I Forget… Which One Stands For “Change”?
Finally, something that would make the Democratic campaign new and interesting! Clinton to Obama: Let's debate like Lincoln
Sen. Hillary Clinton called for a Lincoln-Douglas-style debate with no moderator against her rival, Sen. Barack Obama, who says no more debates are needed before the May primaries.
In a TV interview to air Sunday, Obama flat-out denied any possibility that he would take part in a debate with Clinton before the next big round of primaries.
Shortly after maintaining that he isn't "ducking" debates with his Democratic rival, the Illinois senator admitted that the two hopefuls are "not going to have debates between now and Indiana."
Voters in Indiana and North Carolina will head to the polls May 6.
In the interview, Fox News' Chris Wallace asked Obama why he was ducking another one-on-one meeting.
"I'm not ducking one. We've had 21," Obama said. "We want to make sure we're talking to as many folks possible on the ground taking questions from voters."
How incredibly lame from Obama. This is the complete repudiation of the claim he represents any "new moment" in American politics. Ironically, he is now running as the "establishment" candidate. This would be fine were he crushing Clinton, but Obama's weaknesses are many and varied, and have directly contributed to this prolonged nomination battle. If Obama had the skills necessary to take on Clinton in a one-on-one-flying-by-the-seat-of-your-pants debate he could end this race here and now.
He doesn't have such skills. In fact, when forced off of his prepared material he has shown himself prone to spectacular pratfalls of, almost, George Bush quality. (All he needs is Bush's penchant for stupid nicknames to equal the President on this score.) Given this truth, Obama's handlers have him taking the cowards way out and have him avoiding political risks at all costs. It isn't a stupid thing to do were this a general election campaign, where you just need to win no matter the way you do it. But in a nomination process, where you want to launch yourself into the general election with as much positive momentum as possible, this comes across as incredibly weak.
Obama is basically a mystery meat lunch special, which we are just supposed to take as is without asking a lot of questions about its origins (or what it will do to our insides after we consume it.) The more scrutiny he receives the less appetizing he becomes.
Cross-posted at The Iconic Midwest
Uncategorized | Rich Horton Sunday, 27 April , 2008
By martian, Sunday, 27 April , 2008 @ 1:52 pm
I love the simile in that last paragraph! He’s been giving me heartburn for months!
By emm, Sunday, 27 April , 2008 @ 2:34 pm
Why doesn’t anyone note that there have been 21 debates for Americans to viewPROVIDED THEY HAVE CABLE OR SATELLITE TV?We have neither, so I have seen 1 debate (ABC’s) between Sen.Clinton and Sen.Obama. I would love to see a Lincoln/Douglas style debate. Cut through the crap and the moderators’ egos, and let the candidates discuss the issues. Just make sure it’s broadcast on old-fashioned ‘regular’ TV….
By clifto, Sunday, 27 April , 2008 @ 4:01 pm
Obama isn’t mystery meat at all. He’s a textbook Marxist working toward the Glorious Revolution.
By Rich Horton, Sunday, 27 April , 2008 @ 6:27 pm
clifto, you are mixing your socialist metaphors (I’d say based upon Obama’s known background he is more of a Leninist/Maoist than a textbook Marxist of the Karl variety), but I hear you. Obama does strike me as being way outside the mainstream of American politics…although he would fit it with most of the MSM just fine, who basically agree with Obama about the mental acumen of most Pennsylvanians.
By EliMelak, Monday, 28 April , 2008 @ 8:25 pm
If you folks want the Hillbillies back in the White House so they can disgrace this country’s reputation again or obliterate Iran, go ahead and keep bad mouthing Obama.
By Rich Horton, Monday, 28 April , 2008 @ 10:12 pm
Wow. I didn’t realize this blog was that powerful.
By Gaius, Tuesday, 29 April , 2008 @ 3:19 am
Did I forget to send you the memo, Rich?