It was close, but in the end, it’s three for three for Mr. Obama.‚ This one was a harder to call, McCain obviously worked a hell of a lot harder in preparing for this debate.
“Joe the plumber” was the star of the beginning of the debate.‚ Joe the plumber is a reference to Joe Wurzelbacher, a man who now wants to buy a small business that earns a little over $250,000 per year.‚ The problem is that the purchase would, allegedly, put him into a higher tax bracket under Obama’s tax plan and he doesn’t want that. He’s cited Obama’s tax plan as the “death” of the American Dream.
In reality, $250,000 is a lot of dough.‚ So sorry Joe, but you having to pay more taxes on your quarter of a million dollar business isn’t a big deal for the average American. People are losing houses and jobs and we are talking about this guy having to pay more taxes?‚ Really?
Small businesses create valuable jobs and in today’s economy more jobs are more than necessary.‚ But Obama’s tax increases would only affect those small business owners who make over $200,000 per year in taxable income.‚ If the business itself earns $250,000 a year, there would be no tax hike.‚ ‚ That means Joe wouldn’t be placed in a higher tax bracket if he decides to buy his small business.
In fact, according to CNN Money’s Fact Check, less than 2% of all American small businesses would see their taxes go up, while 95% of all Americans would see their taxes go down.‚ That’s a pretty good ratio.
McCain said he wouldn’t penalize men in Wurzelbacher’s position.‚ Little did he know, neither will Obama.
He also called Obama’s tax plan “class warfare.”‚ Whoa.
McCain came out of the gate stronger.‚ He gained some of ground on the economy and Obama didn’t have the chance to defend his views and proposals.‚ The thing is though, people are already pretty confident with Obama’s ideas for the economy.
McCain AGAIN proposed an across the board spending freeze and said he’d balance the budget in four years. Is he talking about America’s budget?
Obama did pick up as the debate went on. He stayed calm as McCain became more agitated.‚ There was a lot of negativity from McCain, in his words and tone, and the negativity is what cost him the debate.‚ He called Obama out on Bill Ayers and Obama defended himself, in the end calling McCain out on his negative tone.‚ He told McCain that his repeated negativity “says more about your campaign than it says about me.”
This tone negated his strong start and gave Obama the chance to regain some of the ground he lost at the beginning.‚ It wasn’t Obama strongest debate, but it certainly was one he won.‚ He didn’t win it on his own accord, he won it because McCain let him.‚ He opened the door and let Obama walk right through, slowly but surely.
His attacks were in one way effective though. He grilled Obama constantly and this forced Obama to go on the defensive a lot more often, allowing less time for him to answer questions.
They talked about abortion and gave almost polar opposite viewpoints.‚ McCain satisfied his conservative base and Obama satisfied his liberal base.
McCain again boasted his past as a soldier in his closing remarks.‚ Obama’s closing remarked on how America’s turnaround will not be “easy” and it will “not be quick.”
In the end though, Obama effectively distanced himself from the negativity that has dominated the campaign as of late and offered some new ideas and new explanations for the economy and education.
Most polls are citing Obama as the victor, notably both CNN and CBS.
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