• Home
  • Blogs
  • Couric & Co.
Couric & Co.
September 17, 2008 3:35 PM

Sneak Preview: Presidential Questions

Posted by Christine Lagorio
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.


Tags:
presidential questions ,
katie couric ,
sneek preview ,
barack obama ,
john mccain
Topics:
Presidential Questions
Share:
  • Share
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • Mixx

More from Couric & Co. and Evening News on CBSNews.com

Add a Comment See all 19 Comments
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
by u-r-right September 17, 2008 9:27 PM EDT
I''m thinking, we already had a VP shoot his friend in the face. I''m concerned Palin may shoot herself in the foot!
Reply to this comment
by anotherview2-2009 September 17, 2008 9:15 PM EDT
In addition to the e-mail violation, Obama has been working hard on suppressing critical interviews by a Chicago radio station. I can only wonder what America would become under Obama and a Dem controlled Congress.

Rothschild has shown a concern for America oustide of ideological preferences. Too bad the Clintons don''t have the same character.
Reply to this comment
by anotherview2-2009 September 17, 2008 9:08 PM EDT
Just like Obama! And we know that the first two people he would turn to in a crisis is his wife and grandmother. Then again, based on his answer he doesn''t need anyone.
Reply to this comment
by martyjp1 September 17, 2008 8:35 PM EDT
The President doesn''t work alone. He needs to have the ability to make good choices in selecting the people who will work with him. Obama chose experience in his running mate. McCain''s choice shows that he has little ability to chose wisely.
Reply to this comment
by lilbean6 September 17, 2008 8:34 PM EDT
castro, chavez, putin, obama.
can''t say i''ll really miss the networks.
Reply to this comment
by lacolombe September 17, 2008 8:23 PM EDT
...the Republican trolls are working overtime!!! LOL
Reply to this comment
by retrovvvisio September 17, 2008 7:58 PM EDT
Pelosi is delusional: she thinks Obama is the champion for women! A real mo**n. Obama could have chosen a SUPER running mate, Hillary Clinton but he preferred to ignore her. Now they desperately need the Clinton help because they are sinking. Women including Hillary supporters are more savvy than Barry and Co. gives them credit for.... and no, they will NOT vote for Barack. Do you hear that Nancy? You can set up a press conference with 50 Barack-women, but millions of Americans have their own ideas, and know right from wrong.
Reply to this comment
by scgirl7 September 17, 2008 7:57 PM EDT
As usual, Obama didn''t have an answer.
Reply to this comment
by jesyjms September 17, 2008 7:41 PM EDT
SERIOUSLY GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT BEFORE YOU MAKE AN ASSUMPTION! JUST BECAUSE YOUR REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE HAS BE DISHONERABLE AND UNTRUTHFUL IN HIS CAMPAIGN... Talk to your so called straight talk express! Maybe they did it and are claiming it was the democrats, hows that for an assumption! Wake up and vote for a renewed, truthful, and honerable AMERICA!

Obama/Biden ''08!
Reply to this comment
See all 19 Comments

Exclusive Webshow

Mike Huckabee on GOP "rock stars," 2012, health care reform and more. Watch Now

About Couric & Co.

Go for a look behind the scenes at The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric for stuff we like and for surprises. It's also a place for you to post comments and join our conversation about the news.

Add to your favorite news reader
google
yahoo
msn
  • MOST POPULAR
Discussed
  1. Obama, GOP Clash over cure for Economy

    (324 recent comments)