Obama camp: McCain making townhall talks into political sideshow

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Obama camp: McCain making townhall talks into political sideshow



http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Obama_camp_McCain_making_townhall_talks_0613.html

Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain both want to share a stage to present side-by-side their proposals for the future of the country. Problem is, they're unable to agree about precisely how, when, where or how many times these face-offs should occur.

Obama's campaign offered a counter-proposal to McCain request for 10 weekly town-hall meetings between now and the Democratic convention in August on Friday.

The Illinois senator's campaign said the two candidates should meet five times before Election Day, beginning with a joint town hall on the economy next month and another on foreign policy in August, plus three fall debates; McCain's campaign rejected the proposal, which Obama's team said would have been the most joint appearances of any modern campaign.

“It’s disappointing that Senator McCain and his campaign decided to decline this proposal," Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said in a statement. "Apparently they would rather contrive a political issue than foster a genuine discussion about the future of our country.

However, there also are risks for the 72-year-old Republican. Some fear that extended appearances next to the 46-year-old, fit, charismatic Obama would turn off voters, and in an age of high-definition television, joint appearances between the two could be this era's answer to the 1960 Kennedy-Nixon debates.

:spray:

[zulchzulu]

1. I would happily enjoy Barack schooling Johnny in any meetings...

Last night on MSNBC, there was some McCain't knucklehead asking where Obama was to debate... unfortunately, the people defending Obama didn't know that Johnny had already chickened out on Obama's offer.

I bet McCain wants to make it that they have to sit on a seat the whole time. Perhaps a soft-focus camera on Johnny...

Bring it!

[Amerigo Vespucci]

2. I thought the Kennedy-Nixon thing was spot-on...

...because what I see in Obama is a complete and utter refusal to roll over and play dead for GOP talking points and dirty tricks. I honestly believe that any attempts to back him into a corner will result in his fighting his way out. I see a legitimate Obama-McCain debate as the tipping point.

:patriot: