Obama Backs Away From Debate Challenge

Obama Agrees Only To 3 Debates In Fall; McCain Proposed Series Of Joint Town Hall Meetings

(AP)  Democratic candidate Barack Obama on Saturday backed away from rival John McCain's challenge for a series of joint appearances, agreeing only to the standard three debates in the fall.

In May, when a McCain adviser proposed a series of pre-convention appearances at town hall meetings, Obama said, "I think that's a great idea." In summer stumping on the campaign trail, McCain has often noted that Obama had not followed through and joined him in any events.

Obama's reversal on town hall debates is part of a play-it-safe strategy he's adopted since claiming the nomination and grabbing a lead in national polls. Advisers to the Illinois senator, speaking on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to discuss strategy, say Obama is reluctant to take chances or give McCain a high-profile stage now that Obama's the front-runner.

On Saturday, in a letter to the Commission on Presidential Debates, Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said the short period between the last political convention and the first proposed debate made it likely that the commission-sponsored debates would be the only ones.

"We've committed to the three debates on the table," campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Saturday in an interview. "It's likely they will be the three appearances by the candidates this fall."

Asked by The Associated Press if that meant Obama would not agree to any other debates, Psaki said, "We're not saying that." She said the McCain campaign had rejected Obama's proposal for two joint town hall meetings.

McCain's campaign disparaged Obama for backing off. "We understand it might be beneath a worldwide celebrity of Barack Obama's magnitude to appear at town hall meetings alongside John McCain and directly answer questions from the American people, but we hope he'll reconsider," spokesman Brian Rogers said.

The first debate planned by the commission is set for Sept. 26 in Oxford, Miss., three weeks after the Republican National Convention concludes Sept. 4. The Democratic convention is scheduled for Aug. 25-28.

The other presidential debates are set for Oct. 7 and Oct. 15 and the vice presidential debate for Oct. 2.

A day after Obama clinched the Democratic nomination in early June, McCain challenged Obama to a series of 10 town hall meetings. The candidates' campaigns began negotiations, telling reporters that they agreed in spirit to joint appearances.

When the idea first came up from the McCain campaign that May, Obama was still battling Hillary Rodham Clinton for the Democratic nomination. Obama said then: "Obviously, we would have to think through the logistics on that, but ... if I have the opportunity to debate substantive issues before the voters with John McCain, that's something that I am going to welcome."

In June, Plouffe had suggested Obama-McCain meetings more along the lines of the historic Lincoln-Douglas debates. During Abraham Lincoln's Senate campaign against Stephen Douglas in 1858, the candidates met seven times across Illinois. One spoke for an hour, the other for an hour and a half, and the first was allowed a half-hour rebuttal.

Plouffe said Saturday that Rep. Rahm Emanuel of Illinois will be Obama's representative in further discussions with the commission.

The Commission on Presidential Debates, established in 1987, sponsors and produces debates featuring the presidential and vice presidential candidates of the major parties. The nonprofit and nonpartisan organization has sponsored all the presidential debates since 1988.

[rational_1]

Yup, he''s a chicken, alright. Just who we need as Commander-in-Chief, a guy afraid of a debate with a 70 year-old.

[mcg5312]

As an independent and Obama supporter, this troubles me greatly. If you can''t answer our questions in town hall meetings and risk to lose, then you don''t deserve to be president.

[hungry1968]

We don''''t need another round of "circus debates" like we had during the primaries. If we can''''t learn all we need to know from three debates, then we''''ll never get it.

Posted by Policrypt at 07:48 PM : Aug 02, 2008





That''s what McCain is hoping for - another "Stephanopolous type debate", where they''re going to focus on irrelevant ********* for 63 minutes of a 90 minute debate.

McCain is the one that can''t keep a straight position, and can''t afford a campaign - let him pay for his own exposure.

Obama is correct NOT to let McCain ride his coattails anymore.

[runnm]

McCain should go ahead with his town hall meetings even if Obama refuses to show, take people''s questions and then give the answers Obama would have given had he been there. That way he can emphasize the higher taxes, bigger government, surrender in Iraq, and the tire pressure nonsense while opposing more drilling for oil.

[ozonmojo]

Obama now front runner?

[hbevis]

98 percent of our trouble is the NAFTA bill that was passed in the fall of 1994. The two war''''s that we are in are just a SMALL PERCENTAGE of out national budget. As long as we let companies close shop and take their equipment out of this country and setup in some other country with super low wages, then we are going to be in the shape we are now. We are headed straight for SOCIALISM, and unless we can stop it we are ruined as a NATION. It does not matter who is in the WHITE HOUSE, PERIOD.

[mcg5312]

98 percent of our trouble is the NAFTA bill that was passed in the fall of 1994. The two war''''''''s that we are in are just a SMALL PERCENTAGE of out national budget. As long as we let companies close shop and take their equipment out of this country and setup in some other country with super low wages, then we are going to be in the shape we are now. We are headed straight for SOCIALISM, and unless we can stop it we are ruined as a NATION. It does not matter who is in the WHITE HOUSE, PERIOD.
---------
Actually if it wasn''t for NAFTA then we would be in a whole bunch more trouble with gas prices the way they are, shipments would be less because of the added tariffs causing some goods to be even higher in price. It actually does matter who is president because you saw what a stupid one can do.

Now as far as debates go, the primaries were too many because the candidates were so similiar. Here we have two very different candidates that actually appeal to the middle more than anything, which is weird. With Obama changing his stance on off shore drilling and McCain supporting Bush''s tax cuts, both out of character for each, we definitely need a lot of debates, especially with people like us asking the questions.

[condumbism]

Posted by hbevis
We are headed straight for SOCIALISM, and unless we can stop it we are ruined as a NATION.

You obvoiusly have no clue as the the meaning of socialism. YOu should have instead used the word plutocracy. Bedides, the USA already is a plutocracy. We can all thank the dumbed down american voters for voting Repiglicon for the past 28 years.

[andor3]

"Come on now McCain is an old guy Obama is young he is tomorrow and he will not debate him.... "

Obama said he WOULD debate him, you just have to read. But in the traditional time and place in the Fall.

It is a smart move by Obama. McCain is so far behind that he has no power or clout to negotiate with, Obama can simply ignore him. Better to steer clear of desperate folk who want to steal something you have earned.

[condumbism]

John McCain lies at every town hall meeting he attends. Depending upon the economic prowess of his pure white audience determines which array of lies McCAin will spew upon the people in attendance. Any clue where John McCain stands on the issues today? What John McCains plan to fix social security? What is John MCCains plan to undo the damage done to America around the world by his fellow Republicons? I''ll tell ya, start another cold war with Russia, and China.

[sistatee-2009]

(AP) Democratic candidate Barack Obama on Saturday backed away from rival John McCain''s challenge for a series of joint appearances, agreeing only to the standard three debates in the fall.

McCain could pass away in his sleep before fall.

[condumbism]

Schizophrenic sums up the mind of John McCain.

Hypocrite sums up the character of John McCain.

Liar sums up the integrity of John McCain.

Adulter sums up the morality of John McCain.

Closet neocon sums up the politics of John McCain.

GW Bush is being cloned by John McCain.

[mcg5312]

For all you get an education and get skilled because cheap labor is every where and based upon a lot of posts I see here will be in no short supply. Don''''t complain about what is happening it won''''t do any good. Learn to take advantage of it, that''''s what the smart people throughout history have done.

That''''s what Obama is doing he is taking advantage of all you class warfare fools, blame the rich, blame big oil, blame big retail, blame everyone because your failures have nothing to do with you... The reason you''''re stuck in that dead end job has nothing to do with you dropping out of school, or your drug problems, or your, everyone else owes you.

lol spoken like a true Republican... You know you are more similar to the people you describe than you think.

[hungry1968]

McCain could pass away in his sleep before fall.

Posted by SistaTee at 08:27 PM : Aug 02, 2008




I saw him speaking on tv today.

It looks like he passed away last month.

[andor3]

"Obama could NEVER handle a town hall meeting. He is not a leader, heis a dictator. "

Obama likes to make points with humor. John McCain hates it when he thinks people are laughing at him and gets angry easily. McCains only hope is that Obama will take easy so he does not seem to be beating up a defenseless old man.

[jgg000]

McCains only hope is that Obama will take easy so he does not seem to be beating up a defenseless old man.

Posted by andor3

it appears to me that Obama is the one running from the fight.

[american1000]

andor3 ---- Obama does townhalls every single day so I don''t know what the hell you are talking about! All this week Obama has been travelling around the country giving townhalls, and answering questions from the people at the townhalls.

There are videos of these townhall on his campaign website, the question and answer session he does ta the town ahlls are posted so that everyone who was not able to attend can see it.

The fact is, ever since Obama won the democratic nomination he has been appearing at town halls, answering questions from the audience about every single one of the issues we are facing in this country.

[suzyku]

mcsame will probably forget what he''s talking about anyway, unless, of course they give him a teleprompter and a "hand" picked group of bushies! mcsame has gotten even more tiresome since his stupid negative ads have come out, he can''t talk about his views because he''s an idiot so apparently he adopted the old karl rove playbook of attack, attack,attack and hope the American people are still stupid enough to fall for it!

[american1000]

vbnvbn --- your own words prove that it is YOU (vbnvbn) who is the racist!

[hungry1968]

Obama is a coward. He can''''t talk without his teleprompter - he would talk in his native Arabic.

Posted by vbnvbn at 08:44 PM : Aug 02, 2008





Arabic? Don''t they speak that on the Iraq - Pakistan border?

Or was that Czechoslovakia?

Oh wait - the Sunni al Qaeda members speak Arabic when they go to Iran, right?



"Dammn!! Where''s Lieberman or a green screen when you need them?!?!"

[american1000]

andor3 ---- Obama does townhalls every single day so I don''''t know what the hell you are talking about! All this week Obama has been travelling around the country giving townhalls, and answering questions from the people at the townhalls.

There are videos of these townhall on his campaign website, the question and answer session he does ta the town ahlls are posted so that everyone who was not able to attend can see it.

The fact is, ever since Obama won the democratic nomination he has been appearing at town halls, answering questions from the audience about every single one of the issues we are facing in this country.

[johngoodnews]

I think we all know why Obama refuses to engage in any debate with McCain before the actual nomination is made at the Convention: Obama is afraid that McCain will make him look like a dummy. Clinton could still be nominated--After all, but for the DNC nonsense with the caucuses and Florida and Michigan, she would be the nominee. That''s what Obama is afraid of.

[jimfinster]

Obama is GHETTO TRASH.

Posted by vbnvbn


Your comments say way more about YOU than Obama.

[libra127]

As long as we let companies close shop and take their equipment out of this country and setup in some other country with super low wages, then we are going to be in the shape we are now. We are headed straight for SOCIALISM, and unless we can stop it we are ruined as a NATION.

Posted by hbevis at 08:07 PM : Aug 02, 2008

You want a law passed that gives the government control of all companies so they cannot "close up shop" if they want to ? THAT is called socialism !

[formrusmcsgt]

Clinton could still be nominated--

Posted by johngoodnews at 08:49 PM : Aug 02, 2008

And just what would she use for delegates?

[hbevis]

The fact is, ever since Obama won the democratic nomination he has been appearing at town halls, answering questions from the audience about every single one of the issues we are facing in this country.

Posted by american1000 at 08:45 PM : Aug 02, 2008

I am afraid that you are wrong. He has not gotten the nomination yet. In a few weeks"MAYBE", we will have to wait and see.

[jimfinster]

I think we all know why Obama refuses to engage in any debate with McCain before the actual nomination is made at the Convention: Obama is afraid that McCain will make him look like a dummy. Clinton could still be nominated--After all, but for the DNC nonsense with the caucuses and Florida and Michigan, she would be the nominee. That''''s what Obama is afraid of.

Posted by johngoodnews


Not really. McCain desperately needs the press coverage, Obama does not. Smart move.

[formrusmcsgt]

You want a law passed that gives the government control of all companies so they cannot "close up shop" if they want to ? THAT is called socialism !

Posted by libra127 at 08:53 PM : Aug 02, 2008

You have no idea what socialism is.

[american1000]

Anyone who actually thinks that John McCain is smart, is themselves a moron! Everything John McCain does involves a teleprompter. At town halls John McCain is either reading of a piece of paper, or giving incomplete answers, and at time he is ouytright lying to the audience. I have seen John McCain get confronted with his lies by am army veteran in a townhall, and John McCain looked like an absolute idiot.

[jimfinster]

If Hillary is not the Dem nominee, this Democrat will vote for McCain

Posted by vbnvbn


who cares?

[formrusmcsgt]

It''''s still not too late to nominate Hillary.

Posted by vbnvbn at 08:55 PM : Aug 02, 2008

Yes it is.

[ioweign]

Obama is good at reading speaches written by some one else to crowds of German teenagers who speak English as a second language.

Posted by MCVet- at 07:46 PM : Aug 02, 2008

And McCain is good at singing so well his nickname is Songbird...

[jimfinster]

vbnvbn

Go away, racist.

[american1000]

vbnvbn --- you are a pathetic racist, uneducated loser!
Have you ever been a lawyer, or a law teacher at a University. Did you even graduated from highschool?! Very doubtful.

[american1000]

Anyone who actually thinks that John McCain is smart, is themselves a moron! Everything John McCain does involves a teleprompter. At town halls John McCain is either reading of a piece of paper, or giving incomplete answers, and at time he is ouytright lying to the audience. I have seen John McCain get confronted with his lies by am army veteran in a townhall, and John McCain looked like an absolute idiot.

[jimfinster]

I care. My family and I are registered Democrats.

Posted by vbnvbn



Registered racists and idiots, maybe.

[ioweign]

If Hillary is not the Dem nominee, this Democrat will vote for McCain

Posted by vbnvbn


who cares?



Posted by jimfinster at 08:57 PM : Aug 02, 2008

I live next to 65 year old lifelong Republicans and they are fed up. They are voting straight Democrat...

[wellhell3]

Not really. McCain desperately needs the press coverage, Obama does not. Smart move.





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by jimfinster at 08:54 PM : Aug 02, 2008

Like people are going to believe such weenie BS!

[jimfinster]

american1000

You should never underestimate your opponent. McCain is not an idiot, but he is the lesser of the two men. Remember, everyone accused Bush of being an idiot, and look what happened.

[wellhell3]

It''''''''s still not too late to nominate Hillary.

Posted by vbnvbn at 08:55 PM : Aug 02, 2008

Yes it is.

Posted by formrusmcsgt at 08:58 PM : Aug 02, 2008

Ummmm, actually, NO it''s not!

The DNC could even decide to pick a per forma candidate and ask them to run instead of either Obscamma or Clinton.

[libra127]

As long as we let companies close shop and take their equipment out of this country and setup in some other country with super low wages, then we are going to be in the shape we are now. We are headed straight for SOCIALISM, and unless we can stop it we are ruined as a NATION.

Posted by hbevis at 08:07 PM : Aug 02, 2008

You want a law passed that gives the government control of all companies so they cannot "close up shop" if they want to ? THAT is called socialism !

[jgg000]

I have seen John McCain get confronted with his lies by am army veteran in a townhall, and John McCain looked like an absolute idiot.

Posted by american1000

if this is true then why, as the headline of the article says, is "Obama backing away''? Makes Obama look like a chicken.

[jimfinster]

Like people are going to believe such weenie BS!

Posted by WellHell3


still full of bull spit i see :)

[formrusmcsgt]

Ummmm, actually, NO it''''s not!

Posted by WellHell3 at 09:02 PM : Aug 02, 2008

Keep on believing that Hillary will walk away with the nomination.....

[wellhell3]

Obscamma is such a chicken *****, he won''t agree to anything unless he''s able to make a speech and have somebody write down his words for him!

It the Commission wasn''t calling and sponsoring three debates you wouldn''t see his tail until election day!

[jgg000]

It''''''''''''''''s still not too late to nominate Hillary.

Posted by vbnvbn at 08:55 PM : Aug 02, 2008

Yes it is.

Posted by formrusmcsgt at 08:58 PM : Aug 02, 2008

Ummmm, actually, NO it''''s not!

The DNC could even decide to pick a per forma candidate and ask them to run instead of either Obscamma or Clinton.

Posted by WellHell3

Hillary has yet to release her delegates.

[formrusmcsgt]

Like people are going to believe such weenie BS!

Posted by WellHell3 at 09:01 PM : Aug 02, 2008

Considering that Obama can buy all the coverage he needs, the point is true.

It''s McCain who needs the free coverage, not Obama.

[formrusmcsgt]

if this is true then why, as the headline of the article says, is "Obama backing away''''? Makes Obama look like a chicken.

Posted by jgg000 at 09:03 PM : Aug 02, 2008

Only to those who fail to understand that Obama doesn''t have to give McCain free exposure.

[wellhell3]

Ummmm, actually, NO it''''''''s not!

Posted by WellHell3 at 09:02 PM : Aug 02, 2008

Keep on believing that Hillary will walk away with the nomination.....



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by formrusmcsgt at 09:03 PM : Aug

lol, I didn''t say that at all...but your preposterous assumption that she still couldn''t be nominated is WRONG!

[jgg000]

It''''s McCain who needs the free coverage, not Obama.

Posted by formrusmcsgt

Obama''s gonna need all the coverage he can get when everyone finds out that the emperor has no clothes.