Questioners are suddenly in the spotlight

Candidates' replies fail to change minds By Brad Schrade • Staff Writer • October 9, 2008 The magnitude of what Terry Shirey participated in didn't really hit him until a friend called on Wednesday. Shirey's name appeared on a news Web site in Israel after he asked Sen. John McCain a question about how he would respond as president if Iran attacked the Jewish state. Shirey was one of 80 Middle Tennesseans who participated in the town-hall style presidential debate at Belmont University on Tuesday. A Republican leaning toward McCain, he said the debate didn't change his mind for Sen. Barack Obama. "The media can make this a very small world, just a click away," said Shirey, 50, a small business owner in Dickson. "The guy who helped me with my question called me and said, 'There's probably not a bar mitzvah in the world today... [read full story]