The Great Debater! Highlights Of Obama’s Best Debate Moments (VIDEOS)

Earlier this week, President Obama downplayed his oratory skills and described himself as an “okay debater.” 

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In actuality, history of Obama’s debates have proven that he is a very strategic and poised rhetorical champ, who has been known to crush his opponent using assertiveness and facts. However, that doesn’t mean the heavyweight doesn’t have weakness.  

At times, Obama comes across too professorial and long-winded. 

But tonight, when the clock strikes 9pm (EST), he will square off with Republican presidential challenger Mitt Romney in a debate match that has the ability to influence the course of the 2012 election. We’re confident that Obama will be just fine in this debate, as he was in many others.   

Here’s a look back at some of the highlights of Obama’s best debate moments over the years!

1. Then-Sen. Obama shined when he pointed out how Sen. John McCain was wrong about several things concerning America’s dealings with Iraq and conveyed how unfit McCain would be as president during one of the 2008 presidential debates. 
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1. Here Obama strategically painted McCain out to be a hothead who does not always speak responsibly on behalf of America.  
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1. During the Democratic presidential debate in South Carolina in January 2008, then-Senator Hillary Clinton charged Obama with flip-flopping on his views about the Iraq War and accused him of praising and supporting Ronald Regan. But when Barack stepped up to the mic, he used truth and facts to shut down Hillary’s arguments and he threw her husband, Bill Clinton, under the bus for overreaching in his effort to use his popularity to advocate on his wife’s behalf.
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1. When McCain tried to portray Obama as naïve and inexperienced when it comes to foreign policy, Obama used his quick wit to flip McCain’s argument around and used McCain’s own words to illustrate examples of his lapse in judgment in regards to the war in Iraq.  
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1. It’s hard to pull a fast one on Obama! In this clip, Barack Obama called out Hillary Clinton on her ambiguity.  Hillary proposed a tax cut for the middle class, but Obama clarified that only 6 percent of Americans make over $97,000 a year, so that does not really constitute as the middle class.
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4. At the third presidential debate in October 2008, Obama struck back at McCain’s claim that small businesses were going to be fined if they did not buy health insurance, using clarity and certainty to sway the audience. 
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1. Obama has a way of making his opponents look really dumb by using common sense logic. Essentially, Obama taught McCain a lesson on foreign policy and made him seem silly for refusing to meet with the president of Spain, who is a NATO ally.
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1. Obama knows how to give credit where credit is due. Here, when asked about his thoughts on Bill Clinton being titled the country’s “first Black president,” Obama acknowledged Bill’s contributions and still cracked a funny joke about his credentials for being Black.

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1. Obama took a jab at McCain for making jest out of bombing Iran during a campaign event in 2007. The Republican Senator sang “Bomb Bomb Iran” to the Beach Boys’ song “Barbara Ann,” which was received with mixed reviews.

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In this flashback, then-Sen. Obama held his weight when he was asked tough questions during his debate with Illinois Rep. Bobby Rush.

Barack Obama is a pro when it comes to debating. We’re sure he’ll own Money Mitt without a problem in tonight’s debate!