Zero?? That's right, McCain. Zero. This debate was, by far, the starkest contrast in performance between the two candidates. Senator Obama was consistent, deliberate, and cool as always in his delivery while McCain struggled seemingly endlessly with boiling rage and hatred toward his opponent. Anyone watching McCain's overblown reactions might well assume that Barack had been caught screwing McCain's wife. Conversely, each time McCain called Obama out on something in a spiteful manner, Barack smiled politely as though he were visiting his senile grandfather who no longer knew where he lived. Obama would look pityingly toward the moderator and give these almost compassionate nods, indicative of his desire to allow grandpa to ramble for just a minute longer. This was a debate that was essential for McCain to win. He did, in fact, come out of the gates swinging and I was able to momentarily envision some serious throat-clenching, hair-wrenching action... but it never came to fruition. McCain set up his own failures, leaving the forum wide open for Obama at times when he should have simply said his piece. McCain's grimaces and frustrated frowns were a delightfully entertaining kaleidascope of angry countenances to the opposition watching at home. David Gergen of CNN said it best when asked for a post-debate reaction when he stated that this debate was almost an exercise in anger management for John McCain. It was hilarious to watch McCain huff and puff only to discover he was one of the three little piggies.
He did start off at a decent clip, however, thanking everyone and stopping momentarily to mention Nancy in the hospital, and then launching into his interest in backing homeowners. Obama hit right back though, whipping McCain about bank giveaways. McCain then turned course to Joe the Plumber (who was ecstatic to get as much play in a political campaign as he did; he was quoted later as saying it was "surreal" to be mentioned in that way) who stayed a topic of concern practically the entire time, though McCain's use of this man was softly ridiculed and quietly unappreciated by Barack, and after a bit of back and forth on the plumber's best interests, Barack's tone took a somewhat bored and annoyed tone. It was near mocking when they were finally through with poor Joe, though Barack was careful to turn this still-mild tone toward McCain and not toward Joe the Plumber. He also mentioned that if "Joe" believes that McCain's plan will help him more than Obama's will, it must be a result of McCain ad saturation. When asked about which concepts that Obama and McCain plan to enact in their future presidencies and which ones they will be forced to cut out, or tone down as priorities, Obama said that he would cut out programs that were already disfunctional and focus on the package that he has assembled for America which will, he seemed to imply, exclude by its very nature, the unnecessary programs and worthless spending projects that we're currently using money for. He would take the money that is being thrown out into defunct programs, cut those programs, and use the money for the investments he plans to make in this country. McCain on the other hand, in a perceived attempt to answer the question more directly than his opponent did, he flailed openly with what he would cut: marketing assistance, earmark spending (that was a given), and he waxed poetic about ethanol. He spoke of an "across the board spending freeze" (which later came back to haunt him). He talked about using a hatchet and then using a scalpel. Obama grabbed this one immediately, telling John McCain that his methodology was innately wrong, as this was clearly a job for a scalpel and not a hatchet. This was one pandora's box that McCain opened. The next one had to do with Maverick spirit. One of McCain's strongest points in this campaign has been that he - and Palin, of course - are Mavericks. They stand up to their own party, and they reach across party lines. They are nobody's bitch. Well, John McCain wiped the originality from it with one fell swoop when he directly asked Obama an open-ended question about what Barack Obama had done to stand up to his party and/or reach across the aisle. Realizing that he'd just had the entire political buffet spread before him, Obama jumped on the question, citing several ways he'd stood up to various constituents of his very own party - he was there, he would know better than McCain or anyone else, right? McCain, after sitting there, mouth agape, finally muttered something about Obama's credentials not being very "convincing".
At one point, however, John McCain looked Obama straight in the eye and told him, "I am not President Bush. If you wanted to run against Bush, you should have run four years ago." It was a very strong statement, and it reverberated throughout the debate forum. I thought it was strong, poignant, and well-delivered. Obama countered with a statement about the way McCain's policies are so similar to Bush's that he can't help but sometimes get them confused. It was a nice save, though McCain still looked rather pleased with himself, and it was probably his strongest moment of the debate. Obama could have pushed back harder, but he didn't feel the need, and everything moved along.
When asked if McCain would like to say the things that he's said openly to his base during his campaign about Barack Obama straight to his face, he surprisingly pulled back from the challenge. He cowered and, instead, attempted to talk about the abuses he felt that he and Palin had suffered and an attack regarding Lewis' statements about McCain. Obama countered aptly with a repudiation of Lewis' statements and with his confusion at the concern of his own failure to denounce remarks made by third parties when there were clearly some hurtful and tasteless remarks made by the crowds and supporters drawn by McCain himself and Palin; calling out things like "kill him" and "terrorist", to name a few. McCain oddly chose to defend these people, saying that he was proud of them and wouldn't stand for the calling out of these individuals. In essence, he basically validated their words and actions by barring criticism of these things. Obama smiled. The debate moved forward.
When asked about why their running mates would be better than the other's running mate, were anything to happen to the front-runner, as president, Obama left Palin alone entirely. Not a single easy hit did he attempt to jab in McCain's side. I was very proud of him, as he showed admirable restraint on such an easy target, and watched with shock and awe - and, let's be honest, a bit of disappointment - as he simply talked his own VP up without a mention of Palin's disastrous campaign thus far. However, McCain once again dug his own hole, speaking about Palin's connection with disabled children and their campaign's interest in dedicating themselves to finding the cause of autism. Obama brightly remarked that he might want to reconsider that "across-the-board spending freeze" if he were serious about getting down to the cause of autism within his campaign. You could almost see smoke pouring from McCain's ears. And I high-fived my fiance. And the debate moved forward.
The funniest part in the debate, however, was definitely when McCain asked yet another question that he did not in advance anticipate the answer to. He asked Obama directly - yet again - how much Joe the Plumber would be fined, were he to refuse participation in Obama's healthcare plan. Obama looked directly into the camera-lensed eye of Joe the Plumber and said, "Zero." McCain, clearly startled and taken aback by this unexpected response, blurted, "Zero??" Yep. Zero. Maybe McCain should have read Obama's blueprint a little more closely instead of pounding the air with his supporters in indignation for not-even-he-knows-what. A little less mob mentality would do the entire campaign a great deal of good. It might even lower his blood pressure.
So, it was a clear win for Obama tonight; even William Bennett, CNN panelist, spoke of how he thought that Obama should have "risen to the occasion" or what some might call "rising to the bait", Bennett said, to fight. It was my opinion that a good president will be capable of a great deal of restraint when encountering an opponent or nemesis. The president will not raise his voice, or seem strained or nervous. The president will not shake in anger when an enemy of our country says something that he doesn't want to hear. He will stand up and calmly, assertively explain that they simply disagree. I want to be convinced that my president can sit across the table from a true adversary and negotiate positive solutions for our country - and if not, walk away with dignity. McCain did not show that tonight, but Obama clearly did, even smiling during moments of unprecedented assault.
So, to answer your question yet again, John McCain, yes. Zero. One great, big, fat, zero. That's how much progress you made tonight, and that is also, coincidentally, your chance of becoming president.
MSNBC: 84.3% said Obama Won, 12.8% said McCain Won
CNN: 58% said Obama Won, 31% said McCain Won
CBS: 53% said Obama Won, 22% said McCain Won
FOX News: 66% said Obama Won, 34% said McCain Won.
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