Is the final debate between John McCain and Barack Obama important to your vote on Nov. 4?

I agree that the "sowing seeds of hate" should not be tolerated.  It is not very Christian in any sense.  To spread lies that he associated with a terrorist and he is not American is absolutely ridiculous...and these people at their rallies yelling terroristic threats like "kill him" or "off with his head" or "bomb him" should be charged.  In most states this is a felony to make such verbal remarks to anyone. 

Further, he is an erratic man who changes his mind with the headlines, she WAS found guilty of ABUSE OF POWER and this IS a PUNISHABLE misdemeanor statute, by impeachment and with the embarrassment she has caused Alaskans, I am not too sure she will hold her governor position for too much longer.  She is an insult to Alaskans to say the least. 

Then we have the Keating 5...Obama has never been involved in such corrupt unethical acts as these two...he was born in Hawaii, he is a United States citizen, and a US Senator and it is really sad to see such character attacks of this measure where formal charges should be made.  I cannot see how anyone in their right mind (even intelligent Republicans are voting for Obama) would vote for either of these two walking disasters. 

How can we as a country elect another lazy spoiled brat with low intelligence into the highest position in the world?  When did being educated and actually being able to think become a bad thing in the US?  Do we REALLY want another POTUS that has NO CLUE about what is going on and refuses to even hear the other side of an issue?  And do we REALLY want to have a VP that could become POTUS who wants to turn America into a theocracy?  If I want to live in a theocracy I'll move to Iran thank you very much!

I could never vote for McCain with Palin on the ticket.  He wasn't thinking about his country when he chose someone so unqualified, vindictive, arrogant, and frankly dumb.    It was a very bad decision and I hope he is now embarassed.  However, I wouldn't vote for McCain anyway.  He is too old.  We thank him for his service to his country but now it is time for him to retire.  Obama/Biden will be the best the USA has ever had.

Margo I think he was thinking with something else when he made his VP choice, I mean just look at his track record with women to-date. They get to old and he trades them in for someone with better hair.

kjack, you could not have said it any better. For some strange reason, people in the McCain camp seem to feel that spewing hatred, intolerance and lies is somehow the ideal form of Christianity. I find it absolutely baffling that people who profess to be followers of Christ can engage in such anti-Christianbehavior (yes I said anti-Christian) all in the name of defending Christian values against perceived enemies. As a Christian I am simply appalled and disappointed with the tone of the McCain campaign. I don't think he will be able to conclude this campaign with a shred of his dignity intact. He is not the old John McCain once admired by Republicans, Liberals and Democrats alike. What is left is just a shadow of himself, if that.

That "something else" is McCains only organ for thinking.  I have very appropriate job for Palin/Mccain  couple - Halloween movie!!!  That's all they deserved with their dirty and nasty campaign.  Good night and bla-bla-bla, McPalin.

Kjacks08, you took the words right out of my mouth.

This type of Christianity (which first became obscene during the 2000 election) has driven me away from my faith.  I was taught that Christ said "judge not", and "turn the other cheek", and "Do unto others".

The Republican convention gave us a glimpse of what was to come!  That was the nastiest, most mean-spirited, and condescending public display I've ever seen.  They blatantly ridiculed and mocked half of this nation.  Even our current president, who is supposed to represent ALL Americans called half of us "the angry left".  Well.... I didn't realize that description fit me, but if you weren't angry BEFORE he said that, you certainly should have been afterward.

I am so tired of divisiveness.  I want a "purple" nation, not a red and blue one!

I want all of us to once again proudly proclaim that we are Americans...

Not Democrats, not Republicans, not black, white, Latino, Jewish, Christian... whatever... But AMERICANS one and all.

I want our citizens to acknowledge that all of us love our country, and we care about its future.  I'm tired of the inuendo that Republicans are somehow more patriotic than Democrats.  I personally have 3 children in the military, one is currently serving in Afghanistan, and another one is serving in Iraq.  My 3rd son proudly serves in the USCG.

I'm tired of the inuendo that one group has "higher morals" than the other group.  This campaign has certainly shown us which party takes the high road.  The sad thing is that John McCain was once on the receiving end of the smear campaign.  I honestly thought he, of all people, would have set higher standards for himself and his campaign!

I yearn for the day when we behave like one nation, full of respect for the unique diversity of our people, and with opportunity for all.

Kjacks08, you took the words right out of my mouth.
This type of Christianity (which first became obscene during the 2000 election) has driven me away from my faith.  I was taught that Christ said "judge not", and "turn the other cheek", and "Do unto others".
The Republican convention gave us a glimpse of what was to come!  That was the nastiest, most mean-spirited, and condescending public display I've ever seen.  They blatantly ridiculed and mocked half of this nation.  Even our current president, who is supposed to represent ALL Americans, called half of us "the angry left".  Well.... I didn't realize that description fit me, but if you weren't angry BEFORE he said that, you certainly should have been afterward.
I am so tired of divisiveness.  I want a "purple" nation, not a red and blue one!
I want all of us to once again proudly proclaim that we are Americans...
Not Democrats, not Republicans, not black, white, Latino, Jewish, Christian... whatever... But AMERICANS one and all.
I want our citizens to acknowledge that all of us love our country, and we care about its future.  I'm tired of the inuendo that Republicans are somehow more patriotic than Democrats.  I personally have 3 children in the military, one is currently serving in Afghanistan, and another one is serving in Iraq.  My 3rd son proudly serves in the USCG.
I'm tired of the inuendo that one group has "higher morals" than the other group.  This campaign has certainly shown us which party takes the high road.  The sad thing is that John McCain was once on the receiving end of the smear campaign.  I honestly thought he, of all people, would have set higher standards for himself and his campaign!
I yearn for the day when we behave like one nation, full of respect for the unique diversity of our people, and with opportunity for all.

Interesting conversation.

GJMcG,

Well said.

THANK YOU-I AGREE-WE NEED TO BOND TOGETHER AND ACCEPT ONE ANOTHER AND HELP ONE ANOTHER THE WAY EUROPEAN COUNTRIES DO-THANKS AND GOD SPEED AND GOD BLESS OBAMA-SHELLY, LAPORTE, INDIANA-NO MORE BIGGOTS!

And Obama's Pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright is not sowing the seeds of hate we have been trying to heal...get real man!  Look at the facts.  You're the pot calling the kettle black dude!

I agree -- he lost my vote AND my respect when he picked Palin. Had he made a wise choice for VP rather than trying to simply gain the female vote, I might have supported the ticket.  FYI: I am a female.

I too have lost my job thanks to the Bush Administration.  People need to wake up and see that Obama is the ONLY choice.  All McCain cares about are the closed minded, wealthy Rebublicans who have RUINED our Country.

I lost my job when Bill Clinton was in office..... It went overseas to China back in 2000. Do I blame him like people above?  NO......... I voted for him twice regardless.  These
policies take place in congress.... why are we all griping about what the President can/can't do..... It's congress/house.... If it's all DEM's, then some fighting will happen.
If it's both, dem's and repub's.... they HAVE to work across party lines.... That's what it will take.... Regardless of who is in office.

People who watch Fox news like to hear that crap. I'm sure of it, my brother-in-law thinks it's news and watches faithfully. You can tell! Wouldn't listen to the truth if it hit him in the face. Those people will never change their minds and there's not much use of wasting your breath. I've tried!  

I wish there was a way of forcing FOX to admit they are not honest and that all their opinions are OPINIONS not news.  I also would like to sue McCain/Palin for defamation of character.  Political compaigns will continue to be in the same ilk as McCain/Palin until they are held accountable for what they say.  All political ads need to be truthful and if they are not, they should not be aired.  This problem needs to be taken seriously and have very REAL consequences.  If, God forbid, the Obama/Biden ticket gets hurt physically, the McCain/Palin camp should be prosecute for rabble rousing.  It will be a direct consequence of them (McCain/Palin) doing NOTHING to stop it.  Where is the Secret Service???  Why are these people not being arrested for their comments???  Isn't it a felony to threaten the life of a candidate?

We're talking about FOX here. They're the same people who gave an hour to the people who thought the Moon landings were a hoax. Until FOX, no one has even bother to do something this stupid. FOX is nothing but a moron station for morons.

your not even worth the time to respond to.

i agree with jupmod

Fellow Indiana Democrat right here.  :-)  I cannot wait to turn this red state blue!!

I think the people who are still supporting the McCain/Palin ticket at this stage in the game are never going to change their minds.  The FBI could come out and release a statement that McCain killed somebody and the McCain/Palin supporters would find some way to excuse it.  Or they'd claim that the MS Media made it up.  They just absolutely, under no circumstances seem to want to pull their heads out of the sand and realize the tragedies that are happening in this country right now, and all because of the last 8 years of failed policies.  McCain himself said that he voted with the president at least 90% of the time (I think it might have been even more than that).  How can someone honestly believe that this man is going to be anything different from what we've already seen?  And when he started to realize that he couldn't win on the issues, he himself even admitted that all they had left was to sling mud.  Not respectful in any way, shape or form.

Mr. McCain, please go to one of your 8 homes and leave us alone.  We are not your friends.

Good luck!  I am hoping Indiana will turn blue.  I sure wish the folks in Tennessee had half a brain and could see through the Republican B.S.

Obama/Biden 2008

Excellent post.  I couldn't agree more!

Obama/Biden 2008

On PBS last night it was clear that Conservative members of the Harvard Law Review respected Obama.  I feel that once the election is over he will make it a high priority to mend the rip in our country caused by Bush-Cheney.  Man, I thought old Reagan was full of beans,  and Nixon WAS a crook, but the sentiment now, from both sides, is that something has to change.   President Obama will do just that.

You will only have change in your pocket if that monster BO gets elected. He is a proven liar and a cheat. He has done NOTHING for this country. Name one good reason to vote Obama? So he can pUT more ACORN workes on the street to committ crimes? Then he pays then with my money. NO to LIARS, No to communist Socialist Liberlas. No to meeting with the enemy. NO TO OBAMA/BIDEN. THEY ARE HERE TO DESTROY US.

are you a plant or do you really believe what you just said? If you do believe that then you do not read at all,you do not check everything and anything any tells you,do you not know that by not having intelligence in our government means something?What we have had are blck hearts and morons who have tried to place the fear of everything into the american public and have done a good job,mcain and palin would be much worse than what we have had,you really do need to read and stop watching fox news

eliza avarta....well said

I went to Obama's site today and punched in my income...it tells you right away what

your savings will be under his tax cut plan ....verses McCain's.....CAN NOT WAIT.. TO CAST

MY VOTE...for OBAMA...HE IS A MAN WITH PLANS... TO HELP THE PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE

NOT.. the...... 5 percent of the wealthiest....JOHN McCain's plan would benefit...Obama

has his work cut out for him to clean up the....MESS..... W.... and.... McCain... is leaving

behind....and.....HE CAN DO IT

WWJD?   Would he allow partial birth abortions?  I don't think so!  Obama says yes!  Obama speaks well but it's just WORDS!  Thats Right...................JUST WORDS! 

shutup.

hey NaNa... would Jesus allow capital punishment.. aka.. executions too???? shutup and keep your religious rhetoric to yourself kookoo.

I don't think NaNa should shut up, but I am really getting tired of the Christian right's holier than thou attitude.  I have come to the conclusion that what church means for these people is little more than a place where they can find out who they can feel morally superior to.

Nana... Jesus isn't voting and he doesn't have to live here anymore.  I do. 

Nana, & all Christians,

Jesus let people make decisions that were not always the best, and loved them anyways. The rich man who could not give up his riches, Jesus loved him. Jesus was the one who drew the line and said anyone without sin, cast the first stone. Jesus knows the hearts of everyone, not just those who claim they are Christians, and He would be the first to understand those who make choices to terminate a life knows why they make that choice. He would be the first to say “who cast that stone and offended one of my little ones?” Christians walk the fine line of judgment. We must be careful, not to cross the line and cast a stone that land us in the lack of fire. Not that you are, but it’s a very fine line. The Bible says a lot about many things, and acting like Jesus is one. He said to love, that is the second commandment, there is no love in condemnation - NONE!! No one will ever fine Him if there is no love from those who say they know Him. Sorry to disagree with most Christians on this issue, but I think Obama understands and shines like Jesus, more than a man who is in a church for years & does not get baptized. That speaks volumes of obedience. OBAMA ALL THE WAY!!!! Oar America is in more trouble than someone making a choice that everyone wants to jump to judgments about.

A CHRISTIAN WHO DESIRES TO LOVE LIKE JESUS

Dude, Your Nuts!!! You dont represent any religious affiliation and should take the "REV" out of your name. Bush\McCain already has american at its knees, only question is do we stand up and fight(Obama) or do we open up and turn around, again(McCain\Palin).

Dont know about the rest of you but I'm tired of taking it. Keep your promise. McCain\Palin is nothing but the same question we have had for 8 years. WTF?

You sir should be ashamed of yourself. I don't  even know what to say to you but RACIST.

Rev, I didn't know Jesus was running in this race. But I consulted my God and he told me to vote for the man who's words and actions were most Christ-like. The one who is not promoting rumors, unbased associations, and allowing hatefull dangerous outbursts from their supporters. WWJD

Rev. Snodgrass:  Do you really believe we,  who support Obama are being deceived?  I believe in a different Jesus I guess.  I believe Jesus would want a man who looks out for the poor and underprivileged.  I believe Jesus would not condone a man who has had several affairs.  I believe Jesus would want a man who tells the truth, something McCain has had a hard time doing in this election.  I believe Jesus would look down on a man who has excess wealth, houses, cars, etc.  I believe Jesus would vote for Obama!  I am not being deceived by anyone except those who stand behind the cross and throw daggers.  What are you scared of? 

Source:macalester.edu.weekly:   The reason Jesus died is for his actions against the Temple, and the reason Jesus disliked the Temple was that it created an elite who lived off taxes from the poor and made God inaccessible to ordinary people. Jesus died so people like us could read his words and interpret them ourselves, not uncritically accept whatever rich people tell us is the right thing to do. So the next time you vote, if you consider yourself a Christian, maybe you should ask yourself, “Who would Jesus vote for?”  Johanna Shreve



Source: The Chronicle:  The leaders of the religious right have led their sheep astray from the gospel of Jesus Christ to the false gospel of neoconservative ideology and into the maw of the Republican Party. And yet my regard for the flock and my respect for their integrity is undiminished. Ultimately it is they who must reclaim the gospel and rescue us from the distortions of the religious right.

Dude you are a farce and a shame to the cloth. You preach ignorance and have no facts to back up your rhetoric. IF you are a reverend I pity those who follow your words and hope that what people do understand your partisan and racist perspective. What morals was America founded on that McCain displays and Obama lacks? could it be a segregationist attitude? I can't believe I've even wasted this much on you. Cast your vote and we'll see who God elects.

our country is beyond hurt.....it is behind held together by 700 billion stiches that are about to unravel! In a few years we will look bacck with a sigh of relief that the REPUBS are not in office

What does the Lord have to do with this election?  Who made you the mouthpiece of the Almighty?  It is you and your extremists that are voting with emotions.  Jesus isn't even on the table, not even up for discussion.  It's the economy, the war, the trillions of dollars we the taxpayers are going to have to pay for bailing out the banks.  That is the heart of the election. In case you haven't noticed, there is a separation of church and state.  You guys have made the Republican McCain/Palin team spokepersons for the religious right.  Last I checked, slander and bigotry weren't Christian values, but I guess it's ok if you do it, after all, you are speaking for God.  After 9/11, American muslims spoke out against Islamic extremists.  It's time American Christians denounced their extremists as well.  And they'll know we are Christians by our love?  Hardly.

Rev,

I am an chritian, Obama supporter and a Democrat. Yet I am not afraid to call them out on their actions, words or deeds that are contrary to the values of man or country. You see, I put God before Party.

God is no respecter of person and he puts whomever He wants into office. As A christian, I pray for discernment and wisdom to make the right decision, and I know the Republican Party is not it. They masquerade as christians but they are far from it. They have done more harm to christianity and the faith than any one else.

Jesus accepted all peoples ......As a Christian I believe that God gave us the freedom of choice.  It hurts(and is a fallacy) to think that "right wingers" believe they have the only answer. 

Can't agree with you more.

Reverend,

With all due respect, Sir, how do you know that He hasn’t already directed our paths towards Senator Obama?  I like to think that maybe He thinks we deserve a break today.  I believe He calls it “free-will.”  Thanks for the heads-up.  You vote your conscience and I’ll vote mine.  Oh, and, I’ll be sure to have someone on speed-dial for absolution who doesn’t think I’ll burn in hell if I disagree with him, on the off-chance that I’m struck down by the hand of God at the polls for voting against McCain/Palin.  PALIN, FOR GOD’S SAKE!  THINK PALIN AND THE SHINY RED BUTTON!!  God is probably just as afraid of that as I am!!!  Are you sure YOU’VE thought this through, Sir?

I’m probably a little more God-Loving than God-Fearing.

Take Care, Sir, and God Bless You Right Back!

At my church, our Rev. would never never cross this line....so sad.... shame on you and your scare tactics.

This reverend has to be fake.  This is the first time I've ever heard such nonsense.  But on the chance that you're really serious, I can't believe you would support any campaign that cares so much more about politics, that he's willing to encourage cultural division amongst us all.  It makes sense though.  What else would you use to try to halt the momentum of a candidate who brings us together instead of finding reasons to tear us apart?  Obama's campaign challenged the cynicism we all felt about race in this country and replaced it with optimism for our future.  The only way you battle that is to replace this optimism by encouraging cynicism, suspicion, ignorance, fear; the very same things that divided us.  Country First?  Whatever.

Hey Rev, you don't speak for us Christian Americans...you and your supporters are a dying breed.

For the reverend,pls read your bible, it's Barabus not Barnabus. I think you name is a sham...and so are your political thoughts.

WWJD?  He would help the poor, heal the sick, comfort those who mourn and visit those in prison.  Actually, Jesus did all those things over 2000 years ago.  Sounds a little like the Obama/Biden plan today. 

I'm honestly dumbfounded.

The same spelling errors in multiple posts under supposed different posters, same poor grammar, multiple references to the same arguments, and same use and misuse of elipses.  The same hateful attacks, just phrased differently.  How bored are you?

After 9/11/2001, Because of lack of anything from Bush, I had lost everything and didn't have a job for 4 years. Overqualified for those Pizza delivering jobs that Bush kept talking about. Now faced with another tragedy, do we, you, all over us really want to starve, become homeless, jobless and watch another republican do what he can to save the big companies and watch the weekly "witch" exorcisms at the WhiteHouse? Should taxpayers pay for "Depend Dispensers" and Voodoo supplies? 

Do you hear that?  That's the sound of CHANGE coming!

I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound.Everybody look what's going down ...

Nobody's right if everybody's wrong!  

Work for Peace.  Work for Obama.

The only White House for Palin is an IGLOO in Alaska.

Hey Doug....I also was a Republican (can't do the abortion thing) and now am a Independent who voted for Obama in the primary and yesterday (mail in). Although it pains me deeply that Barack supports certain things(abortion) that I don't, I still knew early on that this man was a true leader and I felt I had to put certain feelings behind for the betterment of our country. Someday a man or woman will be able to run for office without having to go straight down the board either Dem or Rep. Then they can truly be themselves and say what they really feel!

I am first time voter that don't agree in abortion. But agree on choice. But for me the biggest issue is : let's end the war and fix the country.. SO I am backing up Barack. Just like he said : ' We surely can solve this abortion issue start from your own home..;

Love him...:)

Although it pains me deeply that Barack supports certain things(abortion)

I don't understand this statement. Barack opposes outlawing abortion because in all honesty science does not know when life begins. The thought that life begins at conception is a faith driven idea, and many people are uncomfortable outlawing abortion because of a religious notion.

However Obama does want to reduce unwanted pregnancies. That is the root of this problem. Abortion is only an issue if a pregnancy is unwanted, so let's get together in reducing this occurance and really solve this problem.

Queenie, I completely understand your stance. I had always considered myself more of a Republican due, in part, to the abortion issue. I am anti-abortion, but pro-choice and don't really think that the two are opposite. Conservative women are able to keep and not abort a child because they have the freedom of "choice". Something that we all should enjoy and more importantly God provides us with. I believe that decision is between the woman and God and that the childs blood is on the womans hands if she makes the choice to abort the child. Additionally, I do not believe that a 9 year old (or any woman for that matter) who has been brutally raped and falls pregnant should be forced by the government to keep the child. I would hope that they would keep the child but then again, I have never found myself in such a situation and as such have no real concept of the emotional and physical devastation suffered.

I do believe in focusing more and more on ways to significantly reduce the incidences of unwanted pregnancies and consequently abortions, as well as establishing limitations on the practice. I DO NOT support Barack Obamas stance on partial birth abortions. I think the practice is extremely cruel and should be outlawed.

Why is this statement funny?  LOL

It's the right for a woman to choose what happens to her body, not the right to have an abortion.  No woman really wants to have an abortion. But some women find themselves in circumstances where they need to make this choice and it should be legal.  At least in the first trimester, with restrictions in the second trimester, and in the last trimester only if it threatens the health of the mother. This is pretty much the way it is now.

Sarah Palin wants women of incest or rape to keep the baby and give it up for adoption. That would be nice in a Leave-it-to-Beaver world but this is reality.  She will move to have Roe-V-Wade overturned then threaten all doctors with murder if they perform any more abortions.  Doesn't she realize that some girl's would rather die than carry a rapist's offspring inside their body for nine months?  Would she lock up the girl along with the doctor?  Probably.

The bottom line is that it is both the right to choose what happens to her body as well as to have an abortion because it also concerns another life. I think the issue many people have with abortion is the fact it is now used as a form of birth control (I am referring to instances where women have consentual sex with full knowledge of the possible consequences). I couldn't find it in my heart to FORCE a rape or incest victim to carry the product of such an abhorrent act. There are women out there who do keep their babies in such circumstances and I have the greatest admiration for them, but I think the choice should be made by the victim and not government.

And I am person that chose that option once, regretted it but if it wouldn't have happened I wouldn't have had my daughter and therefore my granddaughter. I am not proud of my choice but glad I had the option. Any by the way I am Catholic and confessed to my Priest and he told me that God forgave me.

Well said.

Vote Hope not Hate!!!

Obama/Biden 2008 and beyond

McCain/Palin makes me nostalgic for Bush/Quayle, and Bush43 makes Bush41 look like FDR.

I agree completely! Biden was a thoughtful pick.  He wasn't an "exciting" pick.  McCain just went for the "exciting" factor.  What did that get us? A woman of average intelligence who wants her state to secede from the nation (and will work with Iran to make it happen), who thinks its more important to issue "zingers" than substance, and who inspires hate and fear among her followers.  Why would I want to live in a country where the president wants to surround himself with people like that?