WASHINGTON - 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.
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 Obamas magnitude to appear at town hall meetings alongside John McCain and directly answer questions from the American people, but we hope hell 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.
Gee I guess that giving speeches and not being questioned is the way that Obama prefers
Krypton
quote:
Originally posted by LatinLover
Gee I guess that giving speeches and not being questioned is the way that Obama prefers
Get your facts straight...
And from your own article...
quote:
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.
LatinLover
quote:
Originally posted by Krypton
Get your facts straight...
And from your own article...
Being question by unintelligent dosen't count.
What Obama has refused in to travel with Mccain and do town hall meetings together.
Capitalizt
Every modern debate has been a joke anyway...I would love to see something similar to the Lincoln Douglass debates... Just a huge 2-3 hour conversation between the two of them that is televised. Man to man...hitting on all the issues with no time limits or stupid moderators interrupting. No pretense..no 10 second soundbites...just a serious debate on policy and philosophy.
LatinLover
quote:
Originally posted by Capitalizt
Every modern debate has been a joke anyway...I would love to see something similar to the Lincoln Douglass debates... Just a huge 2-3 hour conversation between the two of them that is televised. Man to man...hitting on all the issues with no time limits or stupid moderators interrupting. No pretense..no 10 second soundbites...just a serious debate on policy and philosophy.
Hillary challenged him in the primaries. What makes you think now that "world rockstar" is going to accept it for the presidential?
Clearly Obama is playing it safe!
Krypton
quote:
Originally posted by LatinLover
Being question by unintelligent dosen't count.
This is what you said..
"Gee I guess that giving speeches and not being questioned is the way that Obama prefers"
He DOES get questioned. You should accept that you were wrong. You say the "questioners are unintelligent". Is that all you've got? Are you a psychologist? :rolleyes:
quote:
What Obama has refused in to travel with Mccain and do town hall meetings together.
Gee, I guess I need to REPOST this again...:o
--->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. <---
LatinLover
quote:
Originally posted by Krypton
This is what you said..
"Gee I guess that giving speeches and not being questioned is the way that Obama prefers"
He DOES get questioned. You should accept that you were wrong. You say the "questioners are unintelligent". Is that all you've got? Are you a psychologist? :rolleyes:
Gee, I guess I need to REPOST this again...:o
--->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. <---
I mean even Obamas unintelligent supporters havent figuered out to this day that he speaks in an encrypted language. He never says a yes or a no, he leaves it up for suspense :rolleyes: I guess his hollywood friends have taught him well
Krypton
quote:
Originally posted by LatinLover
I mean even Obamas unintelligent supporters havent figuered out to this day that he speaks in an encrypted language. He never says a yes or a no, he leaves it up for suspense :rolleyes: I guess his hollywood friends have taught him well
Your stupidity shows when you equate intelligence to political affiliation. And now you've drifted into conspiracy theories by saying he speaks in encrypted language. Now his "Hollywood friends" are teaching him this encrypted language?
You must be smokin that good sh*t...
The17sss
quote:
Originally posted by Krypton
--->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. <---
From today's LA Times:
"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 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."
Have you seen the mumbling and stumbling in regular interviews when he gets asked questions he's not prepared for? It's downright hilarious... he drifts off on tangent after tanget searching for a thought that makes sense. He's too much of a to do it without an ear piece and pre-programed questions.
Q5echo
quote:
Originally posted by Capitalizt
Every modern debate has been a joke anyway...I would love to see something similar to the Lincoln Douglass debates... Just a huge 2-3 hour conversation between the two of them that is televised. Man to man...hitting on all the issues with no time limits or stupid moderators interrupting. No pretense..no 10 second soundbites...just a serious debate on policy and philosophy.
the guy is an empty suit. if it's not scripted or with a compliant moderator/interviewer he's a stammering doofus.
if he won't do it Lincoln/Douglas style with Clinton he sure as hell won't step up to McCain. sad really.
NeoPhono
quote:
Originally posted by Q5echo
the guy is an empty suit. if it's not scripted or with a compliant moderator/interviewer he's a stammering doofus.
if he won't do it Lincoln/Douglas style with Clinton he sure as hell won't step up to McCain. sad really.
Yeah, McCain is incredible when it comes to fielding "real world" questioning on his feet.
...and when it comes to current events, he's even better. I'm sure we've all seen those videos as well.
