The second presidential tete-a-tete in Nashville on Tuesday was dubbed a “town hall” debate which freed Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain from the stodgy podiums and allowed them to roam around the stage to talk to the audience and cameras.
Often when members of the audience — 100 undecided Nashville voters identified by the Gallup polling company — asked a question, each candidate walked as close as he could and often thanked them by name for asking. Obama and McCain then paced back and forth across the stage to address the entire audience as they answered.
McCain, who loves the town hall format, got in one jibe against Obama for finally attending one after he failed to get him to agree to hold such discussions every week until the Nov. 4 election. “Senator Obama, it’s good to be with you at a town hall meeting,” McCain said.
When one candidate answered a question, the other typically sat on a tall chair listening and taking notes on a side table. On occasion, one would stand up while the other talked in anticipation of giving a response to refute one point or another.
The one obvious violation of the ground rules was going over the allotted time. The 
moderator, Tom Brokaw of NBC News, repeatedly pleaded with McCain and Obama to stay within the confines of the short responses.
“Gentlemen, you may not have noticed but we have lights around here. They have red and green and yellow and they are to signal…” he said, referring to the time allotments.
Brokaw vented further frustration with the candidates’ refusal to heed the time limits when Obama and then McCain insisted they needed to follow up on each others’ statements over Pakistan.
“I’m just the hired help here,” Brokaw said.
Obama replied, “You’re doing a great job, Tom” and then launched into a criticism of McCain’s comments on Pakistan.
- Additional reporting by Caren Bohan
- Photo credit: Reuters/Carlos Barria
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Methuselah meets John Doe and John Does wins on grace and charm alone - let alone because he is the best man for president.
The age thing is not the point here, supposedly, although we might see McCain to possibly die from old age and dump on the US the most inept, incompetent, daft, facile, aggressive, capricious and dangerous president since GWBush. She likes to shoot animals during the winter, by the way!
Oh dear America - are you going to insist history not only repeats itself, but that the USA will pass into ignomy, failure and rapid decline? Do want to court disaster and invite political contagion into your lives?
Maybe America has a death wish - who knows?
- Posted by TheTruthIs...As to the person suggesting Obama should answer about his associations with Ayers and Wright, PLEASE!
First off Ayers was deemed a radical in the 60’s…..
Seriously that was 40+ years ago. He has since become an esteemed professor at a University in Illinois.
Obama was 7 at the time of Ayers’ “radicalism”. And the only reason they have been involved together has been because of education reform in our state.
As far as Wright is concerned, we can discuss it sure, but then I want to discuss Palin getting a blessing against Witches from Thomas Muthee.
Let’s discuss how Palin believes the End Times are coming and how that affects her judgement and values.
- Posted by DaveMcCains’ healthcare plan should scare the beejezus out of everyone. $5k isn’t going to buy a years worth of decent health coverage. I already pay that pretaxed at work. That’s already a tax credit in a sense. Who’s going to cover what my employer ponies up? McCains’ math, like his jello, just ain’t stickin.
Buying mortgages at about $300B? Why should I pay for the guy next door who was dumb enough to buy a $500K house on a $30k income? No thanks Mr. McCain.
You need to go retire to one of the 7 houses you own.
- Posted by CarolThe debate was “NOT” a town hall meeting debate. It was 100% controlled by a left wing zelot, Brokaw (sp). The participant’s questions were filtered and there were so many subjects not allowed by the moderator. For example: not one question about Obama’s questionable relationships with Ayers or Wright or his association with ACORN.
As for McCain, he would have faired a little better if he stopped using the words “MY FRIENDS”. I am so sick of that condescending usage of those words. Mr. McCain, you are not MY FRIEND. I choose my friends.
All in all McCain did nothing to improve his standings in the polls.
We, the American people, have to choose between two very undesireable choices. If these two are the best this country has to offer we are in trouble.
- Posted by SteveJohn McCain showed his massive prejudice of humans other than white, when he made comment of “that person”. We do not need another hateful person running this country. As a rather progressive white voter, I am now totally fed up with the Republican party and their racist attitudes, and fear tactics. We need a person of intelligence and compassion toward our fellow man no matter where they live and breathe. I am not proud to be an American when a major party decides to nominate another candidate full of hate toward their fellow man and fellow Americans of color. It is now obvious that McCain is not my choice to lead this country. I am appalled.
- Posted by Mike ArchienChange from a Democratic machine politician who has never carried out the responsibilities of an office he has been elected to because he was running for the next office? A press core that thinks an Obama win would be an “historic story” and therefore has a vested interest in him winning? A Democratic-controlled Congress that protected Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and is even less popular than Pres Bush? People in other countries favoring Obama because he is more likely to serve their interests than US interests? These should be focal points of the debates and press reports. Obama for “movie of the week.” McCain for president.
- Posted by Elaine Melville