Obama Backs Away From McCain's Debate Challenge ( DOUGLASS K. DANIEL )

townhall.com ^ | DOUGLASS K. DANIEL

[kellynla]

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.

Obama's reversal on town hall debates is part of a play-it-safe strategy he's adopted since claiming the nomination and grabbing a lead in national polls. Advisers to the Illinois senator, speaking on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to discuss strategy, say Obama is reluctant to take chances or give McCain a high-profile stage now that Obama's the front-runner.

[kellynla]

"We understand it might be beneath a worldwide celebrity of Barack Obama's magnitude to appear at town hall meetings alongside John McCain and directly answer questions from the American people, but we hope he'll reconsider,"

That's a "keeper!" LOL

[library user]

Obama is the biggest wimp of a politician in American history.

[InvisibleChurch]

..... uh...

[justiceseeker93]

Another sign that Obama’s confidence - more like overconfidence - has been shaken by recent campaign events.

[mkjessup]

OBAMA = COWARD!

[aruanan]

The problem isn’t because Obama is black. It’s because he’s yellow.

[InvisibleChurch]

Sorry, that should be “Obamuh”.

[The Wizard]

good point, he doesn’t want to have to stand up next to a real man.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

“...agreeing only to the standard three debates in the fall.”

Those three alone are going to put the final nails in his coffin. McCain will wipe the floor with him, as much as the hand-selected-by-the-left moderators will allow him to, of course. ;)

[Jeff Head]

But, but...what about your bald face statement regarding debates of "any time, any place", Barry? That sure fired up the crowd back then, didn't it? We've got it on tape.

McCain took you up on your challenge and is proposing those ten Lincoln-Douglas style debates in addition to these three.

What's wrong, Hussein, why not follow through on your bold challenge..."any time, any place" statement.?

Could it be because under the bold, fit, aggressive, hard charging image the media and your handlers have projected for you (where, BTW< off the teleprompter you are challenged to even put two consecutive words together coherently) that your actual color is...yellow?

OBAMA'S DIVERSE VISION OF AMERICA



THE AUDACITY OF TRUTH ABOUT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA'S CIRCLE OF FRIENDS

NOBAMA MOVEMENT SPREADS ACROSS THE NATION

[Textide]

Indeed. Recent campaign events like that incoherent babbling press conference that he gave yesterday. Uh, Uh, uh, Uh, um....

The more he is taken off-script, the better.

[ken21]

the hollow man realizes he will look hollow in town forums.

[MuttTheHoople]

The more informal the setting, the dumber Stuttering Barry will sound. Knowing he wimpiness of the McCain campaign, they’ll probably agree to 3 debates, all with pre-arranged questions campaigns have a month to prepare for.

[reg45]

O_Chicken is afraid to debate. O_Chicken is afraid to debate an old man. O_Chicken’s policies are a bunch of rotten eggs.

[VOR78]

This is yet another campaign ad just waiting to happen. Barack Obama is willing to meet unconditionally with every third world dictator on the planet, but apparently, he’s too good to take questions at a townhall debate from American citizens.

Nice message he’s sending.

[pepperhead]

As I said before, Obama is afraid of having his own senior moment standing next to a senior.

[puroresu]

Obama’s a sissy.

[TexasRedeye]

Sissy he may be, but....He is getting it his way! Why? Another example of McCain’s softness and unwillingness to go after him?

[jan in Colorado]

Obama has no business running for President, let alone being the nominee!

There is nothing charming about this man, but he sure is an empty vessel.

[Kitten1]

The McCain camp should spoof a townhall debate in an ad.

Have a guy in a chicken suit, wearing a t-shirt that says “The One” sitting where Barry should be. He doesn’t speak during the townhall - he just sits there doing Obama’s Mussolino chin raise. At the end of the townhall, McCain thanks the audience and (almost)everyone leaves. The lights go out and in the dark, all you hear is ‘bwok, bwok’.

I chuckle thinking of Obama’s reaction.