U.S. Elections 2008
No Clear Winner in First Presidential Debate
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September 29, 2008 By Michelle Austein Washington — Presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama outlined their visions for U.S. foreign policy and criticized each other’s positions on the Iraq war in their first debate, but neither candidate emerged from the exchange as a clear winner. The 90-minute debate, held September 26 at the University of Mississippi, was supposed to focus on foreign policy, but in light of recent financial problems in the United States, economic issues were a large part of the conversation. McCain cited his years of experience in the Senate and described Obama as inexperienced. Obama suggested McCain would not bring change by comparing the Arizona senator to President Bush. “I have a record of being involved in these national security issues, which involve the highest responsibility and the toughest decisions that any president can make, and that is to send our young men and women into harm's way,” McCain, the Republican candidate, said. “The next president has to have a broader strategic vision about all the challenges that we face,” Democrat Obama said. “That sense is something that I want to restore.” U.S. MILITARY ENGAGEMENT IN IRAQ One of their most heated exchanges came during a discussion on the Iraq war — one of Americans’ top foreign policy concerns. Asked to reflect on the United States’ involvement in the country over the past five years, McCain said, “We are winning in Iraq and we will come home with victory and with honor.” Obama, reiterating his opposition to the war, said, “We did not use our military wisely in Iraq.” McCain noted that he was an early supporter of President Bush’s surge plan. “I went to Iraq in 2003 and came back and said we've got to change this strategy,” McCain said. “And finally, we came up with a great general and a strategy that has succeeded.” The Republican candidate said that even Senator Obama, an initial opponent of the surge plan, has said that it worked. “Senator McCain is absolutely right that the violence has been reduced as a consequence of the extraordinary sacrifice of our troops and our military families,” Obama said. “But understand, that was a tactic designed to contain the damage of the previous four years of mismanagement of this war.” The Democrat said McCain was wrong at the beginning of the war when he said the conflict would be quick and Americans would be greeted as liberators. FOREIGN POLICY GOALS Discussing foreign policy goals, Obama said he believes the United States needs to better cooperate with allies to fight al-Qaida. “It is important for us to understand that the way we are perceived in the world is going to make a difference, in terms of our capacity to get cooperation and root out terrorism,” Obama said. “And one of the things that I intend to do as president is to restore America's standing in the world.” McCain said he knows “how to deal with our adversaries, and I know how to deal with our friends.” He described terrorism as “the central issue of our time” and the war in Iraq as a key element of the war on terrorism. “If we fail in Iraq, it encourages al-Qaida,” he said. Both candidates agreed a nuclear Iran would be a major threat. McCain proposed forming a league of democracies that could impose meaningful sanctions, while Obama said he would engage in “tough direct diplomacy” with Iran. Each also expressed concern about Russia. “Our entire Russian approach has to be evaluated, because a resurgent and very aggressive Russia is a threat to the peace and stability of the region,” Obama said. The Illinois senator said Russia’s actions in Georgia deserve a strong response from the international community. “We want to work with the Russians. But we also have every right to expect the Russians to behave in a fashion and keeping with a … country who respects international boundaries and the norms of international behavior,” McCain said. He said Obama did not fully understand Russia’s aggressive behavior towards Georgia. COUNTRY’S ECONOMIC FUTURE Although the debate’s designated topic was foreign policy and national security, economics dominated the first half of the debate. Moderator Jim Lehrer termed the “global financial crisis” an element of national security. Trouble in the United States’ financial markets has dominated world headlines as President Bush and Congress work to create a recovery plan that would buy bad mortgage loans and shore up the U.S. financial system. The candidates, who are both sitting senators, said they would support a bill that provides oversight to ensure American taxpayers are protected. The cost of the financial rescue plan is estimated at $700 billion, which could affect the next president’s ability to pay for proposed programs. Asked about this, Obama said, “There are a range of things that are probably going to have to be delayed,” but that some of his proposals — achieving energy independence, fixing the U.S. health care system, improving education and repairing the nation’s infrastructure — are essential. McCain said the financial crisis is another reason why the United States needs to cut wasteful government spending. “We've let government get completely out of control,” he said, adding that he has the experience necessary to review every government agency’s spending. Following the debate, campaign surrogates were quick to describe their candidate as the winner, but political specialists said there was no clear victor in this contest. A CBS poll taken of undecided voters after the debate found that 39 percent thought Obama won, 24 percent thought McCain won and 37 percent thought the debate was a draw. The next presidential debate, an event with a town-hall format where audience members ask the questions, is October 7. |
