Obama did great, but he needs a better response about cutting spending (let's be honest)

[Essene]

We're in serious trouble and the most important thing the USA can do right now is to DRAMATICALLY cut spending.

I mean... serious, painful, scary cuts.

And we all know the silent killer issues around that. The biggest non-entitlement area is military spending, but Obama can't exactly start yapping about cutting military spending.

He absolutely needs a better response, and to show the same kind of insight into this issue as he does on the others.

If he can out-do Mccain on spending cuts, the election may as well be over come the next debate.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. the ordinary voter is very angry at their services would be cut

[Essene]

6. of course. that's the downside of leadership in a budget crunch...

[1corona4u]

2. I don't know....

I thought it was a good answer. You're basically asking him to predict WHERE he will cut, and that's a bit unrealistic if you ask me. He needs to look at all the programs, see which are dispensable, then make a decision. Not just say a bunch of shit on the fly. I, as a voter, would rather a candidate wait, until they have a chance to examine all of the possibilities.

[Essene]

7. he doesnt have to get specific. he just needs to beat him on spending like he does on tax cuts

he can stick to broad points and principles.

poking at entitlements is a third rail, but he HAS to start pushing the dialog in that direction.

if obama WINS, that's going to be his big struggle domestically, anyways.

[uponit7771]

3. Yeap, it has to be bumper sticker too and not let McSame have upper hand on taxes either but...

...he held his ground on econ issues too while we expected McSame to piss his pants.

[Essene]

8. obama has destroyed mclie on tax cuts. i want to see the same on spending.

[CreekDog]

4. and the base stays home schmuck!

:eyes:

[cottonseed]

5. I think this one is politics 101.

You just don't talk about cutting spending before the election. No straight talk, no new politics, I just don't see that working.

[Essene]

10. id agree if it required specifics.

[tridim]

9. I'd prefer Obama takes some time to figure out the budget before answering that question.

It's really not a fair debate question.

He can probably craft a better response, but getting specific is risky without having all the details of the shit-pile he'll inherit.

[Essene]

13. Fair point. But if Obama can outflank Mccain on spending (and taxes) then it's over for Mccain

Think about it.

Obama has undeniably beaten Mccain to a pulp on tax cuts, and no matter what the GOPrs do i think Mccain's permanently been framed as a pro-rich jerkoff.

However, Mccain is still calling for dramatic cuts in spending and Americans KNOW this is smart.

Obama can dance all night about what to cut and try to suggest that the issue is about priorities, but in the end he needs to flat out talk about cutting waste, cutting bureaucracy and painful spending cuts.

If Obama can do that in the next debate better than (or equal to) Mccain, without getting into too much specifics, then Mccain has lost ALL footing on domestic policy issues.

[BattyDem]

11. Obama missed an opportunity when McCain said he wanted to cut and/or freeze spending.

Obama should have said, "What happens to working families if we freeze spending? What happens to those without health insurance? What happens to our roads, our bridges, our schools? How many parents won't be able to send their children to college? How many jobs will be lost because we won't be investing in our infrastructure? How many seniors will end up in poverty? How do you tell hard working Americans that even though they pay taxes, they can't get any help from their government when they need it?"

It's very easy for McCain to talk about the financial bottom line, but their are PEOPLE attached to that bottom line and Obama needs to make it clear that he knows it.

[Essene]

12. Agreed, but there's another debate coming up and the media will rip that one apart

[krkaufman]

14. Yeah. Except no.

The most important thing the USA can do right now is expire Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy, and eliminate corporate loopholes so that the wealthy are contributing according to the value they extract from the country.

Spending cuts need to be surgical, not carpet-bombed, and spending increases will be needed, as well, to spur short-term economic activity and to invest in long-term economic growth.

[Orangepeel]

15. I thought the scalpel vs a sledgehammer line was very good.

[mtnsnake]

16. Good post, Essene. As well as he did, he could've done better

Another area he could improve on is by having a forceful response the next time McCain tells says, "What Senator Obama doesn't seem to understand..."

Like he could reply with, "What Senator McCain continues to forget...", bringing into play McCain's memory problems. If McCain can hurl insults, then two can play that game.