Notes on First 2008 Presidential Debate. Arrows indicate person who spoke first (on a per row basis.)1

-Barack ObamaQuestionsJim Lehrer 2

-John McCain

I n i t i a l R e s p o n s e

-Believes government ‘bailout’should be used to protect taxpayersand not “pad wallets” of CEOs.-Plan must be responsible and hasoversight.-Current economic state can be blamed on Bush + McCain policies.<Where do youstand on thefinancialrecovery plan?-Criticizing Democrats andRepublicans that they could notwork together until Republicanstook the lead. (FALSE:Republicans abstained from muchof the initial negotiations)

R e b u t t a l s

-Realized last year that therewould be economic problems thisyear.-We will have to intervene, butwill also have to look at howregulations were ignored, andMcCain believes that governmentregulation is bad.<-Warned about corporate greed.-Eisenhower wrote 2 letters, one of congratulations and resignation.->Lost accountability. We needaccountability/responsibility.-We need responsibility, but even before a bad event happens.Healthcare system broken, energy policy not working.-“John, 5 days ago, you said theeconomy was sound.”<-“We have a long way to go.”-Consolidation of regulatoryagencies that weren’t doing their job.“Fundamental belief in thegoodness of the Americanworker…United States of America.”

I n i t i a l R e s p o n s e

-Suspended earmark spending for his state.-McCain proposed $300 bill in taxcuts for corporations.-Grow the economy from the bottom up, tax cut for 95% of American families.>What wouldyou do differentfrom Obama oneconomic policy?-Earmarking is a gateway to out of control spending.-Obama spent over $932 millionon earmarks.

R e b u t t a l s

-Tax breaks for companies thatinvest in US-Health system for everyone tohave basic coverage.-These are important programs.-Will “go line by line” to spendmore wisely.-McCain’s tax policies rewardsthose doing well and neglectsthose doing poorly.>-Obama suspended pork-barrel projects after his start of presidential campaign.-Has fought against earmarks,called “Sheriff”-Obama proposed $800 billion innew spending, he wants to cutspending.

-Business taxes are high here, butMcCain has supported manyloopholes in tax code, our businesses have some of lowesttaxes in the world.-McCain wants to add additionaltax cuts over loopholes.-Health credit-McCain wants totax health benefits from employers-Less regulation does not mean better.>Your policy ontax cuts-Wants to cut business tax to keep businesses + create jobs.-Wants everyone to have a $5000tax credit to purchase ownhealthcare.-Worse thing to do is to raise taxes.-McCain wanted to give $4 bill tooil companies-Energy bill on floor is good.McCain opposed to it even thoughhas offshore drilling since it takesaway tax breaks to oil.>-I voted against tax breaks for oilcompanies, Obama voted for it.-Obama voted for tax increaseswho make as low as $42,000

I n i t i a l R e s p o n s e

-Hard to anticipate what to do nextyear, not all his programs will bedone-Energy independence in 10 years,alternative energy, US-producedfuel efficient cars-Fix healthcare system.-Space system-Affordable college for everyone-Infrastructure (transportation,electricity grid)<What are yougoing to have togive up, interms of priorities, tohave to pay for the financialrescue plan?-Obama has most liberal votingrecord, hard to negotiate.-Opposes ethanol addition to gas.-Some programs’ costs are out-of-control. Wants fixed cost contracts.-Defense spending vital.-Saved taxpayers $6.8 bill onBoeing/Dept. of Defense contract.-Examine every agency of government.

R e b u t t a l s

-Won’t give up need for energyindependence, but individualcomponents may go.-McCain gives $15 mill subsidiesto private health comp.-Lobbyists-Worked with Tom Colburn, andopened up governement books.< Neither one is proposing major changes on bailout.-Some underfunded or excess suchas Medicare-$10 bill on Iraq, when they have$79 bill surplus.>One of you will become president, inmidst of hugefinancial crisis,not how it willaffect u, butwhat u will do-Spending freeze, with exceptionsof veteran affairs, national defense,and other vital issues-Offshore drilling, nuclear power can make jobs, helps with climatechange.

-No doubt will affect budget.-Assume market come back,government gets back money.-Short term may not happen,should expect less tax revenue-To make that, need to know our priorities. ($300 bill tax cuts vs.healthcare)<Are u willing toacknowledgethat the crisiswill have amajor move onthe way u act?-Make sure not handing health caresystem to federal government.-Wants family to make healthdecision.-Cut spending, Obama has $800 bill in new spending programs.-Veteran programs.-Healthy economy by loweringtaxes, not raising, and restraint is best recipe.-We owe China $500 bill-You agree with Bush 90% of thetime, voted for almost all of his budgets.-Can’t say you will lead oncontrolling spending.<-Not elected Miss Congeniality inSenate.-Opposed Bush on climate change,Guantanamo Bay, Iraq war conducted. Maverick.-Partner is Maverick too.

I n i t i a l R e s p o n s e

-Fundamental difference-Should we have gone in the first place-Opposed war from beginning,cost, exit strategy, int’lrelationship, not finished inAfghanistan, not caught OBL-Spent $600 bill, lost 4,000 lives,wounded 30,000. Al-Qaidastronger than before. Spending $10 bill/month-Lesson is we should never hesitate to use military force, buthave to use it wisely.>What are thelessons of Iraq?-Can’t have failed strategy-War after Afghanistan badlyhandled-Fought for change in strategy in beginning, and this has succeeded.We are winning.-Will come home with victory +honor, which will have a stableally.-Consequences of defeat-Iran,increase in sectarian violence.

R e b u t t a l s

>-Obama: Surge would not work,until recently, but still says hewould still oppose surge today-Obama has never went to Iraq for 900 days/never met Petraeus

I n i t i a l R e s p o n s e

-Biden chairman of ForeignRelations Committee.-Violence has been reduced due totroops, but that was tactic tocontain damage of previous 4 yrsof mismanagement-McCain said war would be easy,knew where WMD were. Wrong.-Who is best equipped on how weuse our military?<Point aboutnever having been to Iraq-Obama doesn’t know diff betweentactic and strategy-I’m patriotic and troops want togo back -Peace is happening in Iraq, samestrategy will be applied toAfghanistan by Petraeus, this greatgeneral.