GENERATION GAP

by RAY FLEMING
ALTHOUGH neither candidate said anything very new in Friday night's presidential TV debate their close proximity brought drama and clarity to the differences in their respective policies. There were no embarrassing gaffes and neither scored a knock-out blow; the majority opinion among US media experts was in Barack Obama's favour but only on a points verdict over John McCain. The debate was in two parts: first, the financial crisis where McCain seemed subdued, possibly because of his failure to negotiate a breakthrough on the bailout in Washington; and second, international policy and national security. The latter is McCain's home territory and he frequently dropped the names of international leaders he knows, but Obama dealt confidently with the issues and was by no means outranked. McCain often used the phrase, “Senator Obama does not seem to understand...” in a condescending manner whereas on several occasions Obama said that he agreed with McCain's view. Iraq was at the centre of their disagreement: McCain accused his opponent of wanting to withdraw troops prematurely and endangering the “victory” that would otherwise be won; Obama said that McCain had supported an unnecessary war that had diverted attention from the more important target of Afghanistan, the Taliban, Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda. At the very end the yawning generation gap between the two men showed as Obama stressed the need for America to regain respect in the world while McCain talked about the Vietnam veterans who “know I know them and will watch their interests”.