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Why Is Obama Afraid Of Town Hall Debates?
Town Hall ^ | 9/18/08 | Troy Stouffe

Posted on 09/18/2008 5:09:30 PM PDT by kathsua

In early June, Senator John McCain invited Senator Barack Obama to attend a series of up to 10 “town hall” style meetings throughout the summer. At the time of the invitation Obama was receptive to the idea of appearing with McCain at the “town hall” meetings, but in early August, the Obama campaign cited a very busy campaign schedule as to why they would not attend the meetings. To date, the candidates have only agreed to the standard 3 presidential debates and 1 vice presidential debate. My question is simple. Of what is the Obama campaign afraid?

Since Obama’s meteoric rise in popularity, he has long relied on the use of teleprompters to deliver his speeches. He has even taken to using them at campaign rallies, such as in a rodeo ring at the Colorado State Fair this week. Obama is a very gifted speaker when delivering his speeches with the aid of electronic devices, but when he is speaking without their help, he stumbles over his words. Much has been said about McCain and Palin, but both of them are able to think on their feet and deliver speeches and answer questions without outside help.

Perhaps Obama is worried about taking questions from those who have not sworn their allegiance to him. The news media has been very loyal and easy on Obama. They have not asked him any of the tough questions that McCain and Palin have faced. Is Obama worried that he may get asked tough questions from the lowly citizens of the United States? Will they ask about his extremely liberal record in the Illinois state senate and the U.S. Senate? Will they ask him about his 2 economic advisors who were part of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Lehman Brothers? Advisors Franklin Raines and Jim Johnson were both CEO’s of Fannie Mae during the time frame of scandal, which directly led to the meltdown we have seen over the last week. In fact, Obama is second on the list of recipients of donations from Fannie Mae. Is Obama afraid to be asked about his nearly $1 trillion increase in government spending? Is he hiding from his plan to increase taxes on all taxpayers by not protecting the Bush tax cuts? I believe that Obama knows that he is very vulnerable when speaking off the cuff. Without his teleprompter or one of his legions of advisors whispering in his ear, he is completely lost. His confusion was on full display this week when he said he wasn’t sure whether or not insurance giant AIG should be bailed out by the government. McCain said it best by noting that Obama needs to realize that as President you cannot simply vote “present” on the tough decisions. I believe that the standard debate format is set up to hide the candidate’s true character from the voting public. The “town halls” allow the citizens to ask the candidates questions without any media bias to either side. Obama is trying to become the next Bill Clinton, but Clinton was able to handle the public’s questions, while Obama is looking to run and hide from their scrutiny.


TOPICS: Government; Politics
KEYWORDS: barackobama; debates; mccainpalin; obamabiden
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Obama knows he is an inferior candidate. He couldn't win a Senate seat without help from the media. He is only staying in the presidential race because the media is covering for his mistakes. If John McCain or Sarah Palin had made a gaff like he did when he said "my Muslim faith" it would have been the lead item on every tv newscast with commentators questioning his fitness for the office.
1 posted on 09/18/2008 5:09:30 PM PDT by kathsua
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To: kathsua

err, ahhh, ummm, uhhhh I have no idea


2 posted on 09/18/2008 5:10:19 PM PDT by Tarpon (Three things matter when selecting a President - character, character and character.)
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To: kathsua

If they allow teleprompters, maybe he’ll agree.


3 posted on 09/18/2008 5:10:48 PM PDT by Schnucki
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To: Tarpon

Uh,uh,uh, it would expose him as an empty suit.


4 posted on 09/18/2008 5:11:29 PM PDT by Parley Baer
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To: kathsua
Hint...The dufus can't think on his feet...That make him unfit to be anything requiring leadership. He doesn't have it.


5 posted on 09/18/2008 5:13:07 PM PDT by darkwing104 (Lets get dangerous)
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To: kathsua
Why Is Obama Afraid Of Town Hall Debates?

Errrr.....ummmm...uhhhhh...where's muh damn uhhhh...errr...tele-thingie??

6 posted on 09/18/2008 5:13:42 PM PDT by Allegra (Hang in there, Houston. I love ya.)
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To: kathsua
Um...Because Barak, er, Impromptu...

...Obama is nowhere near as...um...clean...

...um, er and articulate....

....as, ah Barak Teleproma.

7 posted on 09/18/2008 5:14:01 PM PDT by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: kathsua

I don’t know what you mean...uh...I...well...towns are good...yeah...and...well...um...I love halls...yeah...ok......and.....uh.....


8 posted on 09/18/2008 5:15:31 PM PDT by constitutiongirl (We will not go quietly into the night...we will fight to save our Republic.)
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To: kathsua

Watch some of his q&a sessions on cspan and its blatantly obvious why he wants nothing to do with a town hall. He is absolutely clueless and most answers are updated democratic cliches. The guy is truly an empty suit.

SHOW UP AND VOTE!


9 posted on 09/18/2008 5:15:37 PM PDT by Doug TX
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To: kathsua

This is a trick question, right?


10 posted on 09/18/2008 5:16:20 PM PDT by pabianice
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To: kathsua

It could be he stutters worse than Bush


11 posted on 09/18/2008 5:20:57 PM PDT by realcleanguy ("I have not yet begun to fight")
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To: kathsua

McCain’s call for 10 town hall style Q&A`s was a master stroke. Too bad McCain didn’t press the issue more and force Obama to agree in principle to a certain number of these meet the public sessions. Obviously, Obama is not good without a well rehearsed script and his teleprompter.


12 posted on 09/18/2008 5:21:25 PM PDT by Reagan Man (With Palin on the ticket, McCain Earned My Vote --- MOST conservatives should be satisfied.)
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To: kathsua

Reminds me of the old joke-why did the chicken avoid the Town Hall debates ?
Because he could.
Flip this to McCain refusing Town Hall debates and it would be the lead story every night for weeks and weeks.
Complete with clucking noises and wing flapping from Brian Williams and his cadre.
If Obama did not have CBS, MoronNBC, NBC, CNN,
ABC, NYT, WaPo ,etc running interference for him every single day-
imagine where he would be today.
I swear Obama could appear naked from the waist down at a campaign rally
and the media would gush that he’s started a new fashion trend.


13 posted on 09/18/2008 5:29:33 PM PDT by Wild Irish Rogue
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To: kathsua
Photobucket
14 posted on 09/18/2008 5:35:50 PM PDT by Clay Moore (Newspapers, the 8 track tape of the information age.)
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To: Reagan Man

You’re exactly right. The minute Osama turned him down, McCain should have had commercials out there with the footage of Osama saying “anywhere, anytime”, and then asking, “if he’s afraid to debate McCain now, how’s he going to face these guys later?” At that point the screen could pan to images of Putin, Ahmadinijad and Kim Jong Il.


15 posted on 09/18/2008 5:38:23 PM PDT by elmer fudd (Fukoku kyohei)
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To: kathsua

Because he’s a blithering idiot?


16 posted on 09/18/2008 5:38:54 PM PDT by FrdmLvr ("I don't know of a single thing Obama has done except talk and write". -- Newt Gingrich)
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To: kathsua

‘Cause he’s as dumb as a bag full of hammers?


17 posted on 09/18/2008 5:40:26 PM PDT by MayflowerMadam (Election '08: God is in control.)
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To: elmer fudd

McCain should hire you. ;^)


18 posted on 09/18/2008 5:43:58 PM PDT by Reagan Man (With Palin on the ticket, McCain Earned My Vote --- MOST conservatives should be satisfied.)
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To: kathsua

He cited his “very busy campaign schedule”?! Would a town hall debate be considered part of the campaign?!


19 posted on 09/18/2008 5:58:04 PM PDT by CaptRon
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To: kathsua

McCain can call a Town Hall meeting and invite HUSSEIN, if he doesn’t show, McCain can sit next to Husseins empty chair and take questions from REAL AMERICANS


20 posted on 09/18/2008 6:04:13 PM PDT by Rome2000 (Peace is not an option)
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