Candidates On The Best And Worst Of Times

CBS Evening News: Obama And McCain Answer Katie Couric's Presidential Questions

(CBS)  In November, Americans decide whether Barack Obama or John McCain becomes the 44th President of the United States. In the series "Presidential Questions," CBS News anchor Katie Couric asks questions that move the candidates well beyond the usual sound-bites. Some questions concern policy. Others are more personal. All will give you a better sense of who these men are - and what has shaped them. What follows is Couric's question and the candidates' full answers.

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Katie Couric: What do you think is the best and worst thing that has ever happened to this country?

John McCain: Well, that's an excellent question. Obviously, our founding was the best thing that ever happened to our country, because that was a unique collection of the most wise, informed and incredible individuals who joined together to found our nation and create a document that is still a model to the rest of the world.

Maybe the worst thing that happened to America, in modern times, is the Great Depression. It affected probably more, a greater percentage, of our population than any other economic - or other impact - that we experienced. Literally, half the population, or 40 percent, whatever it was, huge, numbers that are incomprehensible were out of work. And people literally starved in America. And that, we can't ever repeat that.

Barack Obama: The best thing that ever happened to this country was the founding fathers and the starting premise of America. "We hold these truths as self evident that all men are created equal endowed by our creator with certain unalienable rights, among these, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." That idea just kept pushing throughout centuries, through a civil war, through civil rights, through women's rights. It became the North Star for people, not just in America but around the world.

The worst probably would have to be slavery in this country. Although the treatment of Native Americans oftentimes … showed great cruelty. You know, but slavery was a stain on this country. Fortunately, we had people like Abraham Lincoln and Harriet Tubman and Dr. King and you know, so many were able to battle through that legacy. And we're still wrestling with it. But it's one where I feel more optimistic about the direction of this country.

[harbinger09]

What we did to the Indians,makes me cring in shame.We took away everything that they stood for.We killed most of them.The ones that are left are treated as,second class,way below the blacks.Everyone one knows slavery was loathsome,but atleast they along with the other people of color the Asians,Mexicans and all the others (including the whites,that is a color!) are still here in a big Majority and living they''''re lifes and if you read our history,the Indains treated us with kindness,when they came over on the Mayflower.
I
Posted by tass31 at 08:27 PM : Oct 09, 2008


Obviously, you know nothing about the hundreds of thousands of slaves who were destroyed in voyages coming to the new world. ships would routinely use slaves as ballast, often throwing over an entire cargo in heavy storms or in cases where the financiers for a load did not pay them. When they did this, they kept all the men, women and children chained together and when they began pushing them into the sea, the sheer weight of so many forced all others to the same fate.

This is documented as is the fact that blacks are still belittled and mistreated due to skin color while Indians are revered by most whites in theory even as they still exploit them and try to steal more land. At least the Native population got land. When it comes to crimes against humanity and other races--it is not a game of oneupmanship--all of it was and is evil--what is more evil is trying to justify or deny any of it.

[harbinger09]

This is funny--McCain made Republicans embrace a former mistress as potential first lady, illegitimate teen pregnancy, an Airhead for a VP and now they must embrace socialism and helping out the poor with a 300+ billion dollar mortgage bailout--before its over, the Republican party will seem more liberal than the Democrats and the Republicans have to swallow it--because he is all that they have.

Paying for a public bailout,ignoring subpoenas, obstructing investigations, then supporting airhead females for VP with secessionist party spouses and championing pregger teens indeed--what were those conservative values again? Hypocrites.

[tass31]

I like a lot of women,was a Hillary suporter.I was thinking about voting for Obamba.After his remark,that slavery,was the worst thing in this country and what we did to the Indians,was cruelty.I will never vote for Obamba.What we did to the Indians,makes me cring in shame.We took away everything that they stood for.We killed most of them.The ones that are left are treated as,second class,way below the blacks.Everyone one knows slavery was loathsome,but atleast they along with the other people of color the Asians,Mexicans and all the others (including the whites,that is a color!) are still here in a big Majority and living they''re lifes and if you read our history,the Indains treated us with kindness,when they came over on the Mayflower.
It was the greed of our Forefathers that was the worst thing that happened in AMERICA.They almost killed off all those true Americans.I think Obamba is s reverse Bigot.I will not vote for McCain or Obamba.

[tass31]

I like a lot of women,was a Hillary suporter.I was thinking about voting for Obamba.After his remark,that slavery,was the worst thing in this country and what we did to the Indians,was cruelty.I will never vote for Obamba.What we did to the Indians,makes me cring in shame.We took away everything that they stood for.We killed most of them.The ones that are left are treated as,second class,way below the blacks.Everyone one knows slavery was loathsome,but atleast they along with the other people of color the Asians,Mexicans and all the others (including the whites,that is a color!) are still here in a big Majority and living they''re lifes and if you read our history,the Indains treated us with kindness,when they came over on the Mayflower.
It was the greed of our Forefathers that was the worst thing that happened in AMERICA.They almost killed off all those true Americans.I think Obamba is s reverse Bigot.I will not vote for McCain or Obamba.

[tass31]

I like a lot of women,was a Hillary suporter.I was thinking about voting for Obamba.After his remark,that slavery,was the worst thing in this country and what we did to the Indians,was cruelty.I will never vote for Obamba.What we did to the Indians,makes me cring in shame.We took away everything that they stood for.We killed most of them.The ones that are left are treated as,second class,way below the blacks.Everyone one knows slavery was loathsome,but atleast they along with the other people of color the Asians,Mexicans and all the others (including the whites,that is a color!) are still here in a big Majority and living they''re lifes and if you read our history,the Indains treated us with kindness,when they came over on the Mayflower.
It was the greed of our Forefathers that was the worst thing that happened in AMERICA.They almost killed off all those true Americans.I think Obamba is s reverse Bigot.I will not vote for McCain or Obamba.

[tass31]

I like a lot of women,was a Hillary suporter.I was thinking about voting for Obamba.After his remark,that slavery,was the worst thing in this country and what we did to the Indians,was cruelty.I will never vote for Obamba.What we did to the Indians,makes me cring in shame.We took away everything that they stood for.We killed most of them.The ones that are left are treated as,second class,way below the blacks.Everyone one knows slavery was loathsome,but atleast they along with the other people of color the Asians,Mexicans and all the others (including the whites,that is a color!) are still here in a big Majority and living they''re lifes and if you read our history,the Indains treated us with kindness,when they came over on the Mayflower.
It was the greed of our Forefathers that was the worst thing that happened in AMERICA.They almost killed off all those true Americans.I think Obamba is s reverse Bigot.I will not vote for McCain or Obamba.

[ofbyfor2]

Well that was very well said I don''''t I agree with graduated scale being fair but you made a good point. I think if the current tax system was adjusted properly and we were not so he** bent on demonizing the rich and making victoms out of the poor. It would be fine.

Posted by Mccain08NC at 03:03 PM : Oct 09, 2008

I believe that the progressive tax code is fair.

Consider this--people making 10x the average workers salary do not work 10x more. Nor are they necessarily 10x more valuable (just take the CEOs of tanking companies as an example).

Then you factor in the difference between discretionary income and the income needed for sheer survival (when was the last time a six-figure employee had to worry about paying their heating bill, for example?).

Third point to consider is that the middle class has always been and always will be the engine that drives our economy in the long run. A healthy middle class is guaranteed to keep the economy moving because they will always be putting their money back into circulation, simply by paying their bills and doing what they need to do to keep their heads above water. The wealthy, on the other hand, can take the bulk of their income and move it overseas. And it''s a myth that they will always take that money and create new jobs. Sometimes, yes, but not necessarily so. Business has a better guarantee of creating new jobs by the profits they make from a healthy middle class.

[ofbyfor2]

how ironic...the black guy picks slavery to be the worst thing in american history. the great depression trumps that in the fact that EVERYBODY was affected by it. not just one race. dont get me wrong mr obama, slavery was a horrible thing, just as the massacre and destruction of native american culture was a horrible thing. but slavery was no great depression.

seriously though...anyone could have predicted obama would say something like that. just like everybody in america, he is a racist. the only difference is that he has spite to go with it and he makes it known.

Posted by minivanracer at 08:28 PM : Oct 08, 2008

minivanracer--Would you rather go through a Depression or be a slave? Kind of puts it in perspective suddenly, doesn''t it?

[tass31]

I like a lot of women,was a Hillary suporter.I was thinking about voting for Obamba.After his remark,that slavery,was the worst thing in this country and what we did to the Indians,was cruelty.I will never vote for Obamba.What we did to the Indians,makes me cring in shame.We took away everything that they stood for.We killed most of them.The ones that are left are treated as,second class,way below the blacks.Everyone one knows slavery was loathsome,but atleast they along with the other people of color the Asians,Mexicans and all the others (including the whites,that is a color!) are still here in a big Majority and living they''re lifes and if you read our history,the Indains treated us with kindness,when they came over on the Mayflower.
It was the greed of our Forefathers that was the worst thing that happened in AMERICA.They almost killed off all those true Americans.I think Obamba is s reverse Bigot.I will not vote for McCain or Obamba.

[tass31]

I like a lot of women,was a Hillary suporter.I was thinking about voting for Obamba.After his remark,that slavery,was the worst thing in this country and what we did to the Indians,was cruelty.I will never vote for Obamba.What we did to the Indians,makes me cring in shame.We took away everything that they stood for.We killed most of them.The ones that are left are treated as,second class,way below the blacks.Everyone one knows slavery was loathsome,but atleast they along with the other people of color the Asians,Mexicans and all the others (including the whites,that is a color!) are still here in a big Majority and living they''re lifes and if you read our history,the Indains treated us with kindness,when they came over on the Mayflower.
It was the greed of our Forefathers that was the worst thing that happened in AMERICA.They almost killed off all those true Americans.I think Obamba is s reverse Bigot.I will not vote for McCain or Obamba.

[tass31]

I like a lot of women,was a Hillary suporter.I was thinking about voting for Obamba.After his remark,that slavery,was the worst thing in this country and what we did to the Indians,was cruelty.I will never vote for Obamba.What we did to the Indians,makes me cring in shame.We took away everything that they stood for.We killed most of them.The ones that are left are treated as,second class,way below the blacks.Everyone one knows slavery was loathsome,but atleast they along with the other people of color the Asians,Mexicans and all the others (including the whites,that is a color!) are still here in a big Majority and living they''re lifes and if you read our history,the Indains treated us with kindness,when they came over on the Mayflower.
It was the greed of our Forefathers that was the worst thing that happened in AMERICA.They almost killed off all those true Americans.I think Obamba is s reverse Bigot.I will not vote for McCain or Obamba.

[mairin27]

So he will what hijack the three branches of the government all by himself?

Can you answer the question GetReal?

I am still waiting to hear how you think Obama will turn the country communist or socialist.

Don''''t give me a rant about the Democrats.

I really want to know how you think he could do this. The founding fathers set the country up in a way with 3 branches of the government. The whole checks and balances thing that we all learned in grade school.

Even if every single Democrat would allow the country to turn communist or socialist do you really think the Repubs and the public would allow this.

It is not plausible.

[mairin27]

READ AS GetRealTex - Stormy Texan - Rowdy RIPS APART the sister of a 911 victim last night:
--------------
""I was on William''''s Street on September 11th looking up at my sister''''s building burning (she worked in Tower 1) so please don''''t even question my patriotism of this country...

Posted by mel13nygirl ""
--------------

""Please don''''t pull this emotional ***** like some kind of guilt package that someone should give YOU respect for it when your sister died.

What has your sister dying on 911 got to do with your ignorant allegations that BUSH has ruined this country?

Posted by GetRealTex"" 05:16 PM, Oct 08, 2008
-------------


GetRealTex / Stormy Texan / Rowdy made this statement in the CBSNews room "Obama, McCain Clash On Troubled Economy" last night.

Search for her post at ** 05:16 PM, Oct 08, 2008 ** and see for yourself:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stor
ies/2008/10/07/politics/2008debates/main
4505717.shtml?source=mostpop_story&mpid=
1732#ccmm


Feel free to rip her heartless *** to shreds in your replies.


Posted by slownewsdays at 12:21 PM : Oct 09, 2008

[mairin27]

You see, there lies YOUR little problem, mairin27, what I''''''''''''''''m posting are FACTS!

Your NOT posting FACTS!! Your Posting Believes because of what Ayers has said. You have NO physical Evidence to prove that Obama was engaged in any Terrorist Acts Or any Training camps. That''''''''s FACT
Posted by dj282008 at 12:47 PM : Oct 09, 2008

I agree and when GetReal/Stormy Texan/Rowdy is asked to provide "facts" what you get is childish name calling, insults and slurs.

Why has GetReal/Stormy Texan/Rowdy changed her screen name so often? Hmmm?

She is disturbed. Lucky for her the following bill passed yesterday. I strongly suggest she take advantage of it:
Oct. 8, 2008 - A new law could boost insurance coverage for many Americans in need of mental health and substance abuse treatment.

The big economic bailout passed by Congress and signed by the president last week had an attachment. Part of the bill said insurance companies must now cover mental health and substance abuse services on "parity" with medical and surgical treatments.

Under the bill, which goes into effect in 2010, group insurance plans that cover mental illness already must now equalize its value with medical and surgical coverage. The number of covered visits, the cost of copays, and the total value of treatment covered each year would have to be on par.

[mairin27]

Do a search of Obama and Odinga and you''''''''ll be shocked at the next big issue Obama will soon have to defend
Here''''''''s a link on youtube: Scary stuff
www.youtube.com
/watchv=S8Qcpd
UtxNQ&eurl=http://theerant
.yuku.com/to
pic/11539
--
Posted by catherineusa at 03:07 PM : Oct 09, 2008
Isn''''t that the TRUTH! Whack job Obama supported his Arabic/Muslim cousin to slaughter his way into government control....
And then whack job Obama wants little malcontent militia bots made out of our youth that supports his ideology.
Posted by GetRealTex at 03:12 PM : Oct 09, 2008
Such clashes have left more than 800 people dead and forced 300,000 from their homes since the Dec. 27 election, which pitted Kibaki, the incumbent, against Odinga. The violence has often degenerated into ethnic clashes over decades-old grudges about land and resources, with much of the anger -- and attacks -- aimed at the Kikuyu, who are resented for their long domination of politics and the economy.
Friday''''s deal was mediated by Kofi Annan, the former U.N. secretary-general, and it laid out a plan to end the violence before moving onto the tougher political issues at the root of the fighting. Annan said it should take two weeks to decide the immediate crisis and up to a year for the deeper problems.
http://findarticles.com/p/art
icles/mi_qn4188/is_/ai_n21228237

[misha128-2009]

Someone who''''s bettered themselves to assure that they have a good job that can support the lifestyle that they want to have.....gets DRAINED because someone else gets their money!

Posted by GetRealTex at 03:04 PM

Ever consider that someone that gets an education with a guaranteed loan makes more and pays more in taxes and uses less services than someone that does not. Their children likewise are likely to progress up the ladder of success. the old axiom says it takes money to make money -- proving help to one eventually helps many and spreads the burdens of continuing the process to even more people.

[misha128-2009]

Posted by GetRealTex at 03:09 PM

Ever consider that the stated tax rates are so high because there are so many exemptions that lower someone''s income. If exemptions were less and based on necessities including possible caps the percentages for the brackets could be considerably lower and more reflective of what is actually paid.

[catherineusa]

Do a search of Obama and Odinga and you''ll be shocked at the next big issue Obama will soon have to defend

Here''s a link on youtube: Scary stuff









www.youtube.com/watchv=S8QcpdUtxNQ&eurl=http://theerant.yuku.com/topic/11539

[misha128-2009]

The person making 250,000 a year has no use for welfare or food stamps why should he sudsidise you family?


Posted by Mccain08NC at 03:00 PM

Generally the answer to your question is fairness --

The person on food stamps has no use for the FDIC, SEC, and a host of other government agencies -- why should they subsidize the more affluent that benefit from these programs? Why is Social security capped -- the rich collect social security too.

[misha128-2009]

The other whack job idea in social security is that YOU don''''t even contribute all of the money put in it in your name...your employer has PAID HALF OF IT!

And YOU want to raise his income taxes as well!

Posted by GetRealTex at 02:58 PM

Except when you are self employed -- you were even discussing that earlier -- did you forget?