Sept. 26 Presidential Debate

Earlier tonight, Senators John McCain and Barack Obama sparred over spending, taxes, energy, and the war in Iraq at the University of Mississippi in Oxford. This was the first head-to-head debate in the 2008 Presidential Campaign and, in my opinion, it's way past time for them to face each other. The debate, moderated by Jim Lehrer, was almost suspended on McCain's request because he wanted to focus on the financial crisis the country is in. It was a noble move, but I thought should have gone ahead with the first one-on-one debate seeing as how Election Day is only 39 days away.

McCain decided a few hours in advance to attend, two days after announcing he would try to have the event rescheduled if Congress had not reached an agreement on an economic bailout to deal with the crisis now gripping Wall Street.

Let's buzz over the details.

John McCain accused Barack Obama of compiling "the most liberal voting record in the United States Senate." Senator Obama shot back, "Mostly that's just me opposing George Bush's wrong-headed policies." Obama said McCain has been a loyal supporter of the unpopular president, adding that the current economic crisis is "a final verdict on eight years of failed economic policies promoted by President Bush and supported by Senator McCain."

Both men were polite, but intense as the debate progressed.

McCain accused Obama of the "incredible thing of voting to cut off funds for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan," a reference to legislation that cleared the Senate more than a year ago.

Obama disputed that, saying he had opposed funding in a bill that presented a 'blank check' to the Pentagon while McCain had opposed money in legislation that included a timetable for troop withdrawal.

Obama opposed the invasion of Iraq in 2002, before he was a member of Congress, while McCain voted in the Senate to authorize the war.

"You were wrong" on Iraq, Obama repeated three times in succession. "John, you like to pretend the war began in 2007."

McCain replied that Obama has refused to acknowledge the success of the troop buildup in Iraq that McCain recommended and Bush announced more than a year ago.

McCain also sought to turn his age to his advantage. "There are some advantages to experience and knowledge and judgment," he said. "And I honestly don't believe that Senator Obama has the knowledge or experience to serve as commander-in-chief."

McCain also made a point of declaring his independence from Bush. "I have opposed the president on spending, on climate change, on torture of prisoners, on Guantanamo Bay, on the way that the Iraq War was conducted. I have a long record and the American people know me very well... a maverick of the Senate."

The two men were pointed but polite, although at least once McCain sought to depict Obama as naive on foreign policy. That was in response to Obama's statement that it might become necessary to send U.S. troops across the Pakistani border to pursue terrorists.

"You don't say that out loud," retorted McCain. "If you have to do things, you do things."

He also criticized Obama for having said he would sit down without precondition with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

"So let me get this right, we sit down with Ahmadinejad and he says 'we're going to wipe Israel off the face of the earth' and we say, 'no you're not.' Oh please," McCain said.

The two men also differed on federal spending. McCain said a freeze on most government spending was worth considering, except for veterans, defense and "some other vital issues."

Obama said the problem with that was that some programs needed more money. He mentioned early childhood education as an example.

The opening question concerned the economic crisis. While neither candidate committed to supporting bailout legislation taking shape in Congress, they readily agreed lawmakers must take action to prevent millions of Americans from losing their jobs and their homes.

Both also said they were pleased that lawmakers in both parties were negotiating on a compromise.

McCain took shots at Obama, who he said has requested millions of dollars in pork barrel spending, including some after he began running for president.

As he has already said frequently, McCain vowed to veto any lawmaker's pork barrel project that reaches his desk in the White House. "You will know their names and I will make them famous," he said.

Though the polls say McCain won this debate, I actually thought Obama did better—a lot better than I thought he would do. He seemed to have kept McCain on the defense most of the time. He concentrated on the middle class and the problems that average, everyday Americans are having.

However, I did like McCain's foreign policy arguments; he did a little better in that area but, surprisingly enough, Obama held his own quite well.

All in all, the debate didn't show any of the significance that I was expecting. The whole thing seemed very rehearsed and flat and neither candidate really noticeably jumped out on top. It was like watching a bitch-slapping match between two toddlers.

As I've said before, McCain needs to focus on the benefits of deregulation and low taxes in regards to the economy, limited government, individual liberty, a clear plan for energy independence, and a reassuring strategy for the War on Terror. His needs to be a positive message of optimism, hope, and American potential.

By the way, I've gotten e-mails asking about why I haven't posted an official position on the Wall Street financial crisis or the bailout plan and my response is that I have not yet formed a solid position on the issue. I don't like posting "I don't knows" on my blog. This is a very complex issue and when I have solidified my personal point-of-view, you will be the first to see it.