Obama Will Make Debate Townhall If McCain Doesn’t Show

[OregonBlue]

Source: Huffington Post

Obama Will Make Debate Townhall If McCain Doesn’t Show

September 25, 2008

Barack Obama is committed to hosting a public, televised event Friday night in Mississippi even if John McCain does not show up, an official close to the Obama campaign tells the Huffington Post.

In McCain's absence, the Senator is willing to make the scheduled debate a townhall meeting, a one-on-one interview with NewsHour's Jim Lehrer, or the combination of the two, the official said.

Such a course of action could make life incredibly difficult for McCain, who has called for the suspension of the debate in light of the current economic crisis. Should he stay in Washington D.C. -- if a bailout is not completed by then -- and let Obama alone reach tens of millions of television viewers?

A lot, of course, depends upon what the debate commission decides to do. At this point in time, there is no indication that they are going to postpone the affair, as the McCain campaign has asked.



Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/25/obama-will-mak...

[corkhead]

1. McSame has sure stepped in it, hasn't he

[BrotherBuzz]

21. McCain has a long distinguished career of stepping in it

[still_one]

2. Good /nt

[Tesibria]

3. This is a GOOD thing, methinks eom

[hedgehog]

4. As long as there is an empty chair for McCain......

[Virginia Dare]

6. They should put one of those cardboard cut-outs up on the stage!

would anybody know the difference?

[MUAD_DIB]

17. It would be more fitting just to have an empty chair.

Using that alone would say enough.

Having a card board cutout is something that the catty McLame team would do.

[Frisbee]

24. Less gaffes.

otherwise, not much difference.

[crossroads]

36. So true! lol nt

[Frank Cannon]

39. Or maybe the still picture with the lips moving like on Conan O'Brien

They can just have it speak RW talking points and snippets from Palin's acceptance speech.

[JawJaw]

22. "McCoward Couldn't Make it Tonight...."

[Athletic Grrl]

43. LMAO!

Lucky I just put down the water, it would have ruined my keyboard when I guffawed.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

46. I wonder what that says about Obama refusing to do the 20 debates McCain wanted.

[soulcore]

5. Oh poor baby!

If you don't show Obama get's free reign over prime time Friday night airwaves, if you do show you're a flip-flopper who can't multitask!

[SemperEadem]

7. this is a thing of beauty and a joy forever

bravo, Barack! What an inspired move! Whip mclame's ass on his own turf...

[zbdent]

8. Reagan didn't cancel the debates while Carter was trying to get the hostages home ...

[jacobfloyd]

9. Either way, Obama will probably rake in anither 5-10 Mil

[Lautremont]

10. Will tens of millions of people be watching if it's not a debate?

I won't be. I am already aware of Obama's positions, and of the fact that I approve of them sufficiently that I would vote for him if I could. What I'd like to see is Obama articulating his positions while McCain is right there, and to hear McCain's defense of his own mixed-up positions. And I want to see his makeup melting under the bright hot lights.

[northernlights]

12. I'm more likely to watch Obama alone

I'm not sure I can stomach listening to "my friends" one more time.

As to the visage...I've never been into horror movies.

[ShortnFiery]

14. A lot of good people in Mississippi have worked hard for this debate.

The whole Ole Miss has been upended, rerouting traffic, etc.

Yes, I'll be listening on Friday, if only, to show support to the College that worked to make this event happen. It's not their fault that Grampy McSame has the emotional maturity of a petulant child.

[crickets]

23. Good point.

By pulling this political stunt, McCain disrespected the people who have put in a lot of effort and put up with a lot of inconvenience to provide the venue. Did he and his handlers even give this a passing thought?

[southern_belle]

35. same here eom

[GinaMaria]

15. I would

I would really like to see how he speaks to and handles questions from everyday people in a Townhall format. Either a debate format, Townhall or interview will really show his character. This would be a great way to reach out to those in the middle or the undecideds. The McLame campaign seems to have imploded.

On Edit: There's another reason for Obama to do this. The economy. Advertising has been bought. This is not the time to cause economic hardship in any sector.

[jbnow]

42. I've seen many Obama townhalls via cnn.com

Everyone knows he can give a great speech but those are easy to dismiss.
I always thought his townhalls are the best way for him to win undecided voters. It's a great format for him. He gets a chance to go more in depth and show off his inner wonk. He knows his stuff. He is clear, smart, witty...great. Better than at the more formal debates.
I especially love any question that is vaguely related to the constitution because he gets very passionate...takes it back to unitary executive theory, explains why that's not OK whoever the president is, need for balance of power, always needing someone to watch the watcher. I am not explaining that well but he makes understanding it fun for people.

I have seen McCain's as well, it's suppose to be his best format. That is only true if his audience accepts shallow answers and then a ramble to other topics. I was sorry they didn't work out having some together because that would assure a national audience and Obama needs that side of him to get exposure. If McCain was no show and this turned more into an Obama town hall we might well clinch it right there.

[SemperEadem]

16. I"m willing to watch the town hall meeting it will become with Obama

not being afraid to take hard questions from ordinary people as much as I would be willing to watch Obama do a one-on-one interview with Jim Lehrer.

mclame's physical absence will amplify his mental absence.

[zonkers]

11. Cancel a convention. Cancel a debate. Suspend a campaign. It's all good

[dchill]

18. I'm wondering if HE's wondering...

why nothing seems to be working. If he's elected, and there's a crisis, I'm guessing he'll suspend his presidency.

[zonkers]

20. This all smells rancid.

[Virginia Dare]

25. Or worse yet, he'll dispatch Sarah to deal with it..n/t

[depakid]

30. It's been a bizarre course of events

If there were even a halfway responsible or objective media in America- this game would basically be over.

[SemperEadem]

13. here's what's so disingenuous about mclame's stunt

he's talking about suspending his campaign and returning to DC to whip his party into shape. The thing is, as Barney Frank pointed out, mclame does not sit on any committee which addresses this situation. All he will do is wander the hallways while the committees are behind closed doors.

Dodd is the chairman of the committee which is handling this. What's mclame going to do? Hang out in his office all day? Be "minority whip for a day"? The thugs already have a whip. This is nothing but a political stunt conjured up by his inept staff to garner the sympathy vote from gullible asshole americans who think this man is ready to be president.

Behind this current behavior of his, he has proven that he does not have what is required to be a commander---perhaps that's why he didn't rise to a commanding level in the military?--and barely has the credentials to be a senator.

Mclame is wrong for America in every conceivable fashion.

[olddad56]

32. He is a Fascipublican, he is suppose to be disingenuous....

The whole election is a sham. It will be rigged like the last two. McCain's role is to just keep it close so the disingenuous Fascipublicans can sell it to the brainwashed people of this country. The Fascipublicans know that at this point, they can't keep it close if they participate in any debates. Presidential or VP.

Right now, the bogus polls are close, that is all Rove needs. The Fascipublicans have too much at stake to risk it all on an honest election. Their entire plan for the New World Order is dependent on the ability to string the middle class along for at least 4 more years.

There will be a lot more public outcry after this election. I think that is why they have brought home the 6500 troops from Iraq and are training them for 'domestic purposes'. They are going to turn our own army on us. Move over Hitler.

[13 Hawks]

19. I will watch Obama out of respect and honor.

Yes, I agree the "debate" should go forward if only
for economic reasons. If McCain does not show up when it
begins, he SHOULD NOT be allowed to walk in during the middle
of it which I can see him trying to do.

McCain's reckless behavior is causing Independents to leave
him. Simply put, he is scaring people. 

I will watch Obama, as should all of us, out of respect and
real honor. 

[crickets]

26. Welcome to DU, 13 Hawks!

[Winterblues]

27. Doesn't that Debate Committee know that McCain was a POW?

How dare they hold a Debate when McCain says no.......POW...POW...POW..Maybe a ..9-11.. thrown in as well

[Boo Boo]

28. Great! I was hoping he would do this. /nt

[Bette Noir]

29. I've been suggesting for weeks that we substitute

"loose cannon" for "maverick." This will-he or won't-he about the debate is typical McCain unreliability. As his own spokesman said this morning, "It's just McCain being McCain."

[nickgutierrez]

31. Can he really not worry about two issues at once?

Is McCain that simple-minded? Is he really incapable of thinking about foreign policy issues on the same day as he thinks about the deal that other people are making with regards to the economy? Is he that stupid?

...

Yeah, he probably is. We've seen what eight years of a stupid president does to a country, we can't afford four more.

[GoLeft TV]

33. i think that

even if McCain shows up, Obama will still have the only brain on the stage.

[Juan_de_la_Dem]

34. Bait to get McCain there perhaps

McCain will get onboard with a townhall in a heartbeat. Then we push back for the debates. If McCain backs out of debates at that point he looks foolish exposes his ploy as just that.

[crossroads]

37. This is a clever move imo! nt

[tanyev]

38. How many weeks did McCain whine that he wanted Obama to do a town hall?

Here ya go, John.

[JNelson6563]

40. This is really backfiring on them.

Nobody is buy their crock about McLame being too concerned and occupied with economic crisis to attend the debate. So he either has to declare the crisis solved and resume campaigning (which never really ceased), which includes participating in the debate. Or he can stand by his story of campaign suspension and surrender the whole show to Obama.

hahaha

You can't make this stuff up.

Julie

[Puglover]

41. Either way Obama wins.

If he doesn't show Obama gets 60 min of free time with the American people and Mccain looks like an ass; if Mccain does show up, he is going to be so pissed that I can't imagine it not affecting him. Whatever the case he really really blew it here.

[LonelyLRLiberal]

44. Third update says Tucker Bounds is waffling about McCain sitting it out.

At one point he says he'll be there and they're looking forward to it (yeah, I just bet) then at another point he says he's thinking about it. Talk about inept!

[dana_b]

45. yay!! so glad he will be there if for no reason other than...

the University not wasting all that money. GObama!!

[dnclpp]

47. Good for him

McCain is bumbling things as usual.