UPDATED: Obama said McCain is “right” nine times
by Mosheh Oinounou
OXFORD, MS — Keeping tabs

Obama has said “John is right” five times in the debate so far. Fodder for the next McCain political ad perhaps?

UPDATE 1: 10:29 pm ET–That was quick. The McCain campaign has put together a montage of Obama’s lines before the debate was even over!



UPDATE 2: Final count: 9 times

On spending cuts:

“Well, I think Senator McCain’s absolutely right that we need more responsibility, but we need it not just when there’s a crisis.”

On spending cuts II:

“Not willing to give up the need to do it but there may be individual components that we can’t do. But John is right we have to make cuts. We right now give $15 billion every year as subsidies to private insurers under the Medicare system. Doesn’t work any better through the private insurers. They just skim off $15 billion.”

On earmarks:

“Well, Senator McCain is absolutely right that the earmarks process has been abused, which is why I suspended any requests for my home state, whether it was for senior centers or what have you, until we cleaned it up.”

On lobbyists:

“He’s also right that oftentimes lobbyists and special interests are the ones that are introducing these kinds of requests, although that wasn’t the case with me.”

On business taxes being too high:

“Now, John mentioned the fact that business taxes on paper are high in this country, and he’s absolutely right.”

On violence in Iraq going down:

“Senator McCain is absolutely right that the violence has been reduced as a consequence of the extraordinary sacrifice of our troops and our military families.”

On POTUS needing to use prudent language: (but added after the McCain bomb, bomb Iran gaffe)

“And, John, I — you’re absolutely right that presidents have to be prudent in what they say.”

On Iraq being “difficult”:

“Now, Senator McCain is also right that it’s difficult. This is not an easy situation.”

On not tolerating Iran having nukes:

“Senator McCain is absolutely right, we cannot tolerate a nuclear Iran.”


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