# 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:** 11
**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, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/201 "2008-09-27T02:12:42Z")
Spain is a NATO ally! ---
**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, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/202 "2008-09-27T02:12:43Z")
Great line from the Indecision 2008 live blog. “Iran is an existential threat to Israel. Just like Sartre.” ---
**Author:** ![DarkPrince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@DarkPrince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarkPrince)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/203 "2008-09-27T02:12:44Z")
Obama’s tearing him apart in regards to Iran, imho. ---
**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, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/204 "2008-09-27T02:13:04Z")
Screw Spain. They torture animals for sport. Screw 'em. I wouldn’t sit down with them either! ---
**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, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/205 "2008-09-27T02:13:27Z")
“I don’t even have a seal yet” Ha ha ha ha. :wipes away a tear: ---
**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, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/206 "2008-09-27T02:13:59Z")
Again, with the not understanding bit. I keep hearing it to “Parents just don’t understand”. “Obama just don’t understand…” ---
**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, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/207 "2008-09-27T02:14:09Z")
What the fuck is up with the scary voice? ---
**Author:** ![DarkPrince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@DarkPrince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarkPrince)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/208 "2008-09-27T02:14:31Z")
When in doubt, invoke Reagan! ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/209 "2008-09-27T02:14:32Z")
What do the height of North Koreans have to do with…??? ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/210 "2008-09-27T02:14:43Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > 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. Huh. I thought Obama came out quite strong. His very first answer was strong and specific, and blew McCain’s generalities out of the water, IMO. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![twhitt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@twhitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twhitt)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/211 "2008-09-27T02:14:45Z")
> [@ladyfoxfyre](#): > > Again, with the not understanding bit. I keep hearing it to “Parents just don’t understand”. > > “Obama just don’t understand…” I’ve noticed a lot of this too ---
**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, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/212 "2008-09-27T02:15:46Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > 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. McCain didn’t name his dead soldier at all, and the kind of asshole who’s looking for something like that to jump on is going to vote for McCain anyway. I think you’ve correctly identified exactly what clip that Fox News will be airing endlessly, though. ---
**Author:** ![Discipline](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/82dd89/32.png) [@Discipline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Discipline)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/213 "2008-09-27T02:15:56Z")
Why can’t McCain look at Obama? Seriously, what is this? It’s a debate right? ---
**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, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/214 "2008-09-27T02:15:58Z")
“I know Henry Kissinger. I’ve worked with Henry Kissinger. You, senator, are NO Henry Kissinger!” ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_fun_ball/32/17664_2.png) [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/215 "2008-09-27T02:16:02Z")
This is depressing me; Senator McCain is doing much better than I expected him too. IN fact, I feel like he has been doing better than Senator Obama… ---
**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, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/216 "2008-09-27T02:16:13Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > What do the height of North Koreans have to do with…??? Clearly the North Korean gov’t is SO repressive that they push down on the heads of their citizens, keeping them down in all ways possible. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/217 "2008-09-27T02:16:41Z")
Why the fuck did McCain bring up the height of South Koreans vs. North Koreans? The hell??? Christ I can’t believe how condescending McCain is. If Gore got slammed for sighing, I wonder if McCain will get smacked down for his smirking, inability to look at Obama, and “oooh boogie man!” inflection? ---
**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, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/218 "2008-09-27T02:16:51Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > Screw Spain. They torture animals for sport. Screw 'em. I wouldn’t sit down with them either! 😕 ---
**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, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/219 "2008-09-27T02:17:02Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I think you’ve correctly identified exactly what clip that Fox News will be airing endlessly, though. You’re probably right on 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, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/220 "2008-09-27T02:17:04Z")
> [@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 don’t have that either, I’ve just got the BBC feed. To be fair, I’ve not heard Obama speak much off the cuff before (we don’t get much live coverage here in the UK); reading around, it seems that the umming and ahhing are something of a characteristic. I just found it pretty jarring. Either he’s not doing it as much now, or I’m getting used to it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357.md?page=12)