April 27, 2008
Hillary Wants Another Debate, Barack Says No Thanks
Hillary Clinton's campaign sent a letter to Barack Obama's campaign to suggest an unmoderated debate, but Obama's campaign said no, specifically pointing out, "We have participated in 21 nationally televised debates, the most in primary history, including four exclusively with Senator Clinton. Senator Clinton refused an earlier invitation that had been accepted to debate in North Carolina."
Instead, Obama's campaign said it believes "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."
Originally, Obama had agreed to a North Carolina debate on April 19, but the Clinton campaign was "concerned" since it was the first day of Passover. Then Clinton agreed to an April 27 debate, but Obama did not, leading to the cancellation of the NC debate.
The letter from Clinton campaign manager Maggie Williams (addressed to Obama campaign manager David Plouffe) notes how the public has been interested in this primary race, refers to Obama's refusal of tomorrow night's debate and proposes a "Lincoln-Douglas" style debate:
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.You can read the whole letter here.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.
Obama said in an interview with Fox News' Chris Wallace that he's "not ducking" a debate, emphasized how he wants to talk directly to "as many folks as possible on the ground, and "We’re not going to have debates between now and Indiana.”
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good. no more idiot debates.
Can we get this stupid thing over with already?
I can't blame Obama for not wanting to debate, after that piss-poor "debate" run by ABC News. What a shitshow.
Actually, the no-moderator format sounds far superior to what they've been doing. What would happen when the candidates themselves set the agenda? If it turned out to be more shit then it would be their own fault, not some network jerk's.
Obama's got to be really bold, now. It's starting to look like he's losing.
I'm so sick and tired of people using short sentences for dramatic effect.
Plouffe: Both of our candidates are making history. Let us continue to do so. Let’s debate.
Apple: It’s the result of rethinking conventions. Of multiple wireless innovations. And of breakthrough design.
etc etc
That said, Obama '08.
I think Obama is going to win Indiana which is clearly a midwestern state unlike PA which is more mid-atlantic/east coast state.
Indiana falls in the Chicago sphere of influence and the southern part of the state is sparsely populated. Also he can win Indianapolis.
I don't think a debate proves anything about a candidate. All I want to see is their health plans, national budget plans, and war plans, all on paper! Let them both publish their plans in the NYTimes or the Post. Let's see something real.
They can talk all they want, and we all know Hillary has a big, loud mouth and can yap anyone to death, and that Obama is charming and clever and charismatic.
I want some stuff in black and white, and I mean ink on paper.
BTW - I notice Hillary's not wearing a flag pin in that photo. Does she hate America? Ha ha ha ha ha.
obama is scared.
The one policy issue obama needs to address is his insistence on corn base biofuels. His support of this is driving up the price of corn and supporting mega companies like ADM.
McCain is against mandated E85 additives to fuel.
This question NEEDS to be asked.
"obama is scared."
babyhitler is scared.
scared of what? McCain as president? Hey vanessNYC. Who did NYC vote for? ANswer. not OBama. Hilary also won California. Now, it's too late for OBama and Hilary anyway. Say hello to McCain 2008.
""obama is scared."
babyhitler is scared."
babyhitler is irrelevant.
An unmoderated debate sounds absolutely amazing, and as an Obama supporter I would love to watch the two of them actually talk to one another.
Barack's afraid of Hilary. What a pussy.
The only reason she's demanding a debate is because she's behind in the polls (the candidate that is behind is always the one that calls for more debates) and she's broke and a debate is free airtime. This makes her look desperate.
Oh, not that "let's debate on having more debates" again!! That is soooo 2 months ago.
cucarachita, if you're interested (and are capable of The Internets) you can see everything laid out on the candidates' websites.
I support Senator Obama, but I agree with Matty about the biofuels issue... though now that I think about it, perhaps this wouldn't be an issue at all if the government stopped subsidizing some farmers for plowing under their fields?
One more goddamned debate and I'm off to Dallas to lie in wait for anyone even remotely associated with these two dwindling shitbags. I thought we had a race, now it's more like a fucking reality T.V. gameshow. Vote them off the planet!
The big state argument doesn't make sense considering he won Texas.
And Illinois. And Georgia.