Hofstra Debate — McCain vs. Obama

Question — Why do you believe that your economic plans is superior to your opponents?

McCain — Middle America victims of greed of Wall Street and Washington. They deserve to be angry. (Note, immediately Americans are victims.) Blames crisis on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for economic distress. Proposes again to take 300 billion to buy up mortgages of people that can’t afford their mortgages.

Obama — “Worst financial crisis since the great depression. McCain and I were right in bail out. Proposes four specific ideas

1.)Tax companies sending jobs overseas
2.)Tax breaks for middle class families — no penalty on withdrawl from 401k
3.)Disagrees with McCain on mortgage buy out because it might help banks
4.)Need to help students

McCain — Pins Obama on his Plumber comment in Toledo. Why did you tell the plumber that you wanted to spread his wealth around? I won’t do that to you Mr. Plumber. I won’t increase the taxes of the small businesses.

Obama — Insist that his tax plan is more fair. Says that McCain’s tax breaks go to Corporate rich. Lies again about the whole idea of 95% of the American population getting a tax break. Defends his comment to the plumber. Says he really wants to help the plumber.

McCain — Pushes Obama on his statement to plumber. Insists that it was a classic example of class warfare. Asks Obama why he wants to increase anybodies taxes right now given this climate?

Obama — I want to cut taxes for 95% of Americans. Says he is going to take from Exxon Mobile and Warren Buffet and give it to Joe the plumber. Obama doesn’t say that Exxon Mobile pays more in taxes then it makes in profits. Basically a “it’s not fair” argument.

McCain — Insists that Obama wants to tax companies that are already taxed to much. Insists that those Obama wants to tax should have tax cuts.

I think McCain got the better part of this exchange.

Question — Deficit. What will you do about coming trillion dollar deficit. Both of your plans, as assessed by neutral number crunchers, will add to deficit.

Obama — Say’s we’ve been living beyond our means. Obama says he has proposed net spending cut.

Moderator — Exactly what?

Obama — I insist that we must pay as we go. Want’s to get rid of programs that don’t work. Wants to invest in America which translated means he wants to tax America. Wants to invest in young people which means he wants to give tax provided education. Dodges the question as far as providing particulars.

McCain — Home ownership again. My idea has roots in the past. Will cut expenses of energy.

Will bring in across the board spending freeze.

Then take out scalpel to start whittling away on the budge. Save on defense spending. (Marketing assistance program. Subsidy on Ethanol) I saved taxpayers 6.8 billions by opposition to defense project.

Obama has asked for giant earmarks.

Obama — Is against across the board spending freeze. Insists that he wants to fund some programs that are now underfunded. Insists that earmarks are not that big of deal. Says we had budget surplus when ‘W’ came into office. Blames problems on ‘W’ and then tries to tie McCain to Obama.

Moderator — Do either of you think you can balance budget in four years?

McCain — Not Bush. If you wanted to run against Bush you should have run four years ago. Says he can balance budget in four years. Defense budget freeze.

Is trying to identify with angry hurting Americans. Second time he has said this already.

Slams Obama’s voting record on economics. Cites watchdog groups who have rated Obama badly.

Obama — I bucked my party in tort reform bill. I am bipartisan. Shows anger at Fox news bias. Tries to tie McCain to Bush again on economic policies.

McCain — I have disagreed with Bush over and over. Bush becomes central to debate already. Obama tries to tie McCain to Bush. McCain keeps distancing himself from Bush. This is all about change. Who is going to bring the real change.

Moderator — Campaign has gotten mean and in the mud.

Here is McCain’s chance to nail Obama on his association.

McCain — Been a tough campaign. Faults Obama for not participating in more townhall meetings which would have bled the toughness of the current campaign off. Cites how mean that John Lewis was for saying that McCain / Palin were George Wallace clones. Rebukes Obama for not repudiating Lewis. Says absolutely nothing to Obama’s face about Ayers, Wright, ACORN, or any of his cronies. This is a overwhelming failure on McCain’s part.

Obama — Cites poll of 66% Americans say that McCain has been negative. Says he will put up with being attacked for next three weeks if he can bring help to middle class America. Prediction — If Obama becomes president you can look for Government to pay for all college expenses.

McCain — Cites nasty Obama adds that he saw on television. McCain insist that he has been positive.

Obama — Congressman Lewis’ comments have been nothing compared to things that Palin has said. Cites Palin rallies where people shouted ‘terrorists’ and ‘kill him.’ Cautiously repudiates Lewis. Insists that American people are cynical because of nasty campaign. I have tried to rise above it but it is tough.

McCain — I’m proud of people who come to our rallies. Whenever you gather 20,000 people you’re going to have fringe elements shouting strange things. My supporters are great citizens. “I’m not going to stand for Obama insulting my supporters.” McCain is such a wussy. Call OBAMA ON HIS TERRORISTS FRIENDS. QUITE DODGING THE ISSUE.

Obama — We need to disagree without being disagreeable. How profound.

McCain — Finally calls Obama on Ayers, and ACORN. Tell us about your relationship with Ayers. Cites Obama giving 800K to ACORN.

Obama — Mr. Ayers has become centerpiece of McCain campaign. Trots out Ayers being a education teacher canard. Trots out that he was 8 years old when Ayers bombed. Implies his Annenberg project was an upright project. Ayers has nothing to do with my campaign.

ACORN — apparently what they’ve done is to illegally register people. I’ve only represented them in motor voter laws. Obama is such a smooth liar. See Kurtz article. Insists that the people he will surround him in the White House are great people.

McCain — Cites Ayers and Obama’s connection. Sat on boards together which gave large amounts of money to ACORN. McCain then goes positive. I will do great things.

The issue finally became public. I don’t think McCain hammered enough and Obama was smooth in his self-defense. Americans have to check the record in order to find the truth here.

Moderator — Why would the country be better off if your running mate was to become President as opposed to your opponents running mate.

Obama — Biden is a great guy. He shares my convictions. Definitely a Blah, Blah, Blah, answer. Brings up the necessity of kids getting to go to college again. Look for this to be a centerpiece policy for Obama if he becomes President.

McCain — Palin is a great gal. She shares my conviction. Definitely a Blah, Blah, Blah, answer.

Moderator to Obama — Do you think she is capable to be President?

Obama — That’s for the American people to decide. Says that government needs to spend money in order to help special needs people. Says that McCain’s budget spending freeze will not allow the government to spend money on special needs children.

Moderator to McCain — Do you think Bide is capable to be President?

McCain — Biden is qualified but he has been seriously wrong about things. Slams Obama for continuing to want to spend taxpayer money at every opportunity.

Moderator — Dependence on foreign oil. Would each of you give a number on how much we can reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

McCain — We can eliminate dependence on Middle East and Venezuelan oil in 7-10 years by building 45 nuclear plants and developing alternate energy plans.

Obama — Agrees with McCain that 7-10 years is a good estimate. Insists that we can’t drill way out of problem. (I don’t think I necessarily agree with this.) Insists that we need to develop alternative energy sources.

Brief discussion on NAFTA. Obama believes that NAFTA has large portions that need to be renegotiated. McCain says that we must have reeducation program for people put out of work. Obama seems to be saying that while he has no problem with free trade he would like it to be fair trade as well. I agree with this point. Obama keeps talking about the government responsibility to see that fuel efficient cars are made.

McCain — Obama wants to restrict trade and raise taxes. Implies that Obama is pursuing Herbert Hoover policies.

Moderator — Health Care.

Obama — Wants to nationalize health care. Obama says that the Government will make it so health costs will be 25% less. Yeah, right. If the government gets involved look for the costs to increase by massive amounts. Obama’s plan will replace your doctor’s decision with government decision.

McCain — Government needs to make sure that employers provide incentive for their employees to be healthy and follow healthy living.

Obama — Describes how broken the system is but fails to note that the system is broken because of government involvement. Proposes fixing the problem with the solution that broke the system to begin with. Accuses McCain’s plan of being worthless and geared for the rich. Class envy.

McCain — Defends his system. Accuses Obama of pushing big government solutions. Says that his proposal advocates freedom while Obama’s advocates the Nanny State.

Moderator — Roe vs. Wade — Could either one of you appoint to the bench somebody who disagrees with you on Roe vs. Wade.

McCain — I don’t believe in litmus tests. Brags on being part of gang of seven (groan). McCain cites how mature he was for voting for Breyer and Ginsburg and faults Obama for not voting for Roberts and Alito (groan).

Obama — SCOTUS is an important issue in this election. No litmus test, but I do believe in Roe vs. Wade. Strongly implies that he wouldn’t nominate someone pro life.

So vote McCain and you’ll get someone who might appoint pro life judges. Vote Obama and you’ll know you won’t get pro-life judges. Some choice.

Obama cites the necessity to appoint judges who believe in “fairness.”

McCain — Cites Obama’s record in Illinois in his anti-life positions.

Obama — Insists that he didn’t vote to withhold life saving treatment to and infant. Liar. Insists that Doctors supported his position. Says he supports a ban on late term abortions as long as exception when there is a danger to mother’s life.

Tries to be sophisticate on Abortion. Says it divides us. Now Obama wants the Government to become involved in providing sex education.

McCain — Defends unborn. Admits that Americans must work together on this issue.

Moderator — Education — Why does our system suck so badly given how much we spend on education?

Obama — Promises to get our education system right. Advocates early childhood education. Wants to spend more money. Need army of new teachers. Give them more pay in exchange for better standards. Says the Government must pony up more money for college education. Offer four thousand dollar education credit in exchange for national service. Parents need to be more responsible.

Note — New army of teachers means continued largest government make work project in America. New army of teachers means teachers continue to control the Democratic party. New army of teachers means trouble for private schools and homeschooling. They are not going to hire an army of teachers and let people opt out.

McCain — Civil rights issue of 21st century. Advocates marketplace competition to make schools better. Lower loan rates.

Obama — Says more money is need from the government. Accuses Bush of not financing “No child left behind.” Early childhood education. More teachers with better pay. Says he agrees with fostering competition within the government school system. This is like saying that your for competition as long as there isn’t any competition. Fault’s McCain for supporting vouchers programs.

McCain — Slams Obama for not supporting vouchers. Defends “No Child Left Behind.” We need to examine it and reauthorize it (groan). Let’s reform “head start.” (How about we just get rid of head start?) Insists that he will be a reformer of education who won’t throw money at problem.

Obama — Disagrees with vouchers because data doesn’t support it. I think this is going to be a big part of a potential Obama presidency. Obama understands if you control education you control the future.

McCain — Mocks Obama saying that his position amounts to “because we don’t have enough vouchers we shouldn’t use the ones that work.”

Summary Statements

McCain — The issue is trust. Americans have to ask themselves which candidate they can trust the most to keep their word.

Obama — Ties McCain to Bush again. Cites current economic disaster. Cries for change. Calls for investing in American people. (Whenever you hear ‘invest in America’ you can be sure that increased taxation is coming.)