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Clinton Challenges Obama to a 'Lincoln-Douglas' Debate
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ShareApril 26, 2008 4:57 PM
ABC News' Eloise Harper and Sunlen Miller report: The Hillary Clinton campaign has challenged Sen. Barack Obama to a debate with no moderators, in the spirit of Lincoln-Douglas.
Speaking in South Bend, Ind., Sen. Clinton said, “What I think the people in Indiana deserve is a real one-on-one debate, where Sen. Obama and I discuss [the] issues. Now I have accepted the debates that have been offered, and in fact Indiana has a debate commission which organizes this to make sure it’s fair and nobody gets any special advantages. I’ve said I’ll be anywhere, anytime in order to debate, because I think the people of Indiana -- after having wandered in the wilderness of American politics for 40 years -- deserve a break. Who knows, we might even carry Indiana in the fall if we start with a good debate right here."
Clinton continued, “Unfortunately, Sen. Obama has not agreed yet, and he’s turned down every debate that has been offered. So here I have a proposition my campaign sent his campaign today. You know, after the last debate in Philadelphia, Sen. Obama’s supporters complained a little bit about the tough questions (awwwwwww heard in the audience). You know tough questions in a debate are nothing compared to the tough questions you get when you are president.”
Clinton challenged Obama, saying, “And they complained about the moderators asking tough questions. So here is my proposal: I’m offering Sen. Obama the chance to debate me one-on-one, no moderators. Just the two of us going for 90 minutes asking and answering questions. We’ll set whatever rules seem fair. I think it would give the people of Indiana -- and I assume a few Americans will tune in because nearly 11 million watched the Philadelphia debate, and I think they would like seeing that discussion. Remember that’s what happened during the Lincoln and Douglas debates. Now we have had like four debates between Sen. Obama and myself.”
Robert Gibbs, communications director for Obama’s campaign, responded to Clinton’s debate challenge Saturday afternoon in a paper statement.
"We have participated in 21 nationally televised debates, the most in primary history, including four exclusively with Sen. Clinton. Sen. Clinton refused an earlier invitation that had been accepted to debate in North Carolina. Over the next 10 days, we believe it's important to talk directly to the voters of Indiana and North Carolina about fixing our economy, cutting the cost of health care and ending a war in Iraq that never should have been authorized in the first place," Gibbs said.
Here is the letter that Clinton’s campaign sent to the Obama campaign:
April 26, 2008
David Plouffe, Campaign Manager
Obama for America
P.O. Box 8102
Chicago, IL 60680
Dear David:
The attention, excitement and energy around this presidential election is unprecedented. The stakes could not be higher for our country and the American people. The economy is sliding into recession, our men and woman in the Armed Forces are fighting two wars abroad, and our country is reeling from the harsh legacy of the Bush-Cheney Administration. The American people are choosing a direction for their children and families. They have a right to hear from those who want to be their leaders. Our Democratic primaries reflect the keen interest of the American citizenry in this election. Our primaries have brought millions of new people into the political process and invigorated a national conversation about the best solutions to meet our challenges.
Senator Clinton believes deeply that political debates are a vital part of our democratic process. It is the American way to place our would-be leaders side by side to hear them articulate and defend their ideas; to challenge each other on their visions for the future; to answer the tough questions about their plans, their records and their judgments; and to celebrate their achievements.
enator Obama has declined the invitation from CBS and the North Carolina Democratic Party to appear for a debate at North Carolina State University tomorrow evening. Senator Obama has apparently declined the invitation of the Indiana Debate Commission to appear for a debate in Indiana next week. Senator Obama has not responded to Senator Clinton’s challenge to debate in Oregon. Will there be no debates in other upcoming states? The American people, of course, deserve more. They deserve debates before casting their votes. They deserve debates just like the states who have participated in this invigorating process before them.
I understand that Senator Obama has raised the point that there have already been more than 20 debates this election cycle. However, only four of those have been between Senator Obama and Senator Clinton. We can all agree that many important issues have received scant attention during previous debates, including such important topics as education and the energy crisis.
This year marks the 150th anniversary of the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates, a series of public debates across Illinois where two candidates put their ideas, their visions, and their values before the American people. I have no doubt that Senator Obama, who hails from that great state, understands how valuable and vital these national conversations were to the heart of America. We can surely meet the standard our forbearers did. Our final two primary candidates to date have had three fewer debates than Lincoln and Douglas held in single state over 60 days in 1858.
And if we debate, Americans will come. Recent debates have attracted record numbers of viewers – more than 10 million for the last one. And a great number of voters in recent primaries have said that the debates in their states were important to their decision.
Senator Obama himself suggested the last debate in Philadelphia did not provide enough opportunity to talk about issues that “matter[] to the American people.” A Lincoln-Douglas style debate would certainly provide that opportunity. There would be no questions from the media. There would be equal time and equal opportunity to grapple with the important policy questions we are facing today. As Douglas put it, the two candidates would meet “for the purpose of discussing the leading political topics which now agitate the public mind.”
In the spirit of the Lincoln-Douglas debates, we make this proposal:
Senator Clinton and Senator Obama will participate in a 90-minute debate in an open public forum. Just the two of them -- no questioners, no panelists, no video clips. One candidate would speak for two minutes, then the other, alternating back and forth all the way through the debate. Their discussion – not any pre-set rules – would determine how long they spend on one subject before moving on to another. Such a debate would range across all of the challenges, large and small, we face as a nation or it could focus on the most significant issue we face today -- the economy.
We can readily agree on a host, a place, a date, and a broadcaster or series of broadcasters.
Both of our candidates are making history. Let us continue to do so. Let’s debate.
Sincerely,
Maggie Williams
Campaign Manager
April 26, 2008 in Bush, George W., Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (452)
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There's no way Obama will agree to another debate after he got his clocked ticked on the ABC debate. No way!
Posted by: S | Apr 26, 2008 5:09:50 PM
21.
I know that the Clinton camp doesn't like those messy thinigs like numbers.
But...
That is the number of debates that have already taken place.
Posted by: L | Apr 26, 2008 5:12:29 PM
Obama would lose his train of thought and be lost.
Posted by: seah | Apr 26, 2008 5:13:00 PM
The debate Clinton is proposing would be WITHOUT moderators. No wonder Obama would decline. No wonder at all!
Posted by: Aston | Apr 26, 2008 5:16:59 PM
This from the woman who, just a month or so ago, was ducking debates herself!
Now, she needs the free air time a debate would offer.
But the debates so far, particularly the last one, but really all of them, have offered little on the issues. There's no reason to believe that Hillabeans will want to stick to the real issues.
And it'd be good if she'd figure out WHERE she wants to debate. So far, at least three states have been mentioned. They could probably spend the next eight days debating from NC to OR and on to Puerto Rico!!!! But WHY?!?
Obama 2008 -- Yes, WE CAN!!!
Posted by: Jackt51 -- Vietnam Vet and Proud Liberal | Apr 26, 2008 5:18:56 PM
SHE WILL DO ANYTHING OR SAY ANYTHING TO GET A DEBATE >>>SHE HAS NO MONEY HER WAY OF GETTING FREE ADS,IF I WERE HIM I WOULD SAY NO WAY BUT THANK YOU BUSY TRYING TO ATTACK THE TROUBLES OF THIS COUNTRY SO THE PEOPLE WILL KNOW WHAT I AM GOING TO DO MY FIRST 100 DAYS IN OFFICE ....NANNANNAANNAANNAANNANNAA
Posted by: h | Apr 26, 2008 5:20:26 PM
Obama is a baby!
Posted by: Edwin | Apr 26, 2008 5:21:10 PM
If OBama cannot stand up and debate with Hillary ... what can he do for this country when the real time comes to stand up.
It is scary to let Obama be the one who will decide for all of us.
No to Obama
Posted by: Jack | Apr 26, 2008 5:25:04 PM
Hey folks, did you hear? Obama will never again use laptops because his laptop had the temerity to crash on him last evening. Awwwwww.
Posted by: UM | Apr 26, 2008 5:26:23 PM
The questions from the last debate weren't "hard", they were stupid, plain and simple. I agree, no more debates--save the yakety-yak for the convention.
Posted by: April Campbell | Apr 26, 2008 5:27:04 PM
LOL This isnt going to happen. Hillary needs money and a debate just gives her free press and more money. after 21 debates what else can be said? now she wants no moderators? yeah right. He said he will grant her one after the next two primaries so sit with that and keep moving
Posted by: Allamr18 | Apr 26, 2008 5:27:05 PM
I would love to see another debate. I think they should debate as often as possible so we can see what Obama is made of.
Posted by: Paul'stheName | Apr 26, 2008 5:28:38 PM
Theres 50 states. I say 50 debates.
And they should all count ! !
Posted by: KURT | Apr 26, 2008 5:29:04 PM
Obama is done debating. After his last flop performance, he brushed himself off, gave Hillary the finger and clinged to the teleprompter.
Posted by: hopesprings52 | Apr 26, 2008 5:29:48 PM
Why in the world would Obama do Clinton any favors at this point?
Any reasonable candidate would have let go of selfish interests and did what was best for the Democratic party by now (i.e., concede). But Clinton feels entitled to be president (weird as that sounds).
Reality = It is a mathematical certainty that Obama will be ahead in pledged delegates at convention time. The only way Clinton wins is if the superdelegates steal it from Obama, despite his lead (which isnt even realistic, given the obvious and serious consequences that would follow [e.g., huge backslide in race relations in America, huge defection of Democrats of any color, embarassment for America in the world community, vast elation among republicans). The Clintons (or there behind the scenes surrogates) know this and therefore are now simply trying to get Obama swift-boated to the point of some kind of disqualification. Sad but true.
Stop the drama. Vote Obama!!!
Posted by: Mike Denhof | Apr 26, 2008 5:33:00 PM
It would just be a mud fest. Just one more degradation of the political process. This thing needs to end.
Posted by: Thinking | Apr 26, 2008 5:34:01 PM
How about giving the people of Indiana the courtesy of a debate.
Posted by: KURT | Apr 26, 2008 5:36:03 PM
What about debates? How relevant will this be to governace?
Hillary Clinton displays this arrogance of know it all. Is the American society lacking in great ideas? No No No.
What is lacking is good leadership which Obama has already shown in the management of his Campaign. Clinton has shown that she cannot even run her campaign and now relies on mudslinging to get attention.
Posted by: Churchill | Apr 26, 2008 5:37:00 PM
Who wants another debate after 21. I don't.
I really don't think that people care one way or the other.
Posted by: Stacey | Apr 26, 2008 5:37:25 PM
DEBATES OR NOT DEBATES OBAMA IS A TOAST!!!!!!!
OBAMA IS UNELECTABLE IN NOVEMBER.
HE CARRIES A BIG BAD,BAD,BAD RECORD IN HIS RESUME......
WHITE VOTERS WILL NOT VOTE FOR OBAMA.
HOPE,CHANGE=SLOGANS......
I'M INDEPENDENT VOTER AND I WLL NEVER,NEVER VOTE FOR OBAMA.....
Posted by: NIcholas | Apr 26, 2008 5:38:38 PM
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