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Will John McCain's new underdog theme resonate with voters?

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Results with 784 short comments
Total of 77,470 votes - click on the "Display Comments" bar below to sort comments

7.4%
Yes
5,703 votes
87%
No
67,376 votes
5.7%
Not sure
4,391 votes
Display Comments:
No

Obama was so unlikely to win the nomination for the longest time, he was long ago established in people's mind as an underdog.

{"commentId":3728365,"threadId":"387220","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"ringrosek"}
     - 9:19 pm EDT on Mon Oct 27, 2008
    No

    No, it gets lost in all the fear and hate-mongering

    {"commentId":3732365,"threadId":"387220","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"betteg"}
       - 4:25 am EDT on Tue Oct 28, 2008
      No

      Negativity to an "oh, poor me, give me attention" strategy? I don't think so...

      {"commentId":3773146,"threadId":"387220","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"thibeau5504"}
         - 10:14 pm EDT on Wed Oct 29, 2008
        No

        We live in a competive society and no one likes to be the underdog. And no one votes for an underdog. This is not a Rocky movie.

        {"commentId":3786647,"threadId":"387220","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"jneal13"}
           - jneal13
           - 1:48 pm EDT on Thu Oct 30, 2008
          No

          He's an underdog like Bush is a Uniter and not a Divider
          LOL

          {"commentId":3880039,"threadId":"387220","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"CoyoteNV"}
             - 4:14 pm EST on Tue Nov 4, 2008
            No

            But I'm sure he wish it did!

            {"commentId":3881109,"threadId":"387220","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"mayra-julian"}
               - Texan76
               - 4:45 pm EST on Tue Nov 4, 2008
              No

              McCain's a Republican and will lose the election solely because of the nightmarish 8-year debacle of George Dubya Bush & Company

              {"commentId":3902635,"threadId":"387220","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"craigd"}
                 - 10:32 am EST on Wed Nov 5, 2008
                Not sure

                John Mccain is a true hero and leader I am proud to have voted for him.

                {"commentId":3948286,"threadId":"387220","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"bella123"}
                   - 7:14 pm EST on Thu Nov 6, 2008
                  No

                  The GOP stope listening before Regan.

                  {"commentId":3955763,"threadId":"387220","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"nsa1"}
                     - 12:04 am EST on Fri Nov 7, 2008
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                    Newsvine Discussion with 127 comments - Click here to jump to the comment form.

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                    {"commentId":3460345,"authorDomain":"gbapiag"}

                    McCain has been confused since the begining of his introduction of his running mate. One should ask ourself ( are we going to go through another abuse of power for the next coming 4 more years of Bush policies? Palin sure shows that she abused her power in Alaska.. i am sure she will continue to do that if elected to the White house.

                    {"commentId":3460345,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"gbapiag"}
                    • 15 votes
                    Reply#1 - Mon Oct 13, 2008 12:49 PM EDT
                    {"commentId":3467392,"authorDomain":"luvs2boat"}

                    make an ounce of sense so we can have a real debate... thanks

                    {"commentId":3467392,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"luvs2boat"}
                    • 1 vote
                    #1.1 - Mon Oct 13, 2008 7:28 PM EDT
                    Reply
                    {"commentId":3460355,"authorDomain":"sspotts2"}

                    Palin has clearly shown her true colors. She has helped bring McCain down to a new low. They are showing a hate and almost riots with there Republican voters no one wants to see seething hate in this race for the white house. I clearly think that they have gotten off track and avoid the answering to the people about the economy who wouldn't be sick of it. Like Matt Damon said in an interview about Palins character about evolution and her views after all she will be holding nuke codes if she and McCain are elected, I sure don't want a woman to step in she is not ready...

                    {"commentId":3460355,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"sspotts2"}
                    • 9 votes
                    Reply#2 - Mon Oct 13, 2008 12:50 PM EDT
                    {"commentId":3460406,"authorDomain":"soarl"}

                    Just another campaign shift for McCain.  Can he settle on a message?  If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with BS.

                    {"commentId":3460406,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"soarl"}
                    • 13 votes
                    Reply#3 - Mon Oct 13, 2008 12:53 PM EDT
                    {"commentId":3466274,"authorDomain":"wiseguyoi"}

                    Another shifta in the McCain capaign. He had Palin shout from the rafters about Obama's association with ACORN, but he forgot to tell her about his association with ACORN.

                    See below:

                    Sigh: McCain and his friends at…ACORN

                    By Michelle Malkin  •  October 13, 2008 01:14 PM

                    If you want to know why see-sawing John McCain has had to be goaded, prodded, begged, and dragged into spotlighting Barack Obama’s radical ACORN roots, here’s your answer:

                    Turns out John McCain had no problem calling ACORN members his friends during his ill-fated illegal alien shamnesty crusade.

                    Ugh.

                    Here’s a February 2006 press release trumpeting McCain’s appearance at a pro-shamnesty rally organized by a coalition led by ACORN. As the release notes, he made a second appearance for the group in NYC. Read it and gag:

                    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                    Major Rally in Miami to Support Comprehensive Immigration Reform

                    Senator John McCain and many others to speak at the rally at Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus

                    Miami, Florida – February 20, 2006 ― Leaders from a diverse array of sectors will hold a rally in Miami on Thursday, February 23, 2006, in support of comprehensive immigration reform in an effort to keep immigration reform at the forefront of the public debate. Leaders from both political parties, immigrant communities, labor, business, and religious organizations will gather to call on Washington to enact workable reform.

                    The rally will feature Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) as the headline speaker along with elected officials, immigrants and key local and national leaders. Sen. McCain is one of the chief sponsors of the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act; bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform legislation introduced last Congress and scheduled for consideration by the Senate in the coming weeks. A similar rally with Sen. McCain is planned for New York City on February 27.

                    WHO: Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-FL), Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL.), and immigrant, religious, community, business and labor leaders.

                    WHAT: Comprehensive Immigration Reform Rally

                    WHEN: Thursday, February 23, at 6:00 p.m.

                    WHERE: Miami Dade College – Wolfson Campus

                    Chapman Conference Center
                    Bldg 3000
                    300 NE 2nd Avenue

                    EDITOR’S NOTE: Miami Press Availability: Sen. McCain will be available for interviews starting at 4:15 p.m. on location, Feb. 23.

                    The Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act was introduced in the Senate by Senators Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and John McCain (R-AZ) and in the House by Representatives Jim Kolbe (R-AZ), Jeff Flake (R-AZ) and Luis Gutierrez (D-IL). It addresses border security and illegal immigration while bringing the 11 million undocumented immigrants out from the shadows and onto a path to legal permanent status; setting up legal channels and realistic caps for workers and family members to enter in the future; providing for tough enforcement; and enabling more immigrants to learn English and prepare for citizenship.

                    The rally in Miami is being sponsored by the New American Opportunity campaign (NAOC) in partnership with ACORN, Catholic Legal Services - Archdiocese of Miami, Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center, Florida Immigrant Coalition, Miami Dade College, People for the American Way/Mi Familia Vota en Acción, Service Employees International Union, and UNITE HERE.

                    ACORN is now gleefully reminding McCain of his common cause with the group to paint itself as bipartisan — while at the same time issuing the usual strident, anti-conservative statements that ought to be immediate grounds for revoking its non-profit tax status.

                    “I’ll rely on people to judge me by the company that I keep,” McCain said in February.

                    That’s not working out so good is it??

                    You can now stick this subject as an anti-Obama association and credit it to a McCain association with ACORN. What say you now about the company McCain keeps???????

                    {"commentId":3466274,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"wiseguyoi"}
                    • 5 votes
                    #3.1 - Mon Oct 13, 2008 6:09 PM EDT
                    {"commentId":3466590,"authorDomain":"luvs2boat"}

                    Do you care about anyone else in the world but Obama right now?

                    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7547650.stm

                    All this stupid election has done is embolden Iraq and other countries that don't give a poo about me you or our lame problems!  We use to have great opportunities to work here now it seems as if EVERYONE is looking for a hand out!  Even the BANKS, LENDERS and go figure WALL-STREET....and now the crap rolls down hill and everyone else wants a bail out??  Who is going to pay for that?

                    Mr Obama with his BIG MOUTH?  I don't think so..........

                    If he gets elected this country will become the BIG JOKE!

                    {"commentId":3466590,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"luvs2boat"}
                    • 1 vote
                    #3.2 - Mon Oct 13, 2008 6:31 PM EDT
                    {"commentId":3477811,"authorDomain":"stuartwing"}

                    I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that you voted for Bush twice.  Pardon America for questioning your judgement!  McCain is more Bush.  America is going in a different direction to try to salvage our country.  Please apologize to the rest of us for giving us Bush twice and then shut up!!

                    {"commentId":3477811,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"stuartwing"}
                    • 2 votes
                    #3.3 - Tue Oct 14, 2008 1:13 PM EDT
                    {"commentId":3482350,"authorDomain":"gbanerjee2"}

                    Did you know, my friends, that I got as# shot over in Vietnam, and there I dreamed up on using that to run for President some day? Did you know I was a POW? pow, pow, keating five, gold-digging (cheating with a booze heiress some twenty years younger)? Oh, by the way, my friends, did you know I was a pow? That's all, my friends. That qualifies me to be the President, my friends. You were not a POW, I was, you lose, I win. Idiot!!

                    {"commentId":3482350,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"gbanerjee2"}
                    • 2 votes
                    #3.4 - Tue Oct 14, 2008 5:27 PM EDT
                    Reply
                    {"commentId":3460410,"authorDomain":"debra-sorge"}

                    Who needs to call it a day. . who needs to pack it up. . who needs to go away. .who needs to go home and retire . .THAT ONE!! . . . . and take that "hockey mom" with you.

                    {"commentId":3460410,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"debra-sorge"}
                    • 8 votes
                    Reply#4 - Mon Oct 13, 2008 12:53 PM EDT
                    {"commentId":3464993,"authorDomain":"gjones-2"}

                    WHY WOULD OBAMA WANT TO TAKE THE HOCKY MOM TOO?  DOES HE WANT A WHITE WOMAN?

                    {"commentId":3464993,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"gjones-2"}
                      #4.1 - Mon Oct 13, 2008 4:53 PM EDT
                      {"commentId":3474773,"authorDomain":"territallman"}

                      Now, now Gordon, your racism is showing. Tsk! tsk!

                      {"commentId":3474773,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"territallman"}
                      • 1 vote
                      #4.2 - Tue Oct 14, 2008 10:38 AM EDT
                      {"commentId":3561951,"authorDomain":"luvs2boat"}

                      Some of you just need to grow up!  Ignoring the FACTS about Obama isn't going to help you at all.  If you think this man is good for you then vote for him.  It's your right.  I personally don't think he's going to win.  Too many Americans are educated and will make the right choice.  Most American workers are independent voters democrats and republicans (not a sheep to one party) and I have faith in MY PEOPLE that they will make the right choice!

                      {"commentId":3561951,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"luvs2boat"}
                        #4.3 - Sat Oct 18, 2008 11:11 AM EDT
                        Reply
                        {"commentId":3460457,"authorDomain":"sweetp-b307"}

                        Because he can't do that without raising your taxes or digging us further into debt. I'm going to make government live on a budget just like you do.
                        Didn't Obama say this at the debate?

                        These are hard times. Our economy is in crisis.

                        But...John McCain, who admitted on Sunday that "the economy has hurt us a LITTLE BIT, HUH?in the last week or two," is desperately trying to turn the political page.
                        http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/13/mccains-week-off-to-rocky_n_134067.html

                        What America needs in this hour is a fighter; someone who puts all his cards on the table and trusts the judgment of the American people.

                        OK...OK...OOOOK....WHERE THE CARDS ON HOW YOU PLAN TO HELP US. OOOH HERE THEY ARE
                        And yet, as soon as the Senator began leaving behind last week's shadows, he stepped right back into the internal confusion and mixed messaging that has haunted his presidential run to this point.

                        Late Sunday evening word emerged from McCain headquarters that, in fact, there would be no bold new economic proposal to throw on the table.

                        "We do not have any immediate plans to announce any policy proposals outside of the proposals that John McCain has announced, and the certain proposals that would result as economic news continues to come our way," said spokesman Tucker Bounds.

                        OK, is it just me or did some of those ideal sound like Obama's
                        Is it just me, but did fighting get us in this mess
                        Is it just me, but didn't McCain fight against deregulation that got us in this mess
                        Is it just me, but McCain just vote against CHIP for health childrens furture
                        Is it just me, when we could have stood up and fought our enemies we went the other way
                        Is it just me, that McCain voted 95% with Bush infighting and selfishness and not to mention the war
                        is it just me, that he is sticking to disbuted (many times over, by many many more) lies
                        The only thing he said I agree with is
                        Don't give up hope. Be strong. Have courage. And fight. For Obama, oooops he forget that part.

                        {"commentId":3460457,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"sweetp-b307"}
                        • 7 votes
                        Reply#5 - Mon Oct 13, 2008 12:57 PM EDT
                        {"commentId":3463170,"authorDomain":"linda-7"}

                        When John McCain said "the economy has hurt us a LITTLE BIT" he was talking about the economic crisis hurting his own campaign.  He doesn't care about the real us - you and me and the rest of America.

                        {"commentId":3463170,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"linda-7"}
                        • 4 votes
                        #5.1 - Mon Oct 13, 2008 3:20 PM EDT
                        {"commentId":3465201,"authorDomain":"gjones-2"}

                        The economy is really only bad for those idiots that were too greedy and tried to live above their means..  Why are you selfritious hypocrits blaming everything on McCain, when the blame rightly fal;ls on the shoulders of the Democratic congress and thier buddies that wanted to get rich quick.  Obamas no fix, hes just running for president so he can control the country gfor his socialist cronies.

                        {"commentId":3465201,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"gjones-2"}
                          #5.2 - Mon Oct 13, 2008 5:03 PM EDT
                          {"commentId":3471178,"authorDomain":"nicholebmcg"}

                          How long have you been following politics Gordon? The democrats have only had the majority in the congress for the last two years. It's not enough of a majority to overrule the presidential veto. Just incase you weren't aware, the veto is held by a republican president. When was the last time he passed anything that actually helped the middle class?

                          {"commentId":3471178,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"nicholebmcg"}
                          • 6 votes
                          #5.3 - Tue Oct 14, 2008 1:08 AM EDT
                          {"commentId":3476819,"authorDomain":"rrshults"}

                          Gordon we are not blaming anything on McCain accept the crap that comes out of his mouth.

                          {"commentId":3476819,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"rrshults"}
                          • 3 votes
                          #5.4 - Tue Oct 14, 2008 12:28 PM EDT
                          Reply
                          {"commentId":3460618,"authorDomain":"rksmaniam"}

                          Enough is Enough.....i don't believe in racial politics......not here in America. McCain is down and out.

                          {"commentId":3460618,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"rksmaniam"}
                          • 4 votes
                          Reply#6 - Mon Oct 13, 2008 1:07 PM EDT
                          {"commentId":3460823,"authorDomain":"jlt75"}

                          McCain's attempt to portray himself as the underdog will not change the dynamics of the election. He's just floundering around with no clear message or strategy.

                          {"commentId":3460823,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"jlt75"}
                          • 10 votes
                          Reply#7 - Mon Oct 13, 2008 1:21 PM EDT
                          {"commentId":3460966,"authorDomain":"lynncs"}

                          McCain has championed the policies of Bush forever.....oh occasionally he veers off the right wing path such as on campaign reform.....but in any significant policies, whether it was the war, the economy, the cronies and lobyists.....he's shown who he is over and over again, and as far as mediocrity goes.....picking Palin put" the nail in the coffin."   Now he's trying to be "miracle man" and offering everything to everyone.  He is still a tired, washed-out old politician who thinks he's "entitled" but whose days are numbered.

                          {"commentId":3460966,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"lynncs"}
                          • 7 votes
                          Reply#8 - Mon Oct 13, 2008 1:30 PM EDT
                          {"commentId":3461157,"authorDomain":"matlady2003"}

                          Enough said. Underdog, I wouldn't call him that.  He doesn't have a cape!!

                          {"commentId":3461157,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"matlady2003"}
                          • 5 votes
                          Reply#9 - Mon Oct 13, 2008 1:41 PM EDT
                          {"commentId":3465285,"authorDomain":"gjones-2"}

                          McCain doesn't need a cape,  Obama is the one that comes out from under a differrent cape with a different ideal when ever the wind switches directions.

                          {"commentId":3465285,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"gjones-2"}
                            #9.1 - Mon Oct 13, 2008 5:07 PM EDT
                            {"commentId":3471194,"authorDomain":"nicholebmcg"}

                            I think you're confusing Obama with McCain, Gordon.

                            {"commentId":3471194,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"nicholebmcg"}
                            • 3 votes
                            #9.2 - Tue Oct 14, 2008 1:11 AM EDT
                            {"commentId":3483383,"authorDomain":"chixsngr"}

                            You only need to read the comments by the conservatives on the boards to know what is happening at the rallies that gets everyone all worked up. Look at Gordon, here....

                            The only people stills supporting McCain are the Wingnuts and lunatic fringe.  Read their posts and you realize the McCain/Palin rallies have become like Klan meetings.

                            And this is what the Rush Limbaugh's and Michael Savages of the world produce.

                            {"commentId":3483383,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"chixsngr"}
                            • 2 votes
                            #9.3 - Tue Oct 14, 2008 6:39 PM EDT
                            Reply
                            {"commentId":3461215,"authorDomain":"dnd1159"}

                            John McCain has one big concern that he created himself, Gov. Sarah Palin. All the talk is that he started losing ground in the polls when the economy took its dive, became the subject of the election, & the people were concerned that he lacked in economic expertise. That was the same time that Gov. Palin went on her nationwide interview tour, which consisted of a total of 3; & she showed the American people the true Sarah Palin. That decision showed he lacked expertise in the simplist of moves, picking a quailty; not popular, but, quality running mate.

                            Sorry John, ya dance with the one you that you brung with ya. Bad choice.

                            {"commentId":3461215,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"dnd1159"}
                            • 12 votes
                            Reply#10 - Mon Oct 13, 2008 1:44 PM EDT
                            {"commentId":3461242,"authorDomain":"jpaolucci"}

                            Is the McCain campain ever consistant?  Playing the fear card, spewing hate rethoric is the usual republican tatic.  It all about John McCain and his republican policies. I'm sorry he didn't keep his campain suspended. Will he bail my mortgage too? Will Palin accept the fact she used her influenace in appropriately? one thing for sure he will contune our bleeding of trasure overseas as long as he can.

                            Its time of us to think about country first, I mean the United States.

                            {"commentId":3461242,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"jpaolucci"}
                            • 3 votes
                            Reply#11 - Mon Oct 13, 2008 1:45 PM EDT
                            {"commentId":3461522,"authorDomain":"jbentley4"}

                            He's a war hero and bonafide member of the Washington Establishment for three decades, and he's running against a black guy named Barack Obama from the South Side of Chicago that nobody heard of just a couple of years and he thinks that he's the underdog?!?!?!  Please.

                            {"commentId":3461522,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"jbentley4"}
                            • 6 votes
                            Reply#12 - Mon Oct 13, 2008 2:01 PM EDT
                            {"commentId":3462027,"authorDomain":"ealbright2"}

                            What makes him a war hero?  That he was too stupid to escape from prison in Nam or that he was too stupid not to get shot down in the first place?  Just because he served doesn't make him qualified to be President.  And his choice for VEEP makes him look like the doddering old fool that he is. 

                            {"commentId":3462027,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"ealbright2"}
                            • 7 votes
                            #12.1 - Mon Oct 13, 2008 2:29 PM EDT
                            {"commentId":3471861,"authorDomain":"ryalphoenix"}

                            "What makes him a war hero?  That he was too stupid to escape from prison in Nam or that he was too stupid not to get shot down in the first place?"

                            Stop right there Blue, I may not be a MCCain supporter, but I was a soldier and your statement is not only ignorant but a direct insult to anyone in uniform who has ever been a POW. I may not repect what the man became afterwards, but I will not let you make light of the horrific ordeal he went through. 

                            {"commentId":3471861,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"ryalphoenix"}
                            • 2 votes
                            #12.2 - Tue Oct 14, 2008 2:31 AM EDT
                            {"commentId":3474578,"authorDomain":"mutherbear"}

                            Blue, I am as passionately opposed to the McCain/Palin ticket as anyone, but your comment does (and should) cause me to defend Senator McCain.  While I agree that his experience does not uniquely qualify him to be the leader of the free world, please do not demean or belittle that experience.  Blue personal attacks really are no more acceptable than Red personal attacks.

                             

                            I've been Carolina blue for a very long time, but I've been an American longer.  I applaud your passion, but would ask that you please treat others with the same respect that you would wish for yourself.  Use your powers for good, Blue, use your powers for good!  Take Care.

                            {"commentId":3474578,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"mutherbear"}
                            • 1 vote
                            #12.3 - Tue Oct 14, 2008 10:25 AM EDT
                            Reply
                            {"commentId":3461608,"authorDomain":"margaretjohn"}

                            McCain/Palin winning would be a scary disaster for the USA.  Can you image Palin in the meeting with the world financial leaders?  We would be the laughing stock of the world.  These are serious times.  We need smart educated leaders.  We need Obama/Biden.

                            {"commentId":3461608,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"margaretjohn"}
                            • 6 votes
                            Reply#13 - Mon Oct 13, 2008 2:06 PM EDT
                            {"commentId":3461866,"authorDomain":"tinyjab40"}

                            What exactly are McCain's plans?  McCain's speech today didn't answer my questions about where McCain is going now.  Does he still plan to continue the Bush tax cuts for the rich?  Does he still plan huge tax cuts for big corporations? Is his health plan still a health plan that puts money in the pockets of the insurers while those same insurers can keep on raising premiums, deductibles, and deying people because of existing illnesses?  To me that is a donut hole health plan.  It does away with employer-based insurance, taxes premiums, puts the government rebates directly to the insurance companies, and doesn't keep insurance companies from raising premiums or deductibles while it lets them deny existing illness and cherry pick only the healthiest to insure.  Remember the donut hole?  Drug prices went up after the donut hole was passed.  Drug companies got more money from the government, and we got to pay more too.  They called it a donut hole.  What exactly are McCain's plans?  I know many of Obama's plans.  I'd like to know McCain's.

                            {"commentId":3461866,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"tinyjab40"}
                            • 5 votes
                            Reply#14 - Mon Oct 13, 2008 2:21 PM EDT
                            {"commentId":3462881,"authorDomain":"christine-johnson"}

                            Excellent point.  This has been my concern with McCain's plan the entire time (that he finally gave any details).  Insurance companies do NOT need or deserve any more control.  They are as ruthless as Wall Street.  Did he not learn anything?  As a very small business owner that pays for our employees health insurance because we believe that everyone should have insurance, we have seen our rates continue to raise every year.  No one in our plan has made large or really even many small claims, but the rates go up.  If the insurance companies were allowed, I know they'd go up even more but there are some controls in place now. 

                            Tax the benefit that we give our employees?  Why penalize them and us?  So everyone hits the market as an individual rather than a group?  Has McCain checked out those premium costs?  Of course not, he's had government insurance almost his entire life!!!

                            {"commentId":3462881,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"christine-johnson"}
                            • 5 votes
                            #14.1 - Mon Oct 13, 2008 3:06 PM EDT
                            {"commentId":3467347,"authorDomain":"luvs2boat"}

                            Yeah...something you should be thinking about!  funny how that just hit ya...here...try health care!

                            McCain/Palin Health Care Plan Analysis 10/08/08
                            Today, Roger Feldman and his team at HSI Network, LLC released an independent assessment of John McCain's Health Reform Proposal similar to the one done on the Obama Health Reform Plan. Both studies are available to the public at www.hsinetwork.com. Please find highlights below:


                            · Greater Reduction In The Uninsured: The McCain Plan would provide health insurance coverage to 27.5 million uninsured Americans, more than half of the 47 million uninsured. McCain's plan covers TWO million more uninsured Americans than the Obama plan.

                            · Lower Health Insurance Costs For Americans: The analysis found that Americans in every major income bracket will have, on average, "a reduction in their health insurance costs resulting from the tax credit proposal." In contrast, a corresponding analysis found that Barack Obama's plan would force people to pay more for their health care by increasing mandates on existing insurance. While the McCain plan would lower costs, the Obama plan would increase make health care costs go up even more.



                            · Lower And Middle-Class Americans See The Greatest Benefit: In terms of income, the most dramatic increase in the percentage of Americans with health insurance would be for those with income below the 50th percentile of wage income. More than 25 million additional workers in this income range, more than a three-fold increase, would now receive health care under the McCain plan.



                            · Dramatic Increase In Coverage For Vulnerable Americans: According to the report, the combination of the new tax credit for health care and the Guaranteed Access Plan (GAP) would help vulnerable populations (defined as those below the 25th percentile of wage income and having a chronic illness) see a five-fold increase in health insurance coverage.



                            · Preserving And Improving Private Health Insurance: The analysis found that John McCain's plan will "preserve the private health insurance system." McCain's plan will also change the current incentives in the health care system that "lock people into jobs that provide health insurance" and "provide the greatest rewards for wealthy taxpayers." Millions of American families with employer sponsored coverage in all tax brackets with the same coverage as a "Members of Congress" will now come out ahead with additional funds going into a portable health savings account. Importantly, younger and healthier employees with the McCain health care tax credit will have a bigger incentive to stay with the employers. For example, a 25-year-old employee in the 25 percent tax bracket with a $2,500 tax credit could either purchase a policy in the individual market for the same amount or stay with his employer plan and receive a $5,000 policy with an additional $1,250 to invest in a portable health savings account. Why would people choose worse insurance and less money? In contrast, Barack Obama's plan will shift tens of millions of Americans into a new government-run national public plan, increases taxes on businesses and drive down wages for workers, and exacerbate the current flaws in the system rather than improve them.



                            The HIGHLIGHTS about the Obama Health Care Plan:


                            · Barack Obama's Plan Covers Less Americans Than McCain Plan: Despite the enormous price tag and burdensome mandates, the Obama plan will cover 2 million less uninsured Americans than the McCain plan which allows American families – not government bureaucrats or insurance companies – to choose coverage that best meets their unique needs.

                            · Barack Obama's Plan Continues The Push Toward Government-Run Healthcare: The Obama plan will create a brand new government-run health plan at the cost of $243 billion a year – a financial burden of more than $3,000 a year on American families.



                            · Barack Obama's Plan Will Increase Premiums For Millions of Americans: The Obama plan will move more than 82 million Americans into plans that would cost more than they currently have as "[h]igh option PPOs as well as the national public plan would become dominant health plan offerings." So premiums will increase.


                            · Barack Obama's Plan Will Harm Employer Coverage: The Obama plan includes a $179 billion a year employer mandate. The mandate requires employers to either provide "meaningful" coverage or pay a tax towards the government plan.[1] Faced with tough economic conditions and rising health costs this creates a clear incentive for employers to drop coverage and move families into the new government plan. A Lewin Group study which examined a similar employer mandate combined with a national plan, like the Obama plan, concluded that almost 52 million individuals would lose their private employer coverage.[2] To maintain their competitive edge, others employers will follow - spelling the demise of the employer coverage system.


                            · Barack Obama's Plan Will Damage Private Coverage: The government-run plan will have a clear advantage over private insurance since it will be subsidized by American taxpayers. A recent analysis of both plans by the nonpartisan CATO Institute concluded that the Obama government-run plan will be able to "keep its premiums artificially low…since it can turn to the U.S. Treasury to cover any shortfalls" resulting in "undercutting the private market."[3] According to Wall Street Journal, the goal of the Obama plan "…like HillaryCare in the 1990s, is to displace current private coverage and switch people to the default government option."[4]

                            {"commentId":3467347,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"luvs2boat"}
                              #14.2 - Mon Oct 13, 2008 7:25 PM EDT
                              {"commentId":3467858,"authorDomain":"tinkouse"}

                              Neither candidate has laid out figures for what percentage of any person's income must be spent on health insurance.  Right now, the most modest policy is beyond my ability to pay premiums.  This is something many people would like to know. 

                              {"commentId":3467858,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"tinkouse"}
                                #14.3 - Mon Oct 13, 2008 8:03 PM EDT
                                {"commentId":3479824,"authorDomain":"DramaGirl"}

                                These are just highlights and not the full article.  You forgot to mention that McCain plans on taxing the employer for the health insurance plans that they already provide for their employees. With the new and higher expense to the employers baseline, it could mean a big problem (or problems) for you, the employee.  You could be dropped from your employers health care  coverage due to the higher expense.  Your employer might be forced to find cheaper insurance, which in turn, means less coverage for you.  With less coverage, it also means more money out of your pocket to cover procedures and medical expenses that your employer won't or can no longer cover.  It could also mean that your personal contributionsto your employers health care might go up, which again, means a greater out of pocket monthly expense to you.  This tax will affect your check book as much as it does your employer. Not good.

                                What the wealthy, foddering old fool fails to realize is the problem that most families face is that they cannot afford the high monthly payments for even the most basic health care coverage.  A $5,000 tax credit, that's it?  How is a tax credit in April going to help the monthly payment in say, December or even in January of the following year?   If you add up the monthly payments for basic insurance for a single person, it comes out to a lot more than $5,000 and it is double that for family coverage. These are just the  expenses for the monthly premium, not including additional costs for other medical expenses not included in a basic health care insurance plan.  So how does his hishealth care plan solve anything for the American people?

                                McCain is out of touch and needs to move to Alaska with the silly ding bat veep so that they can be one big, happy Republican famly.

                                {"commentId":3479824,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"DramaGirl"}
                                • 2 votes
                                #14.4 - Tue Oct 14, 2008 3:01 PM EDT
                                Reply
                                {"commentId":3461951,"authorDomain":"ealbright2"}

                                Absolutely no it will not change the landscape.  What's that country song...turn out the light, the party's over.........bye bye Geezer McGrouchy.  Take Caribou Barbie with you -

                                {"commentId":3461951,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"ealbright2"}
                                • 5 votes
                                Reply#15 - Mon Oct 13, 2008 2:25 PM EDT
                                {"commentId":3461986,"authorDomain":"stanley-payne"}

                                "I’m thankful the Constitution would allow a bit more authority given to the vice president also if that vice president so chose to exert it in working with the Senate and making sure that we are supportive of the president’s policies and making sure too that our president understands what our strengths are."

                                This from the mouth of a person that abused her power. Do she now thinks we should be give her power over the Senate?  Exactly what power do the VP have over the Senate except breaking a tie?

                                Can you say Dick Cheney or Dickless Cheney.....  Underdog my AS*

                                {"commentId":3461986,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"stanley-payne"}
                                • 6 votes
                                Reply#16 - Mon Oct 13, 2008 2:27 PM EDT
                                {"commentId":3462019,"authorDomain":"thenest"}

                                For voters, only reasonable policy proposals and solutions that both address voters' needs and the broader business/economic problems will make a difference.

                                {"commentId":3462019,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"thenest"}
                                • 2 votes
                                Reply#17 - Mon Oct 13, 2008 2:28 PM EDT
                                {"commentId":3462171,"authorDomain":"hops408"}

                                Actually the polls are wrong: they are only sampling small groups of people. 600, 1,000, or 3,000 in the case of Gallup. (even still many are within 4-6 pts)

                                How about a poll of over 90,000 people?

                                AOL has a straw poll that you have to use your AOL account to sign into, enter the state that you live in, and can only vote once. (unless you have multiple AOL accounts I guess, but who would have more than 3 or 4 anyway?)

                                Wanna guess who's winning among the 90,000 people?

                                McCain, by 10 pts.

                                http://news.aol.com/political-machine/2008/10/02/aol-straw-poll-oct-3-10/

                                Don't believe the hype.

                                {"commentId":3462171,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"hops408"}
                                  Reply#18 - Mon Oct 13, 2008 2:35 PM EDT
                                  {"commentId":3462503,"authorDomain":"christine-johnson"}

                                  What makes you believe that AOL subscribers are a true sampling?  I've never had an AOL account - don't know any of my friends or family who do either.  You obviously don't understand market research and it's too involved to try to explain it completely to you here.  But the gist of it is that you take a random sampling of people (making certain that you the correct percentage in all demographic groups that matches the actual country).  This means they "qualify" respondents to get the right number of Democrats, Republicans and Independents.  They ask if they are registered to vote; or if they plan to register.  They find the right mix in income levels, race, gender.  That's why they talk about a sampling error of + or - (based on statistics). 

                                  AOL's poll only accounts for their subscribers; much as this survey is not a controlled research study.  They're all interesting and fun to read, but don't put a lot of faith in the results of either. 

                                  {"commentId":3462503,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"christine-johnson"}
                                  • 5 votes
                                  #18.1 - Mon Oct 13, 2008 2:50 PM EDT
                                  {"commentId":3462989,"authorDomain":"lynncs"}

                                  The AOL poll is not scientific and the Nationwide polls have a good track record......it's interesting that Obama isn't ahead by 20 points....but perhaps we have already seen the "bradley effect" play out.

                                  {"commentId":3462989,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"lynncs"}
                                  • 1 vote
                                  #18.2 - Mon Oct 13, 2008 3:11 PM EDT
                                  {"commentId":3463231,"authorDomain":"christine-johnson"}

                                  I think it's partly the "bradley effect" and partly that the polls as accurate as they try to be do not include cellphone only people.  I can't tell you how many people (especially 18-35) that I know who don't own a land line.  I think this is a demographic that is not reflected in the polls.  A few researchers have even acknowledged that this group is being severely unaddressed. 

                                  As the majority of younger voters are going for Obama, you have to wonder if perhaps that uncounting will help offset the other.

                                  {"commentId":3463231,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"christine-johnson"}
                                  • 1 vote
                                  #18.3 - Mon Oct 13, 2008 3:23 PM EDT
                                  {"commentId":3468337,"authorDomain":"adrianaepl"}

                                  You are right, I know of at least 6 people that have cell phone but no land phone, cell phones cost more to poll.  

                                  {"commentId":3468337,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"adrianaepl"}
                                  • 1 vote
                                  #18.4 - Mon Oct 13, 2008 8:42 PM EDT
                                  {"commentId":3473957,"authorDomain":"middle-eighth"}

                                  Damn, you're simple if you think that an AOL poll is in any way valid. (Also when you undercut your own argument when you said that someone might have "three or four" AOL accounts.) Schmuck, all you need are two different computers anyway, or just a little knowledge. The poll doesn't have some big database of people who have voted; it merely drops a cookie onto your computer to prevent you from voting again. Any computer without that cookie will still let you vote. So I could just vote on all of the three active computers in my home, or remove the cookie from my main puter and vote again and again.

                                  {"commentId":3473957,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"middle-eighth"}
                                  • 1 vote
                                  #18.5 - Tue Oct 14, 2008 9:35 AM EDT
                                  Reply
                                  {"commentId":3462237,"authorDomain":"annmariebarcott"}

                                  No McCain no Palin no way no how ---they must think we are all fools and the under dog stunt would change who he is or maybe take our minds off all of his votes 95% of the time with Bush- ---Palin and the first dude need to go back to Alaska and face the charges --- the counrty is in a crisis and I want to see Sen .Obama as the next President----- not mumbles and fumbles-- McCain is all over the place like a fish out of water not what we need and the thought of Palin taking over if McCain couldn't finish his term no-no-no-no-no------------ Obama-Biden all the way

                                  {"commentId":3462237,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"annmariebarcott"}
                                  • 5 votes
                                  Reply#19 - Mon Oct 13, 2008 2:38 PM EDT
                                  {"commentId":3462420,"authorDomain":"tobucks"}

                                  McCain now shows his temper and anger that his fellow Senators have been putting up with for twenty-five years. It’s really a shame his true nature has to be exposed to all the public of America. I believe this man to be a hero indeed, but he also is in need for serious help to improve his mental aspects.

                                  At the same time I believe we all owe respect and many thanks to Senator Obama for maintaining dignity and respect in his dealing with Senator McCain. His professional handling of several difficult Senator McCain outcries and exaggerations speaks highly his skills for dealing with such surprises.

                                  {"commentId":3462420,"threadId":"387223","contentId":"1992925","authorDomain":"tobucks"}
                                  • 2 votes
                                  Reply#20 - Mon Oct 13, 2008 2:47 PM EDT
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