Barack Obama and John McCain's Second Debate
Town Hall Questions Focus on Economy and Foreign Policy
Oct 8, 2008
Though the format for the second U.S. presidential debate was a bit different – a "town hall" style where the audience asked the questions and moderator Tom Brokaw only posed questions for one-minute "discussion" periods – the areas of concern were once again the economy and foreign policy. Other topics addressed in that context were health care, energy, Social Security, Medicare, and the environment.
The Bailout and the Global Economic Crisis
The first four questions in this debate focused unsurprisingly on the current economic situation. Obama focused on the need for regulation, his proposed tax cut for 95% of Americans, and of course placed the blame on the economic policies of the Bush administration. Obama also focused on programs like health care, energy, and education in the long-term.
McCain began by hitting hard on his plan to buy up mortgages and re-value homes, and then shifted focus to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. He again focused strongly on his record and trying to show that Obama and the Democrats voted the wrong way on economic issues. The catch phrase "reaching across the aisle" came up many times in the economic context, as did earmarks and spending increases.
Both candidates mentioned special interests and lobbyists, as well as energy independence as an economic fix. While McCain repeated his spending freeze idea, Obama suggested using a scalpel rather than a hatchet to eliminate all unnecessary spending but continue beneficial programs. When asked to prioritize programs, McCain insisted that everything could be done at once. Obama listed energy, followed by health care, followed by education as priorities.
Spending on Health Care, Energy, and Entitlement Programs
In the second third of the debate, the focus shifted to specific programs and the two candidates' tax plans. The tone also turned increasingly hostile, with McCain attacking Obama's approach to small businesses and playing up job creation while Obama focused on the middle class and how his tax plan would help families.
On entitlement programs, McCain insisted that fixing Social Security is easy and that he knows how to do it, but considers Medicare more complex. Again, he focused on the problems of special interests and proposed that his idea for a commission to figure out a reform package and then let Congress make an up or down vote would eliminate those problems. Obama focused on his tax plan, suggesting that it would free up money for programs that could then be stabilized in the long term. He said that he would address entitlement programs in his first term but not the first two years.
On energy, both candidates focused on job creation and alternative fuels. While Obama attacked McCain for focusing too heavily on drilling, McCain criticized Obama for suggesting that nuclear energy is not already safe and clean. On health care, the candidates highlighted portions of their programs: McCain talked about private solutions, tax credits, and allowing people to use insurance across state lines while Obama emphasized letting families keep current plans, working with companies to lower premiums, not letting companies disqualify individuals with pre-existing conditions, and a tax credit to small businesses for employee health care.
Foreign Policy: Iraq, Iran, and Russia
In the final portion of the debate, the candidates answered questions on the country's ability to act as a world peacekeeper during economic crisis, their positions on Pakistan and Russia, and what their responses would be to an Iranian attack on Israel. On the latter question, both candidates emphasized sanctions and neither suggested that Security Council approval would be necessary to defend Israel, though Obama advocated more strongly for diplomacy.
Both candidates also focused on keeping a cool head and making reasoned judgements in the War on Terror. Both attacked the other's record on Iraq and Afghanistan. McCain repeatedly mentioned the surge and General Petraeus, while Obama focused more on Afghanistan. On Russia, the candidates attacked each other's positions but both appeared to be advocating essentially the same tough stance.
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