Here is Why McCain Wants to Move the Debate

Let's get real. John McCain didn't ask to move the debate on Friday because he genuinely thought that if he and Obama went into DC on Friday that they would magically be able to solve the financial bailout problem. I hope the journalists in this country are savvy enough to understand by now that what politicians say and what they mean are usually two totally different things.

Come on, who really believes that McCain thinks that if he and Obama don't go into DC together -- specifically on Friday, when the debate was scheduled -- that the business of the country cannot be resolved? Why don't they go in together on Thursday or Saturday?

Politicians on both sides of the aisle try to play these situations, no matter how important, to their political advantage -- especially in the middle of a presidential contest. To not understand that as a reporter is to commit gross journalistic negligence. So, it should be reported as such. This is a political gambit by McCain, pure and simple.

Now, to the equally important question of why. My first reaction was, "Wow, he's scared!" I couldn't quite believe the move. It shows such fundamental weakness. But that alone could not be the answer. There's no way a major presidential candidate is going to get so intimidated by a debate -- that is already scheduled -- that he is going to try to duck it two days before it happens. That's inconceivable.

Then I realized why they didn't want to have this debate now. The first debate is on foreign policy. Conventional wisdom and the McCain camp believe this is their strong suit. But the news cycle is dominated right now by the economic problems, which plays to Obama's advantage. There was already news out that some of the questions would have to be about the economic situation at hand. And those are the questions that would naturally make the most news.

It's not that the McCain campaign doesn't want to have this debate; it's that they don't want to have it now. They think it is terrible timing for their side. They want people to focus on the foreign policy debate and this would be the worst possible time for that.

I have never been convinced that foreign policy is a strength for John McCain, so I think his calculation is off there. But more importantly, the McCain team has decided that they could play this off as some sort of patriotic act rather than the crass political calculation that it is. If there is any decent press in the country at all, then that calculation should prove to be the worst one yet.

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UPDATE -- Now, they want to move the VP debate, too. This is embarrassing! I've never seen anything like this. There is not even an excuse as to why they should move the VP debate which is all the way at the end of next week. She's just not ready. This is a stunning admission.

Follow Cenk Uygur on Twitter: www.twitter.com/TheYoungTurks

Comments

[humanwrites]

PS Maybe McCain's efforts to reschedule should have focused on changing the order-sequence, with the thrust of his argument being that the economic crisis necessitated making "The Economy" be the first debate and "Foreign Policy" be the second or even the final debate.

[humanwrites]

McCain lost these debates when he agreed to have the foreign policy debate be the first debate. The economic crisis just made that sequence even worse for him. While foreign policy is McCain's greatest strength over Obama, even in the best case scenario, by the time the third debate is over this foreign policy debate will have been forgotten. Obama has much more in his arsenal in the next two debates so I think that McCain may soon be taking it on the chin.

[dmsdzinr]

After Palin's Interview with Katie Couric, I am thinking they really would like to CANCEL PALIN!

[Levittown]

UNTIL SARAH PALIN IS QUESTIONED ON HER VERY SUSPECT RESUME THAT WAS CREATED FROM THE TIME SHE WAS THE MAYOR AND HER TERM AS GOVERNOR SHE WILL NOT BE QUALIFIED TO CONTINUE IN HER VP CAMPAIGNING. WE NEED A CLEAN CANDIDATE NOT SOMEONE HIDING FROM HER CONSTITUENTS AND MUDDYING HER ALASKAN HISTORY. THE
USE OF ROVE AND HIS REPUBLICAN SWIFT-BOATERS TO CLOUD AND DELAY THE INVESTIGATIONS IS WHAT WE HAVE HAD WITH BUSH. IS THIS HER GOAL ?

[txkayrose]

Foreign policy may be McCain's 'strong suit', but that doesn't mean he's ready for a debate on it. He can memorize talking points and catch phrases all day and still not really grasp concepts and relationships. I would be willing to pit my high-average, band-geek mom, intelligence with 3 years of high school debate against McCain any day.

[timberdoodle]

Come on now let's be kind to the old guy there might be a couple of legitimate reasons John didn't want to do the debate tonight:

The debate won't start until 9 p.m. and that might be past his nursing home's curfew.

Or if the debate doesn't start until 9 p.m. and goes for 1.5 hrs. then this will keep John up well past his bed time unless of course he takes a 4 hour power nap in the afternoon.

Anyway the world is laughing and with the polls still showing him within 40 points of Obama it is making Americans look ridiculous and uninformed. How is it the entire world can see through this old fella yet half of America can't?

[smoovejef]

You know when its the fourth period, two playoff teams shooting it out in the fourth, playing physical ball? One team advances, trying to draw the foul? That's Mac. The other team jumps just ahead of the defender's circle, takes the contact....whistle blows! Charge! Change of possession. Team advances the ball to three point range, two seconds left... SWISH! Three pointer! The dagger in the heart!

Mac was crafty, and it will still be close, but he shed too much of his honor in trying to fulfill his ambition.
Picked a poor teammate, played dirty offense, ripped the refs (media)...

How did you think it was going to end?

[quest44]

The Republican party are a shameless bunch using this crisis as a political ploy they hope will get them votes !
The debates should go on ! Neither McCain nor Obama's presence will make one bit of difference in the negociations .In fact McCain stirred up even more of a bee's nest by coming back.

I would hope both Republican's and Democrat's alike would step back from any agreement for a minute and think about the great depression that went on for over a decade and remember that the economy only turned around after there were the liquidations of these institutions and that is what we should be doing now, not throwing good money after bad which will not work in the long run !

[webro56]

McCain continues to prove to me that he is ill-prepared to deal with the complexities of the our country and the world. Suspend his campaign in order to help resolve the bailout mess. Does he really believe we are that stupid... yes the Repubs believe we are that stupid. Maverick, risk-taker, hot-headed gambler may be excellent qualities for someone looking to secure a sales postion but are not qualities I want in the next President of the United States of America.

[YankeeYahoo]

I agree with Cenk, but McBush doesn't have the control that he wants when it comes to a debate. McBush can't be sure what questions will be asked.
He keeps pushing for a "townhall" meeting ... this way he can have his plants ask rehearsed questions for his rehearsed answers.
Then again, if he keeps postponing the debate, then he can run down the clock. Nov. 4th is very near .. and who knows what the October surprise is going to be ... causing another "postponement" .? His school of thought is ..."it worked before, it will work again" ...."if it works, keep doing it".
McBush's feathers get very ruffled when he's put on the spot .... and that little 'ol temper of his just might flare up, and a heated debate with just those two, it may very well happen. The old guy is geting tired and probably cr anky.

[keepacoolhead]

I never thought that McCain has a real advantage on foreign policy. He's just perceived that he has. There have been enough gaffes where he couldn't tell the difference between Shiite, Sunny and Al Quaidas or certain borders. McCain just sputters off the cool aid propaganda of the Republican Party but Obama always had the far more sound vision and understanding on the issue (as on any other). But I expect McCain trying to attack him a'la Bush v. Gore. Blow some lies in his face

But ultimately, McCain who hadn't taken any time out to study up for the debate was really trying to GET OUT OF IT, and even more importantly to get PALIN OUT OF THE DEBATE next week. There's too much she couldn't know just because of her (lack of) experience being an Alaska politician thrown on to a world stage. There is no way that she could know details of Lower 48 politics and policies having had her focus solely on Alaska. She was the wrong choice which can be seen in the few interviews and the way they are keeping her sequestererd.

[Ofactor]

Hey you have to check out daily kos for ED shultz latest on why Palin does not want to debate...apparently the folks on the inside of the MCcain Campaign have been doing mock debates and press conferences with her and they are saying that it is really bad and they do not know how she will be able to be ready against Joe Biden. Wow this is getting to be really one hell of a soap opera. Now they are finally realizing what we have all known from the start.

This is good because now the pundits can hit MCcain hard on his judgment and choice of Sarah Palin

[tedeger]

Also, make certain that neither McCain nor Palin gets to wear a wire as Bush did. Let's have THEIR answers, not Karl Rove's!

[Herekitty]

So when does McCain want to have the debate....November 5th?

[steven]

Hey, McSame is no fool.
He is smart enough NOT to go to a battle of wits unarmed!!!

[janvoght]

unfortunately we have ALL these other urgent issues that have been ignored because of war, and the next president will inherit ALL of these urgent and previously ignored issues. if mc cain cannot debate intelligently regarding the economic direction of america, what hope does that leave us? if he has a plan SHOULDN'T he be eager to share? his party took a surplus economy, and turned it into a trillion dollar deficit.mc cain, who is not really showing the best judgement (choosing sarah (i"ll try to find some and get back to you) palin, who will be a heart beat away, heaven forbid something were to happen to mc cain. or was this the only choice he had, being that his party has spent the last 8 years lining their friends pockets, ignoring the working class, and shredding the constituti­on-therefo­re the 2nd runner-up beauty queen was a distraction, hail-mary pass, hoping to charm the american people into believing in the republicans for another 4 yrs? i say, they have no reason to delay these debates, unless they want to loose further credibility, and move further into the darkness. mc cain is not even on the only decision making congressional committee designed to address these economical issues...they have no use for him and his political drama! GO HOME mc cain...if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem!
OBAMA '08

[Wilburrr]

McCain's strength is SUPPOSED to be foreign policy. In a debate his sophomoric understandings and misconceptions would be illuminated. He does not now, nor has he ever done his homework. Is this really a man that anyone would want as President? I don't believe the polls; I don't see much support for McCain in Phoenix -- only three bumper stickers so far. One of those was on the back of a mini van, drawn with an incorrect flag in permanent marker. He is supposed to lead in Arizona by double digits, with Phoenix being the conseervative stronghold base. The best thing that could come out of this election is an Obama presidency and John McCain removed from the Senate in the next election cycle.