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Debate skates over tough issues

In print: Saturday, September 27, 2008

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Voters listening for straight talk Friday night from Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain about a historic financial crisis or the war in Iraq would be still waiting this morning. In their first presidential debate, neither candidate offered a candid evaluation of how the two biggest issues facing this country will affect the next president's ability to carry out his agenda. Instead, they spent 90 minutes reinforcing campaign themes that seemed oddly out of touch and failed to frankly acknowledge the grave challenges facing this country.

Despite spending time in Washington this week, both McCain and Obama dodged several questions by moderator Jim Lehrer about what specific provisions they would support in a bailout still being negotiated this weekend. McCain emphasized his ability to work with Democrats as well as Republicans and claimed "a lot of us saw this train wreck coming.'' Never mind that the train wreck has now occurred. Obama said he also saw the warning signs and kept working to wrap the Bush administration around McCain's neck. That doesn't shed much light on how to move forward.

Neither candidate dealt effectively with the impact of a $700-billion bailout on their proposed agendas. McCain continued to talk about eliminating spending earmarks as though that could be the basis of a broad economic policy. Eliminating earmarks would be commendable, but they are a blip in relation to the current economic crisis. Obama acknowledged his proposals would have to be adjusted but offered no details. In fact, either candidate will find it very difficult to carry out his agenda given the likely cost of the economic bailout and the war in Iraq.

The discussion about the war sounded like a rewind of a familiar tape. McCain kept the focus on the military surge in Iraq that he supported and that has brought a decrease in violence and stability in some parts of the country. Obama emphasized that the war he opposed and McCain supported should not have been initiated in the first place. McCain's talk about victory sounded awfully optimistic and ignored the high costs in money and life that cannot continue indefinitely. As Obama emphasized, the cost of the war in Iraq has forced the United States to ignore needs at home. "No one is talking about losing this war,'' he said, but about a broader world vision.

McCain sounded energetic and clear as he distanced himself from an unpopular incumbent. He portrayed Obama as too inexperienced and unprepared — even as his own vision of the economy and foreign policy sounded awfully dated. Obama offered a broader view, particularly on economic policy. While at times too professorial, he effectively responded to McCain's challenges.

There was no clear winner in the first debate — and no clear acknowledgement of the challenges now facing the country.