I like the informal style of town hall debate formats. I like that the candidates are able to walk around and the questions are being asked by "us". It's nice to see the candidates full outfits and the way they carry themselves. How you stand up matters. Body language. Obama appears smooth and confident. Languid. And his skin looks good. He feels comfortable to me, and his voice stays even and with a nice cadence. McCain is herky jerky. His movement is aggressive. He seems mad. And, since this is a town hall format, he's wandering deep into the seated audience. But too deep. He's close-talking. Thats uncomfortable. McCain, grappling. Obama, no drama.
To the issues: McCain is historically a deregulator. He is a Republican and they want the free market and capitalism to run as unencumbered as possible. And they don't support social programs. Obama is a Democrat and they believe in helping the helpless. They believe we are all in this together. Republicans say: "pick yourself up by your bootstraps". Dems say: "let me help you tie those boots and hold my hand to steady yourself, and here is a beer and some doritos for the long road you have ahead". Democrats are regulators of too much opulence or hyperbole on Wall Street. Republicans leave it to capitalism to let things solve themselves. Republicans say if the money is big enough up top, it will trickle down. Democrats believe in managing the chaos. Dems like social programs to help out the underserved and taxing the most to those that make the most. However, the economy has hit its worst road in nearly a century and it appears that this has happened in large part because of the drunken orgy of greed happening at the top of the heap that has been protected and unregulated and allowed to make risky endeavors all at the helm of the Republicans. So now that we need to reign things in and make the free market not so free (a Democratic effort), McCain is trying to divorce himself from his own past and his own party. Thats a problem. Obama wants to raise taxes for the wealthiest ONLY. McCain will ONLY protect the wealthiest (and maybe your zygote too).
They both talked about environmental issues. McCain leans towards drilling for oil and talks about hydrogen. Obama says "solar" and "wind" and "green economy"; these terms make sense. They seem forward and modern. Drilling for anything, conversely, seems like Poland in 1917 looking for coal. I see penguins slathering around an oil spill. It's dirty and backward. Mammoth windmills on a grassy slope seems clean and stylish. I want a breezy afternoon. Not black lung.
McCain seemed to attack Obama. Yet, Obama is addressing the issues. Obama kept ducking fight. McCain is trying to scare people by saying things like higher taxes and mandates and regulation and terrorists. But he sounds mean and too urgent. It plays to any panic inside someone and it's unhealthy. Obama sounds patient and thoughtful. He sounds like he considers and is cautious. McCain talks dark times and war and being a bruised fighter. Obama talks about looking to manifest greatness and optimism. Obama seems to ponder. McCain seems to pander.
There were no knock outs with this debate. No zinger sound bites. It was actually kinda boring. It was informative and meaty with the issues however. The smooth, clear, calm performance of Obama outshines the anxious, name-calling, fear pandering McCain. Especially after months of watching them repeat these behavoirs. Obama takes clear victory.
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