If He Can Attack Obama, Why Can't He Debate Obama?

Apparently, even though John McCain doesn't want to debate Barack Obama, he doesn't have any problem attacking him -- even after suspending his presidential campaign.

Here's video from McCain's CBS News interview yesterday. He starts out by earnestly professing his desire suspend his campaign and skip the debates to do the country's business. But he just can't help himself. Within seconds, he's on the warpath, attacking everything in sight, including Barack Obama.

Comments

[DCtrain]

The head-line is wrong. It should read "If McCain can attack Obama and Bill Clinton can shield McCain's negative image why can't he debate?"

[sheisme]

Like my grandfather, McCain needs his naptime ... doing more than one "show" a day has worn him to a frazzle. When tired, McCain gets confused, hostile, erratic and makes mistakes. And with all the multi-tasking to be done - who is going to guard the iron curtain around dim-witted Palin and make sure her mouth stays closed when a teleprompter is nowhere to be found. McCain's stunts might simply be pitiful if our future wasn't on the line. McCain looks tired and sickly on TV ... thus the $5000 makeup ... his eye droops and twitches and he is walking more stooped than before. His mind is no longer sharp and he does not appear to have the energy for a rigorous presidential campaign or the demands of the Presidency. And it is becoming more and more apparent that Palin can't even pull off a simple interview, let alone a debate. Her grammar is appalling, her grasp of complex issues is non-existent, her smugness and grandiose confidence unnerving. The thought of an old and weakened, mind-slipping President should scare us. The thought of Palin being one sick, 72 year old, failing heartbeat away from the Presidency should scare us to death!

[08politicaljunkie]

Oh trust me, we're scared. It's the other half...

[jusion]

Bill Clinton was asked by ABC about McCain's decision to postpone the debate and said::
"I presume [McCain] did that in good faith since I know he wanted — I remember he asked for more debates to go all around the country, and so I don't think we ought to overly parse that."

President Clinton's got no problem with McCain's proposal to postpone the debate. What are you guys whining about?

[UpstateNY]

Bill Clinton has no problem with anything McCain does - because Hillary isn't the Democratic nominee. I wonder how long the Democratic memory is and what will happen next time Hillary wants to run for something.

There is hardly any difference in issues between Hillary and Barack and a world of difference betwen Hillary and McCain. So - what do you REALLY think this is about?

[Thorn2008]

It's been painfully obvious for a long time neither of the clintons put country first. The clintons bush's and mcains of the political stage all share that trait. they only care about their percieved power and the political aristocracy for which they were bred.

[MrsMAB]

No one here gives a crap what Clinton thinks. We all know that McCain is McScared..­. And Palin is failin'...­.fast.

[Shea4Obama]

Ditto.....­Clinton should be out of the picture period....­..

[beringer37]

Isn't that obvious? If McCain wins then Hillary is a shoe in for the nomination after he screws up the next four years! I love the Clintons, however I do not think they will be very upset if McCain wins because they know if not now the country will definitely elect a democrat for Prez after McCain completes four more years of Bush policies.

[Scott1560]

Oh, I don't think that McCain has a problem debating Obama. He was more than up for it and for far more debates than Obama was willing to agree to, but that's not to say that Obama was wrong regarding the frequency. It was a smart politicl move by him and I really don't think we need that many debates unless it is to appearl to fans of the WWF.
That said, Clinton was probably correct. You can bash McCain all you want, but if you've been following politics for any length of time, his goals, right or wrong, were most likely genuine. His history of reacy across the aisle far exceeds anything Obama has even dreamed of and explains why to many democrats do defend him, including Biden, and why so many in the republican base are nervous of him. He does have a history of playing nice, trying to get things done.
You can run a million smear articles on McCain, post away the perceived negatives, paint him as evil, but it does not change the history of the man nor does it change how others in Congress regard him.

[AmHope]

Nor does it change the fact that he's no longer the McCain of years ago. (This coming from someone who used to admire him).

[Beranek]

Andy Kaufman's Mickey Mouse--That's how one of those "others in Congress regard him".

[Thorn2008]

I would love to see more of mccains history on display because he is after all culpable for the mess the country is in; right down to selling America on how easy the war would be and how necessary it was. Deregulation votes agains children and women. Please by all means brag to everyone about mccains history will you.

[HalR]

Same old crap from McCain, serial lies from him and VP. Why would anyone feel they were presidental material or capable, Obama/Biden are both capable, knowledgeable and demonstrate presidental solutions for problem we face. John is totally out of touch with no ideas only political insults.

[eden4barack08]

Still with that townhall whine? Goodness me! Why won't anybody tell him that each candidate runs his own campaign as he prefers? The Presidential debates are NOT something he can equate to his fake townhalls.
McSame proves he's unfit to be anything, but a grumpy old man.

[DrFrescas]

ENOUGH WITH THE TOWN HALL MEETINGS!

[bobbuck]

So is he suspending his campaign because:

A: He wants to concentrate on the bailout plan.

B: He wants to avoid debating BO.

C: He wants to create a distraction for Rick Davis and the $15000 pm Fannie payments.

D: He wants to buy more time for Sarah Failin to educate herself on foreign policy.

E: He wants to buy more time for Sarah Failin to educate herself on everything!

F: He wants to run down the clock.

G: He wants to have a sleep.

H: He wants to assess his flip-flopping, multiple positions on everything.


Please make your selection.­..

[oldrwizr]

All of the above.....­.minus A.

[tel8034]

So he is suspending his campaign because:

I: He is LOSING.

[mnash]

For two weeks while this has been going on, McCain did not go to Washington. He campaigned, did interviews, went traveling all over the US. Today he goes to Washington, meets with some Republicans. NOW, a couple of hours ago, Democrats and REPUBLICANS came out and said basically the deal the deal would go through, they were working on sticking points. John Boehner comes out and said, "WE have no deal. A piece of paper with their on deal arose. Low and behold, this happened while McCain met with these people. Apparently McCain wants credit for this deal, doesn't want it passed so he does not have to debate. Should be fun with Obama and the town hall

[childofdalight]

VOTE NOW!!! yahoo poll!

Should the presidential debate be postponed? Results
Q. John McCain wants it postponed due to deal with the financial crisis. Barack Obama says now's the time people need to hear where the candidates stand.

What do you think? Should the presidential debate be delayed?

CLICK> http://js.polls.yahoo.com/quiz/quiziframe.php?poll_id=39409

[ensure]

Poll: 86 Percent Of Voters Want Debate To Be Held
http://www.sefermpost.com/sefermpost/2008/09/poll-86-percent.html

Obama to McCain: 'Join Me at the Debate Friday'
http://www.sefermpost.com/sefermpost/2008/09/obama-to-mccain.html

Poll: Barack Obama "Breaking Open" Contest At State Level
http://www.sefermpost.com/sefermpost/2008/09/poll-barack-o-9.html

Barack Obama Leads John McCain In Most National Polls
http://www.sefermpost.com/sefermpost/2008/09/barack-obama-le.html

House To Investigate New York Congressman Charles Rangel
http://www.sefermpost.com/sefermpost/2008/09/house-to-invest.html

John McCain Suspends Campaign, Barack Obama Refuses
http://www.sefermpost.com/sefermpost/2008/09/john-mccain-sus.html

Presidential Election: Quick Read on the Election
http://www.sefermpost.com/sefermpost/2008/09/presidential-el.html

US Condoleezza Rice Says Russia is Authoritarian
http://www.sefermpost.com/sefermpost/2008/09/us-condoleezz-1.html

[robeson]

Bill Clinton backs entire McCain dodge.
ABC News' Nitya Venkataraman Reports: Former President Bill Clinton defended Sen. John McCain's request to delay the first presidential debate, saying McCain did it in "good faith" and pushed organizers to reserve time for economy talk during the debate if the Friday plans move forward.

[eden4barack08]

Bill is thinking with his other head lately.

[kawika]

His member is ailin for Palin.

[raskolnikov72]

McCain is a p*ssy

[sophistwatch]

John McCain can't attend the debate because he will loose - to himself. He has been on both sides of every major issue in this campaign. Now his campaign is suspended and yet he continues to attack Obama.

Even his high powered team of well healed lobbyists are not going to keep McCain from falling flat on his ass before this campaign is over.

[MsCanadian]

What kind of cheese does McCain want with his whine?