Debate blogging

Liveblogging ...

On my way home I heard Obama's campaign advertisement deride John McCain for an offhand remark, made in 2004, about the city of Milwaukee (as in why does John McCain not want to live in Milwaukee?). Now Obama whines with indignation that McCain's campaign has been negative.

McCain sings Palin's praise and Obama doesn't know if she is qualified ("the American people will have to decide.")

Obama's solution to every problem is to spend more. McCain makes a great point.

Have you noticed how Obama lowers his head, smiles and even laughs while McCain speaks?

McCain nails Obama on off-shore drilling. Obama smiles.

Obama talks about free trade and then suggests that car manufactures must be forced to produce cars to the governments specification. McCain points out the benefit of free trade with Colombia (Obama smirks) after pointing out Obama's support of Hugo Chavez.

Obama will expand healthcare coverage while reducing healthcare costs (laws can do that - right). He will also manage diabetes and other chronic diseases to make families healthy and control costs.

McCain says it is a terribly painful situation and suggests behavior modification programs (give me a break). He suggests Obama will fine Joe the plumber for not using Obama's mandated healthcare plan. Obama stops smiling and interputs to say "I exempt small businesses that can't affort to pay ..."

Was that a slip by McCain when he called Obama "Senator Government"? If the shoe fits ...

Here it is - a question about Roe v Wade. Could either of you nominate a Supreme Court Justice who disagreed with you on Roe v. Wade?

McCain - I don't believe in a litmus test... I'm a federalist. Obama on the other hand voted against Justice Roberts because he did not meet his ideology.

Obama agrees (please!) that there should be no litmus tests. This will be one of the most consequential questions of the next president. Obama will not apply a litmus test - he says. Abortion is a moral issue that good people on both sides can disagree on but women are the people in the best position to make a decision (i.e., to kill their unborn child).

Note that Obama's answser defies his prior stand.

Great! McCain brings up Obama's opposition to the born alive infant protection act and voted "present" when the ban on partial birth abortion came to a vote.

Now Obama re-iterates his debunked justification for opposing life saving treatment for newborns. What pro-active stand did he take against the ongoing practice of infanticide in his state?

McCain - of course we have to work together but that does not mean we will not fight for the rights of the unborn child.