Sneak Preview: Presidential Questions

By: Christine Lagorio
Topics: Presidential Questions

Tonight, we're airing the inaugural piece in our series, "Presidential Questions." It's the first in a weekly series in which we'll show you the presidential candidates' answers to questions Katie asked them - both about their politics and about their character. If you saw our series, "Primary Questions," you'll recognize the format. Tune in tonight at 6:30 p.m. ET for the candidates' full answers. But for now, a taste:

Katie Couric: What one personal flaw do you think might hinder your ability to be president?

Sen. Barack Obama: I don't think ... there's a flaw that would hinder my ability ... to function as president. I think that all of us have things we need to improve.

Sen. John McCain: You know I'm not an objective observer. I think that would have to be to make sure that I don't make any decisions that are not fully informed by every source of information that's credible I can possibly get.

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by apollo59 September 19, 2008 1:41 AM EDT: Obama - Would you agree that you have difficulty admitting that you are wrong?

Barack Obama & Nancy Pelosi blame Bush administration for the mortgage crisis that led to an economic crisis this week - but Democrats blocked this bill.The most significant issue in this campaign - The Economy......why isn''t S. 190 all over the news... 2005 Federal Housing Regulatory Reform Acthttp://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s109-190 John McCain - January 2005"I join as a cosponsor of the Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2005, S. 190, to underscore my support for quick passage of GSE regulatory reform legislation. If Congress does not act, American taxpayers will continue to be exposed to the enormous risk that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pose to the housing market, the overall financial system, and the economy as a whole.I urge my colleagues to support swift action on this GSE reform legislation."; Reply to this comment


by cherryrein September 18, 2008 1:46 PM EDT: No Nat''l coverage?
HOPE-Anti-Palin Rally in ALASKA!Alaska Women Reject Palin rally was to be held outside on the lawn in front of the Loussac Library in midtown Anchorage.Home made signs were encouraged,& the idea was to make a statement that Sarah Palin does not speak for all Alaska women,or men.The rally was organized by a small group of women.These women hatched the plan, printed up flyers, posted them around town, & sent notices to local media.KBYR radio, home of Eddie Burke, a long-time uber-conservative Anchorage talk show host.Eddie Burke not onlyannounced the rally, but called the people who planned to attend the rally "a bunch of socialist baby-killing maggots," & read the home phone numbers of the organizers aloud over the air, urging listeners to call & tell them what they thought.The women, of course, received some nasty, harassing & threateningmessages.The protesters stretched the full length of the library grounds.A counter clicked off well over 1400 ppl.People honked & gave the thumbs up as they drove by.Then, Eddie Burke showed & tried to talk to the media, & was drowned out by a group of people who started shouting OBAMA so loud he couldn''''t be heard.Passing cars started honking like the Obama chant.The Alaska Women Reject Palin rally was bigger than Palin''s rally that got all the national media coverage!So sit back,& enjoy the photo gallery.Spread the pictures around to everyone to show that Sarah Palin does not speak for all Alaskans nor all women.; Reply to this comment


by femaledem September 18, 2008 1:18 AM EDT: Can either Mccain/palin stay on track,no message,no policy,no "mind"Check it out..NOW Palin is using highend fashions..The jacket she wore on her VP night was $2,500.Cindy McCains was #300,000. Palin will not let anyone of her stylists talk about her fashions..Just like everything else with McCain/Palin do not speak to anyone just keep saying the same thing everyday!! ALSO Carly Fiorina (former HO CEO/ousted by stockholders) was upset by the SNL skit with Tina Fey..well gee Carly the last time i watched it on NBC.com there were approx 3,000,000 HITS..doesn''t seem as if the voters are upset..in fact i think i''ll go watch it again..ACADEMY AWARD!!!I think Palin is using the pig/pork $$$$ for the bridge,but since she said no bridge and kept the $$$$$ yeah now she can buy new outfits,designer glasses,4 inch heels cuz she''s short..wow millions of gov $$$$ and all of a sudden designer clothes..hmmmmm..influence from cindy perhaps although palin pails in comparison to cindys'' $300,000 outfit the last night of the convention..Remember NBC.com for the best of Palin(AKA TINA FEY); Reply to this comment


by yoelish September 18, 2008 12:45 AM EDT: McCain''s response contradicts his record. He''s voted for the war WITHOUT first reading the National Intelligence Estimate of 2002 on Iraqi WMD. The report was sitting on the senate floor and available to every senator (not their staff). He just had to walk over and flip the pages. He did not.
If that isn''t information worth consulting what is?

But then again, perhaps for McCain, 16 intelligence agencies researching and writing a report was ''government wasteful spending!"; Reply to this comment


by lonewackodot September 17, 2008 11:45 PM EDT: I spent a lot of time posting four real questions Katie Couric could ask, and they were all Dugg down by BHO and McCain supporters:

peekURL.com/zid7g2x

All four are tougher than anything you''ll hear from most MSM members, but hopefully Katie will be the exception to that rule.; Reply to this comment


by meyer696 September 17, 2008 11:29 PM EDT: John McCain responded to this question as he does every question..NEVER an answer to what was asked, just one of his typically boring stump speeches. On the other hand Barrack answers the questions as asked. Tonight, that obviously wasn''t what Katie wanted. I feel she disrespected Senator Obama by belittling his answer with the comment "You can come up with something better than that". McCain was permitted to just go on and on and on, while saying nothing.; Reply to this comment


by karela33 September 17, 2008 11:23 PM EDT: Well, I think John McCain is right. One of his biggest risks is making decisions in a hot dog/fly by the seat of his pants way instead of doing the homework. And guess what? The very first presidential decision he made he didn''t make sure he was "fully informed with every piece of credible information he could get". He chose Sarah Palin without thinking about what was good for the country and without thoroughly vetting her. He thought about what was good for John McCain''s campaign. Period. He''s not a man I can trust my kid''s future to. He''s old and his chances of dying of repeat melanoma in the next two to three years are 66%, but he''s still a hot dog who doesn''t take time to protect his country in case something should happen to him.; Reply to this comment


by lsigalov September 17, 2008 10:19 PM EDT: John McCain has run an unfocused, make-it-up-as-you-go-along campaign. He''s running on experience. No, wait, his VP has none. He''s against regulation. He''s pro-regulation. It''s become increasingly obvious he has nothing to offer and his propensity for gaffes literally everytime his handlers allow him to talk to the media do not inspire confidence that he will be a commanding leader. He is Bush Redux but older and more punchy. Do we really want to re-live the last eight years with another embarrassment for a president? Do we really need more foot in mouth, knee-jerk decision-making resulting in incompetence and irreparable harm? And what if he dies. Are we really prepared for a president Palin? Anyone who answers yes to that question is lying to themselves and should spare the country their misguided vote.; Reply to this comment


by phil4876 September 17, 2008 10:09 PM EDT: And who is the champion of women? Obama didn''t pick Hillary because, unlike McCain, he trusted voters to decide based on issues, not gender.

Obama/Biden are pro-choice, McCain/Palin are staunchly pro-life. O/B support equal pay, M/P do not. McCain even voted against a bill that would have protected women at abortion clinics from domestic terrorism.

Oh, the National Organization of Women endorsed Obama. Kind of a big deal there.; Reply to this comment


by phil4876 September 17, 2008 10:03 PM EDT: Are you that delusional, or do you just not actually read the facts? Obama and his staffers had NOTHING to do with the break-in. Stop spreading lies; McCain''s good enough at it already.

Yes, McCain stood up to Bush....before he embraced everything Bush stands for. McCain actively endorsed Bush in 2004, and has supported his tax cuts, his surge, his redefining of torture, and his deregulation.

There''s a reason Hillary still supports Obama. If it was just for party unity, she''d endorse him and then sit idly by. Also, Colin Powell still has not found a reason to endorse McCain, and may back Obama. If you want to talk about breaking party ranks to support the REAL agent of change, start there.; Reply to this comment