Taxes and Iraq top topics in first Presidential Debate

 (NNPA) — The University of Mississippi was the venue for the first of three scheduled debates with less than six weeks remaining until Election Day when people  will choose either Obama or McCain to be their next president. For the inaugural debate, the candidates’ main arguments surrounded the war in Iraq and taxes.
McCain accused Obama of “voting to cut off funds for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan,” a reference to legislation that cleared the Senate more than a year ago.
Obama disputed the accusation, saying he had opposed funding in a bill that presented a ''blank check'' to the Pentagon while McCain had opposed legislation that included a timetable for troop withdrawal.
Obama opposed the invasion of Iraq in 2002, before he was a member of Congress, while McCain voted in the Senate to authorize the war.
“You were wrong [on Iraq’,” Obama repeated three times in succession. “John, you like to pretend the war began in 2007.”
The two men also differed on federal spending. McCain said a freeze on most government spending was worth considering, except for veterans, defense, and “some other vital issues.”
Obama said the problem with that plan was that some government programs needed more money. He mentioned early childhood education as an example.
Moderator Jim Lehrer's opening question concerned the economic crisis. While neither man committed to supporting bailout legislation taking shape in Congress, they readily agreed that lawmakers must take action to prevent millions of Americans from losing their jobs and their homes.
Obama and McCain also said they were pleased that lawmakers in both parties were negotiating on a compromise.
The presidential candidates  are scheduled to debate twice more, at Belmont University in Nashville on Oct. 7 and at Hofstra University in Hempsted, N.Y., on Oct. 15.
Vice presidential candidates Sarah Palin and Joe Biden will meet in St. Louis Oct. 2 at Washington University for their only debate. Obama and McCain will each put in a plug for his running mate.
Information from the Associated Press contributed to this report.
— Special to the NNPA from the St. Louis American national