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Upstate political leaders weigh in on final presidential debate
Charles Dharapak/The Associated Press
Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., left, and Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., shake hands as debate moderator Bob Schieffer looks on after a presidential debate Wednesday at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y.
Upstate political observers have different opinions on who won the presidential debate between Democratic Sen. Barack Obama and Republican Sen. John McCain.
Stuart Sprague, chairman of the Anderson County Democratic Party, said McCain’s personal attacks during the debate were “baseless” and do not relate to the important issues that Americans care about.
“We should be spending our time on substance, not the fluff,” said Sprague, halfway through the debate. “It is an intrusion in the debate for McCain to keep going to the personal attacks.”
He said that Obama did a great job of laying out his plan to cut taxes for the middle class. Obama also did a great job of talking about how to keep the government functioning and cut programs that do not work, Sprague said.
Eddie Adams, the chairman of the Oconee County Republican Party, said that the format of having the candidates sit next to each other and have plenty of time to respond to questions suited McCain well. He thought that McCain was much more relaxed and showed tremendous leadership.
Adams also said that he has been impressed with what he heard from McCain on foreign policy issues.
“McCain’s stance on foreign policy is he believes we have got to be a country that shows we are strong,” he said. “We have got to help overseas parts of this world that can be shown as a threat against the United States.”
Charles Hamby, the vice chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party, said that Obama convincingly won the debate. He does not agree with McCain’s financial plan because he thinks it would give too much of a tax break to rich people.
Hamby thinks that people that earn more money should pay more taxes. He was also disappointed in all of the personal attacks that McCain lobbied at Obama.
“He looks like he is trying to win by character assassination,” Hamby said. “I respect his service in the war but being a prisoner of war does not give you the authority to be the president of the United States. He should retire and get out of the way.”
However, Rob Godfrey, a spokesperson for the South Carolina Republican Party, said he was impressed with McCain’s vision for limiting government spending and shoring up the economy.
“Neither candidate is going to yield any ground,” Godfrey said. “John McCain stood his ground and proved he has the judgment, experience and temperament to lead.”
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McSame did better but is simply no match for Obama. Stick a fork in the Arizona senator because he is done. Get ready for a Democratic tidal wave. It's about time!
If the Democrats can't win this time they all should just go home and become used car saleman.
Kirk,
Maybe you should move to another state. South Carolina is going to continue to be a Republican state. As a matter of fact, Anderson county just got a little more conservative with the ouster of several "republicans" getting beat in our primary.
John McCain is an honorable man, who has served our country with dignity and honor. He has the experience to lead our country. Obama is a talking head.
in response to origrethnk
They was a used car salesman before and got fired, next they will probally try cab driving. If you was just able to see the light, all hussein can say is the same thing over and over. He don't care about you or this Country. Just watch!
Obama is "The Man!"
If you are in favor of Socialism and redistribution of wealth, he is the man.
If you want bigger Government and Fedeal handouts, he is the man.
If you dont want to work, don't pay taxes and still expect a tax refund, he is the man.
If you want a talking head for Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and Barney Frank, he is the man.
To Freedom-of-Speech
The comment was not an endorsement for Obama, but that things are so bad, on all fronts, the Democrats shouldn't lose, almost can't lose, unless they are so bad they can't even win now.
Where are things so bad? The war is terrible as all of them are. We have to get out with a win though. As for the economy, I and my spouse retired on an early out from plants. We both have a nice car to drive which is a luxery for retired people. We both have cell phones. Groceries are higher because of gas prices but you still have to wait in line to eat on Sat. night.
I am afraid we will know how bad things can really be when Obama goes in with his big majority in senate and congress.
in response to yankeefann
I agree with you 100%.
McCain's POW Coverup!
Has anyone read this report?? If not, do so. ALL candidates come across as being spotless- NOT!
http://www.nationinstitute.org/p/scha...
Oh no, McCain, "He's the Man"
If you want a man who favors large business to the middle class, he’s your man
If you want a man who supports business (and thus jobs) being sent overseas to the detriment of American workers, he’s the man
If you want a man who is erratic in his behavior in the face of economic crisis, he’s your man
If you want a man who graduated 894 out of 895 total graduates at the Naval Academy, he’s your man
If you want a man who will tell you anything just to be elected, he’s your man
If you want a man who thinks that middle class is someone who makes 5 million dollars, he’s your man
If you want a man whose total net worth is in excess of $39million dollars and owns 7 houses and 13 cars and thus can relate to the "common man" he’s your man
If you want a man whose been in Washington for 27 years and now tells you he’s going to really change Washington, he’s your man
If you want a man whose total campaign is being managed and run by lobbyists, he’s your man
If you want a man who will continue to support $10+ billion dollars per month to fight a useless war in Iraq and the loss of more lives of our precious soldiers, he’s your man
If you want a man who has supported George Bush’s actions 90% of the time but now says he’s no George Bush, he’s your man
Yep, go vote for John McCain and let’s see how fast recession changes to depression.
in response to disgusted
Agree with "disgusted". McBush along with the rest of the neo-cons (the new bad word in political discourse) want socialism for the losses and capitalism for the profits.
"freedom for speech" displayed his ignorance with this quote: "He don't care about you or this Country"
Wake up true Republicans, Bush and his fellow neo-cons have been the worst fiscal cons ever!
Lets get the "Grand" back in the GOP. Clean house!
To tdr,
Things are good? Both the parties are telling us things are bad, the democrats are saying it because there is a republican in the White House and the republicans are saying it because being linked to a President with such a low approval rating, the economy in shambles and a war going on longer than some would like it to all points to things are bad and both of them want to win the election.
Are things really that bad? Go live in almost any where else in the world and tell me again how bad things are here, but thats what we're being told. Are they lying, no it's just politics as usual.
So, of course, things aren't that bad, even for the lowest folks on the ladder in the USA versus the lowest folks on the ladder in other countries, but that's not what you'd be led to believe if you listen to the candidates or the news media for that matter. So are they telling it like it is? No, they very seldom tell it like it is, they tell it in ways they believe they'll have a better chance of getting elected.
This is a game or haven't you figured that out yet?
in response to Freedom_Of_Speech
Third person plural past tense is "were".
Example: They were going fishing but decided to just get drunk in the trailer.
Second person singular past tense is also "were".
Example: If you were at the Redneck Games you probably had a terrific time.
The contraction relating to He should be "doesn't" and not don't.
Example: Since his arrest for domestic violence he doesn't beat his wife up anymore.
Here is an interesting little video about "H"ussein, but please excuse the bad grammar there:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Wroj0...
in response to yankeefann
Well, CHANGE is coming!!!!!!!!!!!!
in response to writerkirk
I totally agree with you!!!
in response to origrethnk
Read my comment again. I think I am on your side.
I'm not really that fond of either candidate, but I don't want to go the socialistic route with Obama. Why do people think that being a great speaker will make him a good president? I don't understand it!
in response to happyretiree
Well, I don’t believe that being a great speaker will make him a good president, but that show that he can stand his ground and not let emotions took over his views and attitude. I believe that Obama will be the next president because his is more than qualified to run this country.
Basically, it's a popularity contest.
To all you Obama fans!!
You might want to do a little research on your man Obama. Main stream media has fallen to an all time low in pursuing any of the details about this man. For starters there is a lawsuit at present to try and get him to produce a legal birth certificate. The fact that he is even eligible to be President is in question. Obama seems to not want anyone to know his past because he REFUSES to release not just his birth certificate but all information on his early years!!! Just considering the negatives that we do actually know (Rev. Wright, Bill Ayers, his association with ACORN--who is causing untold problems and damage to the election process with their illegal registrations throughout the country) this is enough for me to question the character of Obama and just what his plans are for our country. Main stream media has failed to report on any of this because they are "in his pocket"!!!
Before those of you who call anyone "racist" simply because they dare to criticize Obama, let me assure you that I am not racist. If Colen Powell or Condoleeza Rice were running I'd vote for them "in a heart beat".
Obama is a dangerous person as are many of the Democratic Party (Pelosi, Dodd, Barney Frank, Harry Reid, just to name a few!!) Check your facts and you will find that MANY of the Democrats are responsible for the economic mess that now exists--not President Bush and the Republicans. Don't rely on main stream media ( NBC, CBS, ABC, MSNBC) for your information. Look to other sources and then make your decision.
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