McCain: Obama 'Probably Ensured' Debate on Ayers

[sabra]

Source: ABC News

ABC News' Ron Claiborne, Teddy Davis, and Arnab Datta Report: Speaking to a St. Louis radio station on Tuesday, John McCain said that Barack Obama's recent suggestion that McCain does not have guts to raise the Bill Ayers issue to his face "probably ensured" that the former Weather Underground leader will come up in Wednesday's final presidential debate.

"You have another debate coming up. The final debate. Many of your supporters are eager for you to confront Senator Obama on the Bill Ayers relationship in particular. Hillary Clinton even brought this up during the primary. Sen. Obama says you should have the guts to do it in person. So will you?" McCain was asked by KMOX's Mark Reardon.

"Oh yeah," said McCain. "You know, I was astonished to hear him say that he was surprised for me to have the guts to do that. Because the fact is that the question did not come up in that fashion so--you know--I think he's probably ensured that it will come up this time."

...

McCain's indignation was provoked by Obama telling ABC News' Charles Gibson last week that McCain was not willing to level the Ayers attack to his face.

"Well, I am surprised that, you know, we've been seeing some pretty over-the-top attacks coming out of the McCain campaign over the last several days that he wasn't willing to say it to my face," said Obama.


Read more: http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/10/mccain-...

[wtmusic]

1. Could get interesting if Obama brings up Liddy

Do we really want to go there?

[speedoo]

8. Liddy?

Who/what is Liddy?

[FVZA_Colonel]

11. G. Gordon Liddy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G._Gordon_Liddy

[GinaMaria]

23. from the Wiki link

Relationship with Senator John McCain
In 1998 Liddy hosted a fundraiser at his house for John McCain's re-election campaign at which guests could have their pictures taken with McCain and Liddy.<6> Over the years, Liddy has made four contributions totaling $5,000 to Senator John McCain's campaigns -- including $1,000 in 2007. In November 2007 Senator John McCain, 2008 Presidential candidate, went on Liddy's radio show. Liddy greeted him as "an old friend," and McCain replied. "I'm proud of you, I'm proud of your family... It's always a pleasure for me to come on your program, Gordon, and congratulations on your continued success and adherence to the principles and philosophies that keep our nation great." <5>

[smoogatz]

25. You mean convicted felon G. Gordon Liddy?

The neo-fascist windbag who, under Nixon's regime, tried to subvert the electoral process and the Constitution? THAT G. Gordon Liddy?

[pattmarty]

36. Yeah, that one. I am not in favor of the death penalty, but I............

.....would make an exception in his case, since he is not REALLY human.

[smoogatz]

28. Or, you know, Charlie Keating.

The convicted felon at the center of our last huge banking-sector meltdown/bailout, who once wrote to McCain that he was "his" "'til death do us part." Turns out he may have been right!

[wtmusic]

31. "Keating, Ayers...the public is more interested in the economy"

is the meme being peddled by McCainenburg's campaign.

If I remember correctly back to 1987, Keating had a lot to do with the economy...

[dpbrown]

50. Without John McCain, the Keating Five would just be the Keating Four

I dare McCain to bring up Ayers when he's proven himself the bottom-of-the-barrel corrupt Senator who went out of his way to interfere with an investigation into Charles Keating, the architect behind what before the latest Bush economic debacle, was the largest forced bailout of financial institutions in our country's history.

Now which relationship is more telling on how one might handle the current economic crisis?

[marshall]

47. Obama ought to bring up the North Vietnamese jailers

Isn't McCain accused of collaborating with them? At his own admission they "broke" him. Isn't that an association of five and a half years? He needs to explain that too.

[meegbear]

2. Now there is the crux of it ...

not will be bring the issue up, but will be bring the issue up while looking Obama in the face.

I think not.

[Delphinus]

10. It would be the

first time he would look him in the face, if it does come about.

[madaboutharry]

3. I hope McCain does bring it up because

Obama will make a fool out of him. McCain really is living in a bubble. The lack of sophistication of the McCain campaign is truly startling.

[smoogatz]

4. Since when have McPalin given a shit what the questions were?

There's lots of space in those debates to talk about whatever you want. McLame's lying: he was afraid he'd get body-slammed. Rhetorically, I mean.

[JuniperLea]

I love how Obama has been holding his cards to his chest on this...

I just betcha he has a great smack-down-comeback for McFibber

[iamjoy]

5. I Think It's A Trap

I think it's a trap by Obama. He wants McSame to bring up the issue so he can respond and put the issue to rest. Obama is too cool and too cautious to provoke McSame otherwise.

[smoogatz]

6. Of course it's a trap.

When McCain gets all frothy at the corners of his mouth his poll numbers go down: Obama's approval rating in the face of all the personal attacks keeps going UP. People see the Ayers business for what it is: irrelevant and diversionary at best, flat-out racist at worst.

[tanyev]

9. Oh, please don't throw me into that briar patch!

[Demit]

13. Come into my parlor, said the spider to the fly...

[Juan_de_la_Dem]

26. Bait taken

[frylock]

30. ..

[kick-ass-bob]

34. ROFL

I love it. You don't even need words!

[MadrasT]

7. No win for GOP if they go there, but I seriously wish they wouldn't

take up perfectly good debate time on BS like that.

[gratuitous]

12. Obama didn't say McCain lacked "the guts" to confront him

Obama just said he was surprised it hadn't come up when McCain had the chance to talk about it face-to-face. But in the hyper-macho world of Republican politics, it doesn't surprise me at all that McCain would treat that as an attack on his manhood. It seems to be a running theme for Republicans, and anyone who dares diss their flaccid little penises is asking for big trouble, all out of proportion to the perceived insult or its target.

Whoops - There's the doorbell! Odd that two fellas should be wearing such dark glasses on a cloudy day. Might as well go see what they want.

[norepubsin08]

29. Are you still among us

or did you get a free trip to Cuba

[trungpa ricochet]

14. Desperate and poorly reasoned tactics

Obama will have no trouble handling this complaint. All he has to do is point out the fact that he was a small kid when Ayers was tried, and besides, we all know Walter Annenberg gave Ayers money later for his work in the community. The only people who are dumb enough to swallow this non sequitur are the fringe retards.

[YDogg]

17. welcome to DU

[denverbill]

15. I think Obama needs to raise the issue of McCain's illegimate black baby.

Oops, forgot the /sarcasm tag.

[ryanmuegge]

16. With a public as stupid as ours, the Ayers stuff may work.

Hopefully not.

[smoogatz]

20. The only people who give a shit about Bill Ayers

are racist wingnuts who think anyone with a funny name is a terrorist sympathizer. The country at large ain't buying it.

[cyndensco]

40. It will work with the type like the woman who called c-span last week

who said Obama wants to be president so with Ayers and the rest of his terrorist friends he can blow up the whole country.

[AlbertCat]

44. Blow up the WHOLE county!

Even Alaska!

Why on Earth would terrorists go through such an elaborate Manchurian Candidate scheme to destroy America? The last time, all it took was some box cutters. Oh, and Republicans in charge.

[radfringe]

18. slap back with not running an HONORABLE campaign...

watch mccain explode

[Politicalboi]

19. You know I thought

That Obama should bring Ayers up but it would probably be better for Obama if no one brings it up. Shows MaGoo to be a coward that he is. His Klan ain't gonna like that. Obama has plenty of time to figure out a way to get this Ayers shit behind us.

[Twinguard]

21. Obama's political jiujitsu.

It's quite clear to me that Barack wants McCain to take a strike at him on this issue. Barack is fully prepared to parry and counter. That is just how Barack does it, that's always how he's done it, it's incredibly effective, and Barack knows that. If this election were a battle of intelligence, it would be like McCain bringing a butter knife to a gunfight. Barack knows how to play McCain. He's known for quite some time now.

Barack does his homework.

[wowimthere]

33. you're right and I think McCain may be a bit intimidated by someone as politically saavy as Obama

[Twinguard]

48. Just a "bit intimidated?"

There's no need for the qualifier there.

McCain IS intimidated by Obama's political savvy. He knows that he's out of time, so look out for three weeks of constant Hail Mary plays. Obama knows this and has his starting defensive line on the field looking for an interception, fumble recovery, or blocked punt!

We have to make sure to get everyone out to vote, and then we have to keep a watchful eye that the votes get counted correctly.
We do that, and Obama will win.

rah rah ra ra rah
goooooooooooooooObama!

[MgtPA]

22. Let the games begin!

[AndyTiedye]

24. McCain's Campaign Will Arrange for the Moderator to Bring It Up (over and over)

[damntexdem]

27. But McCain already promised to do it.

Not that he normally keeps his promises.

[wowimthere]

32. This issue is not a win for McCain... He's a very stupid man but for sure

he will have fallen in a trap he's plotted for himself. Guilt by association is probably McCain's worst enemy.

[holly111]

35. crazy

His tactic is to try to scare voters into beleiving lies

[dchill]

37. Obama is practicing pure...

jujitsu. McCain is a fool. Shhhh!!

[RedLetterRev]

38. Well, Barack said he wouldn't throw the first punch

but he certainly would throw the last.

Aaaa'ight, Ailin' and Phalin'... bring it. For every piece of dirt y'all think you have, we know we have a thousand on your boys. Where shall we back the tandem truck up to and start dumping?

[Roland99]

39. I just hope Bob Schieffer doesn't sink so low as to bring it up, himself.

[holly111]

41. true

That would be an outrage if he did

[Feron]

42. If McCain does indeed bring it up..

that would be colossally stupid. There is no way McCain will come out looking good.

[LynnTheDem]

43. Richard Nixon...Ronald Reagan...Walter Annenberg...Barack Obama...

and William Ayers.


Yes, mccain, bring it up.

[and-justice-for-all]

45. All Obama has to say is...

"When Ayers was in Weather Underground, I was 8 years old and I did not know him until myself, along with some Republicans, sat on the same board as Ayers. Ayers is now a respected professor at Chicago University and was acquitted of any wrong doing in 79. Unlike Keating, who was found guilty of all charges and now resides in a federal prison."

[EndElectoral]

46. I hope he does....I'm wondering how McCain will deal with Liddy coming back at him.

[foxfeet]

49. Bring it on, Cryptkeeper!

You won't be any more attractive when it's over.