A Substantive Presidential Debate, and a Good Job by Bob Schieffer

Just turned off the post debate blather on CNN following the third and final presidential debate between John McCain and Barack Obama.

Compared to the two preceding it, this was a substantive debate that for the most part focused on critical issues of importance to American voters during a global financial crisis. I thought Obama responded as a liberal with few exceptions, and McCain came through essentially as a moderate conservative.

I find myself agreeing with Obama on issues like Rove v. Wade, health care, and education, but then wondering how someone as inexperienced as he is can be expected to follow through as president.

On the other hand, I’ve witnessed John McCain the reformer in action over the years and know that he truly has not been one to hew to the party line as Obama has done in his short tenure in the U.S. Senate. Plus, it has gotten really tiresome to hear Obama repeatedly accuse McCain of offering four more years of George W. Bush.

McCain has the record to prove that he can work across the aisle. Obama has no record to speak of. Which makes the DNC seem even more perverse in selecting Obama over Hillary Clinton as its candidate in opposition to the will of the majority of voters in the primary.

Finally, a word about Bob Schieffer. Regular readers of Katalusis will know how offended I’ve been by the media bias, whether liberal or conservative, throughout the primary and the general election. Lately, I’ve been appalled at how the Obama camp has gotten away with its ugly ageist attacks on McCain; whereas, McCain has been called out for every negative ad his camp has produced. When Schieffer began the debate by asking about negative ads, he listed examples from both campaigns, including the sickening ageist stuff from the Obama camp. That's the first time I’ve heard anyone in the media suggest there’s something wrong about referring to an older opponent as “erratic,” “out of touch,” etc. – and from the expression on his face, Obama hadn’t seen it coming.

Kudos to both candidates tonight for a good debate and even pretty good sportsmanship, and kudos to Bob Schieffer as well for his questions and his skills as moderator.

The Caucus at the NY Times has already done some fact checking about claims made by the two candidates tonight. To read the findings, go here.