This debate is a town hall meeting style. Write down the question that the person in the crowd asked (paraphrasing is fine) and then tell how each candidate replied. Who did you agreee with on this issue and why? Finally, explain if the issue you have chosen is important enough that it might influence who you are going to (or would if you were eligible) vote for. Make sure you put your name (first name last initial is fine) and period so I can give you credit. Check back after you post as I am planning on responding as much as I can.
Mr. G
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Hellloo! Alright so someone asked if the presidents would give congress a deadline to reform social security and medicare. Obama gave a clear answer that he believes these issues can be solved in his first term. Obama said he will provide a tax cut for 95% of Americans and for those that make 200,000 or less will have a decrease in taxes and those that make over 200,000 will have no increase or decrease in taxes. McCain, in my opinion, was a little too busy saying "my friend" and trying to bash Obama. The only really clear answer I got from McCain was that social security should be reformed but he gave no timeline. I still am an Obama lover, I think McCain just says my friends too much.
LoVe Ya,
Marlee Sherman, period 1
Diana P. Period 3
To McCain- What will you do to make sure that Congress moves fast in the climate change and providing green jobs?
McCain said that he is for nuclear power and that Obama is against it. He wants to help to create more environmentally friendly vehicles, and wants to drill offshore, etc.
Obama said that to creat all these green jobs will have to take a lot of investment from the government, but he is for nuclear energy, solar power, wind power, etc. He also said that McCain has voted against alternative energy 32 times, and has done nothing to help with the environment problems. He also said that wwe are taking too much oil from around the world, which is something that McCain is supportive of.
I agree with Obama because his response seemed more realistic than McCains, and he also showed that McCain will realistically not do anything for alternative energy while he is in office and that he is just saying these things to help his campaign. I do not think that this issue is not important enough to sway my vote, but i do think that it is a major issue. I would not change my vote for this issue though because both seemed to be for alternative energy and both want to help the environment and there was not a significant difference in their answers to make too much of a difference for the country.
Michele Grogin
Period 1
Ingrid Jackson, an woman from the crowd, asked a question to Senator McCain. She asked how he would make sure congress worked quickly as far as environmental issues and green jobs. McCain then began using sentence fragments while deciding how he would answer the question. He chose to mention how he an Joe Leiberman introduced the first environmental legislation. They lost, but he acknowleged their persistence. Senator McCain believes that the easiest way to fix the serious environmental issue is nuclear power. He says that nuclear power creates hundreds of jobs, is clean, and is safe but Senator Obama opposes nuclear power. Hybrid, hydrogen and battery power cars are McCain's main suggestions to "clean up the environment and at the same time, get our economy going by creating millions of jobs".
Senator Obama believes the environmental issue is one of the hugest challenges of all times. He compares the evolution of the computer to how we can use the environmental issue to be an "engine that drives us into the future". Senator Obama realizes that this requires efforts and investments. In contrary to what McCain says, Obama is in favor of nuclear power. Senator Obama also calls out that Senator McCain has repeatedly voted AGAINST alternative fuel.
I feel that these responses are not necessarily enough to influence who I would vote for, but the environment is an issue I am very passionate about. If I were to choose a candidate based on this decision, I would choose to vote for Senator Obama. I liked Senator Obama's comparison of the computer to the environment. Obama noted that to create and environmental change, effort must be put in and I believe he will bring change.
The mediator asked a follow-up question, asking if "we should fund a 'Manhattan-like' project" or should we fund a hundred thousand garages like Silicon Valley". McCain believes we should do research and development, but essentially avoided the question to retort Obama's accusations. McCain called it vital to "bridge the gap" for imported oil and said they must drill offshore. I feel that McCain's responses are generally vague is they are not about the war of the economic crisis. He is most passionate about those and I do not think he puts enough thought into how he will better other areas of our nation, despite knowing he will have to answer questions in all areas.
Michelle,
Do you remember learning last year what the Manhattan Project was?
mr. g
Micah Deterville, Period 3
There was a question asked by email that said that during our last economic crisis the government asked Americans to make sacrafises for their country. They asked, what sacrafises each candidate would ask of Americans?
McCain dodged the question by continuing on the last topic about the cuts in government spending and how the country needs to gain independence from foreign oil.
Obama said that each individual American needs to tackle their own spending habits. He wants each American to try to save energy and electricity. He also believes the government's economic changes must stand as a good example for its citizens. He also doesn't believe that the government should ask the middle clase to tighten their belts when the upper class is mis-spending.
I believe that the true sacrafise for the American people are the taxes. Obama is asking that the American people economize and help pay off our debt. I do not believe that this will cause more unemployement by the big companies and from the store-owners. They will be forced to economize just as the middle class has had to for years.
Carissa Hanen
per.2
I don't quite remember the question , but the question was asked towards the end by an old officer. He asked something like if we will support Isreal etc. I thought it was a good question. John Mccain answered first, he went up to the man and said thank you for your service and shook his his hand and gave him a pat. That just showed great respect he had towards him. Obama just thanked him for his service and went on. It wouldn't influence my vote, because we have to base it on many facts not just on one topic.
I also liked the last question on what they don't know. It was very clever. Obama spoke 1st and talked about his life and everything that comes unexpectely and how he was able to go to the top schools. While MCcain spoke very well, talked about his young life and said everything is unexpected,and being in office you just don't know .
how does mccain expect to get us out of our economic problems by lowering all taxes when we still have to pay for the war and other things?
the only thing he said was lower earmarks but that is not enough enough to get us out of yout 10 trillion dollar deficet.
while obama wants to lower taxes for most americans btu still has a plan to get us out of the economic issue.
mccain also lied and personally attacked obama so that obama couldnt recant the lies and say his new info to answer the questions. an example of the lies is the fanny may and other complanie issue it was mccain who was associated as was mentioned in the palin katie interview.
may right again later,
aleeza brown period 1
So Aleeza, who do you really think won the debate?
Stephen Coffer
per 1
Would you give congress a date by which they must fix social security and medicare within
the 1st 2 years?
Obama- he would give congress a date to fix social security but maybe not in the first 2 years. Then he goes of on a tangent about taxes.
McCain- "Social Security is easy to fix" that is the only thing he says about the issue in the question. Well Obama was the only one who answered the question, but I think that it should be set very early. This question was not important enough to change my mind on who to vote for.
Jenna Sanitsky
Period 3
Government
When the candidates were asked what they did not know and how they would learn it, I felt that both dodged the question. Obama stated that he does not know everything and then refers to his wife having to teach him everything. However, he then goes into talking about his past and his education, despite his family’s income. I also thought McCain was not direct with his answer. Although a little more direct, all that he states is that he doesn’t know the unexpected. He, too, goes back and describes his childhood—an off topic subject. He continues to say that he has served the United States his entire life and wants the chance to serve again.
However, I would vote for Obama, if granted the opportunity. I share many similar views with him, and although I disagree on some, I side with Obama more than with McCain. I think that McCain uses sympathy to try to win over a crowd. This tactic is usually only used when a leader cannot win votes on his own. I think he would overall be a poor leader.
Question to McCain: In which order would you put in order of sequence of importance and fix in your first year of office first and the next two in order of importanace: healthcare, entitlements, or energy?
To begin, McCain seemed to be taken off guard and puzzled about the question. I knew instantly he was going to have trouble answering this question. He asked for the question to be repeated, and when he finally decided he would answer it, his answer was not precise. He stated that he could take care of all three issues at once and it would be relatively easy. Yet, none of these issues are easy to take care of and he never truely took the question head on and answered it with any authority. Yet, Obama answered this question with such eloquence and directness. He stated that energy, then healthcare, than entitlemnets would be accomplished in that order. What he said made sense since if they were done in that order they would overlap and help each other in a domino effect. If he actually does them is another issue, but Obama definately took this hard question which was bound to offend voters anyway he answered it perfectly. Yet McCain answered it the safe way, and thats not change thats more of the same.
Thanks alot Mr. G, and hope to hear back.
Stay Real,
Matt Rosenthal
Per-5
Michele Grogin
Period 1
response:
Mr. G, Yes I remember learning about the Manhattan Project. At first I didn't really understand how that follow-up question related to the environmental issue but after I googled the Manhattan Project, I realized the question must have been asking Senator McCain if he was willing to make a huge effort all at once, or would rather have a bunch of people, segregated, trying to do the same thing. Now that I realize how this is relevant, I wish Senator McCain would have actually answered the question because that would give a lot of insight into his opinions on topics other than the war and the economy.
-Michele
Michelle,
It seems like all the candidates during these debates have pre-scripted answers and sometimes they don't always answer the question but it is the safe response they have practiced. I was hoping for a few off the wall questions the candidates would just have to wing an answer, but it didn't happen.
a man from the crowd who previously served in the army asked the question, what would you do if iran attacked Israel? McCain answered first and spent way to much time thanking the man for his services to our country. while i am grateful for this as well, i feel like McCain continues to give off this persona of being a war hero while buying time and dodging questions. honorable yes, but worthy of being president, i'm not convinced. he went on to reinstate the importance of military and critized Obama's tactic of discussing the matter before jumping into a war. if Iran gets nucleur weapons, without a doubt with McCain in office, we will be in yet another war. he answered the question speaking more of the middle east and war rather then our concern to our great allies, Israel. Obama on the other hand discussed attempting to prevent Iran from becoming a nucleur threat. under his command, Iran would become less profitable. therefore leaving little money to discover nucleur weapons. while Obama believes that it is unacceptable for terrorists to get in possesion of these dangerous bombs that would not only threaten Israel but the United States as well, he believes in a peace talk before jumping to McCain's answer of WAR! getting the military involved is an option but giving Iran a chance for CHANGE, something his campaign has endorsed, can prevent another "endless war." Now i may be biassed, because the concept of war is something that i believe is never the answer, but once again Obama looks at the bigger picture and handles situations more maturely thought out then the simple easy answer which McCain continues to give. I believe in "change" and to look to the future and therefore this debate has once again proved in my eyes that Barack Obama is the best fit candidate to become president.
aubrey sieder- period 5
the question from the beginning of the debate asked what the candidates plan was for the fastest most positive solution to bail people out of the economic down fall...obama offered a rescue plan for middle class tax cuts, and better health care, and sounds more confident when speaking. when mccain talks i cant help noticing how slow he is...and i thought it was funny that he said he will lower taxes for everyone for "today" and bring back the confidence to his "friends"/america
and whoever thought obama lost the debate was clearly not watching
olver h period 3
Roy Nitka
Per.5
Question:If Iran attacks Israel, would you commit U.S. troops to support Israel?
McCain's response:"Iranians are on the path to acquiring nuclear weapons. If they do so, it will not only be a threat to stability in Israel, but the stability in all of the Middle East." He also thinks that joining allies and imposing significant tough sanctions to modify their behavior that they will stop their quest for nuclear weapons.
Obama's response:"we can not allow Iran to get a nuclear weapon. It would threaten Israel, our strongest ally in the region, even in the world, but will also put nuclear weapons in the hands of terrorists. I will do everything required to prevent it. We will never take military options off the table, but I believe we should have tough, direct talks with friends and enemies and send a strong message that there will be dire consequences if their methods are not changed, If they do change, than it is possible to join the community of nations
My response:I agree with Obama's approach on this topic. I believe his way of handling it is the safest and the least risky. If we Keep attacking without discussion, we will most likely end up having more tension with Iran.Also, I believe this topic would influence who I would vote for. I am extremely devoted to Israel, and want the safest possible situation for it.
A question that someone asked was how both candidates were planning on reforming medicare and social security and if they would do it in their first two years of Presidency. Barrack Obama stated that he can't guarentee reform in medicare and social security in the first two years, but he hopes to accomplish the task sometime in his term. He basically said that it's not his first priority. Obama then went into how he wants to provide tax cuts for 95% of Americans. He wants a tax drop for middle class americans only because he wants to deal with individuals as individuals, not as a whole. He said that after this goal is met, he will be in a good position to reform medicare and social security. Considering I was in a room with a group of strong liberals, it was hard for me to hear John McCain's views on most issues. Everyone was talking over him and saying how rediculous he is. From what I gathered though, John McCain responded by stating that it is not difficult at all to fix social security, the only thing that is difficult is the decisions that need to be made. It's a delicate process. He also said how he wanted more power for the people. He talked about how Obama voted 94 times and fought for a tax raise. McCain, however, fought for tax cuts. McCain also mentioned that he will reform social security and medicare in his first two years. I personally would vote for McCain if I could vote.It is this election that will effect our lives more than any other generation. It is important to realize how big these issues are. I am not saying that McCain will fix everything, but from reading about Obama's plans for change, I think that Obama will make situations so much worse. People love Obama mainly because of his orator. He is different, and people see that as change. In reality, he is doing just about anything to get votes. I have a feeling that when he gets into office, he will be clueless as to what to do next.
A woman in the crowd asked "how can we trust either of you with our money when both parties got us into this global economic crisis?" -Obama said that national debt has increased twice as much today as when Bush first came into office and over the last eight years, we have had the biggest increases in deficit spending and national debt in our history. He said that we are messing around with our future and the future of our children and we've got to make some changes.
-Mccain said he can see why she says that and our situation today really needs bipartisanship. Then he trashed Obama a little bit then said that Washington needs to reform. He also said that his record is way better than Obama's and that while hes trying to make money issues better, Obama is making them worse and more expensive.
Ronit Chavol
Period 5
The exchanges on domestic economic policy, on taxation, health care and entitlements followed predictable lines. Each accused the other, with the detail differing, of seeking to soak the middle classes through taxes. McCain tried hard to portray Obama as someone who during a short time in Washington, had never met a tax increase he did not like, and Obama responded in kind, although he sought to trick McCain specifically through McCain’s considerably longer spell in Washington. McCain did better in short, concise sentences in his first answers on economic policies, but Obama had clearer detail to offer (but has had considerable practice repeating his message) about the numbers that would mean that an Obama presidency would go easier on all but the wealthiest income earners. He said clearly “I am cutting more than I am spending”, Obama said in reference to the massive increases in deficit and national debt run up in the Bush II years.
-Laurasia Mattingly, Period 5
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