Exclusive Webcast: Second Presidential Debate Video
Exclusive Webcast: Second Presidential Debate Video Transcript
[ Music ] ^M00:00:07
>> Campaign '08. CBS News Coverage of the second Presidential Debate continues. Here again is Katie Couric.
>> Katie Couric: Hi everybody and welcome to our webcast. It's our post debate after party brought to you tonight by our sponsor Intel. [ Music ] Thank you, we actually have the music tonight. We're moving up in the world. Okay, one is enough Eric. Thank you very much. Last time by the way, I had to sing the theme song myself so obviously our budget has increased. [ Laughter ] Anyway, we've got a panel of uncommitted voters assembled to get reaction to the debate and our team of crack political experts - the best political team on the galaxy - they're standing by to answer your questions. We've got a lot of web questions. So should we get right to the web questions? I think we should because this is a very inclusive broadcast, isn't it Cheryl?
>> [Inaudible] I consider myself a number of one of the recently competent political teams on television. I think we -- the other networks...
>> Katie Couric: Oh we can do better than reasonably competent can't we?
>> No they're all [inaudible]. I want to be very modest about this.
>> Katie Couric: Alright, alright.
>> A reasonably competent political team.
>> Katie Couric: We're going to get some sort of up to date real time questions from Tony Massillas [assumed spelling] who's over there actually monitoring questions as they come in on the web. But first these are questions from earlier. And Dee Dee, I'm going to start with you and Dan I'm going to get to you about clean coal a little bit later in the broadcast, okay?
>> [Laughter] Gosh, I was hoping I'd get another shot at that.
>> Katie Couric: Dan knew all about clean coal. No, no, no he informed me he was an expert on clean coal Dee Dee last time...
>> Okay.
>> Katie Couric: ...so I'm going to be sure to get to him on that. But Ramona in Florida writes this question Dee Dee, "Why does the Obama campaign" not your campaign Dee Dee "keep going back to President Bush and the last 8 years? The economy was okay the first 6 and in the last 2 when the democrats were in Congress, the economy went downhill." What's your response to that?
>> Well I think that the point that Senator Obama is trying to make is that the last 8 years have been a disaster on a lot of levels, that not only is the economy in you know, in very bad shape due to a philosophy that's been implemented. It didn't start you know 18 months ago when the democrats took over Congress. It started when President Bush was elected with the philosophy of deregulation. In terms of foreign policy, after 911 we went into Iraq - as Senator Obama said - a country that didn't attack us, took our eye off the ball in Afghanistan and Pakistan where Bin Laden and Al Qaeda have been. And we've -- not only are we not any safer in the world, we've you know we're no better off with our allies. And so there's a lot of reasons that he's going back to Bush and trying to tie McCain to Bush. And you know McCain has not done a very good job so far of enumerating the ways in which his economic policy and his foreign policy would be different than Bush's. He talks about being a maverick and he talks about ear marks you know -- I don't know, 12 times during tonight's debate? But really doesn't do a very good job of saying "This is how a McCain administration would be different than a Bush Administration."
>> Katie Couric: Let me ask -- get Dan's reaction to that. Do you agree Dan because well first of all, John McCain did not use the M word tonight? So all those people doing drinking games when maverick is mentioned are going to be sorely disappointed and very sober after tonight's debate. But do you think he has done enough to differentiate himself from George W. Bush? After all, in his acceptance speech he never even mentioned the President's name.
>> I guess I can't invoke a conflict of interest here having worked for the previous president, but of the current president -- look I still fundamentally believe that if John McCain wakes up everyday thinking that George W. Bush has a bigger problem than Barack Obama he's going to lose. People are going to vote for whose name is on the ballot. Now does George W. Bush loom over the selection? Of course he does. And I think the important part for John McCain is that his differences with George W. Bush have to be viewed as principled. And I think he touched on some of them tonight. Could he have done it more? Probably. But if it looks like he's doing it just for his own personal short term political gain, I think the public's going to see through that, so I think he has a genuine case to make that he would be different than George W. Bush on several big issues of the day, both domestically and foreign. Whether the format tonight really gave him the opportunity to articulate that, you could argue it either way.
>> Katie Couric: You know, I was interested Cheryl when you did those instant poll results that Barack Obama seemed to do well in almost every category except for readiness. And there still seems to be -- if we look -- can we look at those readiness numbers again?
>> Yes, that's still sticking with him obviously.
>> Katie Couric: You know, because I think they said 84 percent of respondents think John McCain is actually ready...
>> Right, after the debate...
>> Katie Couric: ...for the job he's trying for. After the debate 80 percent?
>> Eight-four percent.
>> Katie Couric: Or 4?
>> Yes, exactly.
>> Katie Couric: And then what were the Obama numbers?
>> Barack Obama started out at about half of McCain. He was 42 percent before the debate, and although he went up 15 points he still ends up far below at 57 percent.
>> Katie Couric: Yeah, I know that many of you all who came here tonight from swing states or toss-up states, some of you have questions about Barack Obama's experience. We touched on this a little bit earlier. But I'd love you all to talk about your impressions and if you feel less comfortable or more comfortable with his readiness to be Commander in Chief? Tyler, let me start with you. You're a 21 year old, uncommitted voter from Ottoville, Ohio. I know you watched the first debate today in your hotel room: got caught up with things. What did you think? I mean now that you have sort of the benefit of watching 2 back-to-back almost, what did you think about that?
>> I mean I think that John McCain has been around for a long time and obviously has been through a lot of different situations and would be ready to lead this country. As far as Barack Obama, he seems that even though he's young in the political world that he also would be able to lead the country and has a lot of good ideas to go forward.
>> Katie Couric: I see that your parents are republican.
>> Yeah.
>> Katie Couric: You're leaning democrat.
>> I was yeah.
>> Katie Couric: Do you have a lot of big fights at your house?
>> No, not too much. They pretty much respect whatever I believe in so...
>> Katie Couric: Yeah, but did you change your mind at all? Are you leaning more towards Barack Obama after tonight's debate or did it bring you back even more in the middle? How are you feeling? I know it's sort of hard to synthesize everything immediately. You have to kind of let it sit for awhile. But what did you think?
>> Yeah, I don't think I learned a whole lot from tonight's debate compared to what I learned in the first debate. I feel like a lot of it even though a lot has changed in the world, we heard a lot of the exact same things in the debate tonight. So I don't know if there's anything else that I've learned tonight that would sway me either way.
>> Katie Couric: Okay, what about you Jennifer? You're from Palm Harbor, Florida. You're a student at the University of Florida, originally from New Jersey. I had to memorize your biographies but for some reason I remembered Jennifer's in particular. Moved to Florida 8 years ago. So what did you think?
>> I kind of agree with what Tyler said. I mean I wasn't really leaning either way before this, but when it comes to experience and ability to lead, I definitely felt that Obama had some good ideas. He seemed to have solid ideas. And I think that would definitely help him a lot.
>> Katie Couric: And what about you Scott? We didn't get to you earlier in the broadcast. Wait; let me give a little thumbnail sketch of you?
>> Okay.
>> Katie Couric: Can I Scott?
>> Sure, go ahead.
>> Katie Couric: You're from Smithville, Missouri. You voted for Kerry. You were for Obama, now you're undecided. I'm just curious before I even get your reaction, what changed your mind to go from Obama to undecided?
>> The main thing that hurt me with Obama was his outlook on military. I have several friends that are in the military that are overseas right now. Some of them were at the -- in Iraq when Obama came to visit and lined up to see him and all that stuff. And basically was snubbed by Obama. I fear that he will withdraw the troops too quickly and will leave some guys out there: that he's going to put them more in danger. But tonight, he kind of he said "If we do withdraw our troops, we need to do it responsibly." I was really glad that he said that. So it shows that he is thinking of our military. He may not agree with our position overseas but at least he is supporting our military that's over there.
>> Katie Couric: But still, that wasn't enough to convince you to change your mind?
>> Not quite.
>> Katie Couric: Or to support either candidate at this juncture?
>> Right.
>> Katie Couric: So really the only person whose mind changed as result of this debate was Greg, our crazy guy from New Hampshire who voted for himself by the way.
>> Oh thank you.
>> Katie Couric: I know, I say that... [ Laughter ] I say that lovingly Greg. [ Laughter ] Greg voted for himself in 2004 because you didn't like your choices.
>> And that was the smartest -- the best vote I ever did. [ Laughter ] I just wanted to let all know that.
>> Katie Couric: But other than Greg, nobody else really changed their minds tonight or went from uncommitted to committed. Am I right, Judy?
>> I started out for Obama. And I wasn't hearing from him what I needed to hear. So I became an independent: you know undecided. And now I'm -- tonight I heard -- I started to hear from Obama what I've been wanting to hear.
>> Katie Couric: Alright, so now you're leaning more toward him than you were?
>> I'm leaning, yeah; I think I'm leaning more toward Obama.
>> Katie Couric: Anybody leaning more toward - and then we're going to our spinners, don't worry Rick - but anybody leaning more toward McCain after tonight's debate? Even if they haven't sort of signed on the dotted line?
>> I wanted to be leaning towards McCain.
>> Katie Couric: Yeah.
>> I'm a lifelong republican. But he didn't get me there. He didn't do what he needed to do to close the deal with me and Obama on uneven ground, because this is McCain's home turf in this type of debate. Obama was more effective. He was more clear: not across the board but in certain areas he was clear. He put a stake in the ground.
>> Katie Couric: Alright. But?
>> I think they still didn't answer a lot of the questions though. I think that's the big frustration from a lot of us is that the questions were still avoided. You know?
>> Domestically especially.
>> Yeah.
>> Domestically they just didn't seem to answer them.
>> Who's going to pay for healthcare? They talk about tax cuts or -- who is going to pay the bottom line? If you don't have healthcare now, a tax cut doesn't do you any good if you don't have the money to pay for it.
>> Katie Couric: So maybe that's why you felt like you didn't learn a lot because there was a repetition of things that you've been hearing for months out on the campaign trail?
>> And another thing...
>> New Hampshire started you know...
>> Katie Couric: He has started decades ago. I'm going to talk -- go ahead Greg.
>> But I was going to say, we were all talking earlier and you know, there's only so much the president can do about a lot of this. Congress has to get involved. And I think it's very difficult to get out there having watched this for over a year now to pin down a lot of these answers when you're doing -- I mean what are you going to get out of it?
>> You need a sacrifice?
>> Yeah.
>> Katie Couric: Yeah, no, no, no go ahead.
>> I was going to say - I was going to make this point to you and now I will - that they kept -- every debate, the moderators have said "What are you going to sacrifice?" And neither candidate you know, will cut tree trimming in Bethesda. Zip.
>> There's a 3 million dollar planetarium...
>> Right.
>> Katie Couric: No it is true. I think that they're very reticent to give Americans a little tough love and say what it takes for fear of alienating voters who may not want to sacrifice anything.
>> And look what we've been through through all this time. I mean geez 911 and then the Patriot Act, WMD, and then the war in Iraq, and now it's let's get everybody afraid again and we've got the economic thing. It's like what's going to be the next [inaudible]?
>> Katie Couric: I'm going to get back to you all in just a minute, because we've got 2 very tired correspondents who are in Spin Alley. [ Laughter ] They're waiting to go home and -- oh, did I mention by the way we're sponsored by Intel? [ Music ] Thank you very much. Okay Dean Reynolds in [inaudible]. Okay you guys, I know you probably haven't had a lot of time to talk to the campaigns, but what's their spin? What are they telling you about their guy's performance? Dean let's start with you.
>> Well, they're saying that the Senator's proposal - McCain's proposal - to have the government buy out those bad loans in the housing industry to settle the housing crisis, is certainly a headline for tomorrow's papers. Details however will come later apparently. They said that Senator McCain was able to put Barack Obama on defense. He was able to promote his own record and display Obama's record or lack thereof in the most unflattering terms possible. Indeed I think McCain criticized Obama in virtually every sentence that he spoke tonight, but the kind of aggression that we'd been led to believe might be on display this evening was not there. There was no mention of errors nor was there really an opportunity to talk about bill errors, but there was not that kind of tone that you saw from Governor Palin over the weekend and John McCain himself in his thumb speech yesterday in Albuquerque.
>> Katie Couric: And why do you think that was Dean, because we were all expecting sort of the tone of the campaign to bleed into this debate? Do you think they said, "If we go to negative it's going to come back and haunt us?"
>> Yeah, I do. I think there's part of that but also the debate format was confining. I mean these were average voters talking about healthcare, talking about Iran nuclear weapons and it's difficult to work in controversies that are 4 decades old certainly from McCain's point of view. Obama was clearly ready to speak about the Keating 5 scandal back in the 1980s, but it didn't come up because it really couldn't come up without them making it look like they were trying to insert some sort of dark, menacing point that they had always wanted to put against the other guy.
>> Katie Couric: Right, and they might do that at their own risk. Chip Reed, what are you hearing? What's the spin from the Obama campaign?
>> Well Katie, Dean really nailed it right at the top of the hour right before the debate. You asked him "What did McCain need to do" and he said "He needed to lay out his plan but without being irritable." And right on cue, right after the debate the Obama people came into the Spin Room here and they said that McCain was agitated, he was irascible and he was peevish. They didn't use the word irritable and they didn't use the word grumpy which some people have used in the past in describing McCain from the Obama camp. But they certainly are trying to get that message out there that even though he didn't go after Obama in that aggressive way talking about bill errors and that kind of thing, they do believe that he was peevish, irascible and agitated.
>> Katie Couric: You know, it's funny...
>> They're trying to make the point that he's not steady.
>> Katie Couric: You know Chip, as you said that many of our uncommitted voters they were shaking their heads no. I mean I think that most people thought - and correct me if I'm wrong - that John McCain didn't come across as super grumpy or any of those things except for maybe saying "that one." I thought he was kind of upbeat and can do and actually pretty optimistic in his rhetoric.
>> Here's the moment they're talking about. When he was talking about the energy bill and he said that Barack Obama -- he said "Guess who voted for that bill? That guy."
>> Katie Couric: "That one" he said.
>> That guy and so a lot of people thought that that was kind of disrespectful to refer to him in that way and that is what they said was the number one example of this agitated, irascible and peevish demeanor that they thought McCain displayed. Now you -- the people in your room may be absolutely right. Maybe they won't buy this spin from the Obama campaign but that's what they're putting out there right now.
>> Katie Couric: Okay, Chip and Dean, guys thank you so much. Go have some fun. I know you're party animals and you're going to be out you know, all hours doing what you campaign people do.
>> I think they're giving irascibility a bad name Katie. [ Laughter ]
>> Katie Couric: Yeah, yeah exactly. By the way, I like your red and blue ties reflecting the campaigns you're covering respectively. Yeah. Alright, thanks guys.
>> Thank you.
>> Katie Couric: So Jeff, what do you think of that spin coming from the Obama camp? Do you think that one is that going to blow up and become a big deal because are they stretching it a bit by saying this grumpy?
>> Oh heaven forbid that campaign operatives would come out and say anything other than purely objective truth Katie. That's way too cynical.
>> Katie Couric: Shocking. [ Laughter ]
>> I can't believe it, really. Look they've been trying to sell this notion and what this is, is code for let's see, irascible, grumpy -- what's the word that follows that?
>> Katie Couric: Would that be old?
>> Could it be? Yeah. And of course they can't say that. And I keep saying that you know after these things, that yeah instant polls are interesting. Forty-eight hours is when you really know. It's when people go home and they have the water cooler conversations and they meet their friends at the market or the cafeteria and they say "What'd you think? What'd you think?" That's when thing settle in. That's why after that first debate where our instant poll said "Yeah, Obama won," the shift happened 3 or 4 days later. We're not going to know till a couple of days from now.
>> Katie Couric: And it could it be just a wash? A wash is a wash is a wash?
>> I have to say this because it's so tempting to say as we all do. You know, one day somebody's going come out of this debate and cold-cock the other guy so we can finally say there was a knock-out. Because I've been watching these things and I can think of 2 debates where people said "Yeah, that was pretty one-sided." My feeling is that given what Cheryl reported about the readiness gap, that if people over the next couple of days start saying "You know, I think I can be comfortable with Obama as president. Maybe he doesn't have enough experience [inaudible], but I can settle in," that's going to be a big deal given where Obama is now. And that's why I think we can answer all these questions better when the folks - regular folks - have a chance to talk with each other as I bet they will.
>> Katie Couric: Alright, let's go to Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri, a long time supporter of Barack Obama. Senator McCaskill did you think any minds were really changed as a result because at least with our sample group here in our studio, only 1 person went from uncommitted to pretty firmly behind Barack Obama?
>> Senator Claire McCaskill: Well, I think what Jeff was just saying about people around the water cooler, I have a sense that what Barack did tonight that he needed to do was once again show how presidential he is capable of being. He was so in command of the way he communicated, his knowledge, the factual basis for his answers, how well he tracked in his answers, he wasn't all over the board. And I think the polling that you showed earlier that people were much -- felt much more comfortable that he's ready. He's ready to be president. He did a great job tonight and I think there was no game changer here and I think as people talk about it over the coming days, they are going to be very comfortable with the notion of President Obama.
>> Katie Couric: Let me ask you a question Senator we got from the internet. Doug from Kentucky wrote to us, "Abraham Lincoln said a house divided against its self cannot stand. What are your thoughts on the statement that Americans are sick and tired of our elected officials," no offense Senator, "being more concerned about their party's interests instead of the good of the American people?"
>> Senator Claire McCaskill: Well I think this campaign started and really took off because Barack Obama kind of did it from the bottom up. This is not a creature of Washington. This is somebody who has campaigned in every nook and cranny of this country, beginning in the living rooms of Iowa. And his message has always been that this is more about us that it is about him. It's about the potential of America: about the best among us. And that's why I think it's worked because America wants leadership like that. They don't want somebody who's all about the "nee nee nee" [assumed spelling] back and forth. And he will be that kind of president. He will have republicans in his cabinet. He will reach across the aisle. I've watched him do it. This is someone who listens. This is someone who is not a knee-jerk opponent. I mean they made an ad - tried to make it a bad thing - that he said "I agree with John McCain" in the last debate. Well, that's not a bad thing. It's not a bad thing to agree with John McCain on the things you agree about. But the other side wanted to make that into like "Oh he's" you know "he's weak because he agrees with John McCain." That's not the kind of president that Barack Obama is going to be.
>> Katie Couric: Okay, Claire McCaskill - Senator McCaskill - thanks so much for your time. Hey Bob Sheefer, are you there?
>> Bob Sheefer: I am here.
>> Katie Couric: I wanted to ask you Bob to respond to a question from Jordan: the name Jordan, not the country. And the question is, "Why did both candidates vote for the bail-out? Didn't they see or hear the public outcry?" I guess I saw a poll Bob that said only 31 percent of Americans actually support the bail-out. I think John McCain went out of his way to embrace it and said it was a rescue, not a bail-out. And Newt Gingrich wrote an interesting piece today Bob which you might have seen that said, "You know, John McCain is cooked if he doesn't distance himself from this government bail-out of Wall Street." So I guess getting back to Jordan's question, "Why did both candidates vote for the bail-out?"
>> Bob Sheefer: I think both candidates voted because they thought the country is facing a financial meltdown and I think that's why they did it. I think the kind of the scary thing in all of this Katie, is this: you had a free market President George Bush, a very conservative president who came out and described what was happening in the most dire terms. You had on the left people like Nancy Pelosi who are green with the assessment that George Bush was making. You had the people in the middle like Warren Buffet who were saying this was dire. And yet, congressmen tell me that they're mail was running 90 to 1 against it. There was nobody out in the country it seemed that was paying any attention to what our leaders on the left, right and middle were saying. And that's the part that I -- was this the right thing to do? I don't have the technical expertise to know, but I do know when I see people all across a political spectrum saying something has to be done and no one out in the country seems to be paying much attention to what they're saying, it really is kind of disconcerting and disturbing to me.
>> Katie Couric: Yeah, let me go back to our group of uncommitted voters. How many of you all are nervous about the economy, raise your hands?
>> Extremely.
>> Katie Couric: How many of you all -- did you hear anything tonight? We talked a little bit about the notion this proposal by John McCain of the Treasury Department buying up bad mortgages and obviously details still to come. But after this debate, you know were your nerves calmed at all by either candidate? Did you feel like...?
>> Well, with the...
>> Go ahead.
>> With the bail-out, the thing I was most nervous about was where is this money going to go? I mean 700 billion dollars, where is this going to go and how are we going to know where it's going to? And my fear is exactly what has happened. The CEOs that were just caught on a big, lavish trip to a nice resort: that is what I'm afraid that was going to happen and so far it has. I don't feel that we should have bailed the executives out when they already have more money than they know what to do with. And it's going to pass it on to us...
>> But the only problem is...
>> ...they should bail themselves out.
>> ...a lot of people don't -- the comment that was made about the banks and the paychecks and a company being able to go and get credit in order to make the payroll. The roll down effect is what I don't think the average American thought about. It wasn't explained real well.
>> Katie Couric: Right.
>> We did a very poor job of educating the public, and I think for a reason. I think they were afraid that people would panic. If they went out and really explained what the bottom line was, I think they were worried that everybody would run to the bank and pull their money.
>> Katie Couric: Do you blame that on President Bush? On Hen Paulson? Who do you think didn't do a good job?
>> Paulson.
>> Katie Couric: Paulson?
>> Yeah.
>> Katie Couric: And what would you have liked to have heard more from Henry Paulson, Rosemary?
>> Well number one, not calling it a bail-out. It's more of a loan.
>> It is.
>> It is a loan. And you asked why did both these senators vote for it: because we had no choice. Our whole country, our whole economy was going down the tubes. And they did the right thing.
>> Katie Couric: How many of you all support - even if you have to do it holding your noses - this government action?
>> Oh absolutely.
>> No ifs, ands or buts.
>> No question about it.
>> Katie Couric: No Judy and Scott, you don't? Other than Judy -- and Greg?
>> This is really out of my field but you know capitalism's capitalism and let them fail, let the business take care of itself and you know, we're getting too spoiled. Yeah, we're based on capitalism, the government stepping in and doing this. And I do, I admit this is not my strong suit but...
>> Katie Couric: Alright, we're going to go to Senator Lindsey Graham and then we can talk some more. Senator Graham?
>> Senator Lindsey Graham: Good morning.
>> Katie Couric: How are you? Good morning. Not quite yet Senator. You're used to saying that to me back in the good old days.
>> Senator Lindsey Graham: Absolutely.
>> Katie Couric: But I'm curious, how do you think your candidate did tonight?
>> Senator Lindsey Graham: I was pleased. I think John walked us through the economic crisis and gave us a different path than Senator Obama and that's what debates are about. Cut taxes, keep taxes low, control spending and do something about housing. The root of this problem is a bunch of loans were given to people who couldn't afford to make payments. And there's another problem. A lot of Americans have woken up in the last 30 days to find that they owe more on their house than it's worth and they've done nothing wrong because housing prices have plummeted. So this idea of renegotiating those mortgages at the real value of the home I think is the biggest idea out of this debate and will jumpstart what I think is the central recovery aspect of this recession we're in and as improving housing.
>> Katie Couric: Can you explain how it would jumpstart the economy in your view because it is pretty technical stuff Senator?
>> Senator Lindsey Graham: Okay, banks are not lending money to each other and to consumers because a lot of banks and lending institutions have bought mortgage backed securities that are based on mortgages that were granted by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that really have no value now because they were given to people who couldn't afford to pay them back. And this bad debt has gotten all throughout our economy. And when Wachovia sells at 10 cents on a dollar, and Washington Mutual folds, that's why we had to intervene because if we hadn't have gotten involved to find a way to take this bad debt out of our banking and lending institutions so they could lend money to consumers, the economy would come to its knees. Once the housing inventory improves and people begin to move these houses that are in foreclosure or about to go into foreclosure, things will get better.
>> Katie Couric: Yeah.
>> Senator Lindsey Graham: Once people can get a mortgage they can afford to make payments on, things are going to get better.
>> Katie Couric: We only have a few seconds Senator, but I'm just curious. Everyone expected John McCain to come into this debate loaded for bear. There have been a lot of attacks on Barack Obama's judgment and character particularly by Governor Sarah Palin in the last 3 or 4 days. Was there a conscious decision made within the campaign that John McCain was not going to do that tonight?
>> Senator Lindsey Graham: We were trying to answer the questions that were asked and focus on the economy. And I think John did a very good job tonight and displayed the difference between him and Senator Obama. Senator Obama's well earned the title "Most Liberal Senator" when it comes to taxing and spending and I thought that was a big distinction between the two tonight. How you get us out of this mess? And one was very government centered. The other was more let's improve the economy by helping business. And we didn't talk about things that I think were not asked of us to talk about.
>> Katie Couric: Alright. Senator Lindsey Graham. Senator Graham thanks a lot for talking with us tonight.
>> Senator Lindsey Graham: Thank you.
>> Katie Couric: Nice to talk to you. We're going to go to Tony Massillas really quickly because Rick, it's his first big star turn.
>> Oh yeah.
>> Katie Couric: And Tony -- Tony actually produces this web show with me...
>> Hi everybody.
>> Katie Couric: ...and is doing a great job with it I might add. So Tony...
>> Well thank you.
>> Katie Couric: ...we're going to have some real time questions that actually came in during the course of the debate rather than the ones I had earlier.
>> Yeah.
>> Katie Couric: Tony, any interesting questions?
>> Well there are a lot of interesting questions actually and there's a lot of web activity out there tonight. We're already had about 8 thousand web questions coming in.
>> Katie Couric: Wow, our little show is getting popular Tony.
>> I know, it's growing and growing. And we have Intel now as a sponsor in case you hadn't heard.
>> Katie Couric: Yeah, oh go ahead.
>> Go ahead. [ Music ] And I'll give some spirit fingers for that too. I think we might as well, right?
>> Katie Couric: Okay. [Laughter]
>> A lot of the questions are actually on a similar theme which I'm sure you can predict, that it's a lot about the economy. Although a lot of people also agree with Dan from our panel that they didn't think the candidates answered the questions tonight. And the question that I actually want to throw out right now is from Ted in Connecticut. And it's for the panel. And he's basically saying, "It seems like these independents didn't make up their minds tonight. You don't have much time left so what is it going to take for these candidates to clarify their message?"
>> Katie Couric: Anyone?
>> I think a lot of the independents - undecided people that I've talked to - they're telling me the same thing I'm thinking. It's going to have to come from the heart when we get in that voting booth.
>> Katie Couric: Really, it's going to go down to the wire that much?
>> I think it's going to go down to the wire that much.
>> I'm going to try to contact both campaigns actually, and get some specific answers...
>> Katie Couric: Senator Obama, Senator McCain? [ Laughter ]
>> At least from their spokesmen because we all know that a lot of things they didn't answer.
>> Katie Couric: Right and they do have websites that really do outline their policy conditions which can be helpful.
>> I'd like to just...
>> [Inaudible] to listening to Rosemary. We had a chat and she's asking and she wants to know "Why should wealthy, older people be on these entitlement programs? They've been there for 70 years?"
>> Katie Couric: So you're firmly [inaudible]?
>> That's a tougher question than...
>> Why should they have a guaranteed - and I'm talking about myself, I'm on social security - a guaranteed increase in income?
>> Katie Couric: Yeah, well you know because you put -- well my parents might say "You know, well gosh we've put into the system all these years."
>> Oh you get it back in just a few years.
>> Katie Couric: I know.
>> You get it all back in just a few years. It doesn't...
>> Joe Tomoneray [assumed spelling] said no we can't. [ Laughter ]
>> ...from the younger to the older. And I think not enough is being asked of this greatest generation which is what Tom Brokaw would call...
>> Katie Couric: Well maybe of all Americans you know in terms of sacrifice?
>> But particularly of these folks who could forgo the increase. Not saying they have to take a cut, but they could forgo the increase for a year or two. It would bring in lots of money.
>> Katie Couric: Okay, and Tyler you had your hand up. When are you going to decide?
>> I think I want something solid to hold onto from one of the candidates because no one's given me anything on domestic policy, you know the economy, and healthcare and everything else they talked about tonight. No one gave me anything solid to go on and I want something I can hold onto and bring to the booth.
>> One thing McCain did say tonight was that he talked more than Senator Obama on working with Congress, at least across the aisle. He kept going back to you know bi-partisan across the aisle working.
>> Katie Couric: And he emphasized that a lot at the beginning as much as Barack Obama talked about the middle class.
>> And that's where it's going to have to be. I mean you've got to work with Congress. I think Scott brought that up you know? The president's not going to do it. He might be the guy that gets the blame or gets the credit, but it's really going to get across the street. You know? Congress has to do the job.
>> Katie Couric: And Jennifer, when are you going to decide?
>> I mean there is another debate and I think I'm just -- I'm just still looking to be impressed and that didn't happen tonight for sure. And I was just going to keep looking.
>> Katie Couric: Alright Rick, do we have one more real time question because we've got so many? Can I just do a couple? Or one?
>> Yeah.
>> Katie Couric: Really? One more? I've embarrassed him on our web cast to give us one more. Okay real quickly Tony.
>> Okay, a real quick one actually. This one's for Cheryl Atkinson [assumed spelling]. We had one person write in. Vern in Missouri, he wants to know Cheryl "What's an earmark?"
>> What's an earmark?
>> Katie Couric: Oh gosh, okay in 30 seconds or less Cheryl.
>> Well, it depends on who you ask but I think most people when they talk about the earmarks - especially the ones that are not very popular with the American people - these are awards of money, unilaterally by one member or Congress or a couple of members of Congress without a public debate, without a public vote, around the normal system of checks and balances in the budget, that tends to profit or benefit some of the donators in the district or something specific in the district that in turn tends to help the member of Congress get votes or get popularity.
>> Katie Couric: Excellent, very well done Cheryl Atkinson.
>> Did that work?
>> Katie Couric: Yes and...
>> I think.
>> Katie Couric: And I guess it's a pretty small percentage of the budget though isn't it? Like 3 percent?
>> It's worked out as a small percentage -- a certain percentage that they accept that they divvy up. And it's my understanding this is nothing that has to be. It's something that is agreed upon by both parties that we will spend a tiny percentage of the budget on these projects that we can kind of give to our home districts every year. They don't have to do it. And remember, even a tiny, teeny percentage of a budget's so large: it's billions and billions and billions of dollars.
>> Katie Couric: Alright, Cheryl Atkinson. Cheryl thank you so much for that explanation.
>> Glad I could contribute. [Laugher]
>> Katie Couric: Alright and, and -- I know, I know. Relax. Jeff Greenfield bought -- Rick Caplin, our Executive Producer is talking into my ear. I'm not just doing some weird like hearing voices.
>> [Inaudible] I can't believe it.
>> Katie Couric: No, no, no, no, no we're not going to be able to do that. And I just wanted to say a big thank you for all -- to all of you because I know you rearranged your schedules in order to be here tonight. And we really appreciate your time and effort in helping us get a handle on what undecided voters and some toss up states are thinking right now. So thank you very much. I hope -- did you have a little fun?
>> Oh yes.
>> Thank you.
>> Katie Couric: Well what are you going to say, right? [ Laughter ] Not really. And Dee Dee and Dan, sounds like a 60s singing group, you know?
>> Dan and Dee Dee.
>> Katie Couric: Dan and Dee Dee. Thank you guys so much. Dan are you still there?
>> I'm here. [Laughter]
>> Katie Couric: Dan we'll get to clean coal next time.
>> I was about to say, many Americans - at least 3 - are waiting and holding their breath...
>> Katie Couric: Waiting to hear your dissertation on clean coal. Anyway you guys, thank you very much for your patience. And Bob Sheefer?
>> I'm here.
>> Katie Couric: Thank you Bob. And you know what? We're going to show a clip because I understand you played at the Grand Ole Opry with your band Honky-tonk Confidential last night.
>> I did.
>> Katie Couric: How was it Bob? Did you have a ball?
>> Well, I'm telling you Trisha Yearwood was there. Brad Paisley was there. We really had fun. It was -- it was like an out of body experience for me. In fact there I am, right there.
>> Katie Couric: Well you know, we're going to let people listen to you as we go off the air on our web cast. We just want to thank everybody for watching. A big thank you to our sponsor Intel. We're not going to play the song because we'd rather listen to you Bob. Anyway, join us on October 15th for the final debate from Hofstra University. Bob will not be singing, but he will be moderating that debate. Let's listen to Bob. We'll see you next time. Thanks everybody for watching. ^M00:35:15 [ Music ]
Katie Couric talks with a panel of undecided voters from across the country and gets their reactions to the presidential debate.
