Recap: Presidential Candidates Forum

“Never has our citizenship stepped up so effectively for change.  We must sustain those feelings and maintain the spirit of American triumph.”  Last night at Columbia University, Jay Winuk Vice President and Co-Founder of MyGoodDeed.org, described so effectively the feelings of our nation post-9/11 and their personal actions of service to help heal our country in the wake of that tragic day.  His sentiment was echoed throughout the evening in conversations with Presidential Candidates, Senators John McCain and Barack Obama, who came together for President Forum which served as the kickoff event for the ServiceNation Summit.

Both candidates agreed to suspend all campaigning for the day and turn their focuses on remembrance and service.  Appearing back-to-back, both took part in conversations surrounding national service and the steps they would take in their Presidential administrations to help develop a nation of service.  McCain and Obama both agreed that the federal government’s reaction to 9/11 was insufficient and citizens should have been asked to do more than just “go shopping”.  Both shared plans to expand the size of our military and the AmeriCorps.  The Senators also agreed that national service should not be compulsory, citing their belief in the American spirit that if citizens young and old are given the opportunities and arenas to serve that they will meet the challenge in record numbers.

McCain and Obama were mindful of not veering far from the safe rhetoric surrounding the service and volunteering world, but they did offer some personal insights on the topic. Senator McCain said that his administration would continue to give to faith-based organizations that provide vital philanthropic services to their communities, country and world.  He noted that it is not the government’s role to interfere with private citizens, but called for better cooperation between all levels of government and asked for the private sector to step up throw even greater support to the non-profit sector.  Obama mentioned that his service platform would provide college students with up to $4,000 a year for community service.  He, with Senator McCain, also called out Columbia, Obama’s alma mater, for not allowing ROTC officials on campus to meet with and recruit Columbia students.  He explained that during his travels throughout the country he found that Americans are looking for a president who will inspire them, and compel them to “hitch their wagons to something bigger to find true fulfillment.”

Comments

[Mike Blaine]

Well written article. Sen McCain favored private initiative volunteerism while Sen Obama favored public controlled volunteerism. Sen Obama spoke much about his campaign & tied it to volunteerism. Sen McCain focused on national service, like the Military & the Peace Corps.