No debates for Obama?

[Mags]

“I think the Clinton camp’s basic attitude was that the whole calendar was set up to deliver the knockout blow on Feb. 5,” Mr. Obama said. “And not only did we play them to a draw, we won more delegates and we won more states. What that means is that we are in a fierce competition and we’ve got many more rounds to fight.”
But Mr. Obama said most of that fighting would be done on the ground in the next voting states, not in debates. When asked whether he would accept the invitation from Mrs. Clinton to attend four more debates in the coming weeks, he laughed.

“I don’t think anybody is clamoring for more debates,” he said. “We’ve had 18 debates so far. I think we’ve had 10 more than we’ve had in the last Democratic contest.”
He said he would agree to at least one debate, but noted, “It’s very important for me to spend time with voters.”
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/06/obama-more-rounds-to-fight/

[leftynyc]

1. Why wouldn't he want to debate

when there are most assuredly more people willing to watch now?

[Mags]

3. He is not much of a debater.

[CoffeeCat]

10. I think he's willing to debate once or maybe...

...even twice.

However, she's suggesting 4 debates, one each week.

That's overkill and it's ridiculous.

She is having a hard time right now, because she did not plan for the marathon.
She prepared for a sprint. She lacks the funds to pay for national ads. So, she
will have a lot less media exposure than Obama will.

Suggesting weekly debates is a way to pump up her media exposure, for free.

Obama knows this. He seems to be playing his hand well.

[debatepro]

36. If i was losing and running out of $$$ I would want more debates!!!!!! !!!!! !!!!!!!!!

Seriously free press coverage... your surrogate get free spin time. Let see how this thing plays out on the ground… after all its on the ground that GE will be won.

[jannyk]

41. He doesn't have enough material and the writers are on strike!

[grantcart]

2. No money for commercials for hillary lol

[tekisui]

4. Please just stay away from FOX.

[CoffeeCat]

5. I just said this!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so proud of Obama for saying this, and rebuffing Hillary's demands
in such an eloquent, positive way.

I'm so happy right now, because this shows that he is not afraid to tell
Hillary that it isn't going to happen her way--just because she demands it.

Hillary has no ground game. She didn't prepare for a race beyond New Hampshire.
She thought she would have it in the bag after Iowa.

It's not Obama's fault that she has no money, no ground game and that she lacks
the crushing army of volunteers that he has.

Her idea of 4 debates is absurd. I'm a political junkie and I love seeing the
candidates, but 4 debates is ridiculous. She's looking for free air time to
compensate for her lack of exposure in ads---because she lacks the funds to
purchase air time.

Tough rocks!

It isn't Obama's fault that she's out of funds and needing more national exposure.

She shouldn't try to manipulate others, and make her problems--the problems of everyone else.

It's kind of small and ignorant.

[Mags]

7. Well, if he is afraid to face her one on one, McCain will

destroy him.

[polichick]

11. Has nothing to do with fear...

Obama wins people over on the ground ~ and he doesn't need the free air time.

[Mags]

15. I wouldn't be so sure about that, he is just not a good debater.

[polichick]

18. He did fine in the MANY debates we've already had...

Why should he waste precious time flying to debate sites when he needs to be in other places?? Like I said, he doesn't need the free air time ~ msnbc just reported that Hillary loaned her campaign 5 million dollars in the last month; of course she'd like the free exposure.

[CoffeeCat]

20. He's playing his cards right...

This is not about debates.

This is about Hillary needing national events--like debates--to keep herself
in the limelight.

Cuz, she's about to do a disappearing act because she lacks the funds for expensive
media buys.

This is about Obama refusing to cater to her demands, and allowing her to reap the
consequences of being out of money.

In usual viper-attack fashion, Hillary will make a big stink about this and accuse Obama
of all sorts of ridiculous things. Meanwhile, Obama will be meeting with thousands of
voters, all across America--in town meetings and in other open forums. He'll look like
a winner and she'll look like a whiner.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

8. You go girl ! Think they've said everything to be said. nt

[Auntie Bush]

26. You're outrageous! Why do you Obamites always put words and ideas into Hillary's mouth?

Who said she demanded the debates? She SUGGESTED it! There is a difference! Look up the words demand and suggest. You people always make false posts about what Hillary THOUGHT...then you go about arguing why she is wrong and pull all that fake outrage? Why?
Why can't you just debate the facts...just the facts?

Did it ever occur to you that she wants more debates because she's a better debater and has won every one?! Isn't that good politics?

Two can play this game of accusations. Maybe Obama doesn't want any more debates because he knows he'll lose? And you know it too so that's why you have to make up reasons...like he won't do it because she demanded it. Give me a break! What nonsense!

[madmunchie]

37. Clinton wants more debates, Obama doesn't - it really is that simple

Both are trying to use smart political strategy.

HRC wants more exposure as her funds are low and she is a good debater. Obama is not into endless debates where the MSM tries to start problems where they aren't and where they seem to end up being "dog and pony shows" for the most part.

Obama is better with speeches and conversations. He isn't as rehearsed and "on" as HERC. Watching the debates you could see that Obama's style wasn't mixing it up and playing the games of the moderators and the MSM. HRC is much more adept at that, and that is one of the reason why I prefer Obama over HRC, there is more authenticity to Obama, you can see a real person there as opposed to a well rehearsed political machine. He isn't hidden, he is who he is and that is an inspiring visionary. He sees what could be and speaks to that. I feel his energy, his passion, his intellect and his authenticity.

He is the real success story of our Party. He came from nowhere 1 year ago, a freshman Senator and is electrifying this country and rising to the success w/o the last 3 - 4 years of constant MSM help. Nobody 2 years ago said "Obama" will be the next Democratic Nominee. All of MSM said that HRC was the inevitable Democratic Nominee. Think about that. That in itself should send chills up and down your spine.

A candidate not born from the loins of the MSM and Political Establishment. But a candidate that started with nothing - no real name recognition - no money - no voice, to a candidate that everybody knows, a candidate that has out raised "The Clintons" in 1 years time, from voters, NOT corporations and is bringing tens of thousands to his appearances.....

We are so fucking lucky this guy is a Democrat and NOT a Republican.

[Auntie Bush]

38. "he is an inspiring visionary. " True but for the life of me...I don't know yet what he envisions

He just envisions! That's not enough for me! I want to KNOW where envisions will take us. I know where Hillary wants to go. I know Obama wants to start a movement...but where's that movement headed?

He said he'd work with Rethugs... but how? In order to "work" with Rethugs....he'll have to COMPROMISE! Which of our progressive issues will he compromise away? Hillary got the liberal states like MA, NY and CA so I know she's for real liberal causes. Obama got many typical Rethug states and votes. Won't they want something in return? Aren't you worried about WHAT he'll give away? I am! You should be too! Obamites sould want to KNOW what he plans to do with his power/vision. He even said he'd have Rethugs in his cabinet. Don't you want to know which posts they will hold? Isn't that important? He's a blank slate that you're blindly voting for. I want to know where my candidate is headed. We can't afford to take another chance! We NEED someone with experience! Hillary has that and where she might be lacking...Bill is there to advise her 24/7...not just at cabinet meetings.

[madmunchie]

39. I too loved Clark. So we have a common ground. But over the last few years HRC

& Bill have been sinking in my opinion of them. HRC is in bed with the Repugs, look at her votes, THAT is how she will lead this country. She backed her vote in Iraq against John Kerry, when he started talking about withdrawing. She jumped on the bandwagon against John Kerry when he made a joke and it backfired and HRC demanded that he apologize. She voted for the Bankruptcy Bill, How about the Levin Amendment? How about a straight answer about her Iraq vote? This experience in judgement could stay out of the WH as far as I am concerned. Even WC was against Iraq...........Remember???????? HRC has shown poor judgment with all of her experience. I value judgment more than you do I guess. That is why I USED to be WC's #1 fan, I shook the man's hand twice, I thought he was absolutely the best. I still admire the Hell out of him, BUT, his alliance with HRC has really hurt his integrity in many of his supporters eyes.

I know HRC and Bill will do just about anything - including sleeping with the Bushs - I hold out more hope for Obama.

They took 2 of the worst "Rethugs" into their worlds and silently stood by while the Bush's stole 2 elections from the Democrats, that tells me what else I can expect from them and from here it isn't pretty.

[DrFunkenstein]

6. She Should Just Pay For a Late Night Infomercial

If she needs to get on TV that badly.

[NYCGirl]

12. Maybe she can do the Hallmark Channel again. They paid only $500,000 for

the one hour slot.

[polichick]

9. He's right to spend his time campaigning on the ground...

When people get a chance to see him up close, they're sold.

[Justice Is Comin]

23. I don't ever want to see him up close,

or personal...or in the White House.

A Mr.McGoo with a teaching background lol. Please.

[polichick]

25. I'm pretty sure he won't miss you in those crowds. :)

[Unsane]

13. Ugh, no more debates.

we've had like 9 million already

[Barack_America]

14. There is simply no need for more than 18 debates.

I know their positions and I'm done with the debates.

I don't see why they needed more than 10, quite honestly.

[Mags]

16. Maybe 2 more?

[Barack_America]

22. One more, at most. Before PA.

There's a long enough lag before that primary, that you could argue for reintroducing the candidates to people.

[NoBorders]

17. From a purely strategic standpoint, no point for him to do additional debates

It is true it is not his strength, though not an overwhelming advantage to HRC, and benefits only her. If she's hurting for cash, that's her problem, not his.

[blogslut]

19. He's right

The public has seen enough debates for the time being. We're going to see their two faces on the news every single day until November. More debates would be overkill. And we certainly don't need to have them hosted by the Fox channel - as is Hillary's wish.

[Sensitivity]

21. Can't say Obama isn't smart. He has the MO and just has to take his

campaign to the people in each state. He gains nothing from debating Hillary because it seems
unmanly for him to really crackdown on her when she is being deceptive re her record or
launching one of her own slams.

[TexasObserver]

24. He's right. Let her go on Fox News by herself.

No reason Obama should bail her out when she can't get her many supporters to max out for Hillary. So much for inevitable.

[Marie26]

27. Of course he won't debate.

Why would he do that?

[tammywammy]

28. There's no need for 4 more debates

Maybe one more, but that's it. Obama does do better on the ground and that's where he should be concentrating.

Good move by Obama.

[my3boyz]

29. It is more important for him to spend time with the voters

because the more time he spends with them the more he wins them over. He should not have to do more debates because Hillary can't afford to pay for her ads.

[Cha]

32. There ya go!

Time with the voters..one on thousands! :D

[rinsd]

30. Why would he want to debate when he can rely on TV ads?

Why show people his vulnerabilities?

[zulchzulu]

31. Hillary should just debate herself...I'd watch

She essentially have two opinions for every issue so she could handily debate herself. Plus she's really good at avoiding the question, so it could be a very amusing performance.

[indimuse]

33. He will LOSE FO SHO! If he opens his mouth again..

When are they going to ask him about his ties with Rezko and ALL of Rezko's dealing here and in the Middle east???

[Labors of Hercules]

34. This isn't Burger King...

Hillary doesn't get to have it her way.

[indimuse]

35. Obama knows..

The more the public is exposed to Obama in the debating arena debating REAL Policy..against a Stellar Champion...With a wealth of knowledge and command on ALL issues...He is highly vulnerable...NO STAGE??? NO...YES WE CAN>>? Well how am I gonna fool these people...????? Very wimpy of him NOT to take the Challenge...Well at least he's consistent!! "PRESENT"

[Hippo_Tron]

40. Why should Obama agree to four joint press conferences?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4443587