McCain: Sorry, Five Joint Appearances With Obama Just Won't Do It
Five joint appearances between the two presidential candidates between now and Election Day isn't enough?
That's the McCain campaign's claim, now that it has rejected Obama's offer to conduct three traditional debates, plus a joint town hall in July, and another debate on foreign policy in August.
And as a result, the talks between the two campaigns over how and whether to hold these joint appearances has broken down.
McCain campaign manager Rick Davis sent a letter to the Obama forces telling them that their offer was unacceptable because only one of the five meetings would be a "town hall" style event. The McCain camp wants 10 joint town hall meetings, because these "offer the best format for presenting both candidates' visions for our country's future in a substantive way," Davis wrote.
To which Obama campaign manager David Plouffe responded in a statement sent out by the campaign: "That package of five engagements would have been the most of any Presidential campaign in the modern era."
The McCain camp clearly sees the town hall format as their only hope of offsetting Obama's superior oratorical skills. As we've now learned the hard way, McCain's speechifying is flatter than a piece of matzoh under the wheel of a tractor-trailer truck.
The Obama camp's full response after the jump.
"Barack Obama offered to meet John McCain at five joint appearances between now and Election Day -- the three traditional debates plus a joint town hall on the economy in July and an in-depth debate on foreign policy in August. That package of five engagements would have been the most of any Presidential campaign in the modern era -- offering a broad range of formats -- and representing a historic commitment to openness and transparency."It's disappointing that Senator McCain and his campaign decided to decline this proposal. Apparently they would rather contrive a political issue than foster a genuine discussion about the future of our country.
"Senator Obama believes that the American people deserve an open and accessible debate as they choose between real change and four more years of failed Bush policies, and he welcomed McCain's invitation to offer voters 'the rare opportunity of witnessing candidates for the highest office in the land discuss civilly and extensively the great issues at stake in the election.'"
Comments (137)
This reminds me of what Obama did to Clinton.
June 13, 2008 2:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
I except McCain to say "Meet me in Michigan!" soon enough or run a "Why is Obama afraid to debate me (in the exact format I requested)?" attack ad.
June 13, 2008 2:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm a half empty kind of guy. Don't you think a "meet me in Michigan" line would be powerful on McCain's part?
June 13, 2008 3:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hmmmm. From yesterday, in the Huffington Post:
Meet me in Michigan, indeed!
June 13, 2008 3:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain won't accept 5? Offer him 4. And if McCain won't accept 4? Offer him 3. If he continues to dig in his heals and still says no, offer two, and tell him it's your final offer.
The only way to play with a bully is to call his bluff.
We've already seen that, just like the Boy King before him, McCain won't have "town hall meetings" unless the deck is stacked with his supporters. Loyalty pledges are next.
PEACE
June 13, 2008 10:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Excellent point...!!!
McCain needs the high profile more than Obama.
Plus Obama is really lowering expectations of his ability to do well in the "town hall' format.
I would like to see them ask each other questions...nothing from the steno pool or the hand picked audience(s).
Obama should every other day or so tell McCain to meet him the next day at 'high noon' in _________ (where ever).
McCain needs at least a full week to prepare. That why he wants the single topic format.
June 13, 2008 11:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ok, but there are other ways to deal with bullies: Let them know that they aren't so tough because you have powers they haven't counted on. In this regard, wait until McCain finds out that Obama has the Federation on his side.
"Obama, Spock, and the New Star Trek Nation"
http://msa4.wordpress.com/
June 14, 2008 2:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
What Obama did to... . Hm.
The ones who are behind are always the ones who plead for debates, and whine if their exact challenge is not met to their specifications.
Sit! Speak! Beg! Roll over... ! Otherwise you are a bad little puppy!
In the case of McCain, specifically, it is likely he sees 5 debates as not enough because it would take at least 10 debates for him to get his twisted positions re-organized.
June 13, 2008 6:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Did Dan Rather write this report?
June 13, 2008 2:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
yes
June 13, 2008 2:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
I must admit, i was thinking the same thing.
June 13, 2008 2:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Cool!
June 13, 2008 2:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
You kinda look like a young Dan Rather in your icon.
June 13, 2008 2:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
I like it Greg! Keep it up!
June 13, 2008 2:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why not 100 years of debates? Oh wait, McCain has pledged to end debates by 2013. Let history be the judge and all.
June 14, 2008 5:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
What's so bad about Dan Rather. Sorry but, I'm a little ignorant about the reference.
June 13, 2008 2:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/blratherisms.htm
A small sample of Ratherisms.
June 13, 2008 2:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ding! goes the bell. I get it like a... um... nevermind.
June 13, 2008 2:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's right - don't hate or imitate...just congratulate.
June 13, 2008 3:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
FUNNY! I never knew he was so clever. I Rather like him.
June 15, 2008 1:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
He was just a bit bombastic in his reporting. He used a lot of very tired metaphors, and mixed them about quite a lot, and through in alliteration just whenever he had a chance. Personally, I liked him in spite of, or maybe because of , his florid style.
On McCain.. seeing what his character is like, it seems to me that he's trying to bully his way into the election. He's trying to dictate how the election will be ran.
June 13, 2008 6:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Political jiu jitsu, Wax On-Wax off like a motherfucker.
June 13, 2008 2:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
He wants Obama to join him on the kind of rigged town hall event he had yesterday? What does he take us for?
June 13, 2008 2:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm afraid that I'm just not buying into the conventional wisdom that McCain is going to do so much better in these townhall events.
Sure, the comparison won't be as painful as comparing the two give speeches, but McCain is going to look stiff and old next to Obama, and Obama isn't exactly a slouch when it comes to townhall events.
So I guess I've never understood why McCain keeps running after Obama, trying to get on the same stage with him.
Other than Obama can attract monster audiences...
I'm obviously not a McCain supporter, so what I'm about to say next won't be surprising, but McCain just comes across as being desperately needy in this whole episode.
June 13, 2008 2:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's interesting that he is putting himself in position as the challenger.
June 13, 2008 2:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, they do have a point: Obama did say, "anytime, anywhere." I guess he should have been more specific about the number of "anytimes."
June 13, 2008 2:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly. Why on earth would the old guy want to give voters more opportunitites to see him on the same stage as Obama?? You really have to wonder if they can truly be this out of touch with reality....
June 13, 2008 2:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
But they think they can rig the audience with a town hall format. McCain is far superior at rigging audiences.
June 13, 2008 2:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
I watched the video Josh posted of McSame strongly endorsing the privatization of Social Security back in 2004.
Ya know what? McSame seems a lot more alert in the 2004 clip than he does today. Seems like he really has lost a step.
Oh, the ravages of old age :-(
June 13, 2008 3:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
It has occurred to me to wonder if the McCain campaign didn't demand such a huge number of joint appearances fully expecting that the Obama campaign would say no, and give them an opportunity to manufacture an issue out of it rather than trying to negotiate to a number that was mutually agreeable.
There are only 5 months between now and the election in November; an average of one debate a month sounds like about as many as the public is likely to be able to tolerate anyway.
June 13, 2008 4:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think they're pushing the townhall meetings because McCain sucks less at them than at regular speeches.
Also, if you watched the Republican debates (if you could stomach them), McCain bulldozers over his oppenents. He reminds me of Mr. Magoo. He just rambles on, talking over his oppenents, and they can't get a word in--Romney was truly beside himself when debating McCain. I expect to see that kind of thing (along with the audiences stacked with Republicans) at these townhall meetings.
June 14, 2008 3:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
June 14, 2008 7:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
This makes me smile every time I hear it:
"You've gotta kinda catapult the propaganda."
I hereby decree that every response to John McCain should include the above mentioned quote in it. EVERY RESPONSE (with "because" in front of it).
June 13, 2008 2:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
left out "because" in the second example. But you get the drift... carry on.
June 13, 2008 2:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good. I am pleased that the Obama team has put an end to this. Why let McCain plan your campaign appearances for you. It always sounded like a trap.
Tell McCain to tend to his own knitting, provided he can still shear enough woolly mammoths to provide enough yarn.
June 13, 2008 2:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
John McCain is a loser and always will be.
America does NOT want 4/8 years of the same bull shit that George Bush has given us..... which is shit.
We need a president that is going to bring our troops home and a president that is going to lower our taxes and help us with the gas problem.
If you vote for John McCain, its like putting Bush back in the white house for 4/8 more years.
Its time for a change & that is what Obama is going to deliver coming this general election.
Obama will be the next great president.......
Look for more great leaders to run for office after Obama is done his term(s).
Say NO to John McCain.... is like saying NO to Drugs..... I hate drugs, so i must dislike John McCain:) lol
John McCain is like OLD OLD OLD... put him in the white house and he will likely die within a year.
GO OBAMA/Clinton '08...... GO OBAMA/EDWARDS '08 ..... GO OBAMA/RICHARDSON '08
pick a good leader Obama as your VP.
June 13, 2008 2:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
I gotta admit: the about face in your comments is pretty amazing, Hillary.
June 13, 2008 2:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Imagine what GotALife could have become if he had followed the same enlightened path.
June 13, 2008 2:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
You are my favorite person, ever.
June 13, 2008 2:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
You go girl!
Well-stated!
June 13, 2008 3:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hillary, what I always loved about you was that even your most pro-Hillary posts were exactly that--pro-Hillary. You never bashed Obama. You are a relentless force of positivism and grace on these boards, and a capital contributor.
June 13, 2008 3:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
So let me get this straight. McCain's position is that they'll debate anytime, anywhere, just as long as it's exactly when and where they say it is with no deviations or change. I know you get set in your ways as you get older, but this is a bit silly now.
These clowns aren't just running to be George Bush's 3rd term, they're trying to double down on some of his greatest hits.
June 13, 2008 2:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama camp handled this PERFECTLY!
Offer debates over and above the 3 normally held - just enough to make it the most debates ever held in a modern election cycle - and then stand fast. Set conditions so that you have offered more than any other frontrunner in history - so that you can claim itis McCain who is being unreasonable.
Couldn;t have handled it better myself!!! Now we know why Barack is the candidate - and so far ahead!
What a team!!!
June 13, 2008 2:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
I guess we'll know in the next few days if the media believes Obama got the best of McCain on this debate issue. But I do agree that it makes McCain seem like the one who is being inflexible, unwilling to meet in any format other than the town hall.
June 13, 2008 2:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Our guy does seem to know what he's doing, doesn't he? It's going to take some getting used to for me but damn it's good.
June 13, 2008 2:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've been pretty much cringing at every candidate since Dukakis, with a slight break in there for the Clintons.
I'm completely unused to seeing a campaign be so adept.
But as someone else said, it remains to be seen whether the media will appreciate this maneuver.
June 13, 2008 2:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't fret. Remember "Meet me in Ohio"? Obama will, if needed, just hold a brief presser and rationally explain his position. He will treat the press as adults, just like he treats the voters as adults.
June 14, 2008 7:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
Memo to McCain: Also remember to request that you get to use that beautiful green backdrop that compliments your complexion so nicely. You want to make sure America sees you at your "hard boiled egg on a leaf of romaine lettuce" best.
June 13, 2008 2:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
LMAO.
Actually, I thought he had been made up to look like Warren Harding in the Green Mosnter speech, and the attempt was successful. Trouble is, Harding died in 1923.
June 14, 2008 7:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Probaby won't be any except the three traditional. The media is pushing it. McCain is not going to get his way so he's having a tantrum and the Obama camp is on to something else.
June 13, 2008 2:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree that Obama has a tactical advantage here...no doubt the MSM wants the three traditional debates and Obama is offering it to them while McCain is stonewalling. Even if we agree that town halls are better for McCain (and I'm not at all sure that's true), they don't make as dramatic an impact on TV. If anyone pressures McCain to give in on this one, it will be the networks.
June 13, 2008 3:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Notice anything about the TV commercial that they are running for McCain,where he trying to come across as a real Peacenik The have him turned so only the good side of his face is shown, and they actually have a light shining on that side, while putting the side with the giant lump on it, averted from the camera, and in the shadow.
Reporters need to ask some questions about that lump. It appears to be getting larger and larger, and now the McCain people are trying to keep from having it shown on their own commercials. Reporters ask some questions about it. Ask McCain if he will let an independent team of doctors examine the lump and publish their findings.
June 13, 2008 2:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Or Obama could just beat McCain on the merits of his superior arguments. That, to me, would be better.
June 13, 2008 10:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
That lump is getting so big, I think it's being vetted for VP.
June 14, 2008 7:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
McCain knows he cannot match Obama in funds so he is trying to use him for free advertising.
Dang Obama's team sure knows how to block a punch while throwing an upper cut directly on the chin.
LOVE IT
June 13, 2008 2:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree.
No way should the McCain camp dictate the terms of the debate schedule. They're just trying to do what they think is in their favor because he expects to not have as much cash and 'star power' as Obama.
This is just a way for him to have a free ride and use his sarcastic humor on Obama and get free media.
Who knows? Maybe it works to Obama's advantage. But 10? No way. I like what Obama's campaign proposed. That's reasonable.
I'm so ready to take my Nerf sledgehammer to any lameness coming from the McCain camp. This is one and so is their fussiness about Obama's Veep steering committee. Lame!
June 13, 2008 3:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good laugh description, but maybe raw flounder (with bonus word play) better than hard-boiled egg? Or would you prefer moldy Brie?
June 13, 2008 2:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can guarantee you guys that McCain will reconsider and there will be an agreement reached similar to the one proposed by BO.
Why? John McCain knows he needs those debates. He cant afford to run across the country on a primary season budget. He needs as much free time as he could get. If his fund raising shows no movement or decrease in the coming weeks, the pressure would be on him more to accept whatever requirements the Obama camp produces for debates.
June 13, 2008 2:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
How about we don't give you any stupid town hall meetings and your campaign continues to wither on the vine?
This is a blatant attempt to get free coverage, and suck up some of Obama's star power. Ironically, McCain would much rather be associated with his opponent than his Party's incumbent President.
"Let's go to Iraq together!"
"Let's have a bunch of town halls!"
"What are you doing Friday night?"
"Can I catch a ride to the sock hop with you guys?... Barack?... Barack??"
June 13, 2008 2:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
EXACTLY.
June 13, 2008 3:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
That last line nails it. With the lukewarm response to the gas tax holiday proposal, how's McCain supposed to fill up the Straight Talk Express? Maybe if he can hitch a ride with Barry...
June 13, 2008 6:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
SO true, and it's ticking me off. "Why won't Obama do exactly what I tell him to do, exactly when I tell him? Is he AFRAID?"
Last night on "Verdict with Dan Abrams," the two Republican shills were making noise about that--one said, "Oh yeah? Why wasn't Obama debating McCain FRIDAY NIGHT? Why was he FRIDAY?"
And I thought: "I dunno... maybe RUNNING HIS OWN FREAKIN' CAMPAIGN?"
I know John McCain III comes from a long line of military nobility, but holy crap--he thinks he can order the Democratic frontrunner around?
June 13, 2008 6:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
After the catastrophe that was the primary debates, I kind of wish they would change up the format for the general election.
It isn't just the inane irrelevant questions and inept moderators that make the standard debates so useless, it is the candidates trying to answer every question with rehearsed blather and talking points, whether it answers the question or not.
If you want to see the campaigns platform highlights, go to their websites or watch the speeches. I'd rather get a better view of the person behind the marketing.
I think it would do a lot to help Obama shed his empty suit speechanator image, for better or worse. He seems to handle himself well in the townhall format.
June 13, 2008 2:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
NO DEBATES unless moderated by comedy central.
June 13, 2008 3:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
(High five!)
June 13, 2008 4:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Or should that have been (fist jab!)?
June 13, 2008 4:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL!!!
June 13, 2008 3:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
"flatter than a piece of matzoh under the wheel of a tractor-trailer truck."
Interesting ethic choice there.
Let's see, could have been tortilla, pita, host, naan, etc.....
but you chose matzoh.
Interesting.
June 13, 2008 3:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey chickenshit,
Still waiting for you to reply to know_your_unknowns' excellent June 12, 3:06 p.m., point-by-point takedown of your BS claim that Obama's birth certificate is fake.
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/06/obamas_birth_certificate_yes_h.php#comment-2901317
[crickets]
June 13, 2008 3:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Excuse me while I lance you.
June 13, 2008 4:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
I responded. He's wrong. You're a boil.
June 13, 2008 5:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
And I'm a heat-seeking troll missile. How many super-happy fun McCain points have you earned today?
June 14, 2008 1:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hm...you're right! And what about the obvious reference of the "tractor-trailer truck". We all know what THAT means, don't we?! I mean, he could have used steamroller, VW minibus, or even a Hummer. The use of tractor-trailer truck in this case is indicative of a radical bias and perhaps even a serious mental illness. Thank you for bringing this important issue to our attention. Your service to truth and fairness is, as always, unwavering.
June 13, 2008 3:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Back into my drawer sock puppet.
June 13, 2008 4:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't feed the trolls, folks.
June 13, 2008 10:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'd like to see the candidates be allowed to ask direct questions to each other.
June 13, 2008 3:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah that would be great. It would also cut out the extra townhall step where the candidates write questions for the audience to ask.
June 13, 2008 3:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree. As long as the audience is not packed with Republicans which McCain is already doing.
June 14, 2008 1:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
The interesting thing here, and perhaps Obama's campaign is well aware of this: the longer McCain blathers about Obama skirting the joint town hall debates, the higher the expectations he's building for himself.
Remember: Clinton, while a great debater, built such a wall of expectations, that even a lame Obama performance was deemed a success.
It's striking that McCain would let himself fall into this trap.
June 13, 2008 3:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good point except the reverse is probably true.
McCain's speeches are so bad that he could only exceed expectations.
June 13, 2008 3:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Foghat actually said something intelligent here, proving the old adage that even a blind duck hunter can hit a broken clock twice a day. Or whatever.
By all evidence we've seen, Obama should be able to do to McCain in a debate setting what Tiger Woods does to a bucket of balls at a driving range. Expectations are very high for Obama and very low for McCain, and rightly so. But as we saw in the first Gore/Bush debate, where similar expectations existed, this isn't always a good thing.
McCain thrives playing the underdog. Might be a good idea for Obama to call his bluff a bit and give him a few more town halls, just to keep the expectations gap a little more manageable.
June 13, 2008 7:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
You guys have no idea whats going on out there. This stuff doesn't matter. Turn on your radio. People want to know where BO's birth certificate is and why the democrats have nominated a closet Muslim. This interaction isn't going to resinate with the American voter come November. Rumors and talk radio noise will though.
June 13, 2008 3:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/06/obamas_birth_certificate_yes_h.php
Next!
June 13, 2008 3:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's a fake.
June 13, 2008 5:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
I presume you have some definitive evidence to that effect you're willing to share with all of us...
June 13, 2008 5:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
I did on another thread.
Just so you can see how easy it is, this is a quick revise:
http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/6218/birthcertrrw9.jpg
June 13, 2008 5:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Your forgery is unpersuasive.
June 13, 2008 6:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly. They are both forgeries.
June 13, 2008 7:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
The letters are too pristine, and you're going off message by claiming that His father was named Barry as well. Additionally, an original can and has been provided by the State of Hawaii.
June 14, 2008 1:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
Get some hip glasses at least.
June 14, 2008 1:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Obama campaign has a project to combat those smears: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/fightthesmearshome/
Anyone can participate in smashing down all the lies that the wingnuts will throw out. If you want to help, the tools are there...
June 13, 2008 3:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
[URL=http://img413.imageshack.us/my.php?image=birthcertrrw9.jpg][IMG]http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/6218/birthcertrrw9.th.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
June 13, 2008 5:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Honestly Fogu, don't you have any friends of your own ideology? You dedicate hours of your day hanging around with a bunch of people who can't stand you and just want you to leave.
Is that a fair description of your off-line life as well?
June 13, 2008 5:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Down little sock puppet.
June 13, 2008 5:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
So you don't have an answer.
June 13, 2008 6:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Interesting that Obama considers being called Muslim a smear.
June 13, 2008 5:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's a lie meant to reflect poorly on him due to the prejudices of others. The fact that in a more tolerant America this would be far less of an issue is moot, since we're in an America where folks like you have cultivated such bigotry for your own advantage.
What's telling isn't that Obama considers this a smear, it's that people like you believe it can win you an election.
June 14, 2008 1:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why stop at 10? Hell, demand 100 debates, gramps! Go for broke!
June 13, 2008 3:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
make it a thousand!
June 13, 2008 4:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's a nice, round number. Make it so!
June 13, 2008 4:12 PM | Reply |