John McCain deserves our respect as a war veteran. But he has voted with Bush consistently during the past eight years, however much he may try to distance himself from that loyalty now. He said he was willing to freeze all spending but defense, which includes, I guess, the investment in education, health care, roads, scientific research, and the other essential activities of a responsible government that lifts a country out of economic recession.

John McCain is an emotional guy. His eyes nearly filled with tears when he said he ‘loved his veterans’ and ‘they knew that!’ And he would “look after them”. I admit that at this point, I felt apprehensive.

I don’t need or want love from the politicians who serve me. I don’t want to be patronized. I want their respect and attention to my concerns. I want evidence that they understand political and economic volatility and will deal with it with a cool head, good advice, and dignified statesmanship.

During the debate, John McCain said Barrack Obama ‘did not understand’ issues perhaps half a dozen times. It is a well-known public relations tactic (not a strategy) to repeat a comment several times to an audience you believe you can readily influence. You hope they will listen to the reiterated phrase and begin to believe it. This is an offensive tactic for a discerning audience.

Barrack Obama did not use these tactics. He showed respect for the audience, for John McCain, and he did not return McCain’s disrespectful fire. Barrack Obama behaved with dignity, like a statesman. And apparently, he understands some things McCain doesn’t get:

You cannot do business in a market that is burning. You don’t bully your friends (or creditors, who are increasingly numerous). If no one trusts you, no one works with you.

When McCain says, ‘you don’t understand’, I think what he really meant was: ‘You don’t agree with my position on this issue!’

I don’t think Obama has all the answers, he makes mistakes, but he listens.

This election isn’t about an individual, even one as exceptional as John McCain, or about his affection for certain groups, or about his maverick style, which may be useful and appealing in some contexts—but not, I think, this one.

Barrack Obama has a cooler head and a better ability to manage the enormous complexity of tasks and relationships facing the next President of the United States than John McCain.