Obama, McCain Spar on War, Fiscal Crisis in First Debate http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122247204209780953.html Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama showcased different priorities for the nation's economy and foreign policy in the first of three presidential debates, an event that featured sharp exchanges, some agreement, and no knockout punches or major gaffes. Their divergent views on the war in Iraq produced some of the sharpest displays. Sen. McCain chastised Sen. Obama for opposing an increase in troops that helped turn the war around. Sen. Obama slammed Sen. McCain for supporting the war in the first place. The Iraq dispute underscored the fundamental messages each candidate hoped to communicate in the foreign-policy debate. The 72-year-old Sen. McCain, the Vietnam war hero, tried to paint his 47-year-old rival as dangerously naive, while Sen. Obama tried to paint his rival as a dangerous hawk. "There are some advantages to experience and knowledge and judgment, and I honestly don't believe that Sen. Obama has the knowledge and experience," Sen. McCain said at the debate's close. "I don't think I need any on-the-job training. I'm ready to go at it right now." Earlier, Sen. Obama blasted Sen. McCain for off-the-cuff hawkish statements. "John, you're absolutely right that presidents have to be prudent in what they say," he said, addressing his opponent directly. "But coming from you who in the past have threatened extinction for North Korea and sung songs about bombing Iran, I don't know how credible that is." The candidates met amid a crisis rocking the nation's financial infrastructure, and the moment transformed the debate -- which was supposed to be devoted entirely to foreign policy and national security -- into a clash over their domestic agendas as well. Much of the first half centered on the economy, giving each candidate the chance to spotlight his intentions regarding taxes and spending. In addition to contrasting agendas, the 90-minute event showcased their differing styles, with Sen. McCain more folksy and quick to dispense a joke or an anecdote. Sen. Obama seemed sharper than in some past debates, quick on the attack and seemingly unintimidated by his rival's greater number of years on the world stage. The debate featured numerous testy exchanges, with each man at times interrupting the other. Disputes were pressed on issues large and small. In contrasting economic agendas, Sen. McCain repeatedly vowed to eliminate federal spending sought out by special interests, while Sen. Obama highlighted his promise for a middle-class tax cut. Sen. Obama, who was offered the first question on the economy, came out fighting, in effect blaming Sen. McCain for the crisis and tying him to the unpopular President George W. Bush, a crucial part of the Democrat's strategy in this campaign. The current economic turmoil "is a final verdict on eight years of failed economic policies -- promoted by George Bush, supported by Senator McCain -- a theory that basically says that we can shred regulations and consumer protections and give more and more to the most, and somehow prosperity will trickle down," Sen. Obama said. "It hasn't worked." Sen. McCain turned a good portion of the debate on the economy into a discussion of one of his long-time crusades to curb "earmarks," referring to special-interest budget items. He said he would freeze nearly all discretionary spending to hunt for waste. And he slammed Sen. Obama for requesting hundreds of millions of dollars in earmarks himself. "The first thing we have to do is get spending under control in Washington," he said. "It's completely out of control." Both men worked to personalize the war, and each pointed to a bracelet he wears as a reminder of a young man who died in the war. Sen. McCain's bracelet came from a mother who doesn't want her son's death to have been in vain. Sen. Obama's came from a mother who asked that he prevent other mothers from suffering the same loss. Sen. Obama suggested that the war in Iraq had become a distraction to the battles in Afghanistan. "We took our eye off the ball," Sen. Obama said, suggesting the need to use the military "wisely" and calling the current situation a "strategic mistake." Presidential debates are often infused with drama, but Friday's session at the University of Mississippi was more dramatic than usual. It came a day after a tense White House meeting that included both of the contenders, as they wrestled over a $700 billion bailout package aimed at containing turmoil in financial markets. Sen. McCain didn't make up his mind to attend the long-scheduled debate until mid-morning Friday, having originally promised to stay away if there was no agreement on the Wall Street bailout package. The first debate came with just over five weeks before the election. Most polls show a tight contest. While Sen. Obama generally enjoys a slight edge, four in 10 of all voters said the debates would be important in making up their minds, according to this week's Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll. According to rules agreed upon in advance, this first debate was to focus on foreign policy and national security. But it came after two weeks of economic turmoil and the moderator, PBS anchor Jim Lehrer, said that he didn't consider the dominant news of the day to be off limits. The fact that much of the debate dealt with economic and domestic issues was in itself a boon for Sen. Obama, who is trusted more on these issues by voters, according to many polls. Foreign policy is considered Sen. McCain's strength. In the early economic rounds, both candidates sought to represent Main Street rather than Wall Street with a populist bent. There were few differences over the bailout package, as both men have pressed for the same things. When pressed about whether or not he would support the package, Sen. McCain said "sure" with an added, "I hope so." Sen. Obama also hedged, turning his answer into a critique of the current regulatory system. Sen. McCain turned much of the economic discussion into a discussion of government waste. "I've got a pen," he said, raising one in his hand, "and I'm going to veto every single spending bill that comes across my desk" containing earmarks. For members of Congress who insert earmarks, "I will make them famous. You will know their names." Unstated was that many members of Congress brag about the home-state projects that earmarks often represent, and may in fact be happy to have their work publicized. Sen. Obama replied that earmarks, while often egregious, represent only a small portion of the total budget and would pay for a fraction of the McCain tax-cut plan. Both candidates came into the campaign touting themselves as men who could change politics and transform the partisan divide that has marked Washington in recent years. Sen. McCain argued that Sen. Obama has little record to prove it. "Sen. Obama has the most liberal voting record in the United States Senate. It's hard to reach across the aisle from that far to the left," he said. But Sen. Obama made efforts to connect his Republican rival to the current president, noting that Sen. McCain has voted 90% of the time with the Bush administration. "To stand here after eight years and say you're going to lead" an administrating offering change and reform, Sen. Obama said, "I think is kind of hard to swallow." -- 以上言论为此媒体之报导或观点 不代表本人立场 --

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