollar question I was not surprised when Senator John McCain went after Senator Barack Obama’s more than 930 million dollars in earmark spending and Obama attacked, on several occasions McCain’s but for the most part I’m happy with both their answers in part. Obama did seem to have a better time handling some of the economic questions however. At one point the moderator kept pushing the question about how the current economic issues would change their spending. Both candidates answered his question, but wouldn’t nail down a specific answer, which I think was (as I look back) the right decision. we heard Obama say he’d still push for energy reform but maybe need to pull parts back and McCain made comments about a spending freeze as a possible consideration. They both also gave other examples, but for some reason it wasn’t good enough.

I think one of the big issues was fact, or lack of fact form both candidates. It seems neither of them could remember their own statements about certain key issues. Repeatedly Senator McCain stated Obama would meet with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad without precondition. Obama insisted he wouldn’t do that nor had he said he would. The only problem in that a question posed by Stephen Sorta back on July 23, 2007 during the YouTube debates asking if he would meet with varying foreign leaders including Ahmadinejad, Chaves of Venezuela, and others Obama answered, "I would, uh and the reason is this, that the notion that somehow not talking to countries uh is punishment to them uh which has been the guiding uh diplomatic principle of this administration is ridiculous." At which point both former Presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden attacked him for taking that stance.

That of course Henry Kissinger’s alleged stance that the next President would need to meet with Iran with no preconditions. This is not true. He did say in a recent forum that be believed (and himself is in favor of) that we as a country need to meet with Iran at at least a Secretary or State level, which is a high level but far from the highest level of public office. Kissinger also released a statement shortly after the debate supporting John McCain’s statement that he never said a President must meet without preconditions.

One the other side McCain made comments and attacks on Obama’s tax policies, stating Barack Obama will raise you taxes, but he wouldn’t. In reply Obama stated plainly that if you make less than $250,000 you would not receive a tax increase. This was a smart move on Obama’s part. I’d also like to comment on Senator Barack Obama’s ability to carry himself tonight. While he did stammer a little and we heard many "ands" and "uhs" but all in all Obama did a good job keeping up with the more experienced candidate.

And in keeping with typical politics there were a few passive aggressive pot shots taken throughout the evening. At one point during an answer McCain stated, "I don’t even have a seal yet" referring back to Obama’s rather arrogant publicity stunt much earlier in his Presidential Campaign. Not to be out done Obama landed a few of his own here and there. Obama consistently tried to tie McCain’s policies and viewpoints with the current Bush administration, and did so with argued success. McCain used the phrase you don’t understand several times regarding Barack’s ability to comprehend foreign policy and the differences in tactics and strategy.

For the most part I cannot declare a victor in this debate. Neither candidate hit any real home runs with their answers. Obama was well spoken , even without his Teleprompter, which to this blogger was an admitted surprise. McCain was strong in his policy and stance on foreign policy. Both candidates batted around answers about the economic future of their prospective Presidency and the country. It was summation a lack luster, but mostly even debate from both sides. So what did you think?

Posted under Election 2008