I just finally watched debate 3 all the way through. Obama doesn't hit back enough.

[Doctor_J]

Period.

McSame - "So-called health of the mother"

Obama - Wait a minute, Senator. Are you saying that women's physicians are lying about their patients' health just so they can terminate pregnancies? Are you saying that judges and not physicians should be deciding when patients' health is in jeopardy?

McSame - I was offended by Congressman Lewis's remarks. Why won't you repudiate them?

Obama - Well, John, unlike me, and unlike you, Congressman Lewis was a part of the civil rights struggle. He actually heard George Wallace's remarks, and was the target of hatred, prejudice, and violence. So I will not judge his first-hand comparison. Also, judging by the fact that your rallies and those of your running mate are consistently marked by calls for violence, including murder, maybe there is some validity to Congressman Lewis's comparison.

McSame - The average health insurance tab is $5800. My credit will pay for all but $800.

Obama - If the average tab is $5800, that means that roughly 150 million Americans pay more than that (I would explain the difference between the mean and the median but we don't have time). And of course people with pre-existing or special conditions would have to pay much more, if they could get insurance at all. Your plan will leave 40-50 million Americans without health insruance. Why can't we cover more than that? And I would like to make available to everyone the same health care plan that has taken care of you and your families for 30 years. Can you honestly say that that plan is not good?

Hit back, for Chrissakes

[Lucky 13]

1. Considering every polling organization says that the vast majority of people believe Obama won....

... I think he did just fine.

If he hit back at EVERYTHING thrown at him, McCain would have dominated the pace and lead the discussion.

Obama didn't need to refute everything. He needed to WIN. Which he did.

So, relax, for Crissakes

[gateley]

2. That seems to be the general consensus.

What we heard most was that he was 'too cautious'.

The more I think of it, the more I'm in agreement -- the 'health of the mother' example, and the others you cite, would have been non-confrontational points he could have hit back on.

But I still think this was Obama's best debate of the three, so I'm happy.

[steve2470]

3. I think he did fine. nt

[MrsBrady]

4. obama just let MCstupid fall over himself. McCain took care of his own demise nt

[Cirque du So-What]

5. My personal instincts lead me to strike back

in a way that not only negates my opponent's argument but also humiliates my opponent publicly. Then again, I'm not running for the highest office in the land. I have to rely on the judgment of professional campaigners who advise Barack Obama not to give the appearance of taking the debate personally, not to retaliate tit-for-tat against every utterance from McAnus' piehole, and not even to feel it's necessary to dignify everything McAnus says with a comment. It's about appearing PRESIDENTIAL - and Barack Obama has outdistanced McAnus in that department by light years.

It may not be quite so satisfying to witness Barack Obama appearing to concede points to McAnus, but in retrospect it's McAnus' fucked-up facial expressions, the grunting noises he made, and the fervent scribbling on his pad of paper that will be remembered long after the actual commentary of the debate has reached everyone's ears.

[geckosfeet]

6. Good responses - send them to O's staff. eom

[WI_DEM]

7. Why don't you run for president and then you can show us how it's supposed to be done.

[spanone]

8. it's over. period.

[Danger Mouse]

9. I'm sure Obama will read this and take it into consideration.

:eyes:

[kansasblue]

10. It's a 'win the debate' vs 'win the election' thing.

I think their goal was to look presidential and stay above the nasty finger pointing.

[jacksonian]

11. disagree

when your opponent says something that stupid, leave it there.

Responding would only give him a chance to "clarify" his remarks and fix the mistake.

[Solomon]

12. Exactly. Everybody already knows that Obama is the smartest

guy in the room. You don't want people to think you're a smart-ass though.

[DeepBlueDem]

13. It was Obamas worst perfomance and McSames best performance and Obama still won!

[msallied]

14. Obama picks his battles wisely. He's an issues man. Period.

He's not going to give audiences a Jerry Springer spectacle rife with one-liners and sound bites. That's what McCain did. And as we can see, it hasn't really helped him a whole lot.

[Lex]

15. He WON it according to all

indicators, so as far as I'm concerned he did just fine.

[SmileyRose]

16. Obama is not about hitting.

Obama is about standing firm for what is right. He'll protect himself if someone pulls back to punch, but he's not going to do the punching. That's what got him this far.

[elkston]

17. And consider this fact. I hate to bring up race again, but Obama is walking a tightrope

In the CNN "insta reaction" nearly every time Obama attacked or was critical of McCain, the lines with men went down. Most in the 'undecided' group was white males.

We have never elected a black president before. White men especially do not like seeing a black man getting overly combative with his white opponent. It's totally not fair, but its the way it is right now.

Therefore, Obama needs to make his argument firmly but with a sense of calm and respect. He sometimes gives deference to McCain that he doesn't deserve, but Obama knows that his audience will make the right judgments.

Let Obama win this election his way. Let's PROVE that we can elect a black president FIRST. Then, I think you'll see him loosen up a bit.

[Uzybone]

18. Monday morning quarterbacking at its finest

If you were in Obamas spot you'd probably be totally flustered. He won the debate by a wide margin.

[Doctor_J]

19. actually it isn't

Keith had on before the debate a Dem strategist who said that if McSame took the first swing, Obama would swing back and that would show the "right stuff". Some comebacks like the ones I posted would have been polite and devastating.

[Honeycombe8]

20. I agree. But he won on the strength of his plans and positions and communication skills.

He doesn't have the attack dog in him, I think. Plus, I this his campaign strategy has been that he doesn't want to be seen as an attacking, angry person.

Still, he could've simply pointed out what was wrong and a lie, and not be in attack mode.

I imagine those debates are pretty hard, though. And there's a lot of stuff going on in their heads at the same time. So....

He won, though, and that's what matters.

[Mz Pip]

21. I know what you're saying

but Obama cannot come across as angry or pushy.

I wanted a big time smack down, too, but what Obama is doing seems to be working so I'm not going to argue with success.

The biggest smack down of all will come on 1-20-09. After that date everyone will have to stand up when Obama walks into a room. That includes John McCain, Sarah Palin and Rush fucking Limpballs.

All those people who trashed him, slandered him, and libeled him will have to call him Mr. President. I can't wait.