Debate watch party yields diverse reactions
The NAACP and the Legion of Black Collegians hosted the event.
Oct. 10, 2008
The local chapter of the NAACP and the Legion of Black Collegians hosted a watch party for the second debate between Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain on Tuesday night.
About 30 students, mostly seniors, gathered in Strickland Hall to collect information to help make their decisions in November.
"It helps you relate to the candidates," senior Chris Wilson said. "But it's up to you to do your own research."
Early in the debate, moderator Tom Brokaw asked the candidates whom they would pick as the Secretary of the Treasury. Both candidates discussed potential appointees but did not commit to a specific person.
"John McCain ignored the question and stalled," senior Kari Morris said. "He doesn't know who he wants, and if he does, it won't be someone the American people want."
Brokaw then asked if the economy would get worse before improving. Both candidates said they had faith in the durability of the American economy.
Senior Stacia Johnson said she thought Obama was clearer about what caused the current crisis.
"McCain said the economy depends on many different factors," Johnson said. "Obama stated what actually happened to the economy."
Discussion about the economy continued and expanded to domestic policy when Brokaw asked the candidates to choose between domestic policy concerns. McCain said domestic policies could be improved simultaneously, while Obama ranked energy as most important, followed by health care and education.
Sophomore Stu Becker said people should be critical of the candidates' responses to domestic policy questions. He said both candidates had unrealistic ideas about taxes.
"Tax cuts for the rich are detrimental, and the trickle-down theory doesn't work, but I don't know how possible it is to cut taxes for the middle class," Becker said.
Obama's promise of tax cuts to 95 percent of Americans is also unrealistic, senior Rickey Leathers said.
"It sounds like a hollow promise," Leathers said.
Leathers also said both of the candidates had good points, making it hard for him to choose one over the other. Morris, however, described the debate as a boxing match.
"It seems like McCain is swinging and Obama is jabbing," Morris said. "McCain is going for the knockout. Obama is making lots of small hits."
Morris said she supported Obama on foreign policy, a topic that took up much of the second half of the debate. The candidates discussed America's dealings with Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Russia, the country's reactions to ethnic cleansings in the Darfur region of Sudan and Rwanda.
"Obama was more concerned with taking care of American problems first," senior Brian Washington said. "Let's keep in mind the things that affect us and put home first."
During the last half hour of the debate, audience engagement in the debate declined and conversations broke out all over the hall. The majority of the audience left around 9 p.m.
Senior Lydia Snowden arrived in time to see the candidates answer the final question. Brokaw asked the candidates what they do not know and how they would find out.
"Obama completely bombed it," Snowden said. "McCain actually answered the question."
Senior Jonathan Snipes watched the debate to the end. He said Obama won because of responses, his composure and the way he presented himself to the audience.
"Everything was pretty much answered that would allow the republic to make its decision," Snipes said.
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