Obama Too Afraid To Debate
April 28th, 2008 at 09:13am Matt Margolis
Usually, candidates are open to having as many debates as possible. Unlike being on the campaign trail, it allows you to go head-to-head with your opponent and give voters a chance to weigh the differences between the candidates. For some reason (and we can all offer our guesses for the real reason) Barack Obama doesn’t want another debate before the potentially crucial Indiana and North Carolina primaries.
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said on Sunday he would not hold another debate with rival Hillary Clinton until after the May 6 nominating contests in North Carolina and Indiana.
Clinton had challenged the Illinois senator and front-runner for the Democratic White House nomination to a 90-minute debate in Indiana without a moderator, but Obama turned her down.
“We’ve got nine days to try to campaign and reach as many voters as possible, and so rather than being in a studio, I want to make sure that we’re reaching out to folks where they live, answering their questions,” Obama told reporters.
After his subpar performance at the previous debate, it’s not surprising that he doesn’t want another debate until after the next batch of primary contests. He obviously feels he has more to lose than to gain from another debate at this point. Recent blunders combined with the ongoing Rezko and Wright stories have been chipping away at Obama’s so-called squeaky clean image.
But, this is a contest where both Democrats admit that when it comes to policy, that there’s not much difference between the two of them. With that in mind, another debate is extremely important so undecideds can potentially make their decision by seeing them debate. Obama’s refusal for another debate just makes him appear cowardly, not strategically smart. And it only gives Hillary more fodder for claiming he’s not been properly vetted.
Entry Filed under: Campaign 2008, Democrats
52 Comments
1. Right Wing News&hellip | April 28th, 2008 at 9:30 am
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2. Canadian Observer | April 28th, 2008 at 10:43 am
“We’ve got nine days to try to campaign and reach as many voters as possible, and so rather than being in a studio, I want to make sure that we’re reaching out to folks where they live, answering their questions,” Obama told reporters.
————————–
Now that’s what I call a refreshing and common sense approach. Enough with the debates, already! It’s getting to the saturation point.
Another debate with one asinine question after another; for what purpose?
3. Joe | April 28th, 2008 at 10:44 am
Gee… I guess that part of the article where it said that Obama was “too afraid” to debate was in some kind of invisible type.
They’ve had 20+ debates. He certainly doesn’t appear to be “afraid” to debate.
There have been 5 months of primaries and caucuses. The candidates are in the news daily.
Is another debate going to make a difference? Why does he need another debate?
The two candidates are very similar. So this will be another 45 minutes about a lapel pin and who said what 40 years ago.
Matt, this is you just trying to find ANYTHING against Obama. You’ve grasped at straws before, but now you are being a bit foolish about it.
4. neocon | April 28th, 2008 at 10:50 am
Well it looks as though Obama will have to drop out of the race in June, at least according to Howard Dean. That’s too bad. But we all know that Hillary will pillage and destroy the party rather than drop out, so it is will be up to the vote-leading Obama to do the right thing and step aside.
So here we have the Democrats ignoring the votes from the people of Michigan and Florida and asking the leading vote getter to step aside for the good of the party. That party of the people indeed.
5. Joe | April 28th, 2008 at 11:01 am
But we all know that Hillary will pillage and destroy the party rather than drop out,
— Wow… you know the future now? You are a genius. Can you tell me the lottery numbers for tonight too or does that ability only allow you to know what politicians you hate will do?
So here we have the Democrats ignoring the votes from the people of Michigan and Florida
— I think this has all be discussed before. Democrats are not “ignoring” Michigan and Florida. The state Dem party said they were moving the primaries. The NATIONAL Dem party said not to. They did it anyway despite the warning. They assumed the nomination wouldn’t need their delegates and they would get seated anyway. Bad assumption on their part.
asking the leading vote getter to step aside
— Who asked Obama to step aside?
Perhaps you should worry about your own nominee not resonating with the appropriate “type” of Republicans.
6. Bill Eischeidt | April 28th, 2008 at 11:18 am
That joe and that the Evangelicals could all decide McCain isn’t their cup of tea and go and join Reverend Chuck Baldwin in his run as a Constitution Party candidate.
How much of the GOP is the evangelical “base” again?
7. neocon | April 28th, 2008 at 11:30 am
10% or less Bill.
The Independents that have soured to Obama and Clinton will more than make up for the loss.
Joe,
The people of Michigan and Florida need to obey the DNC, right? Who in the hell are they to determine when to vote and who to vote for. Liberals hate free people, right? They just make things messy…..LMAO. After being treated like red headed step children by the DNC, I wonder who the people of Michigan and Florida will vote for in November?
And if you don’t think the Clintons will DO ANYTHING to win, then you don’t know the Clintons.
I am enjoying watching this train wreck. I see a McCain landslide in November. You guys are making this easy, thanks.
8. Canadian Observer | April 28th, 2008 at 11:37 am
neocon….I see a McCain landslide in November.
If that were to happen, neocon, condolences would definitely be in order.
9. js | April 28th, 2008 at 11:38 am
a real debate without moderators is much, much different that what they do in these moderated debates…any questions can fly…thats what hussein is afraid of…the real questions that he is afraid of answering….
10. Diana Powe | April 28th, 2008 at 11:46 am
Making the probable, but not certain, assumption that Senator Obama is the nominee, I think that a future John McCain/Barack Obama debate will be quite interesting as Senator McCain gropes around for the answers with the maximum pander potential regardless of whether they have anything to do with his previous stated and always-ephemeral “positions”.
11. Joe | April 28th, 2008 at 11:49 am
And if you don’t think the Clintons will DO ANYTHING to win, then you don’t know the Clintons.
Again… you sure seem to know exactly what they are feeling and thinking at all times. That is some power you have there. You aren’t just assuming something you want, are you? I’d hate to be fooled by your powers.
The people of Michigan and Florida need to obey the DNC, right? Who in the hell are they to determine when to vote and who to vote for.
There are rules. The National party said not to move it into Jan. All the state parties had to do was keep it in early Feb instead of late Jan. What is the point of having rules if you don’t enforce/obey them? The state parties assumed incorrectly that their delegates wouldn’t mean anything and they would be seated anyway.
Obama wasn’t even on the ballot in Michigan. Why would those be counted.
They should just seat them 50-50 since the difference in actual numbers will be very close to that anyway due to the proportional awarding of delegates.
12. Sunny | April 28th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
I think 21 debates is enough. I have watched all of them but wouldn’t watch another one. I am waiting for the debates between the two parties. The Democratic Party needs to get a candidate picked. And by the way, I am pleased that John McCain took the high road and asked the NC Republican Party to pull the disgusting campaign ads they are going to play anyway.
13. Chris | April 28th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
“Another debate with one asinine question after another; for what purpose?” - CO
by asinine questions you really mean “hard questions neither candidate wants to answer”
14. Chris | April 28th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Diana Powe .. more accurately, a Mccain/Obama debate will have Obama fluffing up every answer to a question he WANTS to respond to with the words “change” and “hope” (while saying pretty much nothing else) and refusing to answer TOUGH questions by calling them “distractions.”
15. SEW | April 28th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
” pull the disgusting campaign ads they are going to play anyway.”
I agree Sunny. Those sermons were disgusting! I wonder why Barry didn’t think so after 20 years?
16. Diana Powe | April 28th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Chris,
John Sidney McCain III has a burning ambition to be President which, given his lack of genuine legislative accomplishments (except for the Republican-reviled and McCain-violated McCain-Feingold law), is hampered by his history of admitting he doesn’t know things and his history of flip-flops.
His acid test is the issue of torture. He has been tortured. He has definitively declared of waterboarding, “It is torture.” Yet, when he could have actually taken action to act on his declaration, he did not. Instead, he voted to allow it to be used. On his own hard-won moral grounds, Senator McCain has shown that he is not fit to serve as President.
John McCain wants desperately to be President and he will say anything, take any position for the briefest moment of time, just so long as he thinks it will move him closer to achieving that goal. He is nothing but naked ambition personified.
17. SEW | April 28th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
And more debates? The last “debate” actually asked disgusting questions about self described “friendly” relationships with known terrorists, and even personal questions about what went on in the racist sermons of his church! A black candidate should not have to answer such disgusting questions. Simple ‘distractions’.
Only racists would ask such questions. Why can’t we just talk about hope and change?
Disgusting!
18. neocon | April 28th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Diana,
Your attempts to “paint” McCain in negative light is amusing. I love the smell of desperate liberals in the morning.
19. Diana Powe | April 28th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
neocon,
I’m not surprised that you think that the government of the United States sanctioning and choreographing torture is amusing, but I note with interest your lack of defense for John McCain’s blatant flip-flopping on what he himself has called a defining American issue. Call my comment whatever fantasy you can dream up, but it doesn’t bear at all on Senator McCain’s motivations as clearly evidenced by his record.
20. neocon | April 28th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Wow, apparently to our resident sensationalist, drama queen liberal, I find “choreographing torture is amusing”. That’s hysterical. Moreso, considering the torture she’s refering to is the waterboarding of three of the 9/11 conspirators.
And to think that just a few short years ago, liberals applauded McCain for his “maverick” ways.
This election is just too fun, watching the idiot savants that are the liberals fall all over themselves. This is the best free entertainment available.
21. Some Assembly Required | April 28th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
neocon, Geneva Convention… heard of it?
22. SteaM | April 28th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
neocon,
In your opinion does the United States torture?
23. neocon | April 28th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Let’s discuss something more topical. How about the invasion and occupation of Iraq?
Then we can move onto to other issues that haven’t been discussed as thoroughly, maybe like torture.
I do so enjoy circular arguments. Is that what they’re teaching you kids these days? Can any of you think for yourselves? Or is it simply rinse and repeat?
24. Dennis | April 28th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Neocon: “That’s hysterical. Moreso, considering the torture she’s refering to is the waterboarding of three of the 9/11 conspirators.”
In June 2006, the Supreme Court ruled Bush’s negation of the Geneva Conventions to be unlawful. The court confirmed that Common Article 3 applies to all detainees, whether Taliban, al-Qaida or boy Scouts of America. By an act of Congress ratifying the Genva Conventions, violations of Common Article 3 are war crimes, punishable as federal offenses.
25. js | April 28th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
here is small list of mccains accomplishments….why cant we find something real like this on obama?
funny….a stuffed shirt…lol obama supporters are pretty much useless in reality
Agriculture
Budget, Taxes, and the Economy
Crime, Justice, and Judiciary
Defense, National Security, and War in Iraq
Education
Energy and Environment
Foreign Affairs
Healthcare
Homeland Security and Immigration
Indian Affairs
Other Issues
Pork Barrel Spending
Technology and Telecommunications
Transportation
Veterans Affairs
http://mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Issues.View&Issue_id=1172f761-a830-4020-ae1b-7ec3db088fc9
26. js | April 28th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
about the only thing we can all concede about obama’s accomplishments is that he is pretty consistent in helping people like rezko and blackwell government funds…..
27. neocon | April 28th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Dennis,
Thanks again for rehashed arguments. I think that issue has only been brought up 20-30 times prior, but that shouldn’t stop any well intentioned complaining liberal, right?
28. Kurt | April 28th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
After the last debate it is very clear that Obama is just not fast on his feet. It was not the first debate Obama failed to impress anybody. The more debates he takes part in, the worse he looks (good news for McCain).
Obama is exactly what the liberals wrongly accused Reagan of being. He is good when in front of a telepromter, but the fact that he was an unimportant State Senator in Illinois just under 40 months ago shows up big time when he needs a second or two to come up with an answer.
Being from Illinois, I have seen this since 2004, and the folks i warned are now coming back to me and saying, “I see what you mean”.
Obama does not want to debate for fear of losing another debate.
29. DBM | April 28th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
JS,
Despite all your unfounded assertions about an illicit Rezko-Obama connection, when John McCain and Barack eventurally do pair off in a debate, only one person on the stage will have ever been reprimanded for (and confessed to) inappropriate behavior on the behalf of a campaign contributor.
Ooooo, sorry. Didn’t mean to interject fact. Just a reflex.
30. DBM | April 28th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Kurt,
I’m from Illinois too. Yeah, you’re right. We all “see what you mean” about how damned inarticulate Barack is. Tide is really turning against him here. He’s so lame that he only got 1.4M votes in the primary here.
Nothing like McCain’s 400K votes (which, incidentally is 200K votes less than W got in 2004 in a contest that was already decided).
31. js | April 28th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
you tryin to say he didnt help rezko with government funds DBM?….please…say yet…there is nothing illicit about it…just facts for bimbo’s, stick with the plan puleez….
32. js | April 28th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
As a state senator, Barack Obama wrote letters to city and state officials supporting his political patron Tony Rezko’s successful bid to get more than $14 million from taxpayers to build apartments for senior citizens.
The deal included $855,000 in development fees for Rezko and his partner, Allison S. Davis, Obama’s former boss, according to records from the project, which was four blocks outside Obama’s state Senate district.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/425305,CST-NWS-obama13.article
YOU OUT THERE DBM???JUST WONDERING….GET ALLEGIC ALL OF A SUDDEN?
33. DBM | April 28th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
JS,
Oh, my gosh, I stand corrected. A State Senator trying to get housing developed for the poor!! Oh, the shame, the shame!!!
McCain wrote letters to get regulators off the back of a crooked S&L President.
Compare and Contrast.
JS, you couldn’t pour piss out of a boot with the instructions written on the bottom.
34. js | April 28th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
contrast.
what are you, daft? or just a flunky for the outfit? you know, the mobsters running Chicago…or just naive to think that rezko is such a good boy? and that obama spent all them years out there with rezko helping him buy houses and stuff….and had no clue what rezko was up too…ya…ill vote the daft part…influence peddling never happens in america though…right….sure…bite it
35. js | April 28th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
obviously i got you out of the bottom of the boat eh? so what were you doin down there with the piss…
36. bongoman | April 28th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
SEW => “Those sermons were disgusting!”
Have you seen the recent Wright interview?
37. DBM | April 28th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
No, JS, you’re the one who is freaking daft, and an incredibly rude man.
All you do is to trot out unsubstantiated claims that you refuse to back with any fact whatsoever. And these baseless insinuations are often accompanied by rude names and insults.
You wrap yourself in a cloak of Christianity, but all you do is bear false witness. You are a pathetic hypocrite.
Look, I’m not defending Rezko (read what I wrote if you’re capable). Rezko was slime, and he would corrupted Obama if he could - that was his modus operandi. But he didn’t, and all your accusations don’t prove otherwise.
Look at this this way — the story you quoted is a year old. Rezko is under indictment. He’s being prosecuted by a DoJ heavily politicized by the Republicans. If there was a scintilla evidence of against Obama, we would have heard about it.
Face facts: there’s been more presented at the Rezko trial implicating Republicans (Rove & Hastert) than Obama.
38. Some Assembly Required | April 28th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
“obviously i got you out of the bottom of the boat eh? so what were you doin down there with the piss…”
HILARIOUS… No other word for it… It was ‘BOOT’ not ‘BOAT’. ROFLMAO
js, say your in a bit of a bind and need some money. Along comes a neighbour who you considered a friend and offers you some money no strings attached or anything, just in good faith. You take the money and get out of the bind. Later you find out that money was actually drug money. Should you be charged for accepting the money as a gift from a friend? Would you be considered a drug dealer or corrupt individual? What if ‘your guy’ McCain did the same thing? Or would he just be accepting a gift from a friend in your eyes?
In case you missed my point, your rushing to judgment without any evidence whatsoever. I remember the McCain Lobbyist sex scandal, how you played that off as NYT leftist propaganda. I challenge you to apply the same understanding and logic to Obama here.
39. DBM | April 28th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Ah, thank you, SAR. I ignored the “boat” comment as I just couldn’t make sense of it. Now I see.
Another demonstration of JS’ incredible attention to detail.
40. William Teach | April 28th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
How did the libs manage to hijack this thread from the point of the post yet again?
41. SteaM | April 28th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Ok, Teach, I’ll comment on the original point.
Why should he debate more, in your view?
42. Some Assembly Required | April 28th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Obama did 21 debates with Hilary… The last one pissed more voters off because of the questions that were asked. Very little focus was on the issues. So it’s logical to assume another debate will be much of the same. A debate like that will only further hurt the party. In saying no, it’s not because he is afraid, it is because he’s smarter then that. If he was ‘afraid’ he would not be running for president.
The thread was more then likely ‘hijacked’ because of the absurdity of it. Much like many many other threads here. IMO
43. DBM | April 28th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
And I’ll gratefully take a deep breath and return to the point of the post.
Tactically, it just doesn’t make sense for Obama to debate Hillary anymore. He’s running against McCain now. I don’t know why he hasn’t done this sooner. By focusing on McCain, he marginalizes Hillary.
44. FmrMarine | April 28th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
sar;
>>>say your in a bit of a bind and need some money. Along comes a neighbour who you considered a friend and offers you some money no strings attached or anything, just in good faith. You take the money and get out of the bind. Later you find out that money was actually drug money. Should you be charged for accepting the money as a gift from a friend? Would you be considered a drug dealer or corrupt individual?<<<<
What unadulterated RUBBISH !
A third grade ethics question.
1. Not a neighbor, a KNOWN MOBSTER.
2. This BOZO earbama is running for PRESIDENT for crying out loud.
He had NO CLUE about rezko?
He had NO CLUE about wright?
He had NO CLUE he BELONGED to a marxist, Afrocentric CULT?
He had NO CLUE his friend, advisor, pastor has ties with the nation of islam?
This empty suit sure does have NO CLUE….period.
45. Some Assembly Required | April 28th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
You take a hypothetical scenario literally to prove your arguement, well done.
Obama gave the money Rezko gave him back. He has more then addressed the issue of his pastor. I Hate to break it to you, but if you really want to get technical, any church in general could be viewed as a ‘CULT’. Then finally you fault him because one of his friends has (supposed) ties to Islam. You really should have paid attention to those ethics questions in the third grade.
fmr, why do you harbor so much hatred towards Obama dude? He’s really done nothing to deserve it except run for president. Is his skin color or religion or whatever that big a threat to you personally? Do you really think he can make the US into a Communist Islam? I mean Bush couldn’t turn it into an Imperialistic Authoritarian Republic in 7 years despite his many efforts in sabotaging the constitution. IMO Do you really think Obama can? Especially since he is in your own words ‘an empty suit’.
46. SEW | April 28th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
1. Not a neighbor, a KNOWN MOBSTER.
2. This BOZO earbama is running for PRESIDENT for crying out loud.
He had NO CLUE about rezko?
He had NO CLUE about wright?
He had NO CLUE he BELONGED to a marxist, Afrocentric CULT?
He had NO CLUE his friend, advisor, pastor has ties with the nation of islam?
This empty suit sure does have NO CLUE….period.
He should have an awesome cabinet, surrounding himself with the best America has to offer. Change and Hope, Obama08.
47. Tractatus | April 28th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
fmr, why do you harbor so much hatred towards Obama dude?
1) He’s liberal
2) He’s black
48. js | April 28th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
37. DBM
you mean it aint a fact that obama was dealing with rezko? I aint a fact that rezko is endighted for shaking down corporations that wanted to do business with the government…it aint a fact that a well known, convicted, politically corrupt billionaire visited rezko’s place, at the same time hussein obama did..and then 3.5 million of that corrupt money fell into rezko’s bank account…just before obama and rezko bought two..ajoining properties….one of which was useless as the hind tit on a sow…what facts dont you agree with moron? the fact that while you were swilling around in the bottom of that boat with the piss you used to insult me seems to have been the first shot fired in this salvo? or the halfwitted dream you have of obama, the corrupt politician?
Cmon….the world wants to know DBM..>ANSWER THE QUESTIONS>>>…
49. js | April 28th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
Tacticly, Obama doesnt have the courage to debate a Clinton without a moderator…she would pull down his pants and expose him for the con artist he really is….you dont expect Obama to tell the truth about it, do you…I mean…if Obama was such a savior for the DNC….wouldnt he invite the opportunity for air time to expose the lies clintons tell?
Obviously, the only thing we are going to see is the back of the coward as he runs away…..
50. js | April 28th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
think about it….on TV…several million would watch him….take a few hours out and then be right back on the road….but on the ground…town to town….he meets what…couple hundred, maybe a few thousand….
even his excuse is a con….nobody rides a donkey when they could ride a harley…think about it…
51. Freedom1 | April 29th, 2008 at 4:05 am
44. FmrMarine | April 28th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
1. Not a neighbor, a KNOWN MOBSTER.
2. This BOZO earbama is running for PRESIDENT for crying out loud.
He had NO CLUE about rezko?
He had NO CLUE about wright?
He had NO CLUE he BELONGED to a marxist, Afrocentric CULT?
He had NO CLUE his friend, advisor, pastor has ties with the nation of islam?
This empty suit sure does have NO CLUE….period.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Showing that Obama is either TOO STUPID or TOO CORRUPT to know better.
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