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If Senator Obama pushed for this debate despite Senator John McCain's calls for a postponement – only to deliver this sort of performance – well, he is in for a tough road over the next 5 weeks. After reading several media comments (from geographic Democratic strongholds) like these:
"...Barack Obama came across last night as exactly what he is -- one of the most inexperienced politicians ever nominated for president. And John McCain never looked more presidential." (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
"Throughout the debate...McCain had facts, figures and names at his fingertips...(McCain) called Obama naive, dangerous and inexperienced, and his attacks, which seemed to frustrate Obama, put him on the defensive for the majority of the night." (New York Daily News)
It's clear that a lot of people are thinking the same thing. ...
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Senator John McCain won the debate – and it wasn't close. It wasn't a home run, but he hit it hard.
Senator Obama was expected to wrestle control of the initial block of the debate – the economic portion - and weather the storm during the foreign policy portion.
He did neither.
Where Senator Obama continued to offer the populist position that has endeared him to many American voters, Senator McCain was the main one mentioning how he would address the financial crisis by addressing government spending. He illustrated the example of his involvement with the $6.8 billion contract between the Department of Defense and Boeing, talking about his role in eliminating government waste in this deal; (I'm sure that his actions didn't endear him to Republicans that staunchly stand for a robust national defense, but as a bipartisan maverick that once considered becoming a Democrat, I'm sure he doesn't lose sleep over it.)
When Obama noted the $300 billion in tax cuts proposed by McCain, McCain effectively responded by illustrating that Obama – in the midst of this economic crisis – is proposing tax increases on those that help create jobs and, more importantly, is proposing $800 billion in new spending with his proposed budget.
It's hard to cut taxes for 95% of Americans and introduce $800 billion in new spending, especially when a $700 billion bailout is currently on the table.
To highlight how he could do this, Senator Obama quickly turned to the spending attributed to the war in Iraq, a move that shifted the focus to McCain's strength.
From that point on, McCain took control. McCain mentioned Obama's shortcomings on:
Georgia-Russia situation (McCain took a strong stance against Russian aggression while Obama was initially reserved and "keeping abreast of the situation" – he was on vacation in Hawaii at the time, remember?);
Pakistan (McCain spoke of diplomacy – Obama's strong suit – and criticized Obama's comments of military strikes against Pakistan); and
Iran (McCain called Obama "naïve" for believing that he could sit with Iran's president "without preconditions" without legitimizing the radical behavior such rogue individuals carry out.)
A telling point was when Senator McCain mentioned Senator Obama's absentee leadership of a committee that oversees NATO that is in Afghanistan.
Senator Obama's response?
"...I'm very proud of my vice presidential selection, Joe Biden, who is the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee..."
To use Senator Biden's experience to directly argue Senator Obama's qualifications as the Commander in Chief is like the GOP saying that the Sarah Palin VP selection highlights the inclusion and high profile of minority groups within the Republican Party.
Even one of Senator Obama's best lines of the night ("...you like to pretend like the war started in 2007...") speaks to a possible indifference to military history. If Americans focused on the initial years of our World War II involvement in the early 1940s instead of on the goal, we may all be saluting a different flag today.
As a former basketball player, Senator Obama should know that sometimes, you can't focus on the way you start out playing the game. It boils down to persistence and how you finish.
Maybe he can apply this mantra to his approach to these debates because, from where many Americans sit, Senator John McCain is 2-for-2 in nationally-televised events (including the Saddleback Civil Forum.)
____________________
Lenny McAllister is the Political Guru for Fox News - Charlotte and blogs the Republican side of the election for BlackVoices. He is a frequent contributor to The Charlotte Post and The North Carolina Conservative.More Election Coverage
+ Presidential Debate - Who Won? Open Thread
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+ Who Won The Debate?
Comments: (56)
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By: jen on 9/27/2008 6:02PM
Looks like Blackvoices allows just about anyone to write a blog on this site, no matter how empty the thoughts are.
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By: Fred on 9/27/2008 6:09PM
Look like it's your opinion against close to 9,000 people voting in the poll below your supposed expert opinion editorial... and well, YOU LOST.
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By: Kim on 9/27/2008 8:02PM
Clearly, the republicans are saying McCain won, and the democrats are saying Obama won. McCain, in my opinion, looked like a "Committee Chair Person" and Obama, like a "President Candidate". If we're honest with ourselves, Obama should be the next President. Remove the blinders and prejudices, and do the right thing! Vote for Obama. He is the right candidate, at the right time.
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By: goddy on 9/27/2008 8:10PM
the guy who wrote this article is out of touch, who is most gentlemanly - Obama, who is most respectful - Obama, who is most sincere- Obama. who is most truthful - Obama. Who is most coolheaded - Obama.
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By: Maurice on 9/27/2008 8:13PM
What debate was this fool watching? Obama clearly demonstrated that he is ready to be our next president. McCain continued the same rhetoric that he has been spouting since this campaign started. We heard nothing new or fresh, just old ideas from an old politician. What change does he bring to the table? Voting with Bush 90 percent of the time? We need someone to step in right now with a fresh approach to the world and restore some respect that has been lost over the last 8 years. McCain has been in Washington for over 26 years and is old guard. In this new world, we need Barack Obama breath life into a broken, good ol boy Washington.
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By: Ortilia on 9/27/2008 9:31PM
Barack Obama clearly won this debate. For 8 years the Republican Party has been in control of the White House and look where we are now. It's time for a change! How can John McCain claim he can bring this change when he has voted with George W. Bush on just about everything? Let's just be honest and admit that people don't want to vote for Senator Obama not because of his inexperience, but because of the color of his skin. If he continues to produce the type of performance he gave on last night's debate in the next 2 debates, he will be very tough to beat on Election Day. Go Obama!
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By: BERNICE on 9/27/2008 9:33PM
WOW, WHAT A TRIP!! A 21ST-CENTURY JOURNALIST UNCLE TOM!!!
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By: BERNICE on 9/27/2008 10:05PM
WOW, WHAT A TRIP! A 21ST-CENTURY, HIGH TECH UNCLE TOM!!! (UM-UM-UM . . . )
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By: Andre on 9/27/2008 11:19PM
Of course he thinks McCain hit a home run, he's a Republcain. Unforunately for him, the rest of the country doesn't see it from his point-of-view. Polls across all the major networks, yes the same networks that never questioned the current Republican administrations motives or actions, have delcared Obama to be the winner and polls have backed up that conclusion. McCain's tactics, also known as razzle-dazzle style, is not registering with the American voter and he proved, at the first Presidential Debate, that he has no real plans or ideas for the future. He can only talk about what he did in the 1970's and that he's a POW. I think Obama won last night - on John McCain's turf, that being foreign policy. Can't wait for the VP debate and the debate on the economy, which Obama has already shown to be his strength.
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By: Peggy Miller on 9/27/2008 11:23PM
Ok, Come on. The more I see McCain the more I cant stand him, He says he is for change yet all of his remarks are based on the past, what he has done in the past, all of his experience. But isn't the past the problem, the past eight years. Why would you continue to use the past eight years as a reference on your job application if you know that the people hiring you have made it so obvious that they do not like what has been done in the past eight years. McCain stated several times the Obama didn't understand, that he didn't get it. But it is McCain that doesn't get it. Change is something different, change is not the same thing done by a different person. And McCain said that over and over he would do the same things that the republicans have been doing and not do what we the citizens want done. And as far as this 700 billion dollar plan to "save the economy" who are they kidding. So we bail out all of the high dollar companies. Now do we ever ask ourselves "When did this start, how did it start". Would the economy be in this shape if there was not an unnecessary war going on? And what about gas prices? Would people be able to afford their mortgage if Gas prices weren't out of control. Which caused the cost of everything else to skyrocket. McCain blames the Economy on the bad decisions of people. But what about the bad decisions of the government who once again wants to put a band aid on an amputation. So you throw some money around (that you don't have) to save something that cant be saved because you have never treated the disease, your just treating the symptoms. And is the government not making the same bad decisions that they have accused us of making by spending money that they don't have. In effect buying something that they probably cant afford the payments on. And in turn what we get is higher taxes, to go along with high gas prices, high grocery prices, increases in unemployment, and even fewer Americans with health insurance.
I just hope that no one forgets that McCain is for Bush, he agrees with Bush and his plan is a Bush repeat. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again in the same way and expecting different results.
Stay mad America and Vote for Change!
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