Obama: McCain Wasn't Willing To Say Ayers Attacks "To My Face" (VIDEO)

During an interview with ABC's Charlie Gibson Wednesday night, Barack Obama accused John McCain of scoring "cheap political points" with the personal attacks he had leveled at him in recent days. Speaking of the previous night's presidential debate, Obama said he was surprised McCain didn't attempt to repeat these attacks during their time on stage together:

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.

Watch the clip:

Update: Joe Biden echoes the line during an appearance on Thursday in Missouri:

"All of the things they said about Barack Obama in the TV, on the TV, at their rallies, and now on YouTube ... John McCain could not bring himself to look Barack Obama in the eye and say the same things to him," Biden said this morning. "In my neighborhood, when you've got something to say to a guy, you look him in the eye and you say it to him."

Biden, who arrived on stage in St. Joseph to chants of "Joe! Joe! Joe," urged the crowd not to be distracted by McCain claims, saying that every "false charge, every baseless accusation is an attempt to get you to stop paying attention to what's going on in this country and what's going on in your lives." And on the issues that matter, he said, McCain is offbase, particularly on his newest mortgage plan.

Comments

[NortontheCat]

Well, McCain will have his chance to say all this to Obama's face in less than a week at Debate #3. Heck, he couldn't even look Obama in the eye when he was accusing him of wanting to raise taxes! I doubt he's up to this challenge!

Obama/Biden needs to push this "tell me to my face" line HARD before the next debate, and put the onus on John McCain. If McCain brings it up next week, he gives Obama a national stage to tear apart their ridiculous and desperate accusations. If he doesn't, then McCain looks like a coward. Win-win for Obama.

[neuron]

One word.
Coward.

[Schnides]

Or strategist. It's not over yet.

[Nikola Tesla]

"Joe Scarborough appeared on "The Colbert Report" Wednesday night and told Stephen Colbert it is "too late" for John McCain to win the presidential election."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/09/joe-scarborough-on-colber_n_133216.html

[phoenix2000]

This is why i am NOT a republican. This is why i will never VOTE republican! When you can't debate the issues, the republicans turn to smears and lies and filth.

[WhatsLeft]

Common wisdom will say that both parties are equally bad. I disagree. The "left" doesn't have Limbaughs, Hannitys, O'Reillys, Savages, ect. The "right" claims the moral high ground on the issues of abortion and gay marriage. But neither issue is enough to forgive the smears and lies they tell or the hate they promote. They are not one of us.

[Shadow08]

Correct. Democrats anD liberals do not have to have legions of extreme hate-mongers on the radio and TV airwaves 24/7. If the republicans had to win and election on issues...they just never would. They admitted last weekend, when the said they had to turn the page on the economy and turn to personal attacks.

IOW garbage/sewer campaining. They make me sick.

[Nikola Tesla]

This article should provide some insight:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article4783077.ece

[sunnyokanagan]

Oh puh-lease. Don't confuse Senator McCain with the facts! His sheeple can't stand that.

[ILikeH00ters]

This man is cool and confident. I am proud to say that I am voting for "Mr. That One"

[AnAmericanWoman]

me too.

[robotsoul]

I am anxious to see if Mc Cain actually does bring these things up in the next debate. I hope he does, it would give Obama a chance to finally answer these ridiculous claims. So we can sweep aside the distractions and talk policy for at least half a news cycle

[Nikola Tesla]

Raycists are Do mestic Terr orists:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynching

[Nikola Tesla]

Their work: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Lynching-of-woman-1911.jpg

[Nikola Tesla]

http://withoutsanctuary.org/pics_33.html

[USA1776]

What do the Republicans have to say: a noun, a verb and Bill Ayers.

[lobear00]

Obama, "Please come clean", List all the other people that were on that same board that you served on, "Just to clear the air. And show Mccain, where his "Snake hole is.

[dzymzlzy]

Please take down that angry-looking picture of Obama on the politics page with "Say it to my face" in red all-caps. He's trying to stay away from the angry black man stereotype.

[mervr1]

McCain won't say anything to Obama face to face, because if he does during the debates he knows Obama will respond and open up McCain's nasty secrets to millions of people at one time. McCain only speaks to his rallies, because he knows the stupid mainstream media is gullible and will eat it up playing only soundbites. McCain is also afraid he won't be able to control his temper when Obama brings up one his dirtiest secrets and respond inappropriately because he won't be able to control himself.

[missjabez]

Sounds like entertaining TV. I can just see McCain rolling around on the floor and frothing at the mouth, while Obama stands over him looking concerned, asking "Senator, are you allright?"

[Nikola Tesla]

Only cowards coddle raycists.

[35Echo]

Sounds like a BHO 'coddle' of Rev. Wright.

[Nikola Tesla]

Your people's work: http://withoutsanctuary.org/pics_33.html

[gopSTEALSyourTAXmoney]

----m-c---C-A-I-N---------4---------C-A-N-C-E-R-------S-U-R-G-E-R-I-E-S-----------

--H-E-------I-S--------J-U-S-T-------A-B-O-U-T-----------D-E-A-D---------------C-O-D-D-L-E-D-----

[nirak]

It's pretty sad that my American friends are ashamed of being Americans due to McCain/Palins behaviour. That great Hero McCain showed his real colors during this campaign and it isn't pretty.

[lobear00]

Fact: Mccain aka"(McGruff) is not , never was! and never will be a "hero". the proper term for mccain is war sirvivor. "Thats it.

[Schnides]

How's Obama a hero, or was ever a hero?

[Tericruz]

Obama served on a board with Ayers for the Chicago Annenberg Challenge. Why is no one asking McCain the denounce the Annenbergs who appointed Ayers to this board? It's because the Annenbergs are contributors to the McCain campaign.
The media keeps talking about the Ayers/Obama connection but will not mention the Annenberg/Ayers connection along with the Annenberg/McCain connections.

[35Echo]

When Obama made his first run for political office, articles in both the Chicago Defender and the Hyde Park Herald featured among his qualifications his position as chairman of the board of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, a foundation where Ayers was a founder and guiding force.

[Tericruz]

Again, why not talk about the Annenberg/Ayers connection and the Annenberg/McCain connection. McCain is taking money from the people who put Ayers on the foundations board. Are the Annenbergs terrorist?

[chitown8]

SO the Annenburg appoints them to the board!

[lobear00]

The "Media" is just as "Slimy as mccain". These "Snakes" in the media known damn well the "Truth" concerning Obama and the board he sat on and all those who were also on that board, and need to call, the "Idiot" Palin and her puppet to task for "Lying " to the public. "Outright".

[northernpike3]

This site is an eye-opener!

http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/10/07/palins_unamerican/

[Otaku1031]

Wow! Why hasn't Obama put this out front? This would flush Palin right down the toilet. Can this be verified and put in an ad? Please?

[afroangel]

can flush her please, let me:)