Obama And McCain Open To Unmoderated Debates Across Country

New York Times:

Senators John McCain and Barack Obama are already drawing up strategies for taking each other on in the general election, focusing on the same groups -- including independent voters and Latinos -- and about a dozen states where they think the contest is likely to be decided this fall, campaign aides said.

In a sign of what could be an extremely unusual fall campaign, the two sides said Saturday that they would be open to holding joint forums or unmoderated debates across the country in front of voters through the summer. Mr. Obama, campaigning in Oregon, said that the proposal, floated by Mr. McCain's advisers, was "a great idea."

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[several]

I'm liking this unmoderated town hall approach. Stephanopoulos and Gibson wore out the welcome of 'moderators' at the debates. Keep the moderators out of it, let voters ask the questions (as long as they aren't plants.)

[JhNyc]

Let's hope they're nice long debates. Those adult diapers get heavy after a while.

[jj]

I'm a 100% Obama supporter and I loathe the idea of McCain as President but - and I don't mean to attack you personally by any means - but this kind of thing seems really rude to me.

McCain has a long service to our country in the military and the Senate. He was (and of course his campaign will constantly remind you) a POW.

I think there are ways to attack his positions and flip-flops without attacking the man.

My opinion - and again don't mean to attack you personally.

[several]

*applause*

[abby4ever]

If it seems really rude, that's because it IS really rude.

[rzan]

All these negative commentors will be getting old one day. My objections to McCain have nothing to do with his age. He is only 11 years older than I am. His position on the war is enough to sway me against him.

[KarateKid]

This guy is not what his PR staff makes it seem. Read my comment above. He has not been very "honorable" in his life. I am a Vietnam Vet, 60 years old, and despise this phony lout.

As for the age jokes, well, you can't turn the clock back after all........

[billysviez]

like almost ALL the people in Congress, McShame has servive to himself. his Military Record has unanswered questions that i won't Judge him on. We don't need to bush a third teem with this Liar.

[jj]

Hillary Clinton will have been the toughest obstacle on Obama's path to the White House.

McCain is the GOP's sacrificial lamb.

[inthecolour]

Oh my goodness. When they're photographed together it just hits you.

McCain is SO OLD. Obama not looking 46yrs old just makes things worse for him.

The contrast is startling.

[KarateKid]

A Gonna Be v.s. A Has Been

[nativeeyes]

The GOP set McShame up! McSenile has become the Republican sacrificial lamb..

No Republican wants to be VP but Mitt Romney.. lol!!

McSenile doesn't like Mormons, lol!!

The Republicans are asking for someone to step up and become a VP,

They all said, "ARE YOU KIDDING"

And your losing your bearings?? You stupid.. lol!!

We don't got a snow balls chance in hel.l of Beating the Democrats in down economy..

McWAR says yeah I know, but I need to get off my Butt and look like I am not losing my BEARINGS..

[KarateKid]

Did you catch Obama's response to Romney's diss on CNN? He pointed out where he is at, and where Romney is at. Romney is sickening as a butt kisser, he wants to be VP so badly. Mr. Flip Flop deserves another Flip Flopper.

[nativeeyes]

In a debate, Obama will destroy McBush.. McWar's comb over will switch sides right before out eyes once he can't answer You said McWar " WE ARE THERE FOR OIL?"

That's will be ugly once McShame loses his cool and bites Obama ears off...

[KarateKid]

THIS is where his battle with Clinton, who is a great debater, will come in handy. 21 times to practice and hone his message will make mincemeat of Grandpa, and his sickening and phony "my friends".

[samandally]

I doubt that, Oblahma can't form a sentence without a script.

[in4success]

at least he can read a fucking teleprompter and actually comprehends what the fuck he's reading -- writes most the stuff himself -- mccain looks at the text as if it's he's reading it for the first time and it's quantum physics.

so what's your point?

[Spiriteddona]

He hid from debating Hillary. McPain shall be wearing a spiritual God Bless America Shield
yahoo search / yahoo video search , my accapello rap-- "Pantsuit Vixens For Hillary" with a trib to Ttna Fey!
Link Number = http://video.yahoo.com/watch/2559101/7672083

[KillTheMessenger]

Did you know that people who debate nuts look like nuts? Senator Clinton is very close to going over the edge. No sane candidate will share the same stage with her.

McCain/Obama, on the other hand, could go a long way to restore REAL political debate in this country which did not exist for decades. If nothing else it would put the MSM where they belong: the dustbin of history.

[rzan]

Except that an awful lot of people in power seem to be overlooking her horrible behavior. John Edwards praised her for her courage in continuing to fight on. He says she is not a racist - he knows this for a fact, and while Sen. Rangel criticized her, he is still not changing his support for her. She will win big in West Virginia and Kentucky, and the MSM will start saying that the election is going in her direction. She will also get her way with the Michigan and Florida votes. I guess the democratic organizations in those two states agree with her. Of course they would, they are the ones who broke the rules. I really feel very sorry for Obama supporters in these states who did not go to the polls or voted undecided because they thought their votes would not count. Their votes will never be counted. (Sorry to be so negative. Maybe I'll feel better tomorrow).

[JhNyc]

He didn't hide from debating her. The losers always demand more debates, and the frontrunners decide if and when. Clinton did the same thing during her last senate run when she was ahead.

[KarateKid]

Hid??? After 21 times??? What were you watching??? You're not Spiriteddona, you sound more like Disspiriteddona to me.

[KISSman]

One of the few good things about campaigning against Hillary Clinton was the fact that Obama faced a great debater over 20 times. It definitely helped raise his game. I sure look forward to debates against McSame. I have no doubt that Obama's stock will rise after people get a chance to see the stark differences between these two candidates.

[Actionmac]

you cant call someone a great debater because they tell lies at the drop of a hat to fit the question. Then when caught lying, gives a dissertation so long people forget the question.

Got to give it to her she does memorizes the papers she reads to make seem very informed, except the one that mattered Iraq info leading to the war.

[Sabreen60]

It's called the "art of bullsh*ting. Hillary is an expert.

[KarateKid]

That's what debating is all about, and she's good at it. Perception is the reality in debates. She's a lot of things, but stupid is not one of them. But, that's what makes his victory all the sweeter; he didn't beat up on a bunch of stiffs. He brought down the Clinton machine.

[KillTheMessenger]

Huh? Senator Clinton a great debater? She puts cream cheese to sleep.

[rzan]

She sounds like a robot with canned responses. I can't stand listening to her.

[KarateKid]

Oh, yeah, Kill Man, you might not like what she said, but she was very clever and tough. I agree with KISSman. I was on a debate team in high school and can appreciate her skill at putting words in his mouth. But, you know what, our guy survived and began dishing it out as good as he got. He got better and an unmoderated format will favor him, without the stupid Stephanopolous and Gibson moderators. He even survived that one; ABC didn't think George was a conflict of interest so who needs the MSM to get in the way?

[McFlipFlop]

Well, I'm sure Obama will not overtly make McMummy's age an issue, but Obama's campaign has got to point out the obvious lack of mental acuity.

That McTorture has "lost his bearings" is not near enough -- this dottering old fool would have his hand on the button.

[KarateKid]

He won't have to. McCain will bring that out himself and it will be evident.

[AdamND]

Obama will own those debates. McCain can talk but he's not really good at spitting stuff out.

He cant handle one on one questions from the crowd but if its rapid fire between the two then he is going to be more likly to fumble and make his famous gaffes.

[patmancando]

He didn't win one of them with Clinton...........he is afraid of her .

[themethod]

he won 80% of the debates

[Actionmac]

because he didn't make her look like the lying, pandering campaign incompetent that she is is not fear it's having respect for another democrat, something she lacks in all situations.

[KarateKid]

He won the nomination. As for the debates, it all depends on one's point of view and your's is obvious. So, the bottom line is, how many votes does your guy have and how many does our guy have? And he debated her 21 times, hardly afraid of her or ducking her.

[qdog112]

Barack will kill him in any format, but that won't be enough. Kerry killed Bush. McCain will have to self destruct in front of us all. It will have to be so bad that the network will have to cut to a commercial to hide the spectacle.

It can't be homicide. The damage must be self inflicted. I predict it will happen.

[heal57]

Maybe McCain can take some of Cindy's pills so he settles down during the debates.

[patmancando]

That is a low blow. Her problem was long ago. But then Obaminations get their thrills by trying to demean everyone but Obama.

[brainuser]

No, no, no. No commercials. The networks already make enough money. A little public service won't kill them.


And how about something like 5-minute minimum spots, to add some content, instead of 30-second spots? The candidates have or can get the money.

[TuffPosh]

These debates would be pointless, because there are issues - such as immigration - where they agree. In fact, the debates wouldn't just be pointless, they'd be more like Soviet Union "debates".

If anyone wants real debates, help push this proposal:

http://nomoreblather.com/policy-debates

[patmancando]

Any one want real debates, demand Obama debate Hillary.............Obama is a scaredy cat.. Obama can't speak if it isn't script.

I got so tired of the ahs, ers, etc. during the Bush years. Seems Obama, when he speaks spontaneously, uses Bush language.

[Sabreen60]

Give it a break. Geezzz. The loser, Hillary, always wants another debate. Sen. Obama has debated 21 or 22 times. Hillary can run her mouth - we all know this. She is a # 1 class spinner - we all know this. She can duck an answer with the best of them - we all know this. It doesn't matter. Get over it.

[stateMachine]

Ahs, ers = taken aback at the brazen bias/callow nature of moderation. Flag pins, muslim names, guilt by association... this is the substance of a debate? Have we no at last neither respect nor regard for the American political process?

Yeah, let's have another debate and see who Hillary alienates this time with her sophomoric pronouncements on foreign policy.

[focher]

I think that is an excellent idea. Which other people who aren't going to win the Democratic nomination for President should Obama debate?

[foreffectivegovernment]

Just one little known fact about the 2004 general election. John Kerry, (Viet-Nam war hero), won all of the debates against George W. Bush, (Idiot). George W. Bush won the Presidency. Superrior debating skills are not the only determining factor as they seem to have been in the Democratic Primary.

[TMAN]

You're right about this. A Republican strength in the past has been the knowledge that owing to the fact we no longer have real jounalism-reporting, honest news, "perception" is everything, the truth of an event be damned.

Let Barack hesitate one nano second before answering, in an actual reflective thought process with careful consideration and they'll spin the sh@t out of it for tommorows spin cycle that Obama appeared hesitant, unsure, etc, etc. And you will have forgotten completely not only what the question was, but worse still what his answer was.

I would'nt laugh any of this off, as a "breeze" for Obama. It's Infotainment, Republican style.
Just look at the damage Snufflelufagus, and that other twerp at ABC did to "perception".

[heal57]

I say no moderator debates and shown on the Internet.

[heal57]

George Bush was a total moron in the debates aginst Kerry. There is question as to if George Bush really won that 2nd election [and of course, the first also] ... Diebold machines, no paper receipts,....and Kerry is not Obama. I voted for Kerry but didn't really want to, but he was better than Bush. It's different this time.


Independent for Obama

[lmrgreen]

Kerry, while a good candidate, lacked the kind of grass-roots support that Obama has and continues to "grow". So you're right - it's not enough to win the debates, but I think the difference in Kerry and Obama is that Obama reaches people's hearts and minds in a way Kerry just didn't, however much we wish he had. I wish he'd reached mine - yes, I one of those disillusioned poor souls that bought into the George Bush farce.

These debates are a great idea - as long as they keep the MSM out of it - wouldn't it be great to go back to having the League of Woman Voters run the debates......forgive me while I get nostalgic.....

[PoliticoJonze]

McCain excels in small townhall type settings. Obama probably believes he can trap him easier and maybe rile up that infamous McCain temper. Just having the two side by side should benefit Obama as it will highlight the age difference. He just needs to make sure he doesn't come off as arrogant or condescending to the old timer.

[Actionmac]

McSames people will say that Obama was being condescending to an old man as they are trying to spin his response to mcsame's hamas attack.

Obama will concentrate on the difference in policies and mcsame will react just as clinton by using the one liners, trying to get the sound bite for the week in news. Should he not go for the one liners, he is going to upset some segment of his party. mcsame has more of a balancing act with his people than Obama does with the clinton voters.

[axt113]

Obama needs to get McSame angry, real angry, so McSame lunges at him, that will end the race

[heal57]

McCain can't remember one liners.

[SaintZak]

I can't wait untill Obama corrects him on a Shiite/Sunni mix up.

[kellygrrrl]

I can't wait until McLame refers to Persia or Czechoslovakia

[NYC07]

or the Sudetenland !

[brainuser]

Or he could ask McCain how many states there are.