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Debate Reaction

By Philip Klein on 9.26.08 @ 10:58PM

I really think Obama's brandishing of his bracelet was the perfect symbol for this debate -- once it got to foreign policy, McCain was knowledgeable and comfortable and sincere, while Obama was pretending. On issue after issue -- Iran, Russia, and Iraq -- McCain demonstrated expertise and conviction and historical understanding. McCain kept saying Obama was naive and didn't understand, and Obama kept saying "he's right" without adding anything interesting to the conversation. Also, the body language reinforced this. When Obama spoke, he looked at McCain and McCain ignored him and looked at Jim Lehrer as if Obama were too insignificant to look at, while Obama watched McCain as he was speaking as if he were listening to a lecture.

topics:
Foreign Policy, Iraq, Iran, Russia