# 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:** 14
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/261 "2008-09-27T02:27:47Z")
> [@ladyfoxfyre](#): > > I like how McCain keeps trying to point out that Obama just doesn’t understand so much. I noticed this as well. It comes off as very condescending. ---
**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, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/262 "2008-09-27T02:28:02Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Meh. They’ll forget about it before the end of the debate. Nah, they’re either all in bed or watching reruns of Matlock. ---
**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, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/263 "2008-09-27T02:28:23Z")
Aaaargh, Obama was just about to nail McCain on wanting nuclear waste to go to Nevada instead of Arizona, and both Lehrer and McCain started talking over him! ---
**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, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/264 "2008-09-27T02:28:37Z")
I guess that’s what he worked on. Being really condescending. ---
**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, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/265 "2008-09-27T02:28:58Z")
Yeah it’s really getting old and annoying. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/266 "2008-09-27T02:29:04Z")
Who the hell picked McCain’s dazzle tie? That said, the Old Dude has not completely screwed up. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/267 "2008-09-27T02:29:44Z")
Largest reorganization of America’s government… “since we’ve established the Defense Department” OR “since the Great Society”. Which is it, McCain?? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/268 "2008-09-27T02:29:49Z")
On a totally shallow note, is McCain’s tie pattern making anyone else naueous? It doesn’t work well with the reception. ETA: Simul-post, **Paul**! 😛 (If I wasn’t in the midst of having my seizure meds adjusted, that’d definitely be a shot) ---
**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, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/269 "2008-09-27T02:29:54Z")
Why does McCain keep bringing up torture. Does he think everyone forgot how he flipped that flop? The folksy is killing me. I cannot be objective when every time McCain pulls out “a family he met”, I wanna slap him. ---
**Author:** ![Auntbeast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Auntbeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Auntbeast)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/270 "2008-09-27T02:29:55Z")
Obama should have insisted on making that point. He is being way, way too nice. ---
**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, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/271 "2008-09-27T02:30:37Z")
I want Obama to bring up the Lugar-Obama Nonproliferation Bill, the Coburn-Obama Federal Transparency Bill, and any of a whole [host of other legislation he’s worked with Republicans on](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=10219411&postcount=35). I’m sick of him letting McCain win the “working across the aisle” game. ---
**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, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/272 "2008-09-27T02:30:49Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > The folksy is killing me. I cannot be objective when every time McCain pulls out “a family he met”, I wanna slap him. Maybe, but populism plays well with his constituency. ---
**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, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/273 "2008-09-27T02:31:04Z")
Obama: good poins about the need for the US to have international stature & respect in order to obtain intl cooperation which need rebuilding. ---
**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, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/274 "2008-09-27T02:31:11Z")
I thought the collapse of the USSR was a major part of ending the Cold War, not missile defense. ---
**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, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/275 "2008-09-27T02:31:29Z")
Does Obama understand _anything_?😃 ---
**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, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/276 "2008-09-27T02:31:29Z")
Senator Obama doesn’t understand repetition #9. Gentlemen, take your shot. ---
**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, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/277 "2008-09-27T02:32:04Z")
I remember back from a couple months ago, lots of pundits were saying that “this election was about Obama” and that “the country doesn’t know him” and that he needed to get out there and define himself. Assuming that many people have not been paying attention much to date (unlike those of us in this thread), this debate may be the first \*major \*exposure to Obama they have gotten. So, without thinking about this in a “who won?” mindset, how do you think Obama came across to those who might not know much about him? ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/278 "2008-09-27T02:32:08Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > Yeah, that would _really_ score points with the AARP voters! I don’t understand. ---
**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, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/279 "2008-09-27T02:32:13Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > Does Obama understand _anything_?😃 No, cause he’s so naive… Let me tell you a story about the 80’s… ---
**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, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357/280 "2008-09-27T02:32:23Z")
If i were a drinker, for the next debate my phrase would be “Obama just doesn’t understand.” I’d be drunk in about 8 minutes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/september-26-the-first-obama-mccain-debate/465357.md?page=15)