Dartblog

This debate is to focus on domestic policy (read: the economy) which is generally considered Obama’s forte. Tax policy and spending will probably be the main topics of the debate, moving past the social “wedge” issues that dominated debate during the 2004 election. Senator Obama believes that he can win on the economy, but Senator McCain just needs to articulate the conservative economic policies that have succeeded in the past and can succeed again- lower spending, lower taxes, less government interference.

9:20: So far I find myself unimpressed. The candidates are trotting out the same old talking points that we have heard debate after debate.

9:21: Three Democratic students just streaked the watch party- a repeat from their streaking efforts at the last debate. Always a crowd pleaser.

9:22: Finally, John McCain has said what he needs to say. “I am not George W. Bush. If you wanted to run against George W. Bush, then you should have run four years ago.” He seems to be on a role now speaking directly to Obama.

9:25: The moderator is challenging the candidates to say to each other’s face what their campaigns are saying about each other. McCain is showing some real emotion at the hurtful nature of remarks made towards him and his running mate. The most recent being allegations that they are heirs of the era of segregation. McCain has now brought out multiple instances where Obama has lied directly to the American people. Some of this straight talk is what has been missing from the campaign.

9:33: McCain will not stand for Obama denigrating people at his rallies- good, since I am one of them!

9:36: Why does Obama find it funny that ACORN is perpetrating voter fraud? He’s laughing! That is offensive and reveals serious questions about Obama’s ethics.

9:49: Obama wants to nationalize oil fields! (Telling companies “Use them or lose them” means that he expects the government to follow through on that promise). Sounds like socialism to me.

10:08: Sadly, pro-life stances do not seem to be a big hit in this room, perhaps because so many college women make the unfortunate choice to use abortion as birth control. Obama’s statement on this is completely antithetical to Catholic beliefs and again I wonder how any devout Catholic can, in good conscience, support his candidacy.

10:11: Obama voted against providing medical attention to babies that survive botched abortions. He also voted against a ban on partial birth abortion, a procedure extraordinarily heinous in nature.

10:12: Now three female streakers have gone by our watch party. Quite a raucous evening.

10:18: The candidates have now moved on to education policy which is of course of interest to college students like ourselves. I hear Obama appealing to college students by suggesting money for students in exchange for community service.

10:19: “Throwing money at the problem is not the answer”. Good point, Sen. McCain. While he is not advocating more grants for college students, McCain is trying to make it easier for students to obtain and pay back their student loans. This can be a hard pill to swallow as a college student who understands the heavy burdens faced by many of my peers upon graduation.

10:23: Oh this is rich. Obama is portraying himself as a responsible spender who is prepared to pay for all of his social programs. Unless he plans to increase taxes to European levels, he will be one of the largest deficit spending presidents in American history.

This debate was far better than the first 20 minutes, but still not quite what McCain needed. As a partisan, I found myself completely turned off by Obama’s arrogance, cockiness, and questionable ethics. As a Catholic, I was appalled by his views on abortion. But Obama did nothing to turn off independents leaning in his direction.