Jimmy Carter mad a big mistake not showing up for debate...McCain

[Doityourself]

Will do the same!! Watch and see.

[salonghorn70]

1. What Debate Did Carter Not Show Up For?

[andym]

8. Missed all but the last one the week before the election

Missed all but the last one the week before the election, due to the presence of 3rd party candidate John Anderson "The Anderson difference."

The one debate decisively swung the election to Reagan ("There you go again, Jimmy").

[tblue]

2. Why did Carter pull out? Me don't remember this.

[BlooInBloo]

3. Was the hostage crisis going on at the time? A situation where lives were TRULY....

in the balance minute by minute?

I don't know if I'd call that a mistake.

[Rabrrrrrr]

4. Yep - the hostage crisis that Reagan/Bush were negotiating with Iran to keep going.

[BlooInBloo]

5. Ok. Then the original post is a completely jackass comparison.

[Rabrrrrrr]

6. Whoops - I was wrong! he refused to debate if John Anderson (third party guy) was included

At least, according to this site, which is a celebration of Carter, so I can't imagine it's lying:

http://www.presidentprofiles.com/Kennedy-Bush/Carter-Jimmy.html

During the campaign, Carter gained ground rapidly. He did so chiefly because of Reagan's ability to generate alarm and to blunder. Seeking to rally Democrats, Carter exploited the widespread doubts about, and fears of, the former movie actor and militant champion of a tougher foreign policy and made use of the advantages that control of the White House supplied, including its ability to distribute federal grants to places in which they could influence votes. Most Kennedy people rallied behind Carter; the economy even improved some. what and soon the gap separating him from Reagan in the polls became insignificant.

If Carter failed, Anderson seemed likely to be a contributing factor. His candidacy rested on the assumption that there was a widespread lack of confidence in both of the leading candidates. "People talk about a spoiler," he remarked in defense of his role. "What's to spoil?" Fearing that Anderson would take votes away from him and detract from his efforts to focus attention on Reagan, the president refused to join in a television debate that included Anderson.

[BlooInBloo]

7. Ah - well then the OP is reasonable - lololol!

[Doityourself]

9. LOL thanks...it was a bad move..

[BlooInBloo]

10. :)