The current debate format--usually two moderators that ask a series of preplanned questions with no specific time limit--is far superior to to the Bush-Kerry or Bush-Gore debates that were timed with colored lights and even more distractions. But obviously we still need a huge change to the current format because it's become very apparent that the news agencies just use the luxury of sponsoring a debate to further its own self-interest. As I was reading the diary about Clinton proposing a Lincoln-Douglas style debate, I realized this is exactly what the Obama campaign should be pushing for with John McCain, and here's why.
This would give Obama the best chance to show the entire country and world just how much control he has over every single major issue we face. Since it's obvious the media doesn't want to ask John "The Media Love Child" McCain the tough questions, Obama can use this opportunity to get some real answers out of him. Here's a list of questions (all serious and on topic) that I would love to hear Obama raise and get McCain to try and answer. Obviously he wouldn't be able to go down a list like this and ask every question, but at some point in these debates these distinctions need to come out.
MIDDLE EAST
- You said "Iraq will be easy", and "We won't be going house to house in Baghdad" back in 2002/2003 when you where running the publicity campaign for the war in Iraq. You have never spoke out against the President's handling of the war until it was much too late, or you were running for President yourself. When President Bush declared "Mission Accomplished" you where by his side assuming his judgment was correct, effectively taking our eye off the prize. Why should the American People believe that you are right now when virtually your entire record to this point has been on the wrong side of the issue?
- Virtually every senior leader in the military is saying our force is severely damaged and we would have a very tough time defending ourselves from any other threat. Our equipment in staging areas around the world is now in Iraq, with plans to send our equipment from home station that our troops use to train before deploying. A very large portion of our force has seen two or more tours of duty in Iraq or Afghanistan, and most don't even get a full year between deployments, before you add on the pre-deployment training cycle, military schooling, and duty station changes. How much longer is your plan in Iraq going to take before, in your mind, our ability to defend ourselves has reached an irreparable point?
- Do you honestly believe that our forces, given its current operational status, could handle another front against Iran or Hamas? Why do you use quotes from the leadership of Hamas as evidence, not for you, but against me? Are you also listening to what Osama bin Laden says, or do you selectively choose which terrorist to listen to based off of what's politically convenient?
- Why do you consider my position on the use of force with regards to al Qaeda in the hills of the Afghan/Pakistan border naive if the Bush administration has actually done exactly what I said we should do?
- We strategically drove the bus into the ditch with respect to the handling of the Iraq war. Given the the current status of our forces, the the fact that Iran has bigger cities and much more difficult terrain than Iraq, and our current unilateralism in Iraq: How do you plan on keeping Iran from gaining nuclear weapons if you don't think diplomacy is a good policy?
- How do you explain your many instances of "misspeaking" with regards to al Qaeda and its relationship, or lack there of, with Iran? Do you understand that many Americans think you are trying to link al Qaeda to Iran the same way you did to Iraq before we invaded, because it's been proven they weren't there?
ECONOMY
- At what point do you think 40 million Americans without health coverage is a failure of the free market to look out for the people?
- My overall plan for health coverage has a heavy focus on reducing the sky-high costs we currently pay relative to what other Western countries pay. How do you plan to reduce costs since your voting record on these issues--like prescription drugs--is a large part of the reason why costs are so high today?
- The current policies of the administration--policies you have embraced--have allowed us to fall into recession. Can you please explain how they are going to get us out?
- Can you please explain the theory of "Supply-Side" economics and how tax cuts for both wealthy individuals and corporations (loopholes) that ship jobs overseas benefits our national economy?
- Given your voting record against union rights, do you think workers should retain the right to unionize?
- How do free trade agreements like NAFTA give companies incentives to create jobs here in the United States when they have serious deficiencies with respect to enforcible labor and environmental standards? Doesn't it make sense to any firm to conduct business where expenses are cheapest and allow for profit maximization?
- The Montgomery GI Bill is one of the most well-renowned social programs our country has ever conducted. The Greatest Generation was not only known for what they did in WWII, but largely for what they did post-WWII with help of the GI Bill. The bill today has not kept up with the cost of college and hardly pays for two years at an inexpensive school. Do you honestly believe that the new GI Bill, S.22, is too much support for our troops and they won't stay to serve in your wars?
- Can you please explain your plan, if you have one, to fix the broken education system we have, especially in urban areas? At what point do you think the government has a moral and legal duty to step in when the private system neglects millions of children of a right such as a quality education?
FISCAL
- Exactly how have the Bush Tax Cuts been a benefit to the nation given that our economy is currently in a recession?
- George Bush signed into law over 70,000 earmarks for the six years the GOP was in control of both houses, ran an average annual budget deficit over $500 billion, and more than doubled our current national debt. How are you going to be any different and why should we believe you since you have fully embraced virtually all of his fiscal policies?
- We spend over $12 billion a month, or $144 billion each year, in Iraq alone. Are you going to raise taxes to pay for this war? If not, are you going to continue to borrow money from China to pay for it? If not China, then where does this $144 billion annually come from? How do we pay to invade Iran if they don't respond to your threats?
- Do you plan on vetoing every bill that has earmarks, even if they are legitimate such as vital funds to repair our failing national infrastructure?
SOCIAL
- Do you think Roe vs. Wade should be overturned? And once it's overturned, what do you think think the punishment for a women that gets an illegal abortion should be? What about abortions in cases of rape victims?
- Last year a student at Virgina Tech purchased a gun completely legally and walked into school and killed more than 30 people in cold blood. The consensus is this person should have never been allowed to purchase a gun in the first place given his state of metal health, but the current law was followed to the letter. Do you think there is a difference between a hunter that that lives in the countryside and purchases a rifle for sport compared to an individual that lives in a congested urban area that purchases a concealable handgun for protection? Do you think the current laws on gun control should be based on more common sense with respect to the situation, especially the loopholes at gun shows?
- Hillary Clinton recently fired her Chief Strategist, Mark Penn, from his position because he was simultaneously continuing his day job as a lobbyist for the Columbian government trying to get that free trade agreement worked through. Can you say, in all honesty, that none of your 60-plus lobbyists you have working for your campaign do not have their own self-interest in mind and are working in similar ways? The fact you have never asked for an earmark is irrelevant. Can you tell the American People that none of those people that have a very close position to you have any influence over the decisions you make? Do you honestly not see a conflict of interest with federal lobbyist working in your campaign and administration?
FUN FACT OF THE DAY: Obama was President of the Harvard Law Review while attending law school there; McCain finished fifth from the bottom of his class at the Navel Academy at Annapolis.
Hey, what was George Bush's number at Yale? anyone?
What other questions should be asked?