McCain, Obama fail to agree on town halls

WASHINGTON — Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Friday rejected Republican rival John McCain's proposal for 10 joint town-hall appearances, offering instead to have just one on the July 4 holiday.

Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said he offered to meet McCain in five joint appearances between now and the Nov. 4 election. But only one of those was a town-hall meeting, plus three traditional debates and an in-depth debate on foreign policy.

The McCain campaign said Obama's offer was to hold the single town hall on Independence Day _ which likely would have resulted in less attention while Americans are on holiday. McCain told reporters traveling with him in New Jersey that was "a very disappointing response."

McCain had said the more intimate town-hall format, a give-and-take between a candidate and the audience, would allow real interaction with voters and would be more revealing than formal televised debates. Town halls are also McCain's favorite style of campaigning and would allow him to get free media attention alongside the better-funded Obama.

When a McCain adviser first floated the idea last month, Obama said it was a great idea. But the Illinois senator told reporters Tuesday that it's not realistic to have 10 town halls with all the other campaigning he needs to do after just clinching the Democratic Party's nomination months after McCain wrapped up the GOP nod.

The two campaigns have been unable to work out a deal, other than to agree that the town halls should not be sponsored by media organizations and instead be open to all networks like presidential debates. The two sides on Sunday jointly rejected an offer by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and ABC News to host the first town hall for that reason.

Plouffe tried to place the blame on McCain for refusing to agree, saying five joint appearances "would have been the most of any presidential campaign in the modern era, offering a broad range of formats and representing a historic commitment to openness and transparency."

"It's disappointing that Senator McCain and his campaign decided to decline this proposal. Apparently they would rather contrive a political issue than foster a genuine discussion about the future of our country," Plouffe said.

McCain responded during a brief news conference in Pemberton, N.J., where he traveled for his own town hall.

"I'll let the American people decide which is the preferable proposal," he said. "I want the American people to have the exposure to a number of town hall meetings, not just one."

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Associated Press writer Jim Kuhnhenn in Pemberton, N.J., contributed to this report.

Comments

[apoyo]

It's a set up. Why should McCain dictate how Obama campaigns. Whose fault is it that McCain has no money? Why do you even need debates? It's pretty clear where each of them stands. McCain can go on whining and over using the pronoun "I", as in "I want". See how many votes that gets him.

[amazinggrace]

Come on HuffPo, my comment has not been already posted. What is going on? This is my first post of the day.

[Underthematrix]

I don't get why McCain would want to be seen with Sen. Obama. The only person who would gain is Sen. Obama.

[fungeezer]

McCain's "town hall" meeting are not really "town hall" meetings. They are nothing but small gatherings of people that share his views. In real town hall meetings, you have people from all differing viewpoints and people willing to speak out against things said. Having hand picked attendees is not a town hall meeting. I am a little surprised that the media does not call out McCain's campaign on this.

It misrepresents what "town hall" meetings truly are. It is deceptive.

[JJaye]

For the life of me, I can't figure out why John McCain would want to be seen anywhere near Barack Obama. McCain is probably praying that Obama keeps turning down his offer. McCain will lose in any setting against Obama because no matter whether you agree with McCain or not because he cannot effectively convey his points without fumbling over his words. It is just hard to listen to him. I fear it would be very embarrassing for McCain and Obama would somehow be blamed for making McCain look too much like an out of touch senior citizen.

[rimofheaven]

His strategy right now is to lure Obama into the trap of town hall meetings. John McCain is not looking to debate because Obama is really just too much for him. What he wants is to pull him into a very controlled setting, where he can stand on the same platform as Obama without coming off as painfully underwhelming and underschooled. He might get away with it. With the media and hell bent on talking about anything but the issues (Michelle Obama's lack of patriotism, her new found pride in being an American, the mysterious "whitey tape," etc) John has a good chance of walking into the white house without ever having to really debate the issues in front of the people. We'll see.

[FogBelter]

Let's cut through the crap here ... at the rate Obama is bringing in money through supporters on the Internet, the McCain Camp knows they will be unable to compete with Obama in the Fall. The ten Town Hall Meetings are in lieu of McCain hitting the various Media Markets with Ads.

McCain is also hoping that Obama will show him the same kind of deference in terms of his controversial background issues that was shown to Clinton ... I wouldn't hold my breath on that. The minute McCain pipes up with Reverend Wright, for instance, I would like to see Obama go down the man's throat of how, in a complete act of insincere opportunism, McCain used Hagee, and Parsley to capture those religious leader's constituencies, and then dispatch them when things got too hot. Every time McCain opens his mouth in a negative fashion he should get both barrels in response. No mercy.

Back to the point, Obama is in the power position, he shouldn't cave to McCain ... make the old man sweat.

[SuiginTou7]

Come on, John. What are you afraid of? I guess with all the debates Hillary and Obama have had, I 'm guessing Obama will be able to make you look foolish, old and out of touch with in a minute. Better yet let you talk, Mark Twain was right
"It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt."

[noamjunior]

Given McCain's packing "townhall" meetings with partisians lobbing him softballs, why would Obama agree to that?

[zendem1]

It's a ploy. McFlipper offers up terms he knows Obama wouldn't take in a million years. Then, after Obama refuses, McNixon goes around the country doing his fake town hall meetings, screaming, "Obama is ducking! he won't talk to the American people!"..blah, blah efing blah..Obama needs to turn it around quick by offering Mccain a debate deal, then knock his brains out when he says no..Turn it into a flip-flop deal: say something like "First he wants to debate, then he says no..I'm not sure what John Mccain wants anymore."

[96Bravo]

I don't know why Obama doesn't want to do more town halls. I think he fair very well in a less formal proceeding than he does with those stuffy debates. And he'll have a physical advantage over McCain in that environment. They'll be walking around onstage, microphone in hand. It may be a terrible thing to say, but Obama is going to look much healthier and energetic compared to McCain.

Now, I don't think they should do 10 of these things. Nor do I think they should be totally un-moderated. Also the biggest concern is that the townhall meetings not be filled with McCain supporters. But otherwise, I think Obama should consider a couple of town hall opportunities.

[harriscrl3]

Obama wants to have an indepth debate on Foreign Policy but that can't be right thats McCain's strong suit he is the experience one when it comes to Foreign Policy why would Obama be challenging someone with his vast experience INDEPTH on an area where he is the expert. Thats just young and foolish. I hope McCain brushes up on his Geography foreign policy and history because contrary to what he believes foreign policy doesnt mean Iraq it means the WORLD. Military action is just ONE of many tools available to Pressure another country they are others I hope he knows what they are. I actually think Foreign policy is McCain's weakness along with the economy but thats just me. A word of advice to McCain when someone issues you a challenge to have a debate indepth on your area its because they smell blood they sense this is your weakness and want to move in for the kill. Just a friendly suggestion.

Carol

[fungeezer]

Carol, It is because McCain's foreign policy depth has been greatly overstated. Think of all the gaffes already without any prompting. He didn't even seem to know the difference between Shiite and Sunni. McCain is viewed more poorly in most nations of the world than Obama, and that is partly because they know he is no expert and they disagree with much of what he says. Try reading foreign news outlets, you'll see.

[chosenson]

Carol,

McCain hides behind the "I'm the only war veteran/POW that America has ever had, and therefore you must never question me on foreign policy" attitude that he is constantly pitching. The GOP wants to use POW status to insulate him from any mis-steps on the Iraq war. And the media is gobbling it up. For all his years in the senate, what foreign policy has McCain influenced? Can somebody tell me, please! I have been researching this for months, and I'm coming up blank.

[gvc]

The word "debate" is misused in the modern political context. Short responses to loaded or vacuous questions bear little relationship to true debate. It doesn't really matter whether the questions come from a crowd or from professional hacks.

The Lincoln-Douglas debates were long-winded affairs in which the debaters had the opportunity to develop long arguments and to respond to each other's arguments. I don't mean 3 minutes or even 8 minutes; I mean 30 minutes to an hour. Per round.

There is no need, really, to have "audience" questions at all. The candidates know what the issues are and they can raise them themselves, along with their arguments. The only necessary moderation is a time keeper. Post-hoc analysis can determine whether or not the facts are correct and the arguments sound.

I think, for example, an extended debate about taxes and balanced budgets, or about the role of US troops in the middle east, or how to abate climate change, would be most illuminating. Not responses to questions like "how will you keep me safe?" or "which of you loves America more?" or "why did you call your wife a ----?" or "why didn't you disown/reject/denounce xxxx?" etc.

I suppose what I've written is too elitist. Then let's have a referendum on which questions the candidates should be called on to debate, give them to them in advance, and have a real debate!

[Flagal]

Your comments are not elitist unless the definition of elitist is "to make sense".
Your post is spot on.

[NotMcCain]

I like that idea. Substantive questions focusing on issues that are actually important and given to candidates ahead of time. They present about their policies, ask each other questions about them, and respond to those questions on topic.

Why haven't we had a debate like that? Too cerebral? Have PBS host it then. I think the networks would be surprised that people will still tune in.

Of course, McFlipFlop would reject any format where sympathetic moderators (or audience) aren't available to lob him softballs while grilling Obama about Reverend Wright, flag pins, and the pledge of allegiance. And giving the media soundbites to play 24/7.

It would be great to see your ideas in practice and get away from all the gimmicks.

[JimR]

Not elitist at all. I agree.

The problem is that too many Americans expect to be entertained, and they can only digest short soundbites.

[Independent voter]

Looks like the big war hero is just a scared kitty kat.

[masterself]

There's no one in those small town meeting but hard working class
white people who cling to their gun and religion, so i don't blame Obama
for not excepting Mccain red-neck debate, but nice try Mccsame.

[MizLiz]

Irony alert!

[MizLiz]

Well, he was practically last in his graduating class. I don't see much of an intellect there.

[DaOne]

Town Halls = waste of time and they benefit the penniless McCain camp. I want one on one moderated debates where the old man gets his head handed to him over and over again.

John McCain "No Campaign for Old Men"

[windwalker1984]

These "town hall" meetings are really just a way for FOX to give free air time to his campaign, to get around the election contribution rules. No surprise there.