The Conservative Revolution

McCain is coming out strong, hitting Obama hard on taxes on small businesses and pointing out that Obama wants to “spread the wealth around.”

Obama says he wishes we didn’t have to pay taxes. McCain says, “Then don’t raise taxes on anyone.”

McCain wants to get a hatchet out for the federal government. Opposes tariffs on sugar ethanol and subsidies for domestic corn-based ethanol. Now he is hitting Obama on pork barrel spending projects.

Obama looks calm, McCain looks combative. Good.

McCain hits Obama on taxes and spending, again. Points out that Obama supported higher taxes on the middle class.

Obama disputes the latter point, and says McCain is proposing 8 more years of Bush economic policy.

McCain give a laundry list of ways he differs from his political party.

McCain says Obama has run more negative ads than any other candidate in presidential history. Then, he hits Obama on not taking public financing for his campaign.

Next topic: nasty ads and fringe elements at rallies.

Finally, McCain brings up Ayers, ACORN voter fraud and Obama’s shady connections. McCain should mention that Ayers gave Obama money for his campaigns and launched his political career in Chicago in the nineties. Please, Senator McCain!

McCain just did it! Nice.

He needs to keep the pressure on.

McCain goes after Obama on spending again. Hits him on his plans for new spending to the tune of 800 billion dollars.

McCain mocks Obama’s desire to renegotiate NAFTA. McCain wants to build dozens of new nuclear power plants and lessen our dependence on oil from Venezuela and the Middle East. Obama says it will take ten years to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. He says we need to expand domestic production, but only on places where oil companies have leases currently.

Obama: “We can’t drill our way out of the problem.” Wants higher fuel efficiency standards for domestic auto industry. Doesn’t mention that this would mean smaller, more dangerous cars.

Obama: “I believe in free trade.” Ya, right. That is why he opposes nearly all trades agreement before Congress now.

McCain: “We have to drill now.” He then hits Obama on opposing the Colombia free trade agreement.
He got kind of in Obama’s face, telling him to travel down there and see for himself. Obama responds that there aren’t enough protections for unions in Colombia.

McCain says Obama doesn’t want trade with Colombia, but wants to sit down with Hugo Chavez. Ouch.

On to health care. Costs vs. coverage.

Obama: “We have to do both.” Tells a story about workers who were fired and lost their health care coverage. Describes his socialized medicine scheme to viewers. Wants more money to go into preventive care. Concedes that this will cost lots of money on the front end.

McCain: Focuses on the cost of health care. Repeats the misleading number of “47 million uninsured Americans.” See www.freemarketcure.com for more info on that one. McCain is talking to Joe the Plumber again. Tells him that Obama will fine Joe if he doesn’t provide health insurance for his employees.

McCain breaks it down to differing philosophies. He says it is about government deciding vs. people deciding. Notes that spending is out of control and that government would increase under Obama and the Democrat Congress.

On to abortion and judges. McCain says he doesn’t have a litmus test for judges. Calls himself a federalist. Notes his work on the Gang of 7, and his support for liberal, activist judges. Says judges should be selected based on qualifications for the job.

Obama says that “we shouldn’t use a strict litmus test.” Nice parsing, Barack. Says that “Roe hangs in the balance.” Women should have the right to choose, he says. Finds a mysterious “right to privacy” in the constitution. McCain nails him to the wall on the Born Alive Infant Protection Act and partial-birth abortion. Notes his views are “extreme” on this issue.

See Robert George’s brilliant piece from today on this topic.

The last question of the night is about education. Hopefully McCain will talk about school choice.

Obama: Education has a national security implication. Says we need more money and reform. Wants “early childhood education” which means higher federal government spending. Wants higher pay for teachers and higher standards. Supports a $4000 tuition credit for community service. Closes by saying parents need to be more responsible. No argument from me there.

McCain: “Education is the civil rights issue of the 21st century.” Talks about choice and competition, and gives examples of charter schools in New Orleans and New York. Says throwing money at the problem is not the answer. Wants to do away with ridiculous teacher certifications. Nice!

Obama adds that the federal government should do more on education. Criticizes unfunded mandates of No Child Left Behind. Says the funding was left behind. Agrees with McCain on charter schools. Says bad teachers should be dismissed.

McCain points out that the voucher system has helped DC families escape a failing government run school system. After their closing statements, the debate ends.

I think McCain won the debate, or at least helped his cause tonight. Not sure if this will move voters but it was McCain’s best performance yet.