The debate: When McCain Brought Up Ayers, OBAMA GULPED!

By Bob McCarty

The most exciting segment of tonight's third and final presidential debate between Barack Obama and John McCain came at the 40-minute mark when McCain brought up Bill Ayers and, obviously displaying his discomfort with the subject, OBAMA GULPED!

Held at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., and moderated by CBS News' Bob Schieffer, the debate featured 90 minutes divided into nine-minute segments with questions followed by two-minute answers from each candidate and discussion periods afterward.

The "GULP" segment took place after a pitched back-and-forth discussion covered most of the political accusation that have been tossed about during the campaign in recent months. It ended with Obama denying accusations that he had launched his political career in Ayers' living room. McCain told Obama there's no denying the facts and that records are records. Moderator Schieffer interrupted and changed the subject, noting that it might surface again.

Another exciting part of the debate took place at the beginning of the debate. Both candidates ran through their talking points on the economy, then each was able to ask the other questions. McCain brought up Obama's encounter with Joe Wurzelbacher, the 34-year-old Ohio Plumber to whom he said we need to "spread the wealth around" after being asked point blank, "Your new tax plan's going to tax me more, isn't it?" In response, Obama tried to dance around the fact, but McCain didn't let him. Instead, McCain hammered Obama on his "spread the wealth around" comment.

Other highlights of the night centered around Rep. John Lewis (D-Fla.) and his charge that McCain and running mate Sarah Palin were somehow exhibiting racist behavior, that both campaigns had engaged in terrible exchanges during the course of the campaign (Think crude t-shirts and epithets yelled at campaign rallies).

One of the best slip-ups during the night was McCain calling his opponent, "Senator Government." So true!

Among the most-heated exchanges between the candidates took place on the subject of abortion. McCain highlighted the many incidences of Obama voting in favor of infanticide, including voting against passage of Illinois' Born-Alive Infant Protection Act, and Obama rolled out his boilerplate answers on the subject.

Did the debate help either candidate? Yes, but only among those voters who paid attention. Clearly McCain cleaned Obama's "clock" with substance and details.

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Michelle Malkin comments on the debate:

No, there weren't any knockout punches. But John McCain was still standing at the end of the night - doubts about his fortitude adequately quelled - and Barack Obama ought to be wiping the smirk he borrowed from Joe Biden off his face.

Joe Wurzelbacher the Plumber was a heaven-sent gift for the McCain campaign, and for once, McCain didn't flub the opportunity to rub the infamous "spread the wealth around" line in Obama's smug face. Obama's tin-ear response? Citing his billionaire "friend" Warren Buffett!



Alas, Ayers and ACORN receded into the background. But McCain brought the education debate to the present and spotlighted Obama's anti-school choice policies that render him woefully out of touch with increasing numbers of minority families.

The best line of the night may have been unplanned (or maybe not)? In jabbing Obama's spend-spend-spend plans, McCain called him "Senator Government.' "Senator Government." It's a fitting moniker for the Democrat candidate who spent the whole night talking about "investing" other people's money. Perfect. McCain ought to call him that from now until Nov. 4.

And someone from the McCain camp better have Joe's phone number and arrange a joint appearance pronto. Joe made Senator Government squirm. Let's see more. Better late than never.

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"Joe the Plumber" Steals the Show at Presidential Debate

The Drudge Report is already calling it the "Joe the Plumber" election. Truly, Joe the plumber did a great service for John McCain for pointing out the obvious in Ohio this week.



Again, here's Joe the Plumber blasting Obama on his socialist policies: (1 minute 18 seconds)



Joe later added this about John McCain: "He's got it right as far as I go."

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The Joe The Plumber Debate: McCain Scores and "Senator Government" Stumbles

Thank you, Joe W., America's plumber, wherever you are. He must be a Browns fan.

McCain scored big with the Joe the plumber exchanges, and with the campaign tactics exchange. Obama looked angry and stumbled repeatedly as he tried to cope with what he really told Joe the plumber --guaranteeing the replay of the clip again and again and underscoring Senator Obama's flexibility when it comes to facts-- and with what John Lewis said. Obama's answer on ACORN was a jaw dropper and opens the door to the MSM, as does the Ayers exchange. McCain drove this home without going overboard. Repeatedly returning to Joe the Plumber was key for McCain, and by the last half hour Obama was petulantly telling Joe what the "right thing to do by his employees" was. John McCain then spoke directly to Joe and put a bright line around Obama's "spread the wealth" line, and the "fundamental difference" between the campaigns. When Senator McCain slipped and called Senator Obama "Senator Government," he scored when he didn't even intend to. That's the sort of thing that marks a great debate for McCain, when even his verbal flub advances the key message.

McCain accomplished more in just the first half of the debate than he did in the first two debates total, and the second half was just as good for him. "Spread the wealth" is now the Obama brand, and that can move the polls. So too can the drilling exchange ("I so admire Senator Obama's eloquence.") Senator McCain was animated and informed through-out, and Sebator Obama on the defensive on many occasions, including the "Born Alive Infant Protection Act." Catholic voters watching this exchange could not be comfortable with the Obama dodges. "Another example of the eloquence of Senator Obama," countered McCain. "That's the extreme pro-abortion position in America," McCain replied to Obama's winding explanation.

Obama's mastery of his rote talking points is impressive, but they failed him on key exchanges tonight. If the McCain campaign produces a Joe the Plumber ad, and marries it to the Obama/Hoover jab it can turn this debate on the economy while keeping a focus on Obama's judgment when it comes to ACORN, Ayers and the rest of Senator Obama's associates. A very good night for John McCain overall. Obama had a chance to end the campaign tonight, but just the opposite happened. Obama was in the prevent defense mode, and McCain moved the ball a long way down the field.

Thanks to Joe the Plumber, and a brief moment of Obama candor along a rope line in Ohio.

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Obama co-Sponsored legislation to shield ACORN crooks from lawsuits

MP at the Canada Free Press continues to do the work the US media refuses to do. In her latest column Marinka discovered that Barack Obama co-sponsored legislation to protect ACORN from criminal prosecution for harassing banks to approve loans for individuals who could not afford them. These practices helped push our country into its current economic crisis. But, thanks to Barack Obama, ACORN will not have to worry about facing any consequences for its dubious practices. The Canada Free Press reported:

Not only did Barack Obama's presidential campaign pay more than U.S. $800,000 to a front of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform, Now, ACORN, currently under investigation in a dozen States for voter registration fraud and bribery schemes, for "get-out-the-vote-efforts"; Obama co-sponsored legislation called the "Helping Families Save their Homes in Bankruptcy Act of 2007"-- that was supported by ACORN and protects them.

Why would groups like ACORN, who according to Stanley Kurtz's "O Dangerous Pals" undermined "the US economy by pushing the banking system into a sinkhole of bad loans.. by forcing banks to make hundreds of millions of dollars in "subprime" loans to often un-creditworthy poor and minority customers." support this legislation?

Perhaps because it provides Chapter 13 Bankruptcy protections to homeowners who didn't have the means to buy homes, and it protects people who put those borrowers into these high-risk mortgages.

...Another key reason why groups like ACORN support this legislation because it: "Prohibits the court from allowing a claim that is subject to any remedy for damages or rescission due to failure to comply with the Truth in Lending Act or any other state or federal consumer protection law."

The Truth in Lending Act (TILA) was designed to create "economic stabilization and competition by informed use of credit by consumers (emphasis added)." Under TILA the law also applies "to persons who are not creditors but who provide applications for home equity plans to consumers." This bill absolves organizations of any guilt or culpability under TILA; perhaps the same organizations who intimidated and bullied banks into providing risky loans to unqualified borrowers like ACORN.

If this legislation does not pass, then these "persons who are not creditors," could face "criminal penalties" for "willful and knowing violations of TILA," which could result in a "fine of $5,000, imprisonment for up to one year, or both."

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Fred Barnes and the 'Nightmare on Pennsylvania Avenue'

Fred Barnes is no alarmist. He is one of the most insightful political analysts in America. I have been reading him for more than 20 years and he has always written penetrating, logical, and reasoned stuff. His article in today's Weekly Standard puts in stark relief just what we're in for with an Obama presidency. Some samples:

Then Democrats might go after a longstanding target of big labor, section 14(b) of the Taft-Hartley Act. It allows states to enact right-to-work laws, which bar workers from being forced to join a union. Twenty-two states have right-to-work laws.

The liberal scheme for killing conservative talk radio--the so-called fairness doctrine--would stand an excellent chance of becoming law. It would require radio stations to offer equal time, for free, to anyone seeking to reply to broadcasts featuring political opinion. To remain profitable, many stations would have to drop conservative talk shows, a major medium for communicating conservative ideas, rather than give up hours of free time. Obama has said he opposes the fairness doctrine. But would he veto it? Not likely.

Obama would nominate liberals to fill Supreme Court vacancies--no doubt about that--with the strong likelihood they'd be confirmed. As a senator, he voted against John Roberts and Sam Alito. And free trade agreements would become a thing of the past, given liberal and labor opposition.

What about Obama's health care plan? He's described it as step or two away from a single payer, government-run health system like Canada's. While expensive, its chances of passage would be quite good.

A bad economy, however, might keep Obama and his allies in Congress from passing his entire package of tax increases and his "cap and trade" proposal for curbing the emission of greenhouse gases. Obama has called for increasing the tax rate on capital gains, dividends, and the income of top earners, and raising the cap on payroll taxes. But tax hikes would worsen, not stimulate, a weak economy. So that might make Democrats balk--except they might not. For liberals, requiring the well-to-do to pay higher taxes is a matter of ideology.

This doesn't include what Obama would do in foreign and defense policy. I think an Obama victory portends a longer, more severe recession, a weakening of American resolve abroad against terror, against Russia and China, and against dictators, and an "anything goes" court system" that will have us shaking our heads in wonder at some decisions, trying to figure out how a rational human being could arrive at such a stunningly stupid conclusion.

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