# September 26 - The First Obama-McCain Debate **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 26, 2008, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357 "2008-09-26T16:49:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/181 "2008-09-27T02:08:10Z")
Are the lines only on CNN? I’m watching on MSNBC. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/182 "2008-09-27T02:08:10Z")
> [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](#): > > The green (indi) opinion tracker has been flat until now but it just took off in response to Obama’s “I’ve got a bracelet too” remark. Which way? I’m on the main HD feed OTA. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/183 "2008-09-27T02:08:21Z")
I would be seriously drunk if I took a shot every time Obama said, “Senator McCain is absolutely right.” He must’ve said that at least 6 times already! ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/184 "2008-09-27T02:08:21Z")
> [@anu-la1979](#): > > I’m also a Barak supporter and while I think he’s hitting McCain on the points I do think the average voter will think McCain is winning simply based on the appearance of > > a) McCain repeatedly taking digs while Obama is trying to answer points and > > b) Obama having to stave off McCain’s digs and explain them. The explainer always looks like he’s losing. > > So I kind of get what **Dead Badger** is saying. Good point. As **Crocodiles And Boulevards** said, it’s iffy to assume that the viewer who’ll be affected by this is more inclined to the intellectual side. And if instead that target viewer prefers reacting to the emotional vibe, then “smarmy confidence” impresses many of them favorably. ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/185 "2008-09-27T02:08:23Z")
WOW he butchered that. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/186 "2008-09-27T02:08:41Z")
Excellent response re: the cause of Iran’s current strength, i.e. the war in Iraq. “achmedenidininienednijad” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/187 "2008-09-27T02:08:43Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > I have no doubt that he did, but this is less about the issues and more about perception, and I’m pretty sure that hesitation won’t play well in the sticks. :rolleyes: i think you a picking a nit, here. He **did** know the soldier’s name. Your initial criticism was wrong. Just admit it, and move on. ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/188 "2008-09-27T02:09:04Z")
Ahma…whatever. ---
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/189 "2008-09-27T02:09:11Z")
Why won’t McCain look at Obama? I’ll reluctantly admit that McCain is holding his own in the discussions, but he looks like a grouchy, indignant old lady by refusing to turn his head toward that “noisy rude dark man on his left\*.” - My term ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/190 "2008-09-27T02:09:26Z")
Sure did. But really, who can actually say "Ahmen… Ah, hell, I can’t even spell it. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/191 "2008-09-27T02:09:41Z")
It can’t be just me, Obama is killing him on forgein policy. This shows what practice can do. Both of them boned up on their weaknesses. _Acmnen. . achmendeid. . ._ O.K., that was a low blow. I can’t say that guy’s name either. Ummm. What the hell is McCain talking about now? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/192 "2008-09-27T02:09:47Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > His answer on Iran wasn’t bad. Really? Perhaps I missed where he demonstrated that Iran is a threat to _The United States_. Not Israel, not Iraq, not the Middle East - the U.S. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/193 "2008-09-27T02:10:02Z")
It occurs to me that since I’m not watching the channel with the real-time viewer response tracking, I am not watching the same debate. The reason I don’t see all this win and fail, but just see a boring and even debate, is because I have no idea how other people are reacting to everything. I’ve switched over, and can now understand the comments about why Obama may or may not be losing. I had no context for that before. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/194 "2008-09-27T02:10:28Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > Sure did. But really, who can actually say "Ahmen… > > Ah, hell, I can’t even spell it. Dave Letterman can. Of course, he only has two words for him. “Short and ugly.” ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/195 "2008-09-27T02:10:52Z")
I don’t know how many people watched Dang – Obama just beat me to the punch. All 5 former Secretaries of State agree with Obama – you have to sit down and meet with Iran! ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/196 "2008-09-27T02:11:05Z")
I think Obama will score highly on this issue of sitting down and talking without preset agreements. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/197 "2008-09-27T02:12:09Z")
“Kissinger advocated talks with Iran without preconditions.” Obama wins the “preconditions” point. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/198 "2008-09-27T02:12:25Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > It occurs to me that since I’m not watching the channel with the bullshit real-time viewer response tracking, I am not watching the same debate. The reason I don’t see all this win and fail, but just see a boring and even debate, is because I have no idea how other people are reacting to everything. I’m watching that channel, but ignoring the lines. I call it a draw to this point; Obama has come back from an early lead by McCain. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/199 "2008-09-27T02:12:31Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > :rolleyes: > > i think you a picking a nit, here. He **did** know the soldier’s name. Your initial criticism was wrong. Just admit it, and move on. Admit what? That Joe Blow in BF Kentucky just saw Obama look down at the bracelet to confirm the name on it? That’s what it looked like he did, even if he didn’t. That is not the way to demonstrate your solidarity with the troops when McCain has already staked that area out and claimed it as his own. My criticism is no less valid than yours. Just admit it, and move on. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/200 "2008-09-27T02:12:39Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > What’s an “existential” threat? A threat to the existence of. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357.md?page=11)