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.

[ukgod1]

Wow, I am more and more amazed with the level of stupdiity in this county for those who believe in fairy tales and handouts, and an empty minded unqualified candidate who had 2 failing years in the Senate.


Obama: Incredible stupidity



Posted by Ariel133 at 12:54 PM : Aug 04, 2008

i am amazed at the level of stupidity in this country for those who believe that drilling for oil will reduce our addiction to oil(am guessing logic is not mccain strength) . thats like trying to quit smoking by smoking even more, just by your cigarettes from a different store. The man has admitted to the public that he doesn''t know that much about the economy !! how do you expect him to lower unemployment and improve the real estate market. he even support bush tax cut and are trying to make them permanent. idiot if you ever took the time out to research bush tax cut , it basically translate to giving a tax break to people and companies who make more than $200,000 a year that means they get to keep more of what they earn and the middle class pay all the taxes!! i cant read these comments on this page because it reflects poorly on our education systems. Americans are incredibly stupid and politician exploit your incompetence to the fullest and am not the only one how think Americans are stupid just ask maccains adviser!!! dummy

[ukgod1]

Wow, I am more and more amazed with the level of stupdiity in this county for those who believe in fairy tales and handouts, and an empty minded unqualified candidate who had 2 failing years in the Senate.


Obama: Incredible stupidity



Posted by Ariel133 at 12:54 PM : Aug 04, 2008

i am amazed at the level of stupidity in this country for those who believe that drilling for oil will reduce our addiction to oil(am guessing logic is not mccain strength) . thats like trying to quit smoking by smoking even more, just by your cigarettes from a different store. The man has admitted to the public that he doesn''t know that much about the economy !! how do you expect him to lower unemployment and improve the real estate market. he even support bush tax cut and are trying to make them permanent. idiot if you ever took the time out to research bush tax cut , it basically translate to giving a tax break to people and companies who make more than $200,000 a year that means they get to keep more of what they earn and the middle class pay all the taxes!! i cant read these comments on this page because it reflects poorly on our education systems. Americans are incredibly stupid and politician exploit your incompetence to the fullest and am not the only one how think Americans are stupid just ask maccains adviser!!! dummy

[ukgod1]

Wow, I am more and more amazed with the level of stupdiity in this county for those who believe in fairy tales and handouts, and an empty minded unqualified candidate who had 2 failing years in the Senate.


Obama: Incredible stupidity



Posted by Ariel133 at 12:54 PM : Aug 04, 2008

i am amazed at the level of stupidity in this country for those who believe that drilling for oil will reduce our addiction to oil(am guessing logic is not mccain strength) . thats like trying to quit smoking by smoking even more, just by your cigarettes from a different store. The man has admitted to the public that he doesn''t know that much about the economy !! how do you expect him to lower unemployment and improve the real estate market. he even support bush tax cut and are trying to make them permanent. idiot if you ever took the time out to research bush tax cut , it basically translate to giving a tax break to people and companies who make more than $200,000 a year that means they get to keep more of what they earn and the middle class pay all the taxes!! i cant read these comments on this page because it reflects poorly on our education systems. Americans are incredibly stupid and politician exploit your incompetence to the fullest and am not the only one how think Americans are stupid just ask maccains adviser!!! dummy

[bec67]

Chic, Chic, Chicken! If he can''t face McCain what will the girly boy do with foreign leaders, play jacks?

[ariel133]

You will be eating your words for the vain support you dished out for a person who knows nothing about everything and promises it to you with a smile.

Wow, I am more and more amazed with the level of stupdiity in this county for those who believe in fairy tales and handouts, and an empty minded unqualified candidate who had 2 failing years in the Senate.


Obama: Incredible stupidity

[armydog2]

Perhaps Obama is not ready to rip mccain to shreds in a face to face debate. When these debates do happen and they will probably after the Conventions, Obama will make mccain look like the old fool he is.

[lilvinnyb]

I remember hearing that liberal radio show host Ed Shultz talk about how Obama would wipe the floow with Mccain in these debates. I wonder how Ed feels now, knowing that Obama is Ducking.

[peterp111]

The lesser of two evils is still the better of the two- and someone between the two is better to lead and that is the Republican. Hands down.

[demwatcher]

Obama knows that he would be trashed in a fair and open debate. Without the support of softball questions from the Liberal Media, he would never have made it this far.

The man has not the experience nor the moral character to be the President of the United States.

[mr2258]

If elected Obama would begin a systematic destruction of America.

[alanrobisch]

Obama is smart not to be chasing after McCain. Who wants to spend time on the stage with such a dishonorable and insecure person?


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

Posted by truthmatterz at 08:39 PM : Aug 03, 2008
+ report abuse

could you state that in a way that makes sense especially the dishonorable. Apparently you are one of those bomb throwers who don''t care who they hurt and use indiscriminate words to attack

[peterp111]

The only one bringing up Obama''s race is Obama. He brings it up all the time. Then, when it is convenient, he hypocritically and falsely accuses McCain of bringing it up.

So to answer the question many talking heads asked last week, yes, race is an issue in this campaign. But it is an issue not because conservatives or Republicans are making it one.

It is an issue because Obama and the Democrats are. But again, they get a pass on this hypocrisy because they are Democrats.

[actornaught]

When did a young visionary enter the race?
Posted by stlouisman3 at 07:33 PM : Aug 03, 2008

But the "crazy old man" part is fine with you.

Loser...

[mr2258]

The Obama camp is kinda hard on old people.Old people should vote for McCain.

[dnsallday]

Obama is smart not to be chasing after McCain. Who wants to spend time on the stage with such a dishonorable and insecure person?

[zerato-2009]

Although Bush and McCain have the same position on, war in Iraq, war in Afghanistan, the %u201Csurge%u201C, talking to Iran, talking to Korea, pro bush tax cuts, failed economic policy, anti GI bill, no Child health care, no health care, immigration, privatizing social security, Columbia free trade, Nafta, Pakistan, offshore drilling, torture, fisa bill, no minimum wage increase, no energy policy, anti pro choice judges, Bush doctrine (attack a country that hasn''t attacked you), no diplomacy for Venezuela and Cuba, do nothing Israel policy, nuclear power, 4 billion dollar fence with Mexico, foreign ownership of ports, same oil policy, mortgage deregulation and amnesty for illegal immigrant, they are not the same. Right ????

[cheteunice]

"Easy choice. Crazy old man, or young visionary?
Posted by jimfinster at 02:35 PM : Aug 03, 2008"

When did a young visionary enter the race?

[tbweb]

So, if you''re going to air Obama''s dirty laundry, by all means don''t leave out McCain.

Posted by kailumego1 at 05:19 PM : Aug 03, 2008,,,

You mean don`t leave out Republicans!

Republicans are responsible for their current political lack of trust! Republicans controlled all 3 branches of government, Republican mismanagement, overspending, corruption, losers Scooter Libby, Alberto Gonzales, Donald Rumsfeld, good job Brownie!, and the list is long and distinguished of aids dismissed by the Bush administration including the fabled Karl Rove who was in charge of the Justice Department by default since `I don`t recall Gonzales let Rove run it!`, the Political hit job on U.S. Attorneys, failure to show up for Congressional subpoena`s, outing CIA agents, Hurricane Katrina failures, lost WH emails, prisoner torture, Abu Garib prison atrocities, Iraqi oil will pay for the war (lol), cherry picked intelligence to invade Iraq, Osama bin Laden still loose making videos, fighting the war in the wrong country, Republican s`e`x scandals with White House Pages, and as you can see you need a database to track it all! A McCain Presidency will hide the truth, we will never know what happened, we need a Democratic administration just to find out what happened! Republicans failures left the door open for a Barack Obama!

[sharncedar]

Here is a quote from The Insipid One that appears in the article above. tell me if there is really any substance in this guy, or is everything he does just triangulating and deferring any decisions like some two-bit Chicago politician running for the local schoolboard:

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."

He said exactly nothing in that quote. Why are people treating him like some messiah or genius? I see what frustrated Hillary so much. It is about hope - the hope that people have is blinding them to the non-entity of this ineffective little weasle. It is really sad, he has conned America and stolen our hopes, ruining our nation. Obama is a truly evil character, a preposterous fraud who played on people''s genuine hope to get his little campaign success so he can sneak off and smoke his dirty little cigarettes. He has committed an abominable act of fraud against the American people, many who truly believed in him.

[sharncedar]

"Obama may not have years of experience behind his belt, but he is articulate, knowledgeable, highly-educated, poised, and dedicated"

Ok let me address your actual points since they seem sincere.

1) Not many years of experience - true, on the national stage

2) articulate - not true - he has a deep, booming voice, and his SPEECH WRITERS are articulate. Without the teleprompter, Obama has shown himself to be inarticulate and fumbles for words and ideas

3) knowledgble - not true - his proposals, like the silly and repugnant economic stimulus or hasty withdrawal from Iraq are really stupid and show a lack of knowledge

4) highly-educated - half true, he''s not a PH.D, just an affirmitive action Harvard guy. Is Harvard say better than a real school, no, it is a fluff education actually, more about connections than substance.

5) poised - no, he lost poise and got flustered in the debates with Hillary, even gave her the finger, which is bizarre and non-poised.

6) dedicated - to what? no evidence on this. dedicated to himself? that''s what it looks like.