Comments on: The Presidential debate

By: Meryl Yourish

Meryl Yourish — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 15:09:59 +0000

But McCain never called him “Barack.” He always referred to him as “Senator Obama.”

It was noticeable, and I think it was condescending on Obama’s part.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 15:04:14 +0000

The point of the debate format that the two sides agreed to was for them to interact. Do you really think they go around each day and say, “Senator McCain how is your day going?” They have a personal relationship and Obama has even worked on legislation with McCain. I believe there is enough familiarity to call each other by their first names. This was SOP in the primary debates.

By: tasteslikechicken

tasteslikechicken — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 15:02:31 +0000

I was pretty irritated with the way Obama kept interupting McCain. One would think a moderator could,.. say, moderate, in such a situation?

By: Bob

Bob — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 13:47:39 +0000

To me calling your opponent by his first name is condescending — it’s the way you address your pet dog. And I like the fact that Senator McCain addressed his answers to the moderator, refusing to get into a stare-down, but I know that’s regarded as a show of disrespect in the Black community.

By: Meryl Yourish

Meryl Yourish — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 05:46:21 +0000

You know, a person isn’t responsible for the name his father gives him.

He’s not a Muslim. Let’s not pretend that he is.

By: Maquis

Maquis — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 04:24:23 +0000

Hussein sucked.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 03:18:49 +0000

This is not a new thing, nor is it “the media.”It goes back to at least 1980 [for those of us who remember things that far back]; the debate between Reagan and Anderson. Anderson repeatedly referred to Reagan as “Governor Reagan” and Reagan addressed Congressman Anderson as “John.” I thought it was rude, but the right wingers loved it; made him look like some kind of father figure.

I’m still trying to figure out the part where McCain was talking about how North Korea was so repressive, and then mentioned that South Koreans are 3 inches taller on average than their northern counterparts.

I’ve been trying as hard as I can to give him the benefit of the doubt, but no matter what, it keeps coming back to “huh?”

By: mt

mt — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 02:18:31 +0000

A couple of points. This kind of casual disrespect has been used by the media quite frequently over the last year or more when referring to the President as Mr.Bush. Secondly, BHO addressed McCain as Jim or Tom on at least two occasions. I think he was showing some of that legendary McCain anger we were told to look out for. Finally, if McCain had referred to BHO simply as Barrack can you not imagine the gasps and cries of foul about bringing up his Muslim background?

By: annoying little twerp

annoying little twerp — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 13:22:42 +0000

I didn’t watch the debate-too busy watching my cubbies play like AAA’ers-because I knew that O’bambi would raise my blood pressure 20 points.
I’m voting for McCain.
The debates won’t change that.

By: E.D. Kain

E.D. Kain — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 05:10:00 +0000

I don’t know. He called him John in a familiar sort of way–I didn’t think it sounded disrespectful. He also looked at McCain, and McCain did his best to not engage Obama in any way.

Then, too, McCain stood there grinning condescendingly while Obama spoke, and just came across looking rather snide.

I’m still undecided, but I thought McCain’s attitude was the more disrespectful of the two.