rssObama T.K.O.s McCain in Last Debate
Wednesday, October 15, 2008 at 10:42 pm
- 19 Comments
HEMPSTEAD, NY — Barack Obama never delivered a knockout punch during the final presidential debate, but it did not matter. Obama won a T.K.O. – defeating his opponent without ever knocking him out.
John McCain hit hard and sometimes wildly, accusing Obama of links to terrorism, voter fraud and racially divisive politics. It was the first time McCain played the Ayers card in a debate, of course, after Obama had taunted McCain for failing to level the charge to Obama’s “face.”
The entire offensive was muddled, however, by McCain’s umbrage.
Asked about his running mate’s false charge that Obama “palled around with terrorists,” McCain offered an indignant non-sequitur. He demanded that Obama condemn Rep. John Lewis’s criticism of incendiary rhetoric at GOP rallies, which McCain said was unfair because it likened his campaign to America’s segregation era. “That, to me, was so hurtful,” he intoned. Yet within minutes, McCain busied himself with the guilt-by-association attacks.
While McCain lurched from victim to aggressor, Obama calmly held his own. He reiterated the history of his non-alliance with Bill Ayers, noted that the board they served on also included Republicans, and broadened the conversation to economic issues and changing the tone of politics – the familiar themes Obama has used to transcend smears throughout the general election.
The sharp exchanges that dominated the debate’s opening will make for spicy soundbites, but most of the night the candidates sparred over key domestic policies. Obama touted his support for charter schools and parental responsibility in education, and drew a contrast with McCain’s “hatchet” approach to freezing all federal spending on domestic programs. McCain repeatedly criticized Obama’s tax and health care policies, citing the cost to the “Joe Plumbers” out there – no relation to “Joe Six Pack -– and argued that his support for free trade would better renew the economy.
McCain also falsely stated that Joe the Plumber would pay a fine under Obama’s policies when health care is not provided to employees. In fact, Obama’s plan specifically provides an exemption from that fine for small businesses. The issue has now arisen in two debates, as Obama noted in a rebuke to McCain. “As I said in our last debate, and I’ll repeat John, I exempt small businesses from the requirement for large businesses that can afford to provide health care to their employees who are not doing it,” he said.
Ultimately, McCain’s alternating anger and umbrage never delivered the clichéd “game changer” that politicos said he needed. He punched until he was punched out. Three debates down, both men were still standing, but after scoring more in every round, Obama had the win.
19 Comments
Comment posted October 15, 2008 @ 8:26 pm
Schieffer was a disgrace. Again and again he gave McCain the last word no matter who went first. He was totally biased and unprofessional.
Comment posted October 15, 2008 @ 8:28 pm
McCain is a WIMP!!! He was taken out by a newby! I'm glad he won't be the next president. I hate wimps! Go BHO!
Comment posted October 15, 2008 @ 8:31 pm
Obama's calm and steady response, rather than erratic soundbite, owned people's trust. In this turmoil, we need a steady hadn in the tiller. McCain is 72 and shaking, Palin is busy hunting moose.
Now, there is no time to sparr, let's vote.
Comment posted October 15, 2008 @ 8:32 pm
http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publicatio…
Ayers isn't half the issue with Obama!
Comment posted October 15, 2008 @ 8:33 pm
When McCain went on the offensive about Ayers, I liked how Obama turned the subject around to Obama's CURRENT pals, like Warren Buffett. McCain can't really argue with that, can he? Jeez, talk about living in the past and being unable to move forward.
Comment posted October 15, 2008 @ 8:36 pm
Fuck you .Fuck Obama.He is not the messiah, and I bet you are black.
HAHA
Comment posted October 15, 2008 @ 8:45 pm
Thank you Theresa. Your ignorant racist remarks just give more votes to Barack Obama. Its 2008, and bigotry is out, Obama is in.
Now sit back and enjoy the ride hunny.
Comment posted October 15, 2008 @ 8:48 pm
mccain is a crazy old lunatic. he couldn't even keep a coherent thought. obama was thoughtful, insightful and will lead the country with a steady hand.
Comment posted October 15, 2008 @ 8:49 pm
We need a new leader. McCain is finished. Obama has the intelligence and temperament to be the leader we need. He's proven it. It's done.
Obama/Biden 08!
Comment posted October 15, 2008 @ 8:58 pm
Theresa –
At best, you're an honest racist inbred moron. At worst, you're a cancer to society. But it's okay 'cause evolution is still working out the kinks and you represent a major kink. Enjoy your new life with a President who cares about you even though you're too stupid to understand him.
Comment posted October 15, 2008 @ 9:09 pm
McCain cannot even control his own face.
He expects to be able to run a nation?
Comment posted October 15, 2008 @ 9:29 pm
He's his buddy, what do you expect. Didnt he seem disappointed when McCain time and time again acted like a lunatic and did his usual horrible job of debating. I guess Shieffer was expected his buddy to do better.
Comment posted October 16, 2008 @ 12:44 am
Gotta love the idiots. They make all the rest of us feel just that much smarter.
Theresa, you obviously have computer access…. why don't you use it to actually educate yourself rather than spew idiotic hate?
Comment posted October 16, 2008 @ 12:47 am
Hmm… *that* was relevant. Oh, no, excuse me, I meant repulsive.
Comment posted October 16, 2008 @ 6:08 am
I think ALL of you are getting way ahead of yourselves if you think this race is over after last night. Almost all Americans would tell you that it is not a suprise that Obama is a more elequent speaker, and McCain seems to fumble at times with his words. But I am not at all suprised to hear the same people who say Obama is a better, more succinct speaker does not necessarily translate into a better leader.
Some of the rude comments about McCains facial control and other statements need about 4 or 5 veterans like me to take you out and beat you with a wet stick. Like him or not, he has paid a great physical price for this country, and your undeserving of any freedoms you have when you talk that way. You show the world what little intelligence you really have.
Now on the other hand, those on the right on this blog, you need to stop resorting to name calling as well. The point at work I know I have won an arguement is when the other person can resort to nothing more than “Dirt flinging”. It's a TKO at that point.
Now back to the BIGGER point. Just b/c someone is a great speaker, doesn't mean they have great policies. The same goes for experience in McCains instance. You all are fighting over a “Team/Party” or “Person”, and not fighting about what you need to be focusing on. IDEAS, POLICY – which tells me to actually debate any of you would be a TKO in the first round. I would bet the majority of you couldnn't tell me much more about either candiate other than what you have heard on TV. If you don't understand you are doing EXACTLY what they want you to, in-fighting about party to keep you focused on something other than the real issue at hand.
Let me ask ALL of you a question – What does their Healthcare, Taxation, Spending and Foreign Policy matter if the country is bankrupt? I can already tell you what the policy is going to be, you just have to vbe a student of history b./c we are about to revisit it yet again.
Spend your time focusing on the important things.
Comment posted October 19, 2008 @ 3:16 pm
I completley agree that Obama won, he was calm and mannered while mccain was rude and improper, i believe that obama will be our next president!
Comment posted October 19, 2008 @ 10:16 pm
I completley agree that Obama won, he was calm and mannered while mccain was rude and improper, i believe that obama will be our next president!
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