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McCain to Obama: I Have 'Guts' to Bring Up Ayers
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ShareOctober 14, 2008 12:11 PM
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."
Listen to McCain's KMOX radio interview here.
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.
Watch Obama discuss the Ayers issue with ABC's Gibson here.
During his Tuesday interview with KMOX radio, McCain said "it's not that I give a damn about some washed up terrorist and his terrorist wife that on 2001 said they wished they'd bombed more. What I care about -- and what the American people care about -- is whether [Obama] is being truthful with the American people."
McCain, who has regularly distorted Obama's tax record but is right in saying that Obama went back on his public financing pledge, went on to argue that Obama's effort to downplay his relationship with Ayers is part of a broader reluctance to level with the public.
"Whether it be on raising taxes or whether it be his commitment to take public financing," said McCain "[O]r whether it be on his association with Ayers who he said was a 'guy in the neighborhood' when the fact is he launched his political career in Bill Ayers' living room."
"So that's the question," McCain concluded, "'are you being truthful with the American people?' because they want someone that you can trust."
After interviewing a dozen people who know both Obama and Ayers, The New York Times wrote earlier this month that Obama has "played down his contacts" with Ayers. But the newspaper concluded that the two men, who worked together on an education project, do not appear to have been close, noting that Obama has never expressed sympathy for the radical views of Ayers whose bombing campaign he has labeled "detestable."
The Obama campaign reacted to McCain's interview by arguing that it was a sign that he did not want to talk about the economy.
"Given his desire to 'turn the page' on discussing the economy, it's not surprising that John McCainw ould want to spend his time talking to the American people about a thoroughly debunked attack that does nothing to help our families," Obama-Biden spokesman Hari Sevugan told ABC News. "That's his choice. Barack Obama will continue to remain focused on solutions to the economic challenges facing the country."
October 14, 2008 in McCain, John, Obama, Barack, Vote 2008: Democrats, Vote 2008: Republicans | Permalink | User Comments (1153)
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Rope A Dope.
Posted by: ricky | Oct 14, 2008 12:17:46 PM
Of course Obama wants you to bring it up, lol. Why wouldn't he? That line of attack hasn't worked out well for you - your negatives are up and Obama's aren't.
The question, Sen McCain, is whether you'll take the bait.
Posted by: Paul | Oct 14, 2008 12:17:51 PM
McCain might bust a blood vessle this debate.
Posted by: Mortimer Snerd | Oct 14, 2008 12:18:34 PM
I hope McCain brings it up so we can put that issue to rest. I haven't heard or read anything new, just the same resurrection of the same story.
Posted by: Carolina | Oct 14, 2008 12:18:35 PM
McCain hasn't learned negatice canpiagning no longer works. Especially w/ an economic crisis.
Obama lead has widen nationally and state by state due to McCain's negativity.
Posted by: Vanessa | Oct 14, 2008 12:18:55 PM
Like a moth to the flame. I am sure Obama wants McCain to hit him at the debate. That's why he dared him to do so.
Posted by: Stacey | Oct 14, 2008 12:19:12 PM
Raging Bull.
Posted by: ricky | Oct 14, 2008 12:20:00 PM
To read about the REAL John McCain, check out this link:
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/make_believe_maverick_the_real_john_mccain
To read about the REAL Sarah Palin, check out this link:
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/23318320/mad_dog_palin
Posted by: miles1967 | Oct 14, 2008 12:20:10 PM
All he has to mention is G. Gordon Liddy, or maybe Iran Contra, or Keating 5 or.... Troopergate...... I can keep going.
Posted by: make it known | Oct 14, 2008 12:20:20 PM
McCain will jab with Ayers and then the KO with Wright.
Posted by: cardinal | Oct 14, 2008 12:21:25 PM
And given how erratic, emotional and in general kneejerk McCain's actions and demeanor have been in this campaign, my guess is he will take the bait.
Its really funny to watch - a senior senator falling for a playground-level taunt. "Oh, he doesn't have the nerve to say that to my face."
Lol, and that's all it takes to make McCain do what you want him to? Sheesh, this guy is in so far over his head.
Posted by: Paul | Oct 14, 2008 12:21:45 PM
Obama doesn't really want to debate his associations with Wright, Ayers, or any of the Chicago set - what he does want to do is show McCain as desperate. The time for damning by association has past.
Posted by: Carl | Oct 14, 2008 12:21:52 PM
Sounds like this is going to be a great debate Mccain please bring it up be a man Mccain tell it to Baracks face then we can put this puppy to bed!
Posted by: angie | Oct 14, 2008 12:22:17 PM
Double dog dare ya.
Posted by: ricky | Oct 14, 2008 12:22:53 PM
paul, you must believe the polls like a religion... his negatives are up.. well start measuring the drapes to obama's home in chicago. thats where we will send Obama back to..
Mr ayers and mr wright are legitimate issues..
then comes ACORN
a man said to FEDs ACORn signed him up to vote Obama 73 times...
everything about Obama is suspect and corrupt.
Posted by: TJ, THE CLINTONITE | Oct 14, 2008 12:23:15 PM
McCain is walking right into Obama's hands. How juvenile for McCain to bring up Ayers at a presidential debate. Obama will shame McCain for consistently trying to stoke the flames of anger and division.
If McCain brings up Ayers at the debate he will look like a hate mongering idiot...
Posted by: Jennifer | Oct 14, 2008 12:24:35 PM
Does McCain really want to chance opening Pandora's box during the debate?
Posted by: Rudy | Oct 14, 2008 12:25:55 PM
Yo mama.
Posted by: ricky | Oct 14, 2008 12:26:10 PM
This will be a great opportunity for Obama to mention that Ayers received Chicago's Citizen of the Year Award in 1997.
Posted by: helloworld | Oct 14, 2008 12:26:41 PM
McCain needs to bring up all of Obamas ties to radical far-left people and groups, it doesnt stop with Ayers. Obama has associated and sided with far-left politics his whole career and only stopped this year when he was running for presidency. He is deeply connected to ACORN but is trying to hide it, Ayers started his political carreer and introduced him to the right people (why else would Ayers help him if they didnt share the same values) and Rev Wright is a marxist/socialist who blames the whites for all the problems of the world and teaches that Africa is the motherland and that is where our loyalties lie. the list goes on but they are the main reasons to not vote obama
Posted by: Louise | Oct 14, 2008 12:26:46 PM
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