Every day Clinton was ahead, she went to the debates that were asked of her,Obama now nixing debates

[jsamuel]

I am not talking about Fox News either, he is nixing the CNN debate in Ohio too.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4455366&mesg_id=4455366

[NYCGirl]

1. And Obama went to all the scheduled debates, too. 18 is enough. NT

[DURHAM D]

5. No he didn't - he skipped the AARP debate early on.

Those old folks noticed.

[NYCGirl]

18. He was at every debate arranged by the DNC. NT

[papau]

21. peoples right to know/money shouldn't decide elections" - Is Obama a liar or a coward - or both?

[Straight Shooter]

35. 50 ain't old. That's the age you're eligible for AARP.

Punk. :P

[Barack_America]

10. Exactly. Debates are about covering the issues, not for free advertising.

As far as the issues are considered, I think that the 18 debates we've had thus far have pretty much covered them.

I can see room for one more debate, during the long gap before the PA primary, but no more.

It's more important to be out there, talking to voters in person.

[Blue_State_Elitist]

2. So much for his unity and open government bullshit.

When it doesn't benefit him, he won't come out in front of the American people. He's a politician just like the rest of them.

[DS1]

6. This debate thing is laughable.

Nobody would watch that many damn debates, and they all suck anyway. It's Hillary calling a bluff in a non-entity.


Give it up.

[KittyWampus]

9. Open Government. Why don't Clintons release their 2006 tax returns?

[Blue_State_Elitist]

11. Because she is a poltician with flaws.

Just like St. Obama.

[KittyWampus]

25. Seems more like they're hiding something.

[islandmkl]

29. what kind of flaw will the tax return expose?

[snappyturtle]

44. On the other hand it could be that debating is cheap advertising.

Important in campaigns that may not have as much money as they'd like for conventional advertising.

[mmonk]

3. This campaign has already produced

a record number of debates. What else is there to be learned at this point?

[sandnsea]

4. 18 is enough, no FREE Advertising n/t

[tyne]

12. Why should

Obama change his schedule just because Hillary asks?

He's got alot of work to do in the next several days. He is speaking to prospective supporters. That is his strategy. Why should he alter his schedule and strategy?

[557188]

13. Why not?

Or do you want the amount of money to control ones access to the white house?

That is a bit scary.

[sandnsea]

15. Hillary raised $118 Million Dollars

If she blew through that, tough for her.

[NashVegas]

40. Oh, Ho Ho Ho

Obama got hours and hours of free advertising thanks to Unca Teddy, AND those 18 debates.

Wot's yer beef?

[Stephanie]

Funny, she wasn't too keen on debates in 2006 >

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0208/Clinton_eager_to_debate.html

February 07, 2008
Read More: Hillary Clinton

Clinton, eager to debate

One person somewhat amused by the Clinton campaign's earnest call for a debate a week was her 2006 New York Senate primary challenger, anti-war labor activist Jonathan Tasini, who spent months fruitlessly demanding a debate that year.

He was met by promises from the Clinton campaign to "see how the campaign develops," a line Howard Wolfson memorably repeated to me hours before the polls opened.

“I welcome Sen. Clinton’s passion for open debates so that voters can be fully informed about the issues and where candidates stand,” Tasini e-mailed, perhaps a bit tongue in cheek, when I asked him about it today.

[angie_love]

7. Obama went on the debates too when he was ahead. whats your point?

[tishaLA]

8. Perhaps she can buy time on Hallmark again

then again, perhaps not.

[snappyturtle]

45. I never heard what that cost. Did you? I assume it cost a lot.

It didn't air here...

[pdxmom]

14. Her asking for debates now is a pretty transparent ploy and Obama is

correct in not agreeing to it.

[DS1]

17. You get it

[stillcool]

16. Every day that Clinton was ahead?

she still is.

[GoldieAZ49]

19. HELLO the primaries are NOW IN PROGRESS

He needs to be campaigning in those states

Debates are for prior to the elections and there have been more than enough

He doesn't need to have the Clintons setting his schedule

[sunonmars]

20. the headline will be "Obama scared to debate Clinton"

[robbedvoter]

31. You mean "should be". You didn't see a "Bush scared to debate Gore/kerry" headline

eother - you won't see this one.

[KaryninMiami]

33. Or- Obama has done 18 debates and there will be more- but does not need the free t.v. time now

and feels his time is better spent, getting to know the voters in person in the upcoming primary states. She needs the debates because she's out of money- that's not his responsibility and it's not about his being afraid to debate.

[Tennessee Gal]

22. Since getting down to two candidates there has only been ONE debate.

That is reason enough to have more debates.

ONE ON ONE.

[goldcanyonaz]

26. Agreed, why doesn't one of the candidates want to debate?

[jenmito]

23. Every day Clinton was ahead, her name was CLINTON. Obama needs to go campaign in front of

the people to introduce himself to the people. Why should SHE get to dictate when debates happen because she needs/wants free airtime?

[splat]

24. Every change to get the Dems on TV should be grabbed!

[Donnachaidh]

27. what's he afraid of?

THAT'S the question that should be asked.

I guess now that it's down to 2 candidates he wants to dictate terms?

[islandmkl]

28. maybe she has one good (planted) question for Obama that she is dying to have asked...

the Fox debate would have been the most likely place (maybe that's where some of the campaign $ went), but those guys at CNN would probably appreciate any debate assistance they can get from Mark Penn.

[IronLionZion]

30. As if we haven't had enough already

What is there to talk about? They ask similar questions every time. I think it's better to actually talk to the people directly. You can get some good questions out on the campaign trail.

[robbedvoter]

32. How very GOP-ish of him!

[TheWraith]

34. But, but, but, Clinton supporters insist Obama lost huge on Tuesday!

[jsamuel]

37. well, I am not a Clinton supporter

I am an Edwards supporter who was forced to vote for Clinton when he left.

[haroldgiowa]

36. Obama doesn't want any more debates?

What's he hiding?

Not a Hillary or Obama supporter. Just believe in an open dialog between the candidates. Can't count the debates where the stage was standing room only. They need to answer position statement questions next time around. We are smart enough to tell the difference without each other taking 90% of their answers to position the other.

[notundecided]

38. Remember the Lincoln-Douglas Debates

I guess Obama is NO Lincoln. No Douglas either.

[Imagevision]

39. Hillary wants debates because she's running out of $$$ -> Obama is scoring with

personal contact with the peeps and Billary knows it. Bill->(have open debates, their free honey!) while Obama contribution millions keep pouring in.

[cottonseed]

41. Any more debates would be nothing more than Jello wrestling.

I mean, who wants to listen to a debate on drivers licenses for illegals again. Hell, over the last month, Hillary basically debated herself on that one.

[LulaMay]

42. She is the best debater. They've had ONE debate one on one. He is wrong to decline...looks bad 2

[snappyturtle]

43. I heard a very rational explanation of Obam's decision this morning.

Wish my old brain could remember who to credit it to. However, the point was made that the six debates HRC wants takes away from valuable campaigning time. Frankly, I don't know if I would listen to still another debate. This is a close race and I think Obama has decided that his time would be better spent on the campaign trail....although it was also presented that he still might do a couple.
Anyone else hear this?

[Vinca]

46. The debates have been as exciting as watching paint dry.

Tell Hill to buy more Hallmark time if she wants to be on television.