Let's assume Ayers will come up in the debate -- what should Obama's response strategy be?

[TheCoxwain]

Poll question: Let's assume Ayers will come up in the debate -- what should Obama's response strategy be?

We are already hearing pre-match noises about Ayers being brought up in the debate .. may be it wont be.. but if it does - How do you think should Obama respond?

Given the tenor of his campaign thus far - I will go with choice 1)

[TheWraith]

1. A two prong response, I think.

Part one would be to point out that this was 40 years ago, and even the lawyer who prosecuted Ayers says that he's reformed and a productive member of society.

Part two is to call McCain out on the fact that he's talking about distractions and falsehoods when the American people are hurting from an economy that's cratering, a situation that McCain's advisors helped create.

[endarkenment]

12. Precisly right.

"I was 8 John, now lets talk about the issues that are important to americans".

[Occam Bandage]

2. I'm not gonna backseat drive this campaign no more. He's hit only the right notes so far.

[hogwyld]

3. Exactly! Besides, did you hear Biden on Hardball

yesterday? Mentioned something about if McLiar brings this up and attacks, Barack's got something that would make McGrumps regret it for the rest of his life! It's got to be some powerful shiznit!

[TheCoxwain]

9. So you think it is going be the Glasshouse strategy? NT

[TheCoxwain]

5. Well Said .. We all forget how easy Obama has made this look and how difficult it is reality

We had the right candidates in 2000/2004 .. but what happened when they were confronted with the Machine?

[WallStreetNobody]

13. Agree completely, I've already made that mistake before

When McCain had that temporary bump following the convention when they went extra hard with the attacks I was yelling along with many other Dems that Obama needs to attack McCain as well. Instead he didn't, he counter-punched on the issues and he didn't flinch when they threw everything at him, just remained the calm and steady leader. It worked, Obama was right and many of us were wrong.

[Dr Fate]

19. I agree- I'm done second guessing them for right now. n/t

n/t

[Pyrzqxgl]

4. List the number of Republicans that served on that committee with him & Ayers,,

and that it was a Republican sponsored program.

[VWolf]

16. Yep. Really, that's all he needs to say

If McCain persues it farther, then he can counter with Keating5, etc. But I doubt McCain will want to go there.

[Clio the Leo]

6. "Um, yeah, so back to back to what I was saying about lowering taxes..."

.... he could even shake his head and roll his eyes for dramatic effect.

[NotThisTime]

7. Calm Rebuttal that one of his own Campaign staff (Kearns) was also on that board

[Sebass1271]

8. Calmly he should say

that if by associating with someone that i worked temporarily in an Education program makes him a terrorist, then, he too is (mccain), Leonora Anneberg, funded the organization that Ayers headed and he served on the board with. Ms. Anneberg is a republican and supported and donated to his campaign (mccain). (just recently this was published).

[Schulzz]

10. Obama is smarter than me, I trust him that he will have the right response.

But if I have to choose, I will go with 1. That's what voters like about Obama, attacking McCain won't help him. Obama won the likability polls big in the first debates.

[Overseas]

11. I'd ask if Senator McCain has discussed his concerns with Republican donors the Annenbergs

who have funded Ayers' projects for years.

I guess I wouldn't ask if he thinks the people of Illinois are deluded for choosing someone who "pals around with terrorists."

I guess I wouldn't ask if he thinks the U.S. Senate is so lax in security that it would allow someone who "pals around with terrorists" to serve without initiating any investigation of those associations.

I guess I wouldn't ask if the thinks the millions of Democrats in the USA are all fools.

[SoFlaJet]

14. the truth

and maybe a shot across the bow about Keating and Liddy or Hagee

[tabatha]

15. He has to bring up the Reagan connection.

And the McCain endorsement connection.

[Dr Fate]

17. I'm wondering if Obama should bring it up himself- after re-framing the issue first, of course.

But I'll be glad to him handle it how ever he thinks best.

[occe]

18. Calm