ACHO ORABUCHI

Dallas, Texas

Monday, October 11, 2004

story.2243a.kerry.bush.pool.jpg The much-awaited and much-discussed heavyweight fight between President George Walker Bush, the champion and Senator John Forbes Kerry, the challenger—the first presidential debate has ended, but the discussion of its unpredictable or spontaneous moments will last beyond November 2, 2004. Well, the much hyped, highly structured, and scripted debate at University of Miami’s Convocation Center in Coral Gables, did end with some unscripted moments of deportment.

Trailing in the national polls ahead of the debate, John Kerry had to knock out the champ, George Bush on issues and appealing appearance to convince the electorate that he is fit to be the commander-in-chief.

Preceding the debate, representatives of the two campaigns were lowering the expectations of their candidate while hyping the expectations of the opponent. No matter what each side did to enhance their advantage over the other, I had always thought that the debate would not be won or lost on issues alone. The candidate that would have a better emotional connection with the viewers at home; the one who would come across as more reassuring and more personable to the electorate, would come out on top.

Undoubtedly, the debate was a defining moment for both candidates in many ways. The foreign policy debate focused primarily on war in Iraq, homeland security, terrorism, Afghanistan, nuclear proliferation, especially in North Korea and Iran. The candidates delineated their positions on the above issues and tangentially on other issues that were outside the purview of the debate. At the heat of the debate, President George Bush accused Senator John Kerry of being inconsistent on issues, particularly on Iraq. On the other hand, John Kerry accused President Bush of misleading America on Iraq.

On who would best protect America from September 11-kind of attack—terrorism, Kerry said, “I can make American safer than President Bush has made us. And I believe President Bush and I both love our country equally. But we just have a different set of convictions about how you make America safe. I believe America is safest and strongest when we are leading the world and we are leading strong alliances.” Bush said, “September the 11th changed how America must look at the world. And since that day, our nation has been on a multi-pronged strategy to keep our country safer.

We pursued Al Qaeda wherever Al Qaeda tries to hide. Seventy-five percent of known Al Qaeda leaders have been brought to justice. The rest of them know we're after them.

We've upheld the doctrine that said if you harbor a terrorist, you're equally as guilty as the terrorist. And the Talibans are no longer in power. Ten million people have registered to vote in Afghanistan in the upcoming presidential election.”

On North Korea’s nuclear possession, President Bush differed with Senator Kerry on how to handle the issue. Bush prefers a multilateral discussion on the issue while Kerry wants both multilateral and bilateral discussions with North Korea on its nuclear program.

Also, the candidates agreed that the atrocities in Darfur, Sudan are genocide and should be stopped immediately. Kerry said, “Now, with respect to Darfur, yes, it is a genocide. And months ago, many of us were pressing for action.” Bush agreed saying, “In terms of Darfur, I agree it's genocide. We have committed $200 million worth of aid. We're the leading donor in the world to help the suffering people there. We will commit more over time to help.” However, both candidates would not commit USA troops to the region. They would prefer to have the African Union lead the activities to end the genocide while USA provides humanitarian and logistical support. According to Kerry, “We can do this through the African Union, providing we give them the logistical support.” “I agree with my opponent that we shouldn't be committing troops. We ought to be working with the African Union to do so -- precisely what we did in Liberia. We helped stabilize the situation with some troops, and when the African Union came, we moved them out,” Bush said. “My hope is that the African Union moves rapidly to help save lives. And fortunately the rainy season will be ending shortly, which will make it easier to get aid there and help the long-suffering people there,” Bush concluded. Kerry also said, “Right now all the president is providing is humanitarian support. We need to do more than that. They've got to have the logistical capacity to go in and stop the killing. And that's going to require more than is on the table today.”

One of the reasons USA troops could not be deployed in Sudan is due to limited resources. Kerry echoed this fact when he said, “I also believe that it is -- one of the reasons we can't do it is we're overextended.” Bush added, “We were very much involved at the U.N. on the sanction policy of the Bashir government in the Sudan.”

They both echoed their concern on the retreat of democratic principles in Russia. They encouraged President Putin to ensure that freedom and liberty reign in Russia despite difficulties emanating from the fight against terrorism.

On Iraq war, Bush said, “I have -- I understand everybody in this country doesn't agree with the decisions I've made. And I made some tough decisions. But people know where I stand. People out there listening know what I believe. And that's how best it is to keep the peace. This nation of ours has got a solemn duty to defeat this ideology of hate. And that's what they are. This is a group of killers who will not only kill here, but kill children in Russia, that'll attack unmercifully in Iraq, hoping to shake our will. We have a duty to defeat this enemy. We have a duty to protect our children and grandchildren. The best way to defeat them is to never waver, to be strong, to use every asset at our disposal, is to constantly stay on the offensive and, at the same time, spread liberty.”

Reminding people of who attacked USA on September 11 and how the attention to the culprit has been diverted, Kerry said, “But we also have to be smart, Jim. And smart means not diverting your attention from the real war on terror in Afghanistan against Osama bin Laden and taking if off to Iraq, where the 9/11 Commission confirms there was no connection to 9/11 itself and Saddam Hussein, and where the reason for going to war was weapons of mass destruction, not the removal of Saddam Hussein.” “This president has made, I regret to say, a colossal error of judgment. And judgment is what we look for in the president of the United States of America.” “Unfortunately, he escaped in the mountains of Tora Bora. We had him surrounded. But we didn't use American forces, the best trained in the world, to go kill him. The president relied on Afghan warlords and he outsourced that job too. That's wrong,” he concluded.

While Kerry assailed Bush’s handling of Iraq war and accusing him of misleading the nation, Bush countered by indirectly accusing Kerry of flip-flopping on issues.

Though President Bush did not perform at his best in the first debate, yet his trustworthiness rating is still high. On the other hand, Senator Kerry benefited from standing with the president side by side with competing messages. As a result, he enhanced his commander-in-chief stature and increased his likeability. Kerry came across as more articulate and more personable than Bush.

The outcome of the first debate has resuscitated Kerry’s campaign. It has shifted the momentum to Kerry and the Democrats are relishing the morale boost as a result. Also, it has helped Senator Kerry to gain a few points in the national polls thereby making the race tighter. In any case, Bush is likely to regain the momentum in the second debate by being more aggressive and resolute in addressing issues. However, the pivotal point is, whoever is leading after the third and final debate, is likely to win the White House. The pressure is now on and the stakes could not be any higher in both second and last debates.

As we prepare to watch the second presidential debate in the crowd of undecided voters in a town hall setting tomorrow, Friday, October 8, 2004 at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, Kerry continues to trail Bush in the national polls who would best handle Iraq. The third and final presidential debate, which will focus primarily on the domestic and economic policy, is scheduled at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona on Wednesday, October 13, 2004—twenty days to the Election Day.