Souldn't a candidate be able to answer any question?

[napi21]

I keep hearing about shrub not wanting to have the town hall format at the debate because he was concerned that some partisan posing as an undecided voter would ask a very biased question. Even if that were true, shouldn't he, as President, be able to answer any question? I expect the same from Kerry. Whatever the question is, or how challanging it is...they both should be able to answer competently!

[WMliberal]

1. oh god, I'd love to be the one

who asks stuff like "have you ever been arrested on any charges related to cocaine?"
or "have you ever paid for anyone to have an abortion?"

[Philostopher]

2. I agree.

The country deserves better than a quivering meat machine that can barely get its nerve up to go out in front of an audience made up of people who aren't paid contributors who've signed a loyalty oath. Hell, they even let Reagan try to do this. Carter did it. Even Poppy did better, and he was a lousy speaker. I've never seen an ostensible world figure who was more paranoid and frightened of speaking to people who might not share his every idea.

But you remember what he said to the reporter a year or so ago:

"Who cares what you think?"

This has run through my head every time the subject of loyalty oaths is mentioned, and all through the debate last Thursday night.

We deserve better than a paranoid bubble boy who can't stand the thought that people disagree with him; who lacks even the courage of his own convictions to the point he'll only allow 'yes people' to deal with him directly.