This debate was a game changer - Obama just lost Florida

[greggh]

I'm an Obama supporter. But I was stunned by Obama's answer to the question of what you will do if Iran attacks Israel. Will you commit US force against Iran or wait for a UN resolution? McCain gave a clear strong answer, and talked about not allowing another Holocaust. Obama's answer to that question was bad on every level. It was weak, unclear, and way too cool for the emotion of the question. He started talking about gasoline prices for Christ sakes.

I'm Jewish, and earlier today I was trying to explain to my family that Obama is just as strong a supporter of Israel as McCain. They're not going to believe me now. I'm telling you that with that one question in this debate McCain just won Florida.

[allix]

I think the whole Iran question is taken out of proportion . It must be seriously thought out, talks must be what is used all the way.
Iran is not Afghanistan or Iraq military wise. Although the aim is not to transform Iran , its just to destroy nuclear reactors, which I have read can be done with bunker busters to use the informal name.

Iran have said they want to use nuclear for energy not bombs, a lot of the world has it , so why can't they?
This could surely be monitored instead of outright objection to them having it because "we" know they want to make a bomb instead.

From different sources of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speech , he seems more against zionism and the state of Israel than jews themselvs.
Jews are allowed to goto Iran but not our trading friends Saudi Arabia.

So speaking of a holocaust is playing onto the media hysteria . Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
I am also a jew of some sort , whatever that means...
I don't practice or anything.. I personally find it ridiculous , my father pretends he does ...... my family is quite mixed and I have non-jewish family too ...
If you don't mind me asking , do you practice at all?
Ive noticed that there quite a few religious people of different faiths in the linux world , at times its quite ironic as religious beliefs quite often are contrary to anything science has said, at least with the anti-evolutionary crowd.

In regard to the original topic, I think Obama maybe shaping his views to get votes now...
I would not be surprised to see that "change" banner disappear ....

[MattKingUSA]

Well, I can say for a fact that if Iran nuked Isreal I would not be surprised. But if I were pres I would just nuke them back. But the Iranian guys really want their "well dwelling" friend to come back to the earth to kill the jews and the christians. Atleast that's acourding to what they believe. But I really think that we should do like dude was saying and just bomb their junky weapons facilities before they nuke the world. We as in India or Poland. Cuz that would just be more convenient for us and then we can deny that we had anything to do with it...

[Tsuroerusu]

I'm an Obama supporter. But I was stunned by Obama's answer to the question of what you will do if Iran attacks Israel. Will you commit US force against Iran or wait for a UN resolution? McCain gave a clear strong answer, and talked about not allowing another Holocaust. Obama's answer to that question was bad on every level. It was weak, unclear, and way too cool for the emotion of the question. He started talking about gasoline prices for Christ sakes.

I'm Jewish, and earlier today I was trying to explain to my family that Obama is just as strong a supporter of Israel as McCain. They're not going to believe me now. I'm telling you that with that one question in this debate McCain just won Florida.

greggh, I just finished watching the entire debate, and I specifically kept an ear out for what you mentioned. And I must say I disagree with you about Obama's answer, I completely agree with him on issue, to be frank. Now, I am a European, so I can never ever hear things with American ears, only with European ears. In other words, I don't know what kinds of answers to questions, that make Americans vote differently, but as a staunch supporter of the European Union, I can say that from a European perspective, Obama's answer would be considered clear and concrete. I know you were saying Obama just lost Florida, that I can't comment on, but I can tell you that Europe in general, would be quite happy with Obama's answer.

[greggh]

I want to be clear. I am still voting for Obama. And I think Obama's policy with regards to Israel is, and will be, essentially the same as McCain's. I'm just pointing out that the way he answered the question was very damaging. Many Jews in the US have the idea that Obama's support for Israel is not very strong. I think his answer here is going to further feed into that and be enough to swing Florida, where the Jewish vote can make the difference, over to McCain.

[greggh]

I don't practice or anything.. I personally find it ridiculous , my father pretends he does ...... my family is quite mixed and I have non-jewish family too ...
If you don't mind me asking , do you practice at all?

I'm agnostic. When I was a kid we celebrated the main Holidays. But we didn't keep Kosher. I went to Hebrew school for a few years. But the way that worked was that it was only for a few hours a day after regular public school, and only for a few years when I was age 9-13. So, I consider myself culturally Jewish, but I'm not religious at all. I would describe my family as being 'Reformed'.

[Tsuroerusu]

I'm just pointing out that the way he answered the question was very damaging. Many Jews in the US have the idea that Obama's support for Israel is not very strong. I think his answer here is going to further feed into that and be enough to swing Florida, where the Jewish vote can make the difference, over to McCain.

An American quirk I assume!
Because I thought his answer was good, but that's just me, one of the few Europeans who roam around these shores of cyberspace.

[greggh]

I'm just pointing out that the way he answered the question was very damaging. Many Jews in the US have the idea that Obama's support for Israel is not very strong. I think his answer here is going to further feed into that and be enough to swing Florida, where the Jewish vote can make the difference, over to McCain.

An American quirk I assume!
Because I thought his answer was good, but that's just me, one of the few Europeans who roam around these shores of cyberspace.

Yup. But everyone that knows anything about American Politics knows about this "American quirk", which is just one of many. I still can't believe that Obama wasn't prepared to give a better answer, that was more aimed at Jewish voters, than the one he gave. I think he has a lot of work to do, to rehabilitate himself after that answer, if he hopes to hold Florida.