US News
Obama, McCain sharply dispute war in Iraq (1st Lead)
Sep 27, 2008, 2:36 GMT
US Republican presidential candidate John McCain (L) and Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama (R) greet each other before the first US presidential debate at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts on the University of Mississippi campus at Oxford, Mississippi, USA 26 September 2008. EPA/LARRY W. SMITH
Washington - Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain disagreed sharply over the Iraq war during their first presidential debate Friday night as Obama sought to tie McCain to President George W Bush's policies.
'You were wrong,' Obama told McCain on the stage at the Univeristy of Mississippi.
'I'm afraid Senator Obama doesn't understand the difference between a tactic and a strategy,' McCain shot back.
Both candidates blamed Bush for mismanaging the war following the ouster of Saddam Hussein's regime in April 2003, but McCain touted the success of Bush's troop surge last year in bringing down violence in Iraq.
McCain noted that he had called for a troop buildup for years before Bush ordered it the so-called surge January 2007.
'This strategy has succeeded, and we are winning in Iraq,' McCain said.
'John, you like to pretend that the war started in 2007,' Obama said, noting that more than 4,000 US soldiers have died in the conflict on which the United States has spent nearly 1 trillion dollars.
Obama and McCain held the first of three debates leading up to the November 4 general elections.
The discussion was intended to focus on foreign policy, considered a policy strength for McCain, a retired naval officer with more than 25 years in the Senate compared to less than four years for Obama.
But the two men also stated that they support Bush's 700-billion- dollar package to rescue the panicked financial sector, amid destabilized global stock markets and faltering credit conditions.
Obama accused McCain of backing Bush's 'failed' economic policies during the last eight years, while McCain said that Obama's support for wasteful spending in the Senate had helped drive up the federal deficit.
The debate had been scheduled for weeks, but it remained uncertain until midday Friday that it would take place. McCain, 72, had suggested on Wednesday that he would not attend, so that he could stay in Washington to work on legislation to address the financial crisis.
Obama, 47, rejected McCain's request to postpone the debate.
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Older Talkback
page: 1
Remove all doubt. This is the reason why Obama did not want to have additional townhall debates.
I think Obama mistook the word “audacity” for “arrogance.” He needs to realize that if you truly are the better candidate, then your ideas will speak for themselves without the help of snickers, interruptions, and telling Jim to “move on” while McCain is talking.
Obama as president is scaring me more and more–he was losing control there when he decided to direct the debate
Obama just said that because we’re spending x-number of dollars on the war that “we” can’t afford to provide health care to people - just where in the Constitution does it say that it is the job of the federal government to provide health care to the populace? If government would get its sticky paws out of my pockets, I could afford to pay for my own health care - and would much prefer to do so as then I would be in charge, not some bean-counter.
OK….McCain’s performance on a 1 - 10 scale?
8.2
Barry’s performance?
4.3
McSame had no answer to the economy problems except 'bi-partisian' crap, no plan at all. It is very simple you want the same old crap we have had the last 8 years, vote McSame. If you really want any kind of change, vote Obama.
Mc Cain slaughtered Obama tonight, hands down..
BHO: hemmena, hemmena, hemmena, eh, eh, eh, Bush…as I’ve said before…uh uh uh …
One thing that really stood out was Obama continually interrupting McCain, and his arrogant, elitist, snobbery, attitude especially when he would put out his left hand and tell the moderator “Please Continue” and “Let’s move on.”
And lastly, I cannot believe that Obama decided to end the debate telling the world how screwed up our country is. Way to get that middle America vote Obama!
'McSame', 'McSame' duuuuh duuuuh 'McSame', 'McSame'.... Can't yopu come up with something more original?
'McSame had no answer to the economy problems except 'bi-partisian' crap, no plan at all.'
Again. another lie, McCain has given plenty of specifics, you just don't hear what you don't want to hear.
first hour McCain slight edge
last half hour was a slaughterhouse, McCain clear winner.
John did a good job, more aggressive in a presidential way, more tolerant, more knowledgeable.
McCain had more energy. McCain was more honest. Obama's eyes looked shady. You could see the intense stress in Obama's eyes. McCain was cool, calm and passionate. This was nothing compared to an aerial dogfight. McCain won convincingly.
best smack ...I don't have a seal yet....
'Obama, 47, rejected McCain's request to postpone the debate'
Obama is 47? He looks like he should have a beanie with a propeller on top and a balloon tied to his wrist.
''McSame', 'McSame' duuuuh duuuuh 'McSame', 'McSame'.... Can't yopu come up with something more original?'
Can't you come up with a spell check?
He sounded like it over and over and kept saying 'I know what to do' 'till it was ridiculous. He is living in the past like all old guys!
McCain is so tightly wrapped up in the Iraq war, he can't begin to understand the disgusting amount of money still being wasted there and that the focus should be on Afghanistan and Pakistan and Osama. He talks like a career soldier whose main objective is fighting and winning at all costs foregoing a good reason.
8 times Obama said, well i agree with McCain , but. hmm. so i have to steal McCains thoughts and use them for me, me , me.
I loved how McCain was quite detailed when discussing the Caucuses, and all barry could do was agree with McCain. Obama's inexperience really showed through when the subject fell on Russia.
John Mccane is going to get another boost in the poles but maybe it wont last to long.
we will have to wait and see what sp4 has to say before we make up our minds so just hold tight till he gets here.
what SP will say, so don't hold your breath. McCain acted like a smarta** with that disgusting, know-it-all smirk, and I wasn't impressed with his stubborn attitude that reeks of Bush all over again. His constant use of I, I, I and not keeping to the subject, but trying to change it to things he wanted to talk about was a big turn off. So many times he didn't actually respond to the question at hand. Maverick of the Senate and Bridge to Nowhere are starting to smell they are so stale.
'we will have to wait and see what sp4 has to say before we make up our minds '
That is pretty much the case, isn't it? kind of pathetic.
SP's comments are fodder for our entertainment!
why McCain refused to look at Obama when he was talking to him - sneaky snake or confused about the rules?? The VP debate should be a real show stopper unless Palin is able to memorize a couple of facts driven into her by her party, and she keeps hammering on them or she will keep hedging on the answers and turning them into what she wants to talk about - maybe 'first dude' and 'bridge to nowhere'!!! Without a script, she is a dull bulb!
..don't put much stock in debates. They both looked pretty good. I only watch about 5 minutes of it. I do beleive, however, they have sway over the three or 4 million voters who are still under the illusion that they 'vote for the man'.
In the age of instant information, just how much value do these debates have? It is television, and television is mostly drama and fiction. Kennedy won in 1960 because he had better TV people. Nixon said so and did the same thing 8 years later.
Does anyone here still not know who these two people are? McCain might be the most honest candidate in the last 30 years about his positions. His history is the stuff they make movies of, although those movie people now hate his guts. He has 30 years of senate history to draw from, if you're willing to look. He is a centrist republican and his record shows it.
Obama is exactly what he appears to be: A Neophyte boy-king, propped up becuase he's black i.e. dem libnazi equal opportunity. He comes from the Chicago, crooked, culture of grievence political base and exploited it well. Were he white, he'd be John Edwards. Nonetheless, he grabbed power on the left, a place where the classic dem avoids and secured his place. He demonstrates real ambition, even if his record of achievement is non-existant. He is, simply, a conventional leftist.
This is who they are. No debate will change this. If one does not know this, perhaps the debate will show them, although it is the organizers aim to paint one of them, not Obama, as something else.
This is just another reason I do not watch very much TV, on top of the obnoxious personalities, the endless drama, the 24/7 coverage of natural disasters i.e.'this is Tom and it's pretty windy here Bob!'. Yeah, Tom...it's windy in a Hurricane...thanks for sharing.
Wondering.....Sep 27th, 2008 - 16:22:29
'why McCain refused to look at Obama when he was talking to him'
Because he is a jug-eared jackass.
'sneaky snake or confused about the rules?? '
Show me the debate rule where you have to keep focused on the jug-eared jackass.
your retort was ludicrous. People who usually won't look you in the eye when talking, have something to hide!
Who would have thought that:SP4 making a sensible comment.Indeedc McCain is honest,I guess nobody will dispute that .So is Obama .THis being out of the way perhaps you guys can dig a little bit deeper into the real isues:the financial crisis,the very alarming latest issues around global warming and the international situation .And do not forget education and health care either.The injection of the sum demanded by the WAll street bankers equals the total sum spent in the USA for education for nine years .So when Bush said there was never any money to improve on education he must have been fooling you ,right ?
Better education could at least have provided you with a better potential vice president .One that would know a little bit more about countries that are not close to Alaska .The international arena requires more knowledge than that if you want to be able to defend your interests in the world en avoid looking like ignorants outside of the USA.
'How The World Sees USA'
You don't speak for the world. You just speak for your own jealous, mentally imbalanced self.
page: 1
gayleSep 27th, 2008 - 02:41:47
Something I have noticed is whenever Sen. McCain refers to Obama, he says Senator Obama, and most of the times Sen. Obama refers to Sen. McCain he calls him John, which I find condescending.
McCain is much more fluid about foreign affairs.
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