Live Blog Debate

(photo courtesy of NYTimes.com)

One of the biggest issues in tonight's debate is the economy, and most of the audience's questions at the beginning of the debate are focused on the financial crisis and government bailout plan. However, rather than providing concrete solutions and discussing the questions at hand, the two candidates are criticizing one another’s policies -- "mudslinging." In answering an audience member's question about the Bailout package, Obama said:

"You aren’t interested in listening to politicians point fingers, you are interested in how this is going to affect you.”

True -- but pointing fingers is exactly what the candidates continued to do. In some of the initial blows, McCain talked about a $3 billion dollar projector for an Illinois planetarium that Obama voted for. He continuously mentions that Obama wants to increase spending and notes that Fanny May and Freddy Mack, which he said were the catalysts of the financial crisis, donated heavily to Obama's campaign. In a particularly vivid attack, McCain said that "nailing Senator Obama's various tax proposals is like nailing Jell-O to the wall."

Obama didn't hold back, criticizing McCain for bragging about being a "deregulator" when deregulation caused the financial crisis in the first place. He also notes that McCain supported the failed economic policies of the past 8 years. After McCain criticized his tax program, Obama shot back -- "The 'Straight Talk Express' lost a wheel on that one," noting that he wants to provide a tax cut for 95% of Americans.

I find it frustrating that the debate is once again centered on pointing out each of the candidate’s failings. Especially in light of the financial crisis and the economy, Americans need hope that the United States will recover from its current situation. Mudslinging does not supply that hope. Americans need solutions, and the candidates are failing to provide those solutions. While both of the candidates talked about helping middle class Americans – alluding to a better economic future – they spent more time criticizing each other’s voting records than providing concrete suggestions and policy ideas.