McCain to Obama: "Come out and face me without your Teleprompter, if you're man enough." Mouth of Obama to McCain: "No."
That was what you might call an executive summary.
By Moe Lane Posted in 2008 | Barack Obama | John McCain | Running like Scared Little Bunnies — Comments (32) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
You can read the text of McCain's proposal and the Obama campaign's response after the fold, but let's cut to the chase. Senator Barack Obama is afraid to face Senator John McCain in any forum where Obama can't control what's being asked of him: Senator Obama will do anything and everything in his power to avoid doing that, for as long as he can; and if Senator Obama's supporters really disagreed with either of the previous two statements they'd be the first to be calling for McCain to meet Obama at any time, anywhere, and any way that McCain liked. But apparently the junior Senator from Illinois doesn't like his chances against a 72 year old who can't even move his arms properly. Shoot, he doesn't even dare give McCain the courtesy of a personal reply.
I have to say: Senator Clinton would have had the guts to take on Senator McCain. I seem to recall that Carville made Senator Obama an offer, once: maybe Obama needs to get that more than he needs to get Clinton's donor list...
Moe Lane
June 4, 2008
The Honorable Barack Obama
Obama for America
P.O. Box 8102
Chicago, Illinois 60680Dear Senator Obama:
In 1963, Senator Barry Goldwater and President John F. Kennedy agreed to make presidential campaign history by flying together from town to town and debating each other face-to-face on the same stage. In Goldwater's words, those debates "would have done the country a lot of good." Unfortunately, with President Kennedy's untimely death, Americans lost the rare opportunity of witnessing candidates for the highest office in the land discuss civilly and extensively the great issues at stake in the election. What a welcome change it would be were presidential candidates in our time to treat each other and the people they seek to lead with respect and courtesy as they discussed the great issues of the day, without the empty sound bites and media-filtered exchanges that dominate our elections. It is in the spirit of President Kennedy's and Senator Goldwater's agreement, in the spirit of the politics of change, and to do our country good, that I invite you to join me in participating in town hall meetings across the country to discuss the most important issues facing Americans. I also suggest we fly together to the first town hall meeting as a symbolically important act embracing the politics of civility.
I propose these town hall meetings be as free from the regimented trappings, rules and spectacle of formal debates as possible, and that we pledge to the American people we will not allow the idea to die on the negotiation table as our campaigns work out the details. I suggest we agree to participate in at least ten town halls once a week with the first on June 11 or 12 in New York City at Federal Hall until the week before the Democratic Convention begins at locations to be determined by our campaigns. Federal Hall is particularly fitting as it was the place where George Washington took the oath of office as our first President and the birthplace of American government hosting the first Congress, Supreme Court and Executive Branch offices. These town halls should be attended by an audience of between two to four hundred selected by an independent polling agency, could be sixty to ninety minutes in length, have very limited moderation by an independ ent local moderator, take blind questions from the audience selected by the moderator and allow for equally proportional time for answers by each of us. All of these are suggestions that can be finalized by our campaigns. What is important is that we commit to participate in these history making meetings to join in the higher level of discourse that Americans clearly would prefer.
To show our good faith, we should both commit to the first town hall I have suggested. In the mean time, we can work out dates for future town hall meetings.
I look forward to your favorable reply and to the opportunity to work with you to give Americans a better opportunity to understand our differences, our agreements and the leadership we offer them.
Sincerely,
John McCain
“Barack Obama offered to meet John McCain at five joint appearances between now and Election Day—the three traditional debates plus a joint town hall on the economy in July and an in-depth debate on foreign policy in August. That package of five engagements would have been the most of any Presidential campaign in the modern era—offering a broad range of formats—and representing a historic commitment to openness and transparency.
“It’s disappointing that Senator McCain and his campaign decided to decline this proposal. Apparently they would rather contrive a political issue than foster a genuine discussion about the future of our country.
“Senator Obama believes that the American people deserve an open and accessible debate as they choose between real change and four more years of failed Bush policies, and he welcomed McCain’s invitation to offer voters ‘the rare opportunity of witnessing candidates for the highest office in the land discuss civilly and extensively the great issues at stake in the election."
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McCain to Obama: "Come out and face me without your Teleprompter, if you're man enough." Mouth of Obama to McCain: "No." 32 Comments (0 topical, 32 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
"Land of the Free and Home of da Whopper" Peter Griffin...Family Guy
conform and celebrate diversity....or else!!!
But I don't recall teleprompters at any of the debates. So McCain wants 12 of them and Obama wants 5. Am I missing something here, or is this just barking at the wind?
It is a time-honored tradition of the frontrunner to want less debates than the challenger. No citation to offer, but didn't Kerry want more debates in 04? I may be waaay off but I kinda think Dole wanted more in 1996. Certainly it works that way on undercard races.
It also is worth noting that if McCain has a strong point in public speaking ability, it is the town hall format he has suggested. It would seem like unilateral disarmament to simply agree to meet him on his terms.
And Moe, I'm not conceding the point that Obama is at a disadvantage to McCain in the town hall format, only that McCain is strongest. I don't believe it to be true. For the record :-).
This time last cycle Kerry was actually more or less in front. The bounce that Obama's enjoying isn't even remotely enough to justify his cowardice.
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
in the sense that the point is to taunt Obama a bit and all that, but still why would Obama want to agree to meet McCain on ground of his choosing? What's in it for him? Mere bravura, ala the Old Duke?
(If you get that nerd reference, Moe, without looking it up, you are my hero)
Yeah, Kerry enjoyed some time at the top in the polls, but surely he would have been viewed more as the challenger against the incumbent, even if that particular one was a bit winged. Don't make me defend Kerry, it makes me feel a bit green around the gills.
Let me lay it out in a hackneyed metaphor. Obama has the better team this year (team R vs team D). But the R QB, McCain, likes to heave the ball downfield and has a whole array of non-traditional trick plays, and Obama, if he has a weakness, it's in the secondary where big breakdowns can occur. So why go man-to-man coverage when you can play zone and win?
Ouch....that's really bad. Anyway, why should Obama agree? Just to show he has the cajones?
I'll have to get up in front of some cameras, shake my head, raise a finger, and say "This was not the Moe Lane I knew."
...into the American political lexicon.
As for your comment; yes, actually. That is precisely why he needs to come out and fight. I don't see what he's so scared of: he's just facing an old, balding, wrinkly grinning guy, right?
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
Ya know, plays for the "wrong" side but generally a pretty decent guy. Bonus points for being a deadly assassin.
Of course, then I'd have to be a genetic eunuch. Scratch that.
The two redeeming female casting choices for SciFi's otherwise boring remake of "Dune" were Paul's mother and wife.
Can't speak for the rest of my legions of fellow Obama supporters.
That old, balding, wrinkly, grinning guy has teeth. Real ones, even. I see no need to put the old bull in the ring any more than necessary. Status quo election-wise favors us.
We already took our chance with Obama. Clinton was the safe play. Time to be careful.
I think Obama's playing this one the right way. He's agreed to more debates (and town hall meetings) than we've seen since 1960 or so. While I would ideally prefer something closer to the ten that McCain requested, I cannot countenance giving him that much "free" exposure.
I'm in the difficult position of reconciling a principle with the desire to win.
Because you're going to positively hate squelching it, then losing anyway.
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
Prevent defense only prevents you from winning. Sounds good to me though....
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McCain said, great, I'll take you up on the offer. Let’s have ten town halls and the three debates. In fact, we should travel to the first town hall together to promote good will. I guess it depends on what your definition of anytime and anywhere is.
During the debates you more or less know what Softballs are going to be lobbed at you, you have notes, you have prewritten statements in your head, you know where your going.
McCain wants something where people can ask whatever they want, maybe they'll be softballs, maybe they'll be tough questions, like asking Obama how he feels about Affirmative Action, he knows the MSM won't ask him that.
Voting for the Sexy(Pres) - Sexy(VP) Dream Ticket
Jindal/Palin 2012
There’s one way to handle this. Do what Senator Clinton did before the Ohio primary. I would have a press conference and display an aggressive tone and tell him to meet him in Ohio, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Colorado, Virginia, and Florida. If you remember Senator Clinton’s press conference where she told him to meet her in Ohio for a debate; you'll recall the fighter’s tone that ended up firing up her campaign. It makes no sense to have over twenty debates between people whose differences are minimal and only five between the last two men standing. McCain has him against the rope on this issue and should make his move today.
It's being reported on FOXNews that Sen Obama has agreed to one (1) Townhall Meeting, as opposed to ten meetings sought by Sen McCain.
Damage Assessment to follow...
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“Well, the trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant, but that they know so much that isn't so.” – Ronald Reagan
George Will and Camille Paglia were in perfect agreement on that point.
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As far as TOWNHALLS, was in Philly this week for and I've seen the other candidates on tv and realized they seem hand select those in backgrounds, etc.
First thing that shocked me was when we approached I expected to be told where to sit, instead I walked up and asked the reply was anyone can sit wherever they want.
The second thing was how it was a pretty diverse crowd, races, dress, etc. and the fact that literally ANYONE could have honestly asked him anything and he did/would have answered, I can't imagine Obama ever doing so.
I would say CLINTON wouldn't have backed down, how interesting is that?
We have the young, energetic, super-intelligent, full of new ideas Barack Obama afraid to take on the old, befuddled, confused, tired John McCain. Tells you a lot, doesn't it?
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Obama's guiding principle: "I reserve the right to revise and extend my remarks."
Seems like McCain has definitely got the edge on this one...although if this letter is reprinted accurately...there may be a problem.
"at least ten town halls once a week "
That's quite a few between now and the election. McCain called "All in" and Obama said "no thanks". But of course, he is a little bit scared of McCain's tele-hypnotic control of a crowd and question (of course Obama has to build one himself by speechifying).
Erik
"I propose these town hall meetings be as free from the regimented trappings, rules and spectacle of formal debates as possible, and that we pledge to the American people we will not allow the idea to die on the negotiation table as our campaigns work out the details. I suggest we agree to participate in at least ten town halls once a week with the first on June 11 or 12 in New York City at Federal Hall until the week before the Democratic Convention begins at locations to be determined by our campaigns."
Either the author has got it wrong or the letter is wrong. I have it posted (above and in the original blog, which is it?
Not trying to nitpick McCain at all...but if the letter is accurate...a super townhall proposal has been made. And I like the tempo and agree with it. Can you imagine the coverage - ten town halls a week? We as conservatives would certainly see the difference between the two.
Erik
Read again, with emphasis added:
"I suggest we agree to participate in at least ten town halls once a week with the first on June 11 or 12 in New York City at Federal Hall until the week before the Democratic Convention begins at locations to be determined by our campaigns."
if he agreed to the invitation,because he believes McCain is not up to his level. Obama didn't even reply personally.
He acts like McCain is an annoying gnat or fly and isn't going to give credit to him for any face-off.
And he's ticked his handlers didn't come up an equal ideal first.
But with his counter purposal he does look like a Wuss.
The 3am call comes in, and Obama is looking around for speechwriters to figure out what to say on the phone and looking for teleprompters to read it on.
Either that or he's told there are missiles on the way. He says, "Present," and hangs up.
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Obama's guiding principle: "I reserve the right to revise and extend my remarks."
"“Senator Obama believes that the American people deserve an open and accessible debate....." Sure he does. As long as he doesn't have to take part in it.
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The candidates' Iraq plans, in three letters:
Obama: R*U*N
McCain: W*I*N