Principle

This week's Vice Presidential debate was less about substance and more about principle. Senator Biden flexed his experience and clearly dominated in the arenas of foreign affairs and inside-the-beltway know-how. Governor Palin fired back with details regarding her executive experience and an advanced understanding of energy issues.

Though many saw Senator Biden coming across as more "presidential," their argument falls apart when you point out that his forceful stances on many of the substantive issues were exagerations (in the case of Senator McCain's health care and tax record and plans), lies (Obama did agree to meet with Ahmadinejad without precondition) or significant yet unexplained flip-flops (the campaign's clean coal, off-shore drilling & nuclear policies to name three). Critics of Governor Palin point to the fact that Biden was undoubtably "holding-back" and how would Palin fare sitting across the negotiating table from a Vladimir Putin.

In the end, the same partisan lines held - if you loved Sarah, you still love her; if you thought Biden was a blowhard, you probably still think so. So what about those folks in the middle the "undecideds," what could this debate meant to them?

To me, in analyzing this competition, it came down to the core principles held by each candidate. Standing across the stage from each other were two individuals on polar opposite ends of the political spectrum and analyzing their core beleifs, the very stuff that makes them think and vote and govern the way that they do, is wildly interesting. For example...

In regards to the sub-prime lending crisis...

Governor Palin took the route of personal accountability. She placed a portion of the blame on predatory lenders, committed her ticket to increased regulation of financial markets, but also stressed that personal accountability on behalf of the consumer, a commitment to staying out of personal debt to educating ourselves about the economy, was the best way to avoid another crisis.

Senator Biden simply advocated more government control over the economy, at one point suggesting that bankrupcy courts should be able to adjust not only your mortgage interest rate but also your principle balance; a policy that, if implemented, would lead to the socialization of the entire mortgage industry.

In regards to taxes, Governor Palin pointed out that Senator Biden stated paying taxes was "patriotic." Senator Biden did not refute his stance, in fact, he went on to claim that a tax policy placing an significantly larger burden on families earning over $250,000 (increasing taxes to levels implemented by Jimmy Carter) was simply "fairness."

Palin stuck to her ticket's commitment to keep tax levels right where they are and advanced the traditionally conservative belief that the best way to spur economic growth was by lowering taxes on American workers and businesses while reigning in spending and promoting energy independence with an "all-of-the-above" approach.

Biden mocked the free-market approach to incentivizing businesses to drive progress as we've been doing in this country for 200+ years, Palin suggested her faith in it.

Palin pointed out McCain's once unpopular commitment to the strategy now succeeding in Iraq, Biden tried to dance around his on-again-off-again approach to the war and his running-mate's stuborn inability to accept its success.

Time and time again the candidates reinforced the ideals of their party's stated principles.

Biden - bigger government, more taxes, socializing economic markets, a commitment to defeat in Iraq

Palin - smaller governement, less taxes, common-sense regulation, a commitment to victory in Iraq

While their substance ran about equal, their principles could not be more different. And after tall, that's what this election has been about form the beginning.

Debate Transcript: The Sun Times