Obama a coward? - ran from old folks AARP debate - now afraid of one on one in Ohio

[papau]

First it was the AARP debate,Thursday, September 20, 2007 where Biden, Clinton, Dodd, Edwards, and Richardson showed up - BUT NO OBAMA.

Now he is afraid of the already schedule one on one with Hillary in Ohio.

And this wimp named Obama wants to be commander in Chief?

http://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080207/UPDATES01/80207001


Obama considers skipping pre-primary debate in Ohio

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Barack Obama is considering skipping the presidential primary debate scheduled for later this month in Ohio to instead spend time talking to voters, a newspaper reported Wednesday.

The U.S. senator from Illinois faces U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York in the March 4 primaries in Ohio, Texas, Rhode Island and Vermont.

CNN announced last week that it would partner with the Democratic party in Ohio to bring a debate to the perennial battleground state on Feb. 27.<snip>

Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson said Wednesday that the Clinton campaign would seek four debates with Obama between now and March 4.
<snip>

[Az_lefty]

1. this debate stuff is utter nonsense. Let Hillary pay for her own air time.

[Donnachaidh]

44. silly -- the debates give free time to both -- so the question REALLY is

What is Obama afraid of? Looking bad in another debate?

[NYCGirl]

2. Since when does Howard Wolfson set the debate schedule? NT

[Unsane]

3. Howard Wolfson is dreaming.

[goldcanyonaz]

4. Obama isn't much of a debator, it's no wonder he doesn't want to do any more.

[ProSense]

5. Trying to intimidate Obama into a debate to give Hillary free air time. n/t

[OzarkDem]

9. Dumbest argument I've heard so far

Obama gets free air time from debates, too, duh.

Do Obama supporters really have such a low opinion of voters they expect them to believe this stuff?

He insults not only Ohio voters, but everyone with this stuff.

[ProSense]

23. Really? Obama can afford to pay for his air time. It's possible yours is the dumbest argument ever!

n/t

[stillcool]

39. Don't worry...

the people of Ohio will get the chance to hear from Obama.

[OzarkDem]

62. We don't want a lecture from him

we want him to answer our questions. Big difference, and Ohio is a state where people understand that difference.

[stillcool]

72. so you're getting the best of both worlds.

..
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/02/07/lets_debate.html?type=rss&cat=&sid=101
Obama agrees to debate Clinton in Ohio
Event will occur before March 4 primary
Thursday, February 7, 2008 4:40 PM
By Darrel Rowland and Jim Siegel
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Barack Obama agreed this afternoon to debate Hillary Clinton in Ohio before the state’s March 4 primary, and he is dispatching the man who managed his successful Iowa campaign to lead the Buckeye State campaign.
-----------------------------
Even though Obama has agreed to the debate, his focus will be “traveling around the state and listening to Ohioans’ concerns about the economy, outsourcing and the mortgage crisis,” said LaBolt, press secretary for the successful 2006 Senate campaign of Sherrod Brown.

“We should expect a full-scale campaign in Ohio…We’ll have a full team in place within a week."

[Donnachaidh]

45. ahh -- the latest meme out of Obama headquarters.

Isn't going to work. Points for trying though. :rofl:

[rodeodance]

52. Obamababies are limited.

[jsamuel]

6. not a coward, but I think debates are good and the more the better

especially now that we are down to two and have only had one debate between them so far

[DURHAM D]

7. Does Ohio have a high number of senior citizens? eom

[OzarkDem]

10. Yes,

and they won't appreciate being snubbed any more than other groups of Ohioans.

[DURHAM D]

26. Obama is a chicken.

He disses the older generation and won't own up to it. He runs and hides.

If he is afraid of a bunch of gray hairs he sure can't stand up to Rethugs.

[papau]

24. Obama lost the senior's vote in every state to date

[DURHAM D]

30. I love any group that votes their own self interest.

A toast to senior citizens - they get it. :toast:

[stillcool]

36. considering some of the views..

espoused here by some seniors, I think that bodes well for the younger generation and the future of this country. To be honest, I had thought that kind of thinking was already a part of the past. It took the fine folks here on DU to show me that there are still some die-hards holding on for dear life, to their fearful perceptions. No wonder why we're in this mess. Who's future is it anyway?

[OzarkDem]

69. WTF?

What kind of idiotic statement is that? What are the views of "seniors" here at DU that you find so "offensive"? Equal rights for all? Economic prosperity for all? Protecting the Constitution? Peace in the world? Health care for all and end to disease? A secure future for our children and grandchildren? A clean environment and energy independence?

Pray tell, which views do you espouse that are superior to those? Legalized pot? Violence and pornography in music and computer games?

Fill me in, what are your superior views of the world?

[Cameron27]

73. Exactly

:thumbsup:

[stillcool]

75. I never thought my views were 'superior'

I thought they were widely held beliefs by the Democratic party. The posts I am referring to are those which constantly bring up the race issue. The one's that constantly ridicule and demean any individual who expresses a choice other than their own. The one's that constantly seek to create divisiveness. The one's that revel in the idea of an election being a blood sport where ideas are enemies, and slurs are the only thing of value. I could provide you with pages and pages of individual posts that scream inane talking points over and over, with absolutely no desire to seek the truth. It is said repeatedly, that this is the way politics has always been, and the way politics will always be...and to hell with anyone that chooses to attempt to change their way of doing things, or the long-held beliefs they espouse. I suppose it is true, that what you don't know isn't real. Unfortunately I do know all about the mind-set of those that use this kind of language. Is it any wonder that this country is the world's leader in it's prison population, or that the rate of foster children in this country has risen astronomically in the last 30 years?

[Dawgs]

47. Proof?

[David Zephyr]

8. This dog won't hunt: The entire world knows the Clintons are out of money & want free media.

This would have worked years ago. Not anymore.

[OzarkDem]

12. Another Obama fairytale

Why can his supporters never answer these kinds of questions with something substantive instead of petty rumor mongering and insults? No wonder Obama's campaign is struggling.

[David Zephyr]

15. The Clintons did not have a post-Super Tuesday strategy. That should scare you.

Barack Obama has a better national organization that the Clintons do. And he was prepared for a marathon while the Clintons bet the farm on a sprint.

[OzarkDem]

17. Got a link?

No? Didn't think so.

[newmajority]

18. They didn't think they would need one.

The whole frontloaded primary scam was designed to deliver a Hillary coronation. Obviously it failed. Now Team DLC is getting desperate.

[Obamaniac]

22. "Petty rumor mongering"

Coming from a Clinton supporter is this a little like the pot calling the kettle black?

[rodeodance]

33. The 'free media' meme has been debunked!

[Donnachaidh]

46. it's thursday -- did you get your check yet?

Sad when the Obama meme chorus hits some bad notes.

[Bitwit1234]

11. No what the did in MN

Hillary was ahead in the polls til the day after the caucus...they moved all he caucus combining them. Some senior citizens me included showed up to vote and it had been moved 50 miles. NO transportation or notice....no wonder the young folks with the cars got to the caucus and the senior didn't.

DFL headquarters had to take the phones off the hook Wednesday with complaints.

[bowens43]

13. Hillary is the one who needs debates.

Hillary is finished and she knows it. America is sick and tired o bush/clinton style politics. Since she can no longer raise money, she needs all the free air time she can get.

She really is coming off as pathetic.

[scheming daemons]

14. Obama has agreed to another debate......

....just not one every week.

He's throwing her a bone to give her one night of free air time.... there's no reason for him to give her 4 nights.


One's enough.... and NOT on Fox.

[TheDeathadder]

16. Calling Obama a coward is not needed

It's mud and slander and just gets us off track.

That being said

We've only had a one on one debate between the two once.The Primary continues. We need to continue to see more one on one debates to see the two argue their strengths and the contrast. Whether it's part of Clinton's plan or not...we need more debates that are a solid one on one between Clinton and Obama.

[Icyclemort]

19. already set? by whom?

I am sure they will have another debate or perhaps more, but both campaigns have to figure out when and where together...

[AX10]

20. He only wants to be seen in forums in which he has control

Just like GW Bush.

[Obamaniac]

21. papau

Why are you using such strong language like this?

After all, if Clinton is doing as well as she and her supporters are proporting, why is it necessary to come out as heavily as she and her supporters have since Super Tuesday.

Do you guys know something that I don't?

[papau]

28. irony - after a year of "don't let money decide elections -we need debates" running from the 2nd

one on one debate makes me think "coward" -

especially when the ducking of a debate is coming from a person whose just about only claim to fame is his ability to speak well.

[Obamaniac]

40. That's not fair...

...and a total cheap shot on your part. You're so much better than that.

I understand that things aren't going as well as you originally hoped for Hillary, but that is a total cheap shot.

After all, how many debates has Obama and Clinton participated in together?

15? 20? 25?

Because you are essentially tied with Obama at this point, and the next 12 states strongly favor him, doesn't give you the right to make such a personal and unfair attack against him.

[stillcool]

25. Aug 18, 2007

edit to add link: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0807/5440.html

Obama to turn down additional fall debates

By: Mike Allen
Aug 18, 2007 11:50 AM EST
Updated: August 19, 2007 08:34 AM EST

Obama will honor his commitment to eight more debates (five sanctioned by the Democratic National Committee, one by the Spanish-language broadcaster Univision and two in Iowa), but he does not plan to accept many invitations for forums, where the candidates appear sequentially.

Campaign sources confirmed that the announcement could affect such key Democratic constituencies as the Congressional Black Caucus, Iowa AARP and League of Conservation Voters, which are planning to sponsor forums in the fall-----------


"So far, Barack has attended seven Democratic debates and nineteen candidate forums. There are five remaining sanctioned DNC debates, which we are committed to attend and two Iowa debates normally held in January, which are being held in December, which we are also committed to attend. We will also be attending the Univision debate in Florida on September 9. This means that by the end of this year, Obama will have participated in a total of 15 Democratic debates.

"The debates have been important moments for our campaign, demonstrating clearly that Barack Obama is the candidate who will bring about the greatest change to our broken politics. Looking at the first sanctioned DNC debate in South Carolina, Obama was scored the clear winner by undecided voters in South Carolina and New Hampshire.

"Unfortunately, we simply cannot run the kind of campaign we want and need to, engaging with voters in the early states and February 5 states, if our schedule is dictated by dozens of forums and debates. Ultimately, the one group left out of the current schedule is the voters and they are the ones who ask the toughest questions and most deserve to have those questions answered face to face.

"Therefore, after this week, we will only be attending the five DNC debates through the sanctioning period of December 10, Univision, and the two Iowa debates previously mentioned. Candidate forums - where candidates appear sequentially will be considered, but we are unlikely to accept many of these. Instead, Barack will spend his time answering questions directly from voters in places like Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Nevada, and elsewhere. We simply cannot continue to hopscotch from forum to forum and run a campaign true to the bottom up movement for change that propelled Barack into this race.

"After the sanctioning period, there will undoubtedly be a large number of debates scheduled in the early states and in February 5 states. We will make decisions on those as we get closer, but will clearly be doing a healthy number of debates after the sanctioning period.

"Many friends and terrific organizations are sponsoring or planning to sponsor debates and forums. So this is not an easy decision for us to execute. But it simply won't work to navigate this one by one. We felt we needed to make our approach clear and consistent.

"I think this approach will be better for the voters and the campaign."

[KoKo]

41. So issues like Social Security, Environment can't be debated by Obama only the

corporate special interest debates that our Dems have appeared in count? :shrug: The sponsor list of the Mainstream Media debates has been terrible. The last one was sponsored by by the Coal Industry, I believe.

I hope Obama will change his mind about this.

[stillcool]

43. I'm not sure I understand...

why he should now commit to more debates. There is not that much time left, for him to visit, have speaking engagements, town-hall meetings etc with people that are having upcoming primaries in their states. I have no idea what any other candidates stance is or was, on how many, when, where, debates they would commit to, but it seems disingenuous to all of a sudden be attacking the guy, for a campaign decision made way back when. Reminds me of Nevada. Maybe there will be a lawsuit?

[KoKo]

56. But....he already turned down one opportunity to meat with AARP...

Social Security is a big issue with those folks. Those are voters who show up to VOTE consistently.

[stillcool]

71. that previous post of mine...

from August of 2007, stated his campaigns decision on debates, before the 'corporate sponsored' AARP debate. Is there something different now, then there was back then? He has a well organized campaign, and debates were scheduled into their plans on how they wanted to divvy up the time between debates and direct contact with voters. I suppose I'm just not getting what this latest outrage is all about.

[Araxen]

27. Have to love these "afraid" posts

It just shows how desperate the Clinton camp is and how much Obama is in the driver's seat now. =)

[papau]

32. A coward is in the drivers seat - and you expect America to choose him as Commander in Chief over Mc

[TheDeathadder]

34. are you having fun :)

[stillcool]

38. yeah...like Obama got where he is...

by being a 'coward'. As if you would know.

[Pirate Smile]

29. Papau, some of your posts lately surprise me and seem a bit beneath you.

[papau]

37. I perhaps am letting the tone of the Hillary hate get to me - my reaction to being pushed is to

push back - hard - (a bad habit developed in Chicago politics because it is the only thing that both works and is respected out there)

A union background as a kid may also have shaped my attitude toward folks pushing and lying - and with no one responding by calling them out.

I agree the language I've used, while not that excessive, is more "snark" than I almost ever do -

and I need to tone it down - indeed it is time for a 24 or 48 hour vacation from DU. I am getting too invested in things I can not change.

I'll be back with fact only posts this weekend - thanks for pointing the excess out.

[thoughtcrime1984]

53. You are reflecting a large segment of Hil voters.

Why the venom? I think there have been plenty of debates, we do not need 4 more. Let the candidates actually visit states, meet with the people face-to-face and answer their questions that way. I'm tired of the Obama hasn't done anything/is an empty suit BS. He didn't just fall off the turnip truck, you know.

[papau]

76. There has been only one debate that was one on one - and that showed Obama as an empty suit - IMO

[thoughtcrime1984]

79. I disagree, I thought he did fine

We could have daily debates, and I don't think it would make people more apt to vote for either one of them. As a matter of fact, the Dems would run the risk of making voters weary of our candidates with too many debates. I think Hillary and Bill are very dishonest people, and I do not want them in the WH. I believe McCain would beat her anyway, and that'd be even worse. I imagine the crevasse between O and H supporters will skew our view on each others' opinions, and I will admit that I can't take many things seriously from most Hil people on DU. A few put things in a reasonable light, but not many. The attackers on both sides have jaded some to the point where they become angry respondants, and I fit into that category. I don't appreciate the empty suit meme one bit, but I am not going to take you to task for this right now. I'll just say that there have been plenty of debates, we don't need many more before the GE cycle. I think the candidates should do more town hall meetings, and pay the networks if they want them aired. I think more Iowa-type interrogation of the candidates on the campaign trail would be more beneficial than watching 2 hours of the same crap week after week with Wolf Blitzer asking slanted questions.

[rodeodance]

31. Makes sense--Obama ran from here at 'snobbergate'-He was afraid of the lady in red coming

toward him.

[adapa]

35. folks in Ohio *will* remember O's refusal to debate if he's the nominee

[Araxen]

42. One thing I won't forget about Ohio

is that they voted Bush in. I'll forever wish we would sell that state to Canada not that they would take them.

[adapa]

64. It's better (& way more satisfying) to win them over rather than kick them out

[avrdream]

48. This has already hit the mainstream.

People at work are discussing him skipping the debates and questioning his cowardice....and I am in AUSTRALIA so that word is getting out.

[Iceburg]

51. "We CAN toss the seniors aside ...Yes we CAN... YES WE CAN "

Is their any demographic group out there that Obama hasn't taken a swipe at?

[adapa]

65. Well, by dissing the AARP Obama is shoring up his base, didn't think he needed that but what do

I know?

[demokatgurrl]

49. I think he thinks us old folk are washed up.

I mean he ridicules "older boomers" for still thinking the fights we started in the 60s (I should say THEY started because I am a younger boomer and a beneficiary) are still important. He doesn't give a rats ass about anyone over 50.

[bunnies]

50. I just love these 'bully in the playground' posts.

Obama doesnt wanna debate.. whatsa matter? SCARED?!?!?

[BigDDem]

54. Maybe he has a rally planned with Maria Shriver that night.

[JackORoses]

55. you Hillarites can't stand it now that Obama is in the Driver's Seat

Hillary doesn't get to determine when debates occur.

She is throwing a very predictable fit now, because she is broke and desperate for media coverage in the coming weeks.
If she can't get a debate, then the only news in the coming weeks will be Obama victory after victory.

She wants debates as a way to break up this Momentum.
Fuck that.

[KoKo]

58. You are optimistic that Obama's in the drivers seat...based on what?

:shrug: Seems they are in pretty much a dead heat.

[JackORoses]

61. based on the fact that Hillary is proposing Phantom debates,

then calling Obama a coward for rejecting her schedule.

Based on the fact that she is self-funding her campaign and staging a 'Day of Sympathy' to increase her donations.

It's sad, really.

[OzarkDem]

70. If you're a Dem

you might want to know that you're starting to sound like a freeper now. Just thought I'd let you know so you could avoid embarrassing yourself further.

[Occam Bandage]

57. Let Hillary buy her own ad time. There have been 17 debates.

[Tatiana]

59. Obama would be better served by going out and talking to the voters.

They already know who Hillary Clinton is. Not many people have gotten to know Obama.

He's not a coward. He's smart and thinking strategically; something I can appreciate after some of our poorly-managed campaigns.

[workinclasszero]

60. Hillary can write a big fat check from her own bank account

No free rides from Obama.

While Hillary supporters are holding their breath till they turn blue, Obama supporters are fanning out across the nation.

Paving the way for more victories and delegates. See ya at the convention Hill fans.:rofl: :rofl::rofl:

[rox63]

63. There have already been a kajillion debates

Why do we need any more? Let the voters see the candidates themselves, and then they can make up their own minds. Are there any subjects that HAVEN'T already been covered in a debate?

[adapa]

67. but, and here's the key--NO ONE thought the upcoming states would have a choice because

They never have before.
The resident's of the upcoming states were NOT paying attention the previous debates.

[smalll]

68. YES there have - a "kajillion debates" --

back in 2007, when only political junkies were paying attention. Yeah, so the O-man got up there on stage back LAST YEAR WHEN NO-ONE WAS ACTUALLY VOTING and had his 30 seconds to answer questions along with Chris Dodd, Mike Gravel, Fritz Hollings and Reuben Askew.

"Why do we need any more?" As you say, "let the voters see the candidates themselves" -- yeah, side to side, together, in DEBATES. Oh but no, Benito Obama suddenly needs to spend more time "talking to voters" -- (to voters who already agree with him) at huge, pumped-up rallies with shouts and slogans, calls and responses, soaring empty rhetoric and youthful tears of joy.

:banghead:

[Life Long Dem]

66. I NEED A DEBATE!!

WHAT'S WRONG OBAMA YOU SCARED OF FIGHTING?? DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND!!! THIS IS MY LAST CHANCE TO TAKE OBAMA OUT!!

[Faygo Kid]

74. "Ran from old folks at AARP debate?" Over 50 is now "old folks?"

You do realize that the age for joining AARP is 50. I happen to be in that decade, and don't consider myself "old folks."

Whippersnapper.

[cooolandrew]

77. How many debates do we need we've had about 5000 Barack doesn't want to waste time, is my guess.

[CyberPieHole]

78. K&R n/t