Obama's playing just like George W. Bush did. Wouldn't doubt if he screens the rallys too. He's chicken, chicken, chicken!

I could have sworn that John McCain said earlier this year that his campaign was going to take the high road........what has happened to change his approach? In fact, I thought that he said that the American people wanted, and deserved, better......what has happened to change his approach? Simple put: I guess that John McCain has nothing positive to say. In fact, he has NOTHING TO SAY about how he's going to move our country forward. How sad.......McCain.......more of the same old politics as usual! He's no longer heroic or honorable in my eyes.......how sad!

Why is Obama so afraid to debate?
Maybe because he'll actually have to give concrete answers.
Maybe because last time, against Clinton, he made a fool of himself and tanked in the polls afterwards?

Every day I am more of the opinion that an Obama presidency would be a Bush 3rd term. Afraid to debate, arrogant, little experience.

"Why is Obama so afraid to debate?"
He just accepted "debates", he rejected McCain's town hall thing, you now the place where McCian could "my friend" everyone to sleep.

Taking the high road means that when people lie, exaggerate, overpromise, and backtrack, you have an obligation to point it out.

Hey JR,

huh?

JA

Obama has accepted debates, so he can't be too "afraid." And so far he has had the best answers of anyone I have seen. But you hate him, so you will keep trying to bring him down in whatever sleazy way you can think of.

"I am more of the opinion that an Obama presidency would be a Bush 3rd term"

classic republican double speak, McCain votes 95% of the time with the party line (Bush party line) but Obama is going to be Bush III, yeah, and McCain is going to start telling the truth, suuurrrreee he is.

Her Antoine, I'll reprint the title of the article:

"Obama Campaign Accepts Commission Debates, but Not McCain Town Halls"

McCain has shown sheer lack of respect for American voters and the electoral process. Whine about the media. Whine about his opponents popularity. It's no surprise the only way he can draw a crowd is by clinging to Obama.

McCain will be even tougher than Hillary ... after all, she had to pull her punches because of the DNC ... NO-bama won't have that luxury with McCain!
McCain '08
Hillary 2012!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, Peter, thank you for your post. Someone had to tell the Emperor that he had no Clothes!

Oh please. McCain has lost whatever credibility he had left. American is not going to elect a fearmongering, idealess relic as President. We are ALL better than that. I am seeing President Obama in a 50 state blowout. Hope will beat fear every time. Less than 100 days from now you can all say in unison - Mr. President-Elect Obama.

Yes John McCain said they were going to take the high road, but that was before your boy said "they are going to try t scare you by saying he has a funny name and did I mention he is black?". This is the same hit job they put on Hilary and Bill by playing a race card first. I was a Hilary supporter and after he cheated his way in I decided I would vote for the candidate that could actually do the job and not blame everything on someone else.

Jesus, Obama won't have to pull any punches either, for the same reason, McCain isn't a fellow democrat.

When they say they offered a town hall to McCain its funny how they fail to mention that they demanded it to be on July 4th at 9:00pm. Great time for a town hall while everyone is out celebrating and watching fireworks.

Obama wants to paint McCain as a cynic (which is a code word to try to cast dispersions on McCain's age), and yet Obama is a fraidy cat, unwilling to face McCain head on. Can Obama think on his feet? Looks like maybe not. But....
========================================
...Obama is inevitable. Prepare to pay the Obama
========================================

What's all this bull about postive/negative coming from the Obama campaign. He can talk positive all he wants, it's just talk with no real substance. McCain is just calling him on it and getting labeled negative for it. He's warning everyone that Obama is a phony, hype. Obama is bamboozling America. And McCain is labeled negative for outing him.

well do some of these folks know how to read he has said he will debate with him anywhere and he wanted to debate with him some more but McLowroad,Mcsame LOL was chicken to get to him on his response.He must have been taking a nap or something.

Obama can keep his hope and his change. I have coffee cans full of change and hope to have several more by the end of McCains second term.

Have the republicans run ads claiming Obama was a muslim, yes.
ads saying he was unpatriotic, yes.
ads saying he has militant friends, yes.
ads saying his wife was un-american, yes.
ads alluding to his being, black, yes.

I think they're trying to scare people, don't you? Obama was correct in his statement.

Dan, a coffee can full of change is ALL you'll have after a McCain term.

To those wondering what happened to the civilized campaign McCain promised to run, here's what's up: 3 weeks ago, McCain promoted Rick Davis, a longtime friend and protege of Karl Rove, to run his campaign. In 2004, Davis authored an article for the Boston Globe (available online still 3/21/04 is the date) entitled "Anatomy of a Smear Campaign," in which he said, among other things: "The reason the blackest of the dark arts is likely to continue is simple: it works," and further, "It's not necessary for a smear to be true to be effective." John McCain has sold his soul. Period. The Straight-Talk is no more.

Obama can't risk looking like the inexperienced fool that he is AGAIN in debates. People are getting sick of his crap. So sick, in fact, that a lot of lifelong dems are having to vote another party. And don't give me that garbage "sounds republican" because it's the truth. Obama and the DNC have turned off millions of REAL democrats.

I'd rather have a humble leader, not a grandiose celebrity.

Did McCain ever offer an explanation why he refused a town hall meeting with Obama on July 4? I thought McCain wanted to see what it is like to talk to a large crowd - but he refused Obama's offer for a joint town hall meeting.

What was McCain's excuse?

McCain was one of the Keating 5, who helped to deregulate the Savings and loans and cost the American in the billions of dollars. We cannot have another BUSH in office especially one that has so much history of corruption. VOTE OBAMA

JA:

You've got it wrong. Obama wants debates McCain wants no debates.

I think they should debate as much as they can before the election to see who can really take the heat. McCain should be very happy that Obama wants to debate in this way we can all see their true colors and I don't mean the color of their skin either that is an automatic unless you are blind and can't see. I just need to see how their nerves are under the gun.
To tell the truth I don't trust either one with my life but we are stuck with them so we have to make a choice and that is a fact.
MAY GOD BLESS ALL OF US NOW AND FOREVER AS I AM SURE HE WILL!!!

why is Mr. Magoo married to the town hall format?

shouldn't the candidates participate in a series of in-depth debates moderated by experienced journalists?

what's the fascination with softballs lobbed by supporters?

The counteroffer by Obama's campaign was to do a town hall meeting on the 4th of July, which is completely insulting to the American people. Do they think we're really that stupid? They made that counteroffer, because THEY KNEW that very few people would watch a "town hall" on the 4th of July, on a FRIDAY, I might add. No wonder McCain's camp didn't respond!

As far as the time being short between now and November, what does that have to do with anything? Seeing the two candidates together would help citizens make up their minds quicker, don't ya think? This is more of the blame game, politics as usual, continuation and perpetuation of the same blah, blah, blah...

The "town-hall" negotiation is all just jockeying for tactical advantage. the McCain campaign thinks that town-hall meetings so they think it will be advantageous for him to have lots of them. The Obama campaign will therefore obviously NOT do it. Duh.

They will have their debates. No one is "afraid." Both are intelligent and knowledgable men. I just hope the debate formats will give them an opportunity to display that. This should not be about trying to make theother guy look bad. It should be about the future of our country.

yeah. Hillary got a lot of mileage on this issue as well. Also this doesn't sound like a proposal from a McCain. Proposals are made in a more respectable manner and made in private. This was broadcast to the nation on McCain's terms.

I would accept either.

I am sure McCain knew he wouldn't accept either. Now he can bellyache all summer long into the fall about obama didn't want to meet him face to face. the commissioned debates are enough for me.

Town hall settings are more McCain's speed.

The key to winning anything is to try and thwart the strengths of the opponent. McCain is doing this quite well by trying to diminish the popularity of Obama (Paris and Britney) and trying to diminish his inspired message (Moses) parting the red sea.

Its all politcs. Get a grip people

OBAMA 08

It sounds like Obama is being forced into these debates. What is he afraid of? His campaign is right on the mark. What a waste of time and money, becuase they are going to lose anyway.
Just say No to O!

It's all politics. Get a grip people

--------------------------------------

Thanks for the brilliant insight. I thought it was something else.

It is the Bush-McCain campaign that is playing it the way Bush did. Lies, negativity, avoiding the real issues, all from the Rove playbook.

Dan Rains-

Ageism is just as bad as racism and sexism. Thanks for showing your ignorance.

Okay,this should shut up all the people complaining that Obama wont debate.

I hear that the McCain campaign had a ad at the ready to use against Obama if he WOULD have visited the troops at Landstul GE.

Below road politics in action

young_voter

The problem is that Obama actually does THINK on his feet. Most politicians would just start talking and keep talking becuase they think it is more important to look confident than to actually say something intelligent. Or they just move something they have prepared whether it has anything to do with the question or not.

Obama makes the mistake of actually trying to answer the question, and figuring out the best way to answer while he is talking, even if he has to stop and start over. I assume he will learn not to do that, because Americans do not want to see anyone thinking. It makes them suspicious.

Wow, Obama agreed with the same format that all the other elections have used...see, he DOES want to debate.

It seems fairly clear that Obama does not want to perform in an unscripted setting. McCain is obviously going to agree to do the standard debates, but also wants Obama to participate where McCain is a better performer. The fact that Obama refused to seriously entertain the idea shows weakness.

I mean, I think there is an online petition out there to encourage Obama to refuse to go to a town hall meeting? Does that not sound kind of wimpy and ridiculous?

What did you think it was Jackson.

Are you that naive. Well I guessed you answered that question already

The Low Road express rolls on.

Kudo's McSame

Your words indicate you don't think how nonsensical your comments are.....but, they really are silly remarks....

If McCain was actually interested in debating the issues, one would think that he might raise one with his sound bite photo ops a little more often. If he thinks the American people will benefit from his badgering and accusations approach in a debate with Obama which he fills his press opportunities with rather than debate substance he's in for a real surprise. He's going to come off like a child, unless as with the Bush-Kerry debates, the people once again prove to be complete sheep and idiots.

Dan

There have been economic analyses that indicate McCain's plan will result in higher taxes on the middle class than Obama's (but lower taxes on the rich, of course -- that is the Republican platform, which McCain had to switch to in order to win the Republican nomination).

There have been economic analyses that indicate McCain's plan will result in higher taxes on the middle class than Obama's (but lower taxes on the rich, of course -- that is the Republican platform, which McCain had to switch to in order to win the Republican nomination).

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
How very true, as opposed to the foolishness from the Bush-McCain campaign, from the "Low Road Express"

JR,

If Hillary had wrongly accused Obama or McCain of scaring the American people by telling them that she is a woman and didn't look like the past presidents then yes she would be accusing someone of being sexist.

You are clearly one of the highly intelligent Obama supporters. Keep blogging because you are a good representation of Obama's supporters.

Dan dont worry your pretty little head, he will do exactly that. He is a good @ giving speaches, however not so good @ thinking on his feet... uhhhh uhhh ummm well... Then says somthing, and has to be correctet the next day by his camp, saying that it was taken out of ontext or that he did not mean to say that but ment this... As far as 5 week vacations, I was working, because most American's I know are lucky to get 2 weeks.

I want to see blood, I want to see blood falling from Obama camp that is. Yes I am a Republican voter and to yall liberals we are supposed to be war mongering and so be it. I like to see wars, I like wars, I like to see blood drops especially from the onse that hurt us. Go Mc-man you got a lot of supports behing me and the rest of the people that have common sence. Oh and please (Mr. President Mccain) do not tell us to inflate tires to stay away from inflate economy. Maybe Mr Obama might have something that we automotive industry people don't know about or is GoodYear paying him?

I guess they don't allow telepromptrs and lengthy uninterrupted speeches ... John McCain wins this one, too.

Dan:"I was a Hilary supporter..."
Yah, right. So why can't you even spell her name correctly?

July figures, may be a record month for Obama close to 60 million in campaign donations.

Like Al Gore and Sen Kerry, Sen Obama will blow the debates because of his attitude. If you have seen him at news conferences, he is not really swift on his feet, maybe they can hook up a MIC in his suit to give him the answers. My guess by the time the Dem Convention starts Sen Obama will have to take Hillary as his VP to insure he can win.

McCain need to go take a nap. I would not sit in a town hall with this geezer.

mase..

im just pointing out the facts. in that sense, ESPECIALLY in the times we are in now, people are going to tend to go with what we already know. not some socialist who has "hope" for america...

Obama is so afraid because no teleprompters are allowed.

What a wuss.

"ahhhh, now i know im not the type of person you are used to seeing in these debates"... my prediction on his opening line in his first debate with mccain... lol

Debates are enough given that Hillary and Obama had over 20. We will be sick and tired of listening to these two come November.

mase...

is george bush running for president again or am i missing something??

I would guess McCain wants Hannity and Limbaugh to moderate the debates too.

megan...

its not an arrogant move on mccains part. he dosnt think obama "has" to do what he says, he just knows obama would never do anything without a teleprompter. so he uses that to his advantage. it makes obama look "weak" on having an honest, open debate. and rightfully so. i think ALL americans would rather see a town hall meeting style debate, than an "organized" moderated, timed debate. wouldnt you?? its just politics, not rocket science.

I would like to see Obama answer some of my questions! I'm afraid the answers would be double talk and ah,um,um,um,DUH,DOH.

Badger! Very nice point!

mr coffee...

enough with the "we shouldnt have gone into iraq" already!!!! we get it!!! it probably wasnt the right thing to do, but we are there. now its time to move forward.. jeez.. get over it

Not running away but taking a break.

wow dude... what about all the rest of the media who is liberal????!!!!! my goodness, im not even going to start to list them.... wow man.

omentum...

of course the ALL play politics man!! but do you think he should have lifted it 2 years ago?! what good would it have done in the first place?? he did it now to make republicans look like they are really doing something, i understand that. but peolsi and the dems have NO INTENTIONS ON DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. look at the big picture....

Chicken Obama. Time for you to hide behind the backs of the media networks. What a crook!!!!!!

Why should Obama lower his dignity to do more debates than is essential with a dishonorable and visionless old man?

Stupid voters sent the current
occupant of the WH there not
once but twice. The same voters
will vote for McCain. Stupidity
is genetic and cannot be cured.

There is nothing to gain
From debating McCain

Why should Obama lower his dignity to do more debates than is essential with a dishonorable and visionless old man?

THIS IS STUNNING. After Obama said "anytime, anywhere" to McCain's request for Town Halls, now Obama will ONLY do the standard 3 debates.

And no, the offer of Townhall on July 4th doesn't count. That was a ridiculous offer on a national holiday.

OBAMA IS RUNNING SCARED!!!!

Well, we all know what network shouldn't provide anyone to moderate debates this fall, don't we?

I just can't beleive it, obama is scare to have a town hall meeting with a 72 year old man? I know Obama stumbles when speeches are prepared, but shouldnt he do well against mccain after all mccain is no Hillary. Hillary would have had about 10 debates with McCain by now.

The town hall proposal was just a McCain gimmick to try to grab some free air time. He knew the only way to get a decent crowd for one of his town halls was to bring Obama along. And for those who are saying that Obama is afraid to debate, note that Obama has accepted the three traditional debates, and that he does town halls just about every day and answers real questions. Witness the townhall yesterday in Florida...he was not afraid to answer a question from a hostile questioner.

I think Obama will regret not doing more debates with McCain. After he runs circles around the old man in the first debate he'll see that he could have been doing it all summer long.

Obama can't deal with the masses in a town hall. He needs the Harvard, arogant approach or he won't participate. Watch out America! Here comes the elete Harvard crowd - straight from Teddy's backyard.

I would not want to be seen on the same stage as that CYNIC John McCain

Obama is not Bill Clinton

Oh YEEEAAAAAAAAHHHHHH "CHANGE". Here is a quick look at my thought. How many of you are currently in a bad relationship or do you know of one. If you do then tell me how many word of "CHANGE" is used to fix the relationship and how long does the fix last until? Does this sounds familliar? "Please honey beleive me I will change for our future". "Please babe don't leave me I will change. A whole bunch of money and a Whole bunch of counseling later the relationship broke off. Those are the kind of change I see in Obama camp.

Of course he's afraid. I don't blame him. I'd be afraid too. You see. . . he has to debate a Republican now. It's no longer about how his socialism differs from Hillary's socialism. Debates with Republicans can only hurt him. He isn't stupid, he obviously knows this. If he could get away with it, he would have no debates.

I am really glad that Obama is the democratic nominee.... let him talk often... we will lose the election the more he talks. There is little substance... little record... little of anything to gauge anything.

And honestly, to say McCain votes 95% with the republican, or to try and paint his record as one who has followed the establishment of the Republican party is just insane. I hope the democrats keep making that argument... if so McCain will be in the White House!!

You mean like the 1st McCain "town hall" meeting that he admitted afterward was packed with Pox News viewers? I'm sure THAT would have been an honest debate....

You people are silly... the ads were humorous tongue in cheek swipes at Obama... democrats are so freaking up tight!

I love it!

Politicians do not usually take the high road. Those who have been around long enough have long ago got comfortable with the lowest of low roads. Anything goes to remain in power. End justifies the means. Demagogues in short.

David that add was awsome! My favorite of all time! Popularity with no substance! That is Obama!

Omentum...

Again, thats so typical of a Democrat - blame everything on a Republican President and not one shred on a complete Democratic congress...

Again, the elitism and arrogance of democrats is astounding..

NO badger

in other words I am saying that "figuratively speaking" your words that you use to depict Obama are lining for my birdcage.

They are dishonest and downright silly

no rom

I blamed noting on Bush. McCain put up those despicable ads. People are losing their homes and their jobs and he spends his supporters contibutions to put up ads to link obama to BRITNEY SPEARS AND PARIS HILTON AND WITH MOSES.

SILLY SEASON!!!!

I don't think I am being silly - Obama simply is not the great communicator his fans are hyping him up to be. I remember, for instance, in the ABC debate with Hillary, Obama says that he disowns Wright and Stenapalous, the moderator, called him up on it. That's why you always see Obama calling on a speech or sentences to clarify his remarks often.

young_voter - He has to clarify his remarks because people twist them all into something worse than they were. This smear and "gotcha" campaign is getting a bit annoying.

Anybody who thinks Obama is afraid of a debate with John McCain must be living in La la Land.
Obama has a lightning intelligence while McCain appears sometimes as if he doesn't know what year it is. He talks about countries that doesn't exist and events that didn't happen.
Obama is merely trying to avoid giving McCain a free publicity. Remember, according to McCain Obama is the "biggest celebrity in the world" he pulls crowd.

Chris let them think that. They k