McCain spanks Obama in the first 2008 American presidential debate
Republicans should be delighted at how well the first American presidential debate went at Ole Miss on Friday, September 26, 2008. John McCain threw repeated jabs at Barack Obama over Obama’s lack of experience and indecisiveness on key issues. It was by no means a knock out to Obama. None the less, it reassures republicans that their candidate can definitely hold his own against the much younger, more charismatic, democrat candidate.
McCain’s strongest issues
It appeared that John McCain intended to highlight Obama’s lack of experience and knowledge regarding American foreign policy. He definitely accomplished that. McCain also landed punches by painting Obama as a big government spender. Here are some of the key things he pointed out:
- Obama did not support the successful surge in Iraq
- Obama incorrectly used terms like strategy and tactics
- Obama previously talked about having one on one talks with hostile country tyrants – McCain explained how this bad policy would legitimize that tyrant in the eyes of other countries and the people who live under that tyrant
- Obama never visited our troops in the middle east conflict until he decided to run for president.
- Obama’s intention on setting a public timeline for troop withdrawal from Iraq would be a major blunder in the war on terror.
- Obama has proposed a $900 billion increase in government spending.
- Obama lobbied congress for $932 million dollars in wasteful earmark spending for his home state.
- Obama tried to tag McCain as another George Bush – McCain said that he earned the label “Maverick” because he has differed on a number of issues with President Bush and other republicans.
- Obama even stated three separate times that John McCain’s policies were the right ones.
- It was obvious to anyone who watched the debate that McCain’s experience and credentials far outweigh Barack Obama’s inexperience when it comes to foreign policy. McCain got off to a slow start but finished extremely strong like a good football team does in the fourth quarter.
Obama’s attempts to win positions
Obama pointed out that McCain wants an expensive $300 billion in tax cuts – McCain countered by pointing out that Obama wants to increase spending by $900 billion and personally sponsored $932 million in earmark spending.