HEMPSTEAD, N.Y., Oct. 16, 2008

McCain And Obama Slug It Out

Candidates Clash On Economy, Taxes, Energy Policy And Character In Lively Final Debate

  • Play CBS Video Video The Final Debate, Pt. 1

    During the first half of the final 2008 presidential debate, John McCain and Barack Obama dispute economic policies. CBS' Bob Schieffer serves as the moderator at Hofstra Univ. in Hempstead, N.Y.

  • Video "Joe The Plumber" Reacts

    "Only On The Web:" The candidates said his name more than half a dozen times during the debate and Katie Couric got a chance to speak with Joe Wurzelbacher, A.K.A "Joe The Plumber."

  • Video Mark Halperin's Two Cents

    "Only On The Web:" Time Magazine's Mark Halperin spoke with Katie Couric about the candidate's performance on the final presidential debate.

    • Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., greets Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., at the start of the presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y Photo

      Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., greets Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., at the start of the presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y  (AP)

    • Moderator Bob Schieffer of CBS News Photo

      Moderator Bob Schieffer of CBS News  (AP)

    • Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., left, speaks as Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., listens during their presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008. Photo

      Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., left, speaks as Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., listens during their presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008.  (AP)

    • Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., left, and Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., are shown on television screens at the media filing center during the final presidential debate held at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008. Photo

      Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., left, and Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., are shown on television screens at the media filing center during the final presidential debate held at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008.  (AP)

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  • CBS Evening News Where They Stand

    The CBS Evening News provides an in-depth look at the issues facing the 44th president.

  • CBS Evening News Presidential Questions

    Katie Couric asks Barack Obama and John McCain questions of politics, policy and character.

(CBS/ AP)  Republican candidate John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama slugged it out over the faltering U.S. economy, taxes, energy policy and character in their third and final presidential debate on Wednesday night.

McCain took an aggressive approach, but once again, neither man landed a knockout punch nor committed a major gaffe.

"John McCain turned in an energetic, focused and, at times, emotional performance," said CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs. "But he needed something more in order to change the underlying dynamics of this race. Obama was solid, on-message and mostly mistake free, likely stunting any major gains for the Republican. McCain may have righted the ship to some extent, but time is running out for him to make up ground." (Read Ververs' full analysis of the debate)

A CBS News instant poll of uncommitted voters who viewed the debate gave the edge to Obama by a margin of 53-22 percent. Twenty-five percent said the debate was a draw. Uncommitted voters also thought Obama won the first and second debates.

Before the debate, 54 percent thought Obama shared their values. That percentage rose to 64 percent after the debate. For McCain, 52 percent thought he shared their values before the debate, and 55 percent thought so afterwards. (Read the full poll.)

The crucial encounter began with an exchange on the economy. Both men said the $700 billion bailout was not enough.

McCain said Americans are hurting and they're angry. He said they are the innocent victims of greed on Wall Street. McCain said, "We've got to put the homeowners first."

Obama said what the nation hasn't seen yet is a rescue plan for the middle class. He said the top focus should be on jobs.

As the debate unfolded, McCain accused Obama of waging class warfare by advocating tax increases designed to "spread the wealth around." The Democrat denied it, and countered that he favors tax reductions for 95 percent of all Americans.

"Nobody likes taxes," Obama said in an exchange early in the third and final presidential debate of a campaign nearing its end. "But ultimately we've got to pay for the core investments" necessary for the economy.

"If nobody likes taxes, let's not raise anybody's, OK?" McCain retorted with a laugh. (Read the full debate transcript)

The 90-minute debate at Hofstra University focused on the economy and domestic policy. The candidates were seated at a table with moderator Bob Schieffer, CBS News' chief Washington correspondent.

McCain, eager to stress his differences with an unpopular president, also said he was disappointed that the Bush administration has not embraced his $300 billion proposal to renegotiate mortgagees so homeowners can remain in their homes.

"Sen. Obama, I am not President Bush," he declared at another point. "If you wanted to run against President Bush, you should have run four years ago."

Obama said he agreed the government must help homeowners trapped in the current economic crisis, but he said, "The way Sen. McCain has designed his plan, it could be a giveaway to banks."

The two men also traded charges that departed from the core issues of the economy, energy and taxes.

"One hundred percent, John, of your ads, 100 percent of them have been negative," Obama told his rival, seated only a few feet away at a round table.

"That's not true," McCain retorted.

"It is true," said Obama, seeking the last word.

McCain is currently running all negative ads, according to a study by the University of Wisconsin-Madison. But he has run a number of positive ads during the campaign.

Behind in the polls, McCain played the aggressor early and often.

He demanded to know the full extent of Obama's relationship with William Ayres, a 1960s-era terrorist, the Democrat's ties with ACORN, a liberal group accused of violating federal law as it seeks to register voters, and insisted Obama disavow last week's remarks by Rep. John Lewis, a Democrat, who accused the Republican ticket of playing racial politics along the same lines as segregationists of the past.

Obama returned each volley, and brushed aside McCain's claim to full political independence.

"If I've occasionally mistaken your policies for George Bush's policies, it's because on the core economic issues that matter to the American people - on tax policy, on energy policy, on spending priorities - you have been a vigorous supporter of President Bush," he said.

Asked about running mates, both presidential candidates said Democrat Joseph Biden was qualified to become president, although McCain qualified his judgment by adding the words "in many respects."

McCain passed up a chance to say his own running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, was qualified to sit in the Oval Office, though he praised her performance as governor.

Obama sidestepped when asked about Palin's qualifications to serve as president, and he, too, praised her advocacy for special needs children.

But he quickly sought to turn the issue to his advantage by noting McCain favors a spending freeze on government programs.

"I do want to just point out that autism, for example, or other special needs will require some additional funding if we're going to get serious in terms of research. ... And if we have an across-the-board spending freeze, we're not going to be able to do it," he said.

In addition to differences on taxes and spending, McCain said Obama advocated trade policies that recalled those of Herbert Hoover, who presided over the start of the Great Depression.

Obama has called for tougher provisions in trade negotiations, arguing that is necessary to avoid undercutting the wages paid American workers.

McCain also said Obama has aligned himself with "the extreme aspect of the pro-abortion movement in America" and had voted present while in the Illinois Legislature on a measure to ban one type of procedure late in a woman's pregnancy.

Obama said the bill would have undermined Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court ruling that granted abortion rights, and had been opposed by the Illinois Medical Society.

"I am completely supportive of a ban on late-term abortions, partial-birth or otherwise, as long as there's an exception for the mother's health and life, and this did not contain that exception," he added.

McCain sarcastically paid tribute to "the eloquence of Senator Obama. He's (for) health for the mother. You know, that's been stretched by the pro-abortion movement in America to mean almost anything."

McCain's allegation about class warfare stemmed from one of Obama's campaign appearances last weekend.

In Ohio on Sunday, Obama was approached by a man who said, "Your new tax plan's going to tax me more."

A video clip caught by Fox News shows Obama replying, "It's not that I want to punish your success. I just want to make sure that everybody who is behind you, that they've got a chance at success, too. And I think that when we spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody."

McCain referred repeatedly to that voter, Joe Wurzelbacher, a plumber from Toledo, Ohio.

After the debate, CBS News anchor Katie Couric talked with Wurzelbacher, who was repeatedly called "Joe The Plumber" by the candidates. He said the experience was "surreal."

"Surreal's a good word to use for it," Wurzelbacher said on the CBSNews.com Debate Webcast. "It was - you know, I was glad I was able to act as some type of point, you know, to where they could sit there and hammer out what they both think, what they want to say. But ultimately, you know, the important part was the debate." (Read more of Couric's interview with "Joe The Plumber")

Obama entered the debate with a wide lead over McCain nationally, a new CBS News/New York Times poll shows. The Obama-Biden ticket now leads the McCain-Palin ticket 53 percent to 39 percent among likely voters, a 14-point margin, according to the poll.



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Add a Comment See all 1536 Comments
by liberalme October 15, 2008 9:17 AM PDT
And Bob Schieffer will not let them get off topic--McCain better be cracking those books today--

Hey McCain--you''ll be walking in unfamiliar territory tonite---you''ll need a ladder to climb up from the low road and tell the country what you know and answer some hard questions!
Reply to this comment
by citizenusa-2009 October 15, 2008 9:17 AM PDT
If the old gas bag brings up William Ayers again, I will fall off my chair! If I were Obama, I''d say "Is that all you got old man?"

I had the chance to research Ayers and as a young protester in the 70 (as was I), he and the Weatherman went too far, their motives were PURE AND RIGHT. All they wanted was to STOP THE VIETNAM WAR. No one would LISTEN and Nixon was on a power trip (like Baby Bush) and he had something to prove.

Hooray that Obama is free thinking and peace loving enough to embrace the radicals of the 70''. Because he understands Ayer (and us) I support Obama EVEN MORE THAN I DID BEFORE.

HE WILL END THE WAR! VOTE OBAMA -08
Reply to this comment
by citizenusa-2009 October 15, 2008 9:19 AM PDT
I wonder if McCain is going to soil himself tonight?
Reply to this comment
by libertarian5 October 15, 2008 9:34 AM PDT
He will bring up Ayers, whine about how his own reputation has been unfairly soiled, and talk about how different he is than George Bush. All this while proposing plans identical to Bush''s. He will lose again.
Reply to this comment
by libertarian5 October 15, 2008 10:13 AM PDT
Please discontinue the whining...It get so boring.


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Posted by BO_SBD at 10:04 AM : Oct 15, 2008

Actually, its the Repubs who are crying like little babies. The Dems are winning.
Reply to this comment
by gop_will_win October 15, 2008 10:14 AM PDT
Ah the last debate is here. McCain will now finish off Obama with his tough truth speech and Obama will have nothing to counter it with. Obama will look like the dummy he is as McCain wipes the floor with him again. Get ready for another butt kicking liberals! Hahahahaha!
Reply to this comment
by tachoma-2009 October 15, 2008 10:18 AM PDT
They want to talk about guilt by association. George Bush Senior best friend was Kenneth Lay and his son signed the legislation to deregulate energy market in california driving their bills threw the roof. John McCain was part of the Keating five. The ultimate cost of the crisis is estimated to have totaled around $160.1 billion, about $124.6 billion of which was directly paid for by the U.S. taxpayer The accompanying slowdown in the finance industry and the real estate market may have been a contributing cause of the 1990-1991 economic recession. Between 1986 and 1991, the number of new homes constructed per year dropped from 1.8 million to 1 million, the lowest rate since World War II.
Reply to this comment
by lewiston14 October 15, 2008 10:18 AM PDT
To a poster below: I really did not see a clear winner in the last debate actually it was useless. I will do this and I will do that but until your in office you really can no do much of anything so they just did the same song and dance over and over again. I have been very carefull never to tell anyone how to vote. Its their business and theirs alone. Im still an undecided and that gives me alot of freedom right up to Nov 4 but im also in one of those locked up states where they never come to visit anyway. Maybe ill wait till Nov 5 to decide as I do not think it will matter. The election should be run like most others are. 1 vote per person not 1 vote for an electoral group that has allready made up their mind for you.
Reply to this comment
by jennings501 October 15, 2008 10:19 AM PDT
I hear the Florida Shuffleboard Court at Shady Pines calling John McCain. And as far as Palin, trouble back home in Alaska in less than three weeks when this is done. Wink! Wink! Joe Six Pack.
Reply to this comment
by gop_will_win October 15, 2008 10:21 AM PDT
Again?!?!? I think someone needs a reality check


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Posted by I_AM_DJ
=======================
Yes it is time to leave your fantasy world liberal.
Reply to this comment
by daffy64 October 15, 2008 10:27 AM PDT
Maybe McCain could crush a lump of coal into a diamond at the debate to impress us.

Otherwise, leading by a relatively wide margin in every poll and swing state, unless Obama dances around in a devil suit pitchforking babies at this last debate, I think he''s won.
Reply to this comment
by lewiston14 October 15, 2008 10:28 AM PDT
"Bob Schieffer will not let them get off topic"
I agree there will be little mud in the final debate.
Bob Schieffer is well known and respected and will make a fine moderator in the last debate. The other two were also very good picks.
Reply to this comment
by daffy64 October 15, 2008 10:28 AM PDT
The very first early voting results are in. Survey USA polled early voters in Ohio and New Mexico. These are people who have already voted.

Look at this:

NM 10/13 Obama +23%
OH 10/13 Obama 18%

Again -- these are VOTES.

Wow.

----

Good news. It''s going to be a landslide.
Reply to this comment
by briannorwood October 15, 2008 10:33 AM PDT
Can''t wait to watch McGrandpa shuffle back and forth across the stage again.

My friends, John McCain is too old!
Reply to this comment
by briannorwood October 15, 2008 10:35 AM PDT
"That is why everyone should watch it on FOX to get both sides of the issues."--bellschotsch

Actually dude, if you really want the fair and balanced you should listen to Limbaugh and Hannity on the AM radio. They really deliver the unbiased news!

LOL!
Reply to this comment
by pollslie October 15, 2008 10:38 AM PDT
Unless someone takes out Barack Obama - he will be the next President of the US.
Since he promised to make the RICH pay the middle class taxes - I look forward to more money in the next couple of years.
Of course - if he does not come through - it will be his harbinger during the next election.
Reply to this comment
by hamiltongrad October 15, 2008 10:41 AM PDT
We need to end Coruption: Item: Biden''s Son: getting millions to be "consultant" to banks, the very committee Biden is on and controls.
///////// SEN DODD belongs IN JAIL ?? ?????
We need a full investigation of Sen Dodd and Barney G. Frank. No banks want to give losing loans, unless forced to by the govt. Over 5 million illegal aliens had gov''t HUD loans !!

I would like to see CBS investigate, and not be intimidated.
Reply to this comment
by hamiltongrad October 15, 2008 10:43 AM PDT

We need to elimintate the independents and others voting in party primaries. Rep. did not even want MC Cain ! that is why he is in the "middle", and fuzzy. Who nominated him anyway, when we had potential stronger candidates such as Mayor G. and many others.

Please, change the system back to allow only Rep and Dem vote in their own primaries !!!
Reply to this comment
by dexman5-2009 October 15, 2008 10:46 AM PDT
I dont know if McCain will bring up Ayers or the ACORN issues. Maybe. Neither one really matters. Does anyone really believe (other than the far right) that Obama is a terrorist because of Ayers? Even McCain dismissed that notion.

The Republicans(including Palin)keep referring to ACORN as voter fraud. Let''s set the record straight, it is voter registration fraud. Big difference their. ACORN workers get paid by how many people they register in hence Tony Romo gets registered in Nevada. Now does Tony Romo vote in Nevada...no. When people vote they still have to show it is indeed them so how many of these bogus people show up to vote? Probably none. McCain even gave a speech at a ACORN event in 2006 praising them. Obama was involved with them 13 years ago as a lawyer.

I myself hope that McCain brings up these issues. He knows that if he does they will be taken off the table and he will no longer have them to use anymore. Then what does he have? I think the American people are more worried about how we are going to get out of this mess than ACORN or Ayers. I know for one I am.
Reply to this comment
by daffy64 October 15, 2008 10:47 AM PDT
I hope Senator McCain is more respectful in the next debate. Please sit down while Senator Obama is speaking. Don''t wander around in the background. And don''t point at him. It''s not polite. Oh, and it''s "Senator Obama" to you. Not "that one".
Reply to this comment
by drsam8 October 15, 2008 10:48 AM PDT
ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF INCITEMENT AND REP. LEWIS%u2019S WARNING

Rep. Lewis''s statement is clear about what he wanted to accomplish--that McCain''s campaign rallies not continue to incite the crowd to hatred with a prospect of creating social unrest and schism. That is a timely warning, McCain''s self-righteous indignation notwithstanding. Lewis simply stated the truth which many in the McCain camp (and some in the media) may not want to hear; but it is a statement of wisdom. He said: %u201CGeorge Wallace never threw a bomb. He never fired a gun, but he created the climate and the conditions that encouraged vicious attacks against innocent Americans who were simply trying to exercise their constitutional rights." Lewis%u2019s concern was about %u201Ccreating an atmosphere of hatred.%u201D He was not saying that McCain was doing many of the nasty things that Wallace did in his life. No objective observer would dispute the fact that hatred was being stirred at McCain-Palin rallies by words%u2014words by some supporters and by the candidates themselves. In Western European democratic systems, McCain and Palin and Co. open themselves up for a charge of incitement to hatred. What would they say for their defense should any danger or harm result from the way they have been conducting this campaign? That is what Lewis''s warning is all about!
Reply to this comment
by paragpancho October 15, 2008 10:49 AM PDT
McInsane says trust me, trust me, trust me !!!
How can we? When your first wife was screwed, you left her! How can we give you country?
Reply to this comment
by mollybee5 October 15, 2008 10:49 AM PDT
McCain''s problems started when he added Palin to his ticket. He did that for all the wrong reasons and it came back to bit him on the a.. There are 3 weeks left and I think by now most people have made up their minds as to who they are going to vote for. This leopard can not change his spots no matter how many times he tries.....
Reply to this comment
by joker1944-2009 October 15, 2008 10:50 AM PDT
The moment that McCain mentions Ayers or ACORN he will have already lost the debate. Who are these morons on his campaign who haven''t yet realized that all this negativity and smears on Obama is backfiring?

He has already lost the indepedents and moderates. What few voters haven''t made up their minds yet will hardly be impressed if McCain, instead of sticking to the issues and proposing solutions, wallows in the gutter with Rovian style smears.
Reply to this comment
by helloall34 October 15, 2008 10:52 AM PDT
I''''m voting Democrat because ...

Posted by maakahill
===========================

I''m voting democrat this time because I believe in the principles outlined in the constitution that republican administration believes can be pushed aside "for the good of the people during tough times". It is the tough times for which the constitution applies most, republicans don''t seem to understand this. Nixon, Reagan, Bush... The all believe that the law didn''t apply to them. I am sick of it...
Reply to this comment
by dudeplayfair October 15, 2008 10:57 AM PDT
OCTOBER SURPRISE

This list of potential October Surprises the by McCain camp was leaked earlier today:

1) Have Palin insist they already won the election.

2) McCains suspends campaign twice a week just to **** off Letterman.

3) Release ad attacking Obama for fathering not one, but two black children.

4) Sarah plays Crazy Train on her flute onstage with Ozzy as last ditch effort for the "Ozzfest" vote.

5) Borrow Cindy''s jet and invade Canada, just to prove he really is a "maverick".

5) New campaign slogan: "F*** it!"

6) McCain insists on wearing a blue tie, in an attempt to steal another of Obama''s signatures.

7) State that Putin was spotted over Alaska''s airspace shaking his fist at us.

8) Find the switch for the internet and turn it off as a diversion.

9) Actually switch over to a Palin / McCain ticket, admitting Palin''s judgment is better.

10) Have McCain hold the shotgun at Bristol''s wedding.
Reply to this comment
by truthislife1 October 15, 2008 10:57 AM PDT
The reason Obama will win the election is because he is a slick talker.
Reply to this comment
by dudeplayfair October 15, 2008 10:59 AM PDT
"The reason Obama will win the election is because he is a slick talker.

Posted by truthislife1 "


There are many factors which make people vote for Sen. Obama.

However, if your point is that McCain is not a good orator, I agree.
Reply to this comment
by truthislife1 October 15, 2008 11:00 AM PDT
The only way McCain will win the election is if ALL the people who believe babies should live will vote for McCain. Highly unlikely.
Reply to this comment
by cbshoveit2 October 15, 2008 11:00 AM PDT
Can you guys remember how George Bush killed the McCain Campaign in 2000? Bush had the lies going around that Cindy McCain was a drug addict and John McCain fathered a black child out of wedlock. It might be true. McCain called George Bush "wizard of a oz but with a man with no brain or heart or courage". At least McCain was right back then! The good old days! Thats how George Bush got the nomination. Republican politics! The nastier slime gutter ball lies perpetuated from Richard Nixon first congressional run when his workers called voters and asked "Did you know my opponet is a Communist?" in 1950. Nixon later said he knew his opponet wasn''t a Communist, he just wanted to win. Elephants do forget! Every 4 years!
Reply to this comment
by liberalme October 15, 2008 11:01 AM PDT
We need a full investigation of Sen Dodd and Barney G. Frank. No banks want to give losing loans, unless forced to by the govt. Over 5 million illegal aliens had gov''''t HUD loans !!

I would like to see CBS investigate, and not be intimidated.

Posted by hamiltonGRAD

And wouldn''t you know--we''re paying 10 billion a month for a Bush manufactured war in Iraq,
We owe China and Saudi Arabia over 500 billion
and now the government wants the taxpayers to "bail out" the banks--that comes to about $7000 per taxpayer.

The taxpayers aren''t getting "bailed-out" we get a $600 stimulus check--for many that covered groceries, food and electricity for a month.

I certainly hope whoever gets elected--they conduct a full investigation of this current government.

Well I can hope--we all know McCain won''t investigate a thing and just concentrate on how we can have a never ending war.
Reply to this comment
by changeisgoo2 October 15, 2008 11:06 AM PDT
We Need Change! Change! Change!

I pledge alliance to the flags of the divided States of Obamerica. And to the socialist values, from which it falls, two nations under Barrack H. Obama, divisible, with constraint and total & complete fairness to all.
Reply to this comment
by cbshoveit2 October 15, 2008 11:08 AM PDT
Sarah Palin should resign from Governor of Alaska. Page 5 of the report says that if found guilty, {and if you read the whole report she is)it is a misdemeanor that requires the office holder or employee to quit. It is state law. No to mention the a story in the Village Voice about her house being built for free by the contractors of the Wasilla sports complex.
Reply to this comment
by joker1944-2009 October 15, 2008 11:09 AM PDT
OCTOBER SURPRISE

Posted by dudeplayfair at 10:57 AM : Oct 15, 2008

Great list! Did you write it?
Reply to this comment
by changeisgoo2 October 15, 2008 11:14 AM PDT
I am voting for Obama, too.

Signed,
Minnie, Goofy, and Pluto.
Reply to this comment
by satch89450 October 15, 2008 11:15 AM PDT
Is Barack Obama really serious when he says "spread the wealth"? If he is, then here is an idea he should embrace: a tax on "excess" campaign contributions. There isn''t room here to give all the details, but here are the highlights:

The deductable for a political candidate is $50K plus $3 per voter

All electronic donations, no matter how small, are to be reported. Cash/Check/Barter donations are per existing rules.

The tax rate on excess campaign contributions is the highest marginal rate for personal or corporate taxpayers. Raise the top rate on individuals, and the rate rises for excess campaign contributions.

DISCUSSION

The fixed deduction helps candidates in local races avoid being killed by fixed overhead. Large-state candidates can reach their larger voter base. This is an improvement on McCain-Feingold because it does a better job of stopping the "buying" of elections.

CONCLUSION

Income redistribution need not be directed only at the productive workers and successful managers in our society. It''s time for the politicians to come under the same social rules they impose on others.

Most office-seekers won''t pay a dime of this tax.

Let''s see if Obama REALLY means it.
Reply to this comment
by shingles1 October 15, 2008 11:17 AM PDT
hamiltonGRAD, what BS.

The private sector, not the government or government-backed companies, was behind the soaring subprime lending at the core of the crisis.

Federal Reserve Board data show that:

* More than 84 percent of the subprime mortgages in 2006 were issued by PRIVATE lending institutions.

* PRIVATE firms made nearly 83 percent of the subprime loans to low- and moderate-income borrowers that year.

* Only ONE of the top 25 subprime lenders in 2006 was directly subject to the housing law that''s being lambasted by conservative critics.

Hamilton Grad? I guess you couldn''t get into a decent school.
Reply to this comment
by irmcvet97 October 15, 2008 11:18 AM PDT
Most office-seekers won''''t pay a dime of this tax.

Let''''s see if Obama REALLY means it.

Posted by satch89450 at 11:15 AM : Oct 15, 2008

Which "Office-seekers" are you referring too? Certainly ISN''T Obama!
Reply to this comment
by nolalou October 15, 2008 11:18 AM PDT
Can you give us one reason based on Obama''''''''s proposed policy''''''''s to vote for him?

What would Obama do as President?


Posted by maakahill

Can you read?? Good, rather than me repeat it here, why don''t you go to Obama''s web site, his proposals are spelled out !!! If you are too lazy to do that ,maybe you should just stay home on election day!
Reply to this comment
by irmcvet97 October 15, 2008 11:20 AM PDT
We Need Change! Change! Change!

I pledge alliance to the flags of the divided States of Obamerica. And to the socialist values, from which it falls, two nations under Barrack H. Obama, divisible, with constraint and total & complete fairness to all.

Posted by changeisgoo2 at 11:06 AM : Oct 15, 2008

Oh PLEASE!! This is NOTHING but PURE, no doubt about it FASCISM Sparky!! It appears to me that this nation IS coming together behind this VERY intelligent YOUNG Man. My guess is he will have approval as high, maybe higher, than Clinton.
Reply to this comment
by sly_64 October 15, 2008 11:21 AM PDT
There''s no such thing as "throwing your vote away". You vote for who you think will do the best job, no matter who it is.

Vote all inbumbants OUT !! We need change in that way !
Reply to this comment
by dudeplayfair October 15, 2008 11:21 AM PDT
OCTOBER SURPRISE

Posted by dudeplayfair at 10:57 AM : Oct 15, 2008

Great list! Did you write it?

Posted by joker1944"


All except 3 and 5, which I borrowed from a friend.

Thanks! Feel free to use and share the list. I''ll post it again here in a minute in case others want it.
Reply to this comment
by dudeplayfair October 15, 2008 11:23 AM PDT
OCTOBER SURPRISE

This list of potential October Surprises the by McCain camp was leaked earlier today:

1) Have Palin insist they already won the election.

2) Suspend campaign twice a week just to **** off Letterman.

3) Release ad attacking Obama for fathering not one, but two black children.

4) Sarah plays Crazy Train on her flute onstage with Ozzy as last ditch effort for the "Ozzfest" vote.

5) Borrow Cindy''s jet and invade Canada, just to prove he really is a "maverick".

5) New campaign slogan: "F*** it!"

6) McCain insists on wearing a blue tie, in an attempt to steal another of Obama''s signatures.

7) State that Putin was spotted over Alaska''s airspace shaking his fist at us.

8) Find the switch for the internet and turn it off as a diversion.

9) Actually switch over to a Palin / McCain ticket, admitting Palin''s judgment is better.

10) Have McCain hold the shotgun at Bristol''s wedding.
Reply to this comment
by dexman5-2009 October 15, 2008 11:23 AM PDT
Barack "O"bama + ACORN = STOLEN ELECTION
Posted by hclinton2012

Again this just proves my point on my previous post. Voter fraud and voter fraud registration are two entirely different things. Do your research. ACORN registers people, they cant vote for them. The workers in some cases are are sitting home taking names out the white pages and turning them in so they they can get a bigger paycheck. Is it right? Of course not. Is Obama stealing the election this way? I dont think so. Regardless of the fact Mickey Mouse still has to show up to vote and present I.D.
Reply to this comment
by nolalou October 15, 2008 11:24 AM PDT
If McCain does bring up William Ayres during the debate tonight, Obama should asked McCain about his top paid advisor, and transition cooridnator, William Timmons!

Timmons was a lobbyist for Saddam Hussain, his job was to get the U.S. and other countries to back off on the sanctions and no-fly zones. The two lobbyists who Timmons worked closely with over a five year period on the lobbying campaign later either pleaded guilty to or were convicted of federal criminal charges that they had acted as unregistered agents of Saddam Hussein''s government.

Obama met Ayres and worked on a charity foundation in Chicago since they lived in the same neighborhood, but Obama didn''t hire him to run his campaign!
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by irmcvet97 October 15, 2008 11:24 AM PDT
This is almost an IMPOSSIBLE Mission for McSame. IF he comes out and says that "Trickle Down" has got to go he loses the CEO, Corporate backing he so desperately needs. IF he comes out and ATTACKS Obama, as the rabid Right wants, he will no doubt push what few undecided''s there are left into Obama''s Champ. What does this poor Grumpy Old Man say and how does he manage to take the nation in a NEW and different Direction and still hold onto the Greedy and the Klan? Tough high wire act for sure.
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by credibility2 October 15, 2008 11:25 AM PDT
The growing support among the electorate for Obama is due to his ability to successfully persuade by misrepresentation and deception. Any candidate that has worshiped and idolized and then built year''s long affilations with radical extremists, liars and frauds such as those in Acorn, or Ayers, Wright, Farrakhan, Moss, Pfleger, Raines, and others can''t be trusted. Those who dismiss the significance of these questionable affiliations and close relationships are also a danger since they''ve totally abdicated their will and succumbed to false idealism, empty promises and flowery rhetoric. They''ve also abdicated their intelligence and free will to question, challenge and criticize.
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by irmcvet97 October 15, 2008 11:27 AM PDT
Again this just proves my point on my previous post. Voter fraud and voter fraud registration are two entirely different things. Do your research. ACORN registers people, they cant vote for them. The workers in some cases are are sitting home taking names out the white pages and turning them in so they they can get a bigger paycheck. Is it right? Of course not. Is Obama stealing the election this way? I dont think so. Regardless of the fact Mickey Mouse still has to show up to vote and present I.D.

Posted by dexman5 at 11:23 AM : Oct 15, 2008

You are very correct! In this state they MUST turn in the forms EVEN if they believe they aren''t correct... IT''s the LAW in this state. But when you are as Desperate as the Reich, hey you throw anything at the wall... at this point ANYTHING and it WILL get worse in the next few weeks.
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by joker1944-2009 October 15, 2008 11:28 AM PDT
Battleground States:

Colorado 49.0 44.0 Obama +5.0
Ohio 48.9 45.5 Obama 3.4
Florida 49.6 44.8 Obama 4.8
Nevada 49.2 46.2 Obama 3.0
Missouri 49.0 46.8 Obama 2.2
Virginia 50.6 44.1 Obama 6.5

I think Obama''s lead will get a little smaller as we approach election day, but I believe that if Obama only wins just 1 or 2 of these states there is no mathematical way McCain can win.
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by irmcvet97 October 15, 2008 11:31 AM PDT
The growing support among the electorate for Obama is due to his ability to successfully persuade by misrepresentation and deception. Any candidate that has worshiped and idolized and then built year''''s long affilations with radical extremists, liars and frauds such as those in Acorn, or Ayers, Wright, Farrakhan, Moss, Pfleger, Raines, and others can''''t be trusted. Those who dismiss the significance of these questionable affiliations and close relationships are also a danger since they''''ve totally abdicated their will and succumbed to false idealism, empty promises and flowery rhetoric. They''''ve also abdicated their intelligence and free will to question, challenge and criticize.

Posted by Credibility2 at 11:25 AM : Oct 15, 2008

Now YOU are sure painting the American People to be very stupid aren''t you. THAT is NOT what they say and they ARE listening. They were duped into electing the WORST President in our history by the SAME methods you are NOW trying to use yet again. The PEOPLE are simply saying your personal attacks and "Swift Boating" will NOT work this time. MAYBE you should start EXPLAINING why YOU and YOUR party took a Balanced Budget and Surplus and turned it into a mess the likes of which most of us have never seen before??
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