Debate Prep: Put Poverty on the Agenda Tonight

The anti-poverty group Bread for the World is pressing the two candidates to make a clear commitment to fighting domestic and global poverty in Tuesday night's second presidential debate.

"In the first debate, no one even mentioned poor people," said the Rev. David Beckmann, a former World Bank economist who now serves as president of Bread for the World. "Our current economic problems have hit poor people very hard, and the presidential candidates have two different responses in mind. But children who are not getting enough to eat are also not getting enough attention in this election."

In Nashville, where the debate was scheduled to be held, Beckmann and other anti-poverty leaders expressed concern that a tight focus on the crisis in financial markets will cause candidates – and the media – to neglect life-and-death issues of poverty, hunger and homelessness.

"Hunger and poverty are on the increase but we are preoccupied with our own anxieties. We may feel less inclined to help people in need in our own communities, let alone on the other side of the world," explained Beckmann.

Here's more on Bread for the World's "project.

Additionally, ONE, the anti-poverty advocacy group, has launched an online petition targeting the Obama and McCain campaigns. The initiative calls on the candidates "to stand up for the commitments they've made during the campaign to strengthen American efforts to stop diseases like malaria and HIV while helping people to lift themselves out of extreme poverty."

Specially, the online petition declares:

"As you work to find a solution to the global financial crisis, please do not waiver in your support for the world's poorest people. It is more important now than ever to stand up for effective, efficient solutions that save millions of lives, strengthen the global economy, and win the hearts and minds of people around the world. I'm keeping my commitment to fight global poverty, and I ask you to do the same."

Here's where to find more on the ONE "campaign.

Comments (59)

1. MCCAIN: The market IS God - it can do anything, including feeding the hungry, curing the sick and sheltering the homeless.

   OBAMA: John, if the market can do all that then why do people still go hungry in this nation, why are Americans not able to get health care they can afford, and why are honorably discharged veterans sleeping on our streets?

   Posted by Metteyya at 10/07/2008 @ 5:42pm

2. McPalin: You must hate America to complain about poor people. That don't work BTW.

   Posted by hsuBfools at 10/07/2008 @ 5:49pm

3. In fact, I think this homeless veteran thing will always trump McCain's service record and his fixation on "winning" in Iraq.

   Obama: John, you say you want to win in Iraq because you want our troops to serve with honor there. But what about the honor when they come home? Why do you continue to vote against the very veterans' benefits that will honor our troops when they come home?

   Posted by Metteyya at 10/07/2008 @ 5:55pm

4. Think Obama will bring up this time that McPalin has a voting score from the Vet's of like a '20'!

   http://tinyurl.com/3wbe27

   "McCain, ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee and a decorated Navy fighter pilot who spent 5½ years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, received a D on the report card from Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. He is one of nine lawmakers -- four senators and five members of the House of Representatives -- who received a D or F from the nonprofit, nonpartisan group."

   Posted by hsuBfools at 10/07/2008 @ 6:05pm

5. The McSame Droids are spreading their poison. I guess we still manufacture something. Where do they assemble these synthetic bots with all the repubs talking points programmed into their smallish hardrives?

   They all speak the same language with small variations.

   Have you ever noticed the same Orwellian traits and features that just don't seem "quite right." Strange mouths and noses.

   "And you know the thing about a Republican...they have lifeless eyes. Black eyes, Like a dolls eyes. When they come at ya, doesn't seem to be living...until he/she bites ya, and those black eyes roll over white and then.. ah then you hear that terrible high pitched screamin'.

   Posted by chaoszen at 10/07/2008 @ 6:28pm

6. Posted by SooHAPPY at 10/07/2008 @ 6:56pm

   OBAMA: John, the thrust of your economic plan is to cut spending on programs that benefit the poor and the Middle Class and restrict your tax cuts to wealthy individuals and corporations, with the hope that this money "trickles down" to ordinary Americans. Isn't that the problem, John, the money never quite trickles down to the Middle Class, and if you are cutting Middle Class programs as well, why should the Middle Class vote for you?

   OBAMA: John, the Middle Class has less income than they did when George Bush - your party leader - took office 8 years ago, and their expenses have gone up. Since George Bush's economic plan is the same as yours, how is the Middle Class to believe that they will be better off with you as president than with George W. Bush?

   Posted by Metteyya at 10/07/2008 @ 7:08pm

7. Posted by SooHAPPY at 10/07/2008 @ 6:56pm

   True. They lose the least money relatively. But since most of them are on a precipice where sliding one way is the difference between a hot meal and some heat in your house and the other is freezing to death and not being able to eat, the impact is much more evident in the poor than the rich or middle class. The rich is the difference between being able to buy that new house or no. The middle class, it's the difference between being able to attain small pleasures. This is not slight of the middle or upper class just the impact on the poor is MUCH more evident and can be life threatening unlike the impact to the rich or middle class. So yes monetarily they are losing the least, BUT that little bit is a lot for them. It can be heat for their house, food, medicine and so on.

   Posted by Cccomfo1 at 10/07/2008 @ 7:41pm

8. Posted by SooHAPPY at 10/07/2008 @ 6:56pm

   Happy, just shut up and quit while your ahead! You have absolutely no credibility anymore. (If you had any at all to begin with.) Just step aside and let the people through who at least have a hint of what the situation is. Begone!

   Posted by chaoszen at 10/07/2008 @ 8:03pm

9. You are dead weight.

   Posted by chaoszen at 10/07/2008 @ 8:05pm

10. there will be many MORE POOR PEOPLE if we don't get some pro-growth, anti-tax policies in place, regardless of who takes office next Jan., then I'd believe the good Rev. has God's ears.----Posted by SooHAPPY at 10/07/2008 @ 6:56pm

    "get some"? I thought we ALREADY HAD those policies, HAPP...for 8 years now???

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/07/2008 @ 8:12pm

11. BTW....here's one for HAPPY (as well as for HSUB to save)...

    I think McCain will "win" the debate tonight. Score some points and outshine Obama a bit more. And he'll spike up 3-5% in next week's poll.

    Just a gut...

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/07/2008 @ 8:33pm

12. Wow, I see that MASK still has no life. Don't you get tired of bludgeoning one another with hackneyed catchphrases and decontextualized soundbytes?

    And for you Tories here defending the anatomy of idiocy, ie Palin, shame on you! Voting for her and that senile loon is like a chicken voting for Col. Sanders. You're all sheep being led to slaughter.

    It amazes me what lengths Americanos will go to in order to fool one another and more importantly, fool themselves. The writing is on the wall, but there are still droves and swarms of flag-waving bumpkins who still haven't learned how to read. I see more than a few are still gurgling here with zeal in their patriotic inebriation. Talk about Dunskies.

    Maybe if you drones actually got out and saw the world with your own eyes instead of depending on the idiot box you'd see that the sun is clearly setting on your little Valhalla.

    In case you needed a reminder, your exchanges here are as worthwhile as those between a dog and the moon.

    MASK - you ever overcome your gloryhole addiction?

    Posted by chimichenga at 10/07/2008 @ 8:39pm

13. Posted by Maskdelta at 10/07/2008 @ 8:33pm

    Traitor! And your as dead wrong as Happy is dead weight.

    I will bet you i8n a gentlemans bet $20.00 that you are wrong. Got Paypal?

    Posted by chaoszen at 10/07/2008 @ 8:51pm

14. i8n that was "in"

    Posted by chaoszen at 10/07/2008 @ 8:52pm

15. Put yer money where yer mouth is Mask!

    Posted by chaoszen at 10/07/2008 @ 8:53pm

16. Posted by SooHAPPY at 10/07/2008 @ 6:56pm | ignore this person | warn this person

    yeah...and if only those poor folks would keep having lots of kids they could actually turn a profit by selling them off for medical experimentation!

    or as a high protein beef substitute.

    --------------------------------------

    Posted by chimichenga at 10/07/2008 @ 8:39pm | ignore this person | warn this person

    shit scro! where you been? effin south america or something!!!

    nice to see you back,

    ibble ---------------------------------------

    although you are usually right i think yer wrong on this. i think the "straight talk express" is derailing fast.

    Just a gut...

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/07/2008 @ 8:33pm | ignore this person | warn this person

    Posted by dexter666 at 10/07/2008 @ 8:58pm

17. In case you needed a reminder, your exchanges here are as worthwhile as those between a dog and the moon.

    Posted by chimichenga at 10/07/2008 @ 8:39pm | ignore this person | warn this person

    but the moonlight is so pale tonight. care to dance?

    Posted by dexter666 at 10/07/2008 @ 9:01pm

18. ooooooooh! here it comes!!!!!

    Posted by dexter666 at 10/07/2008 @ 9:02pm

19. Posted by chimichenga at 10/07/2008 @ 8:39pm

    Hey, CHIMI....how's the "rip-off the natives to fund your 'bohemian' lifestyle" career going?

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/07/2008 @ 9:04pm

20. Posted by chaoszen at 10/07/2008 @ 8:53pm

    Chaos, how about this?

    If I'm wrong...McCain loses.

    I think that's a pretty good outcome for my prediction failing....agree?

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/07/2008 @ 9:05pm

21. first round...neither with a real advantage...

    Posted by dexter666 at 10/07/2008 @ 9:11pm

22. round two...neither address why the government encouraged irresponsible lending but did not encourage builders to build affordable housing...

    obama looking good, though - he's on the attack so far...

    neither admit the economy is getting worse before it gets better. mccain stumbles a tad, back to the american worker thing...

    Posted by dexter666 at 10/07/2008 @ 9:18pm

23. Posted by dexter666 at 10/07/2008 @ 9:11pm

    McCain really harping on his "buy out the bad housing loans" point and of course acting like he never called for deregulation in his life....heheh

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/07/2008 @ 9:19pm

24. round three...

    obama claiming we will cut spending - not initially. a new new deal will not allow that soon.

    mccain quacks effectively thusfar...

    uh oh - he just dropped an example of silly government spending - which he probably voted for...like the bear dna thing...

    venezuela is benefitting from high oil prices, barry? good! perhaps hugo will pay some more poor people's heating bills!!!

    barely mccain this round...not to me, but will play well to the marching morons i think...

    Posted by dexter666 at 10/07/2008 @ 9:29pm

25. I feel like Im watching a bad nightmare comedy stage show featuring some twisted versions of Abbot and Costello.

    Neither one of these jokers are fit to lead. But if I had to choose, holding my nose and puking my guts up. I would chose Costello.

    Posted by chaoszen at 10/07/2008 @ 9:37pm

26. Posted by Maskdelta at 10/07/2008 @ 9:19pm | ignore this person | warn this person

    hee hee..

    -----------------------------------

    round four...

    good question...getting kinda ADD here...gov waste...i'm a reformer...

    obama coming out of the gate strong with unifying 9/11 thingy...

    OH - NICE ONE, BARRY! ridiculed bush's "go out and shop" directive...

    barry o has this round, getting specific, answering the question...mostly...

    follow up...solid, barry...good...good...MOOHAHA - ceo salaries...oh yeah, O has this round.

    flippy is up...same republican red meat...bashing hoover???? mmmm...now he's lying...ooooh! flippy's the NO TAX SANTA CLAUS!!!!

    O wins...

    Posted by dexter666 at 10/07/2008 @ 9:37pm

27. Posted by chaoszen at 10/07/2008 @ 9:37pm | ignore this person | warn this person

    oh come now! MORE HYPERBOLE PLEASE!!!

    Posted by dexter666 at 10/07/2008 @ 9:39pm

28. Or maybe that was Abbot..

    Posted by chaoszen at 10/07/2008 @ 9:39pm

29. round 5 - extension of round 4...

    neither looking great on this...looking like a stumbing tie here...

    at least they are both breaking the debate rules to directly attack each other...

    tie

    Posted by dexter666 at 10/07/2008 @ 9:43pm

30. Posted by dexter666 at 10/07/2008 @ 9:39pm

    I will bet two of my Hyperbole against one of your Pedantic...

    Posted by chaoszen at 10/07/2008 @ 9:47pm

31. Just a gut...

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/07/2008 @ 8:33pm

    Possible, very possible. The corp media promotes its self-importance by horseracification.

    Posted by winyahn at 10/07/2008 @ 9:49pm

32. round 6

    flippy lying but doing so well...nuky nuky nuky...

    obama looking strong too...

    obama on the attack...i think he's winning this round.

    brokaw throws a curve...flippy harps on pork barrell crap...

    obama takes it...

    Posted by dexter666 at 10/07/2008 @ 9:50pm

33. They are both losers. I'm moving to Amsterdam and working in a coffee house..

    Posted by chaoszen at 10/07/2008 @ 9:51pm

34. I will bet two of my Hyperbole against one of your Pedantic...

    Posted by chaoszen at 10/07/2008 @ 9:47pm | ignore this person | warn this person

    i'll bet one of MY hyperbole against one of your "everthing suxism"

    lol

    ;)

    Posted by dexter666 at 10/07/2008 @ 9:51pm

35. POVERTY!!??

    We're talking about multi-millionaires fighting over power.

    Egos the size of a big sky state.

    These two don't give a shit about POVERTY!!

    Give me a break....

    NADER/GONZALES '08

    Posted by bleedingheart at 10/07/2008 @ 9:53pm

36. They are both losers. I'm moving to Amsterdam and working in a coffee house..

    Posted by chaoszen at 10/07/2008 @ 9:51pm | ignore this person | warn this person

    caffiene and THC...leading cause of rampant "everything suxism" in the netherlands...

    little known fact...

    Posted by dexter666 at 10/07/2008 @ 9:54pm

37. Meet me in Dam Square and we can cry a river at the pisseria..

    Posted by chaoszen at 10/07/2008 @ 9:56pm

38. round 7 healthcare

    uh...obama winning - flippy flopping.

    yup - obama is rolling out his dead mother...contacting with the schmuks, countering flippy's obfuscation with details...

    ooooh them details!!!!

    bashing insurance companies - good move - directly countering flippy's big point...

    obama wins round 7

    Posted by dexter666 at 10/07/2008 @ 9:58pm

39. Meet me in Dam Square and we can cry a river at the pisseria..

    Posted by chaoszen at 10/07/2008 @ 9:56pm | ignore this person | warn this person

    i don't know about you but if i go to amsterdam i'm going straight to a coffee shop and getting seriously stoned and hepped up on caffeine...

    Posted by dexter666 at 10/07/2008 @ 10:00pm

40. Now McInsane is talking about Peacemaking in terms of the Miltary... Woe is me, Woe is me.

    Posted by chaoszen at 10/07/2008 @ 10:00pm

41. O.K. first the coffee house and then a few blocks down to the Red Light District. I get first pick though. You would probably take to damn long...

    Posted by chaoszen at 10/07/2008 @ 10:05pm

42. what? what are they talking about now???

    dammit chaoszen! distracting me with dutch pot/coffee shop musings...

    oh constraints on mil constraints...

    round 8

    obama winning so far...making the connection with unneeded war and shithole economy...good, populist message...connecting econ and military power...

    STRONG ANSWER FOR OBAMA!!! sounds like my suggestions...

    flippy is missing the point - people want out and know iraq was a crock from the beginning...

    how is it flippy is stronger on foriegn policy? he sounds hollow based on his voting record...

    obama wins

    Posted by dexter666 at 10/07/2008 @ 10:08pm

43. Now Obama is talking about murdering Afghani's. I see a macho pissing contest coming..

    Posted by chaoszen at 10/07/2008 @ 10:12pm

44. HURL!!

    I've bashed people on this site for saying Obama was the greatest speaker ever. But after listening tonight I'm OK with it.

    Because they all (politicians) say the same things. They are talking...blahblah belt tightening....blah blah cut costs....blah blah volunteer....

    If I have to listen to a motherfucker lie to me for the next 4 to 8 years, I'd rather listen to the more eloquent lying motherfucker.

    NADER/GONZALES '08

    Posted by bleedingheart at 10/07/2008 @ 10:14pm

45. The rest of the world is chuckling nervously as two American Morons are flexing their atomic muscle.

    Posted by chaoszen at 10/07/2008 @ 10:15pm

46. round 9 - pakistan

    good - making connection between iraq distraction and failure in afghanistan...

    ooooh - big statement on bin laden...

    ok, grampa's turn. good point initially...

    tie so far...

    getting off script - good...directly responding...

    OOOOH! they are throwing haymakers!!!

    i don't entirely agree with either, and flippy's supposed foriegn policy advantage may give him the round with the schmukocracy...

    still calling this (relatively) lively exchange a draw...

    oops - brockaw throwing in that limey's (probably true) statement on afghanistan...

    neither really responds...draw...

    Posted by dexter666 at 10/07/2008 @ 10:18pm

47. chaoszen

    oh i'll take my time. yup...

    Posted by dexter666 at 10/07/2008 @ 10:19pm

48. Woe is me, Woe is me. (Im feeling sorry for myself) And asking questions like, "What sort of terrible deed did I commit in order to incarnate in "Crazy Clown World." Woe is me Woe is me.

    Posted by chaoszen at 10/07/2008 @ 10:19pm

49. Posted by bleedingheart at 10/07/2008 @ 10:14pm | ignore this person | warn this person

    yeah, i know...

    everything sux...

    Posted by dexter666 at 10/07/2008 @ 10:20pm

50. Posted by dexter666 at 10/07/2008 @ 10:20pm

    bleeding is a GOP poser.

    He's fired off too many right-wing posts blowing his cover.

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/07/2008 @ 10:23pm

51. can some please tell me how the Iraqi surge has worked.

    Posted by amycog at 10/07/2008 @ 10:23pm

52. I have to turn it off, go to bed and curl up in the fetal position. Goodnight.

    Posted by chaoszen at 10/07/2008 @ 10:23pm

53. round 10

    isnt this supposed to be a domestic debate?

    russia...blah blah...

    i'm not even calling this. non issue for most people. there's not a damned thing we can do in the former soviet union if russia really wants to be assholes other than arm her former republics...

    but nobody cares

    draw regardless of who "wins"

    Posted by dexter666 at 10/07/2008 @ 10:23pm

54. Posted by Maskdelta at 10/07/2008 @ 10:23pm | ignore this person | warn this person

    oh yeah...now i remember. equally absurd variety of bottomfeeder imo...

    Posted by dexter666 at 10/07/2008 @ 10:25pm

55. round 11

    iran israel...cheezy mccain handshake for the veteran...

    oh - same old lie from mccain about obama's will to negotiate...vague flag waving non answer...

    obama is saying the right stuff for the election and for aipac, but unfortunately he too is wrong...if iran wants the bomb we cannot stop it from getting the bomb...let israel do it...

    but now giving a sensible answer...refuting mccain's silly talkingpoint "appeasement" lie...

    i seriously think obama knows he has to talk masculinely tough...

    slight advantage to O

    Posted by dexter666 at 10/07/2008 @ 10:30pm

56. round 12 - cutesy question...

    should be a good opp for classic obama speechette...

    yup...

    flippy is up...

    not bad...amorphous...blah blah...fine...

    i'd give it to obama, but i'm a partisan, and the question is cutesy silliness...

    who cares?

    draw on that one...

    Posted by dexter666 at 10/07/2008 @ 10:34pm

57. obama 6, draw 5, mccain 1

    but my analysis don't matter...

    look at the polls tomorrow...

    Posted by dexter666 at 10/07/2008 @ 10:38pm

58. I have to turn it off, go to bed and curl up in the fetal position. Goodnight.

    Posted by chaoszen at 10/07/2008 @ 10:23pm | ignore this person | warn this person

    actually a healthy position in which to slumber.

    night...

    Posted by dexter666 at 10/07/2008 @ 10:42pm

59. can some please tell me how the Iraqi surge has worked.

    Posted by amycog at 10/07/2008 @ 10:23pm | ignore this person | warn this person

    it worked fine, and as long as we have a buzillion troops there it will work...

    ah, but there's the rub...

    Posted by dexter666 at 10/07/2008 @ 10:44pm