TranscriptofsecondMcCain,ObamadebateNASHVILLE,Tennessee(CNN)--PresidentialcandidatesJohnMcCainandBarackObamadebatedinNashville,Tennessee,onTuesdaynight.NBC'sTomBrokawmoderatedthedebate.Hereisatranscriptofthatdebate.TOM:GoodeveningfromBelmontUniversityinNashville,Tennessee.I'mTomBrokawofNBCNews.Andwelcometothissecondpresidentialdebate,sponsoredbytheCommissiononPresidentialDebates.Tonight'sdebateistheonlyonewithatownhallformat.TheGallupOrganizationchose80uncommittedvotersfromtheNashvilleareatobeherewithustonight.Andearliertoday,eachofthemgavemeacopyoftheirquestionforthecandidates.Fromallofthesequestions--andfromtensofthousandssubmittedonline--Ihaveselectedalonglistofexcellentquestionsondomesticandforeignpolicy.Neitherthecommissionnorthecandidateshaveseenthequestions.Andalthoughwewon'tbeabletogettoallofthemtonight,weshouldhaveawide-rangingdiscussiononemonthbeforetheelection.Eachcandidatewillhavetwominutestorespondtoacommonquestion,andtherewillbeaone-minutefollow-up.Theaudiencehereinthehallhasagreedtobepolite,andattentive,nocheeringoroutbursts.Thoseofyouathome,ofcourse,arenotsoconstrained.Theonlyexceptioninthehallisrightnow,asitismyprivilegetointroducethecandidates,SenatorBarackObamaofIllinoisandSenatorJohnMcCainofArizona.Gentlemen?Gentlemen,wewanttogetunderwayimmediately,ifwecan.SinceyoulastmetatOleMiss12daysago,theworldhaschangedagreatdeal,andnotforthebetter.Westilldon'tknowwherethebottomisatthistime.Asyoumightexpect,manyofthequestionsthatwehavefromhereinthehalltonightandfromonlinehavetodowiththeAmericaneconomyand,infact,withglobaleconomicconditions.Iunderstandthatyouflippedacoin.And,SenatorObama,youwillbegintonight.Andwe'regoingtohaveourfirstquestionfromoverhereinSectionAfromAlanSchaefer.Alan?QUESTION:Withtheeconomyonthedownturnandretiredandoldercitizensandworkerslosingtheirincomes,what'sthefastest,mostpositivesolutiontobailthesepeopleoutoftheeconomicruin?OBAMA:Well,Alan,thankyouverymuchforthequestion.Iwanttofirst,obviously,thankBelmontUniversity,Tom,thankyou,andtoallofyouwhoareparticipatingtonightandthoseofyouwhosente-mailquestionsin.IthinkeverybodyknowsnowweareintheworstfinancialcrisissincetheGreatDepression.AndalotofyouIthinkareworriedaboutyourjobs,yourpensions,yourretirementaccounts,yourabilitytosendyourchildoryourgrandchildtocollege.AndIbelievethisisafinalverdictonthefailedeconomicpoliciesofthelasteightyears,stronglypromotedbyPresidentBushandsupportedbySenatorMcCain,thatessentiallysaidthatweshouldstripawayregulations,consumerprotections,letthemarketrunwild,andprosperitywouldraindownonallofus.Ithasn'tworkedoutthatway.Andsonowwe'vegottotakesomedecisiveaction.Now,steponewasarescuepackagethatwaspassedlastweek.We'vegottomakesurethatworksproperly.Andthatmeansstrongoversight,makingsurethatinvestors,taxpayersaregettingtheirmoneybackandtreatedasinvestors.ItmeansthatwearecrackingdownonCEOsandmakingsurethatthey'renotgettingbonusesorgoldenparachutesasaconsequenceofthispackage.And,infact,wejustfoundoutthatAIG,acompanythatgotabailout,justaweekaftertheygothelpwentona$400,000junket.AndI'lltellyouwhat,theTreasuryshoulddemandthatmoneybackandthoseexecutivesshouldbefired.Butthat'sonlystepone.Themiddle-classneedarescuepackage.Andthatmeanstaxcutsforthemiddle-class.Itmeanshelpforhomeownerssothattheycanstayintheirhomes.Itmeansthatwearehelpingstateandlocalgovernmentssetuproadprojectsandbrid...
