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With the economy on the downturn and retired and older citizens and workers losing their incomes, what’s the fastest, most positive solution to bail these people out of the economic ruin?

With the economy on the downturn and retired and older citizens and workers losing their incomes, what’s the fastest, most positive solution to bail these people out of the economic ruin? McCain | “I would order the secretary of the Treasury to immediately buy up the bad home loan mortgages in America and renegotiate at the new value of those homes, at the diminished value of those homes, and let people be able to make those — be able to make those payments and stay in their homes.”

Obama | “The middle class need a rescue package. And that means tax cuts for the middle class. It means help for homeowners so that they can stay in their homes. It means that we are helping state and local governments set up road projects and bridge projects that keep people in their jobs.”

Is health care in America a privilege, a right, or a responsibility?

Is health care in America a privilege, a right, or a responsibility? Obama | “I have said since the start of this campaign that we have a moral commitment, as well as an economic imperative, to do something about the health crisis that so many families are facing.”

McCain | “Certainly, a responsibility… [Americans] certainly are a little leery when Sen. Obama says if you don’t get the health-care policy I think you should get, you’re going to be fined.”

How will the economic stress America is facing affect its ability to act as a peacemaker in the world?

How will the economic stress America is facing affect its ability to act as a peacemaker in the world? Obama | “I don’t understand how we ended up invading a country that had nothing to do with 9-11, while Osama Bin Ladin and al-Qaida were setting up base camps and safe havens to create terrorists to attack us.”

McCain | “We’ll hear a lot of criticism about America and our foreign policy, and a lot of that criticism is justified. But the fact is, America is the greatest nation on the face of the earth. … In his short career, (Obama) has shown he does not understand our national security challenges.”

Through this bailout package, I was wondering what it is that’s going to actually help people out.

Through this bailout package, I was wondering what it is that’s going to actually help people out. McCain | “Fannie and Freddie were the catalysts, the match that started this forest fire. There were some of us ... that stood up against it. There were others who took a hike.”

Obama | “This is not the end of the process; this is the beginning of the process. … The next president has to make sure that the next Treasury secretary is thinking about how to strengthen you as a home buyer, you as a homeowner, and not simply think about bailing out banks on Wall Street.”

As president, what sacrifices will you ask every American to make to help restore the American dream and to get out of the economic morass that we’re now in?

As president, what sacrifices will you ask every American to make to help restore the American dream and to get out of the economic morass that we’re now in? Obama | “I think the American people are hungry for the kind of leadership that is going to tackle these problems, not just in government, but outside of government. And let’s take the example of energy. … There is going to be the need for each and every one of us to start thinking about how we use energy.”

McCain | “We’re going to have to tell the American people that spending is going to have to be cut in America. And I recommend a spending freeze that, except for defense, Veterans Affairs, and some other vital programs. We’ll just have to have across-the-board freeze.”

How would you control Social Security, Medicare and other entitlement programs that will soon eat up all of the revenue that’s in place and then go into a deficit position?

How would you control Social Security, Medicare and other entitlement programs that will soon eat up all of the revenue that’s in place and then go into a deficit position? McCain | “Social Security is not that tough. We know what the problems are, my friends, and we know what the fixes are. We’ve got to sit down together across the table. It’s been done before.… What we have to do with Medicare is have a commission, have the smartest people in America come together, come up with recommendations.”

Obama | “Let’s be clear about my tax plan and Sen. McCain’s, because we’re not going to be able to deal with entitlements unless we understand the revenues coming in. I want to provide a tax cut for 95 percent of Americans, 95 percent.”

What would you do within the first two years to make sure that Congress moves fast as far as environmental issues, like climate change and green jobs?

What would you do within the first two years to make sure that Congress moves fast as far as environmental issues, like climate change and green jobs? Obama | “We’ve got to make some investments, and I’ve called for investments in solar, wind, geothermal. Contrary to what Sen. McCain keeps on saying, I favor nuclear power as one component of our overall energy mix.”

McCain | “We can move forward, and clean up our climate, and develop green technologies, and alternate — alternative energies for — for hybrid, for hydrogen, for battery-powered cars, so that we can clean up our environment and at the same time get our economy going by creating millions of jobs.”

What is the McCain doctrine for use of force that the United States would send when we don’t have national security issues at stake? And the Obama doctrine?

What is the McCain doctrine for use of force that the United States would send when we don’t have national security issues at stake? And the Obama doctrine? McCain | “The United States of America, Tom, is the greatest force for good, as I said. And we must do whatever we can to prevent genocide, whatever we can to prevent these terrible calamities that we have said never again. But it also has to be tempered with our ability to beneficially affect the situation.”

Obama | “I do believe that we have to consider it as part of our interests, our national interests, in intervening where possible. But understand that there’s a lot of cruelty around the world. We’re not going to be able to be everywhere all the time. That’s why it’s so important for us to be able to work in concert with our allies.”