Latest entries in Live Blog: Second presidential debate
Maneater political reporter Mary Daly will be post live updates and observations during the second presidential debate between Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain. The debate starts at 8 p.m.
Oct. 7, 2008
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The curtain comes down on another debate
At the conclusion of the debate, viewers from watch parties around Columbia had varying opinions about the results.
At the NAACP watch party, senior Lydia Snowden only showed up to catch the candidates' closing statements.
"Obama completely bombed it," Snowden said. "McCain actually answered the question."
At the same watch party, senior Jonathan Snipes disagreed with Snowden.
"Obama won," Snipes said. "His composure and the way he handled the questions were better. McCain had childlike behavior."
Snipes went on to say all the issues that would allow the country to make an informed decision between candidates were covered.
At the Republican watch party, Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., said as president, McCain would be forceful and take us back to conservatism.
"Obama will take us back to the 1960s era socialism where government runs everything," Bond said.
MU College Republicans member Ryan Remole said he thinks McCain can retake the lead in Missouri.
"It's going to take the American people sort of waking up, so to speak," Remole said.
Remole went on to say McCain related to the public very well in the debate and "just seemed more real" than opponent Obama.
Stephens College student Polly Edelstein, who attended the Democratic watch party, said she felt Obama was the candidate who had a better rapport with the audience.
"I think both candidates did a good job," Edelstein said. "I think Obama is able to more naturally connect with people and doesn't need to put up any false pretenses."
A consensus at all the watch parties was the debate would influence polls in one way or another.
Closing statements
Both candidates were forced to expose their weaknesses as the final question of the debate asked what they do not know about being commander in chief.
"It's never the challenges that you expect," Obama said. "It's the challenges you don't that end up consuming most of your time."
He said he has the courage to move the country in a new direction.
McCain said the challenges the country will face in the coming years will be new and different.
"I believe in this country," McCain said. "I believe in its future. I believe in its greatness."
McCain said, as his record shows, he will always put the country first.
As the debate wrapped up, Brokaw was reading the sponsors of the debate off a screen and was blocked by Obama and McCain.
"You're in the way," Brokaw said to the candidates and closed the debate.
McCain and Obama spar
Toward the second half of the debate, Obama and McCain are focusing less on the issues and more on discrediting the other candidate's positions.
"It seems like McCain is swinging and Obama is jabbing," senior Kari Morris said at the NAACP debate. "McCain is going for the knockout. Obama is making lots of small hits."
McCain said Obama does not have enough experience to be president.
"We don't have time for on the job training," he said.
Obama responded by citing instances where he said McCain's judgment was wrong, such as invading Iraq and spending a large sum of American money there.
At the NAACP watch party, interest has slightly waned from the debate.
"It's kind of hard to tell who's winning," senior Henry Tanner said. "They're not answering the questions very well."
Some thoughts
Although the candidates are being courteous to one another, they are following the recent trend of more criticism of one another's policies.
In response to Obama's health care plan, McCain said the plan would mandate one large fine for Americans.
To make health care more inexpensive, McCain suggested there are certain things insurance does not have to cover, such as hair transplants.
McCain joked, "I might need to get one myself."
The audience remained stoic, although Brokaw said at the beginning that they agreed to be polite and respectful.
On the flip side, McCain seems to be creating a rapport with Brokaw and the audience, which is the idea of the town hall format.
McCain strikes up conversation with Brokaw, rather than just answering his questions, which is what Obama is doing.
McCain also addresses the audience members personally, while Obama takes their questions and stands as though he is lecturing.
Brokaw emphasizes the red and green lights
With the candidates taking extra minutes for rebuttals, Tom Brokaw has to keep reminding them of the time limits.
"I don't know if you guys have noticed the lights around here," Brokaw said.
Each candidate has taken extra time on questions because of accusations by the other candidate that needed explaining, such as McCain claiming Obama would raise taxes.
In his next response, McCain cut off early and said, "Look Tom, I stopped and you weren't even waving."
At the Republican watch party in Columbia, Tim Grenke, who is on leave from Kosovo, said he was glad the candidates were taking the time to critique each other.
"I appreciate the fact that they're telling people to look at their records," Grenke said.
Tax proposals cause controversy between candidates
The candidates both said America's bad spending habits must be broken in order to get the country out of debt.
"It starts with Washington," Obama said. "We've got to show that we have good habits."
Obama also proposed to help get the country out of debt by cutting taxes for the middle class.
At the NAACP watch party, sophomore Stu Becker said he agreed with Obama's economic policies, although he was skeptical about Obama's tax cut proposals.
"I don't know how possible it is to cut taxes for the middle class," Becker said. "Tax the rich. Tax cuts for the rich are detrimental and the trickle-down theory doesn't work."
McCain looked directly at Obama and ridiculed his tax plans.
"Nailing down Sen. Obama's tax proposals is like trying to nail jello to the wall," McCain said.
McCain said Obama's plan involves raising taxes, which he said would hurt the country.
To Brokaw's dismay, Obama insisted upon taking more time for a rebuttle to McCain's accusations. Obama said his tax proposal involves cutting taxes for 95 percent of the population.
"It sounds like a hollow promise," senior Rickey Leathers said at the NAACP watch party.
Leathers said he was on the fence about both candidates.
"Both candidates have good points," he said. "I have to keep feeling it out."
Candidates' plans for the economic crisis
Each candidate laid out their plans to help Americans struggling with the economic crisis.
Obama said we have to make sure the rescue package works. He said the middle class needs tax cuts, help with mortgages and new job creation.
McCain said he suspended his campaign to help figure out a solution to the crisis. He said his plan is to stop the excessive spending of Washington and to buy up bad home loans.
When Brokaw asked each candidate who they would appoint as secretary of the treasury, McCain responded with, "Not you Tom."
At the NAACP, Legion of Black Collegians, Alpha Phi Alpha and Omega Psi Phi watch party, senior Kari Morris said McCain stalled with this response.
"He doesn't know who he wants as secretary of treasury and if he does, it's not going to be someone we want to see in that position," Morris said. "Obama was upfront and honest."
Obama said Warren Buffet would be in consideration.
A debate preview
Tonight's town-hall meeting presidential debate gives both candidates a chance to turn the tide of the race.
The 90-minute meeting at Belmont University in Nashville is the second of three debates between Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
Coming just one month before Election Day, traditionally a time when undecided voters are making up their minds, each candidate has the opportunity to gain supporters.
The candidates will be asked questions and then given the chance to debate his opponent's responses. Tom Brokaw of NBC will be the moderator.
The questions will be regarding domestic and foreign policy.
Whitney Williams, a member of the Legion of Black Collegians and NAACP said she wanted to hear the candidates discuss the economic bailout plan and their health care plans.
"I want to hear about the bailout," Williams said. "They were not as clear as I wanted them to be. I also want to hear about McCain's health care position because I haven't heard much about it and I want Obama to go into more depth about this."
The debate, sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates, begins at 8 p.m.
Welcome to the presidential live blog!
Tonight's town hall-style debate is slated to begin at 8 p.m. Check back after it starts to find out what's going on.
