Posted by
Sean Engmann on Thursday, October 16, 2008 5:18:49 AM
Tonight, for the first time in the three debates, John McCain began to expose Barack Obama for what he is, a socialist dressed as a moderate. Every proposal Obama made was a new government program or more funding and more mandates. The enduring line is when McCain had a slip of the tongue and referred to Obama as "Senator Government" a line, by the way, McCain should repeat for the rest of the campaign. Bob Schieffer did a great job as moderator tonight because he allowed both Senators to illustrate their core beliefs, and at the core, McCain believes in the individual, Obama believes in government. That needs to be the issue and the theme of the remainder of the campaign.
On points, who won the debate? A lot of focus groups still say Obama because Barack was able to, in a deft, lawyerly way, deflect criticism and obscure his positions. His answers were cool, calm and collected, but as McCain pointed out, they were eloquent and indirect. Eloquent and indirect is a really good description of Obama's campaign. On healthcare, what's more important, expanding coverage or reducing costs Obama was asked, his answer, both. Never mind that the two are mutually exclusive. How about Obama's idea of the need for restraint and fiscal responsibility, while at the same time proposing massive spending increases. On abortion, Obama when presented with facts in his voting record simply changed the subject and on Supreme Court appointments, he said he opposed a litmus test and then explained for two minutes the need for one. The biggest whopper remains that he continues to claim he will cut taxes for 95%, even when confronted with the Joe the Plumber scenario and a Wall Street Journal expose that says that Obama's tax policies would serve as a disincentive to work. Obama though, came across as smooth, slick and very glib, though carrying little substance.
I think that this debate will serve John McCain well for the rest of the campaign. Obama's demeanor on the stage when McCain was answering, his laughs and smirks made him appear to be very arrogant, and his indirect way of speaking could turn some people off. More importantly, though, it lays the groundwork for the clear contrasts between McCain and Obama, the issue of government mandates versus personal responsibility. While the American people blame the GOP for the state of the economy, by and large, they still have a much more Reaganesque vision of the economy, and want the government out of their lives and off of their backs. The great irony is that a man with very socialistic views is benefitting as the American people want lower taxes and more accountability. If McCain can tap into that sentiment and make personal responsibility and smaller government the centerpieces of his campaign, while contrasting that with Obama's vision of big government, he has a chance in this election. Tonight he opened the door to do that, so it could prove to be a good night for McCain.