Debate Action Center

Barack Obama did a good job convincing undecided voters in tonight's debates. Polls by media organizations, Democratic pollsters, and even Republican pollsters said he beat McCain by double-digit margins.¹ ABC's George Stephanopoulos declared, "Overall, bottom line, the winner is Barack Obama."

Here's why: While John McCain doubled-down on George Bush's Iraq policy and economic policy, Obama presented a vision of change. He promised to end the Iraq war, restore America's leadership in the world, and put in place economic policies that put middle-class families ahead of Wall Street.

We know exactly what McCain's campaign will do now—"spin" Americans about what they just saw. It's the same trick Karl Rove and the Republicans used in 2000 when they insisted Al Gore lost the debate. Of course it wasn't the truth, but it quickly became conventional wisdom, and the rest is history. We can help Obama fight back.

Can you go to our Debate Action Center immediately? There, you can vote in online polls that reporters are watching to judge who won. Then, you can write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper about why Obama should be president.

Click here to take action:
http://pol.moveon.org/lte?campaign_id=97&id=14062-9709444-Ou9g0Yx&t=2

Already, the news reports are coming in. Obama's message that McCain's policies are the same as Bush's definitely sunk in.

The New York Times wrote, "Senator Barack Obama made a stinging attack on the Bush administration's economic management on Friday night—and, by extension, Senator John McCain's ties to Mr. Bush."² CNN's Bill Schneider said, "Obama scores a direct hit, saying that McCain wants tax cuts for the wealthy. He's associating McCain with the Bush record on tax cuts."³

Here are a few key things Obama said during the debate:

• Obama on foreign policy judgment: "John, you like to pretend like the war started in 2007...the war started in 2003. At the time, when the war started, you said it was going to be quick and easy. You said you knew where the weapons of mass destruction were—and you were wrong. You said we were going to be greeted as liberators—you were wrong. You said that there was no history of violence between Shi'a and Sunni, and you were wrong. ...if the question is, who is best equipped as the next president to make good decisions about how we use our military, how we make sure we are prepared and ready for the next conflict, then I think we can take a look at our judgment."⁴

• Obama on tax cuts: "Senator McCain is proposing...$300 billion in tax cuts to some of the wealthiest corporations and individuals in the country, $300 billion...And in his tax plan, you would have CEOs of Fortune 500 companies getting an average of $700,000 in reduced taxes, while leaving 100 million Americans out...What I've called for is a tax cut for 95 percent of working families, 95 percent."⁵
  
• Obama on Iraq's costs back home: "Let me tell you another place to look for some savings. We are currently spending $10 billion a month in Iraq when they have a $79 billion surplus. It seems to me that if we're going to be strong at home as well as strong abroad, that we have to look at bringing that war to a close."⁶

Can you help spread the word about Obama's strength tonight by going to our Debate Action Center? Here's the link:

http://pol.moveon.org/lte?campaign_id=97&id=14062-9709444-Ou9g0Yx&t=3

Thanks for all you do.

–Adam G., Nita, Andrea, Peter, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "CBS News / Knowledge Network Undecideds Give Debate To Obama," The Atlantic blog, September 26, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=30534&id=14062-9709444-Ou9g0Yx&t=4

"Debate Reviews Go To Obama," Huffington Post, September 26, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=30535&id=14062-9709444-Ou9g0Yx&t=5

MediaCurves poll
http://mediacurves.com/

2. "Candidates Clash on Economy and Iraq," New York Times, September 26, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=30531&id=14062-9709444-Ou9g0Yx&t=6

3. "Schneider: Obama hits familiar chord on Iran," CNN Political Ticker, September 26, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=30532&id=14062-9709444-Ou9g0Yx&t=7

4. "Transcript of presidential debate," September 26, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=30533&id=14062-9709444-Ou9g0Yx&t=8

5. Ibid.

6. Ibid.

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Help Obama win the spin war.
McCain's campaign will try to distract Americans from what they just saw—can you help Obama fight back at our Debate Action Center?

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