Clinton Wants “Real” Debate
By Alan Stewart Carl | Related entries in 2008 Election, Barack, Democrats, HillaryHillary Clinton has challenged Barack Obama to a Lincoln-Douglas style debate without a moderator. The two would just stand or sit for ninety minutes and ask each other questions. In response, the Obama camp said they want to focus on talking to the voters rather than having yet another debate.
Personally, I think Obama should accept. The moderator-led debates tend to be a noxious blend of gotcha questions and rehearsed bits of the candidates’ stump speeches. A real debate would be far more elucidating than any of the previous 21 debates in which these two have participated. We’d not only get a better sense of what’s truly important to each candidate but we’d get a far more unvarnished look at how they think and react. I’d eagerly watch such a debate.
Unfortunately, Obama seems unlikely to accept the challenge.
This entry was posted on Saturday, April 26th, 2008 and is filed under 2008 Election, Barack, Democrats, Hillary. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
April 26th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
i agree that this style would be, as you say, less noxious. Probably only slightly less unbearable, though.
Hillary is issuing such challenges because she’sbehind. Obama’s demurring because he’s ahead. No big surprises there.
April 26th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
I don’t know. Would Hillary be any less obnoxious or gotcha than a moderator? Precisely because she’s behind, I don’t think so. I believe she’d use the 90 minutes just like Gibson would.
April 26th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
I doubt that Senator Clinton would be any less obnoxious than Charlie Gibson, especially after seeing her and her minions trying to put out the “Clinton’s got the popular vote!” meme.
April 26th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Yeah gotta agree with Red, Hillary would start out with, something like “Senator Obama, does Hamas like you because you hate this country or because you are anti-semetic?”
April 26th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Well, this is a fantastic strategy from Hillary. Obama absolutely should do this style of debate. I’d for one have more respect for both of them. These idiotic non-”debates” were meaningless from the start — everything is canned, rehearsed, staged and of no depth whatsoever. Why in the world would Obama puss out of this? Unless he really couldn’t handle HRC in a real debate. I think he could and would do very well and, in fact, could end this thing quickly. But apparently he’ll need to grow a pair before sparing off with the winter witch in a match of wits.
Here’s the Obama bummer from my perspective. It’s too bad political fate made him a liberal. Just think of what he could have done as a conservative if political expediency has joined him with Grover Norquist and Rick Warren, rather than Rev. Wright and Bill Ayers.
Didn’t Obama go to Harvard Law School and was editor of the law review and wanted to become president since Kindergarten? He is going to totally wuss out.
April 26th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Actually Dos, its because he knows her and knows that any debate with her would not be of the issues but of the “character” garbage, the distortions of Wright, and the non stories of Ayers, Rezko and flag pins. Its that stuff that has kept her campaign afloat.
April 26th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Obama would be a fool to get into any more debates. He’s got this thing locked up and the only way he loses at this point is if he kills himself. No reason to give her the opening. He’s like a boxer heading into the final round with a decisive edge on the score card - just play it safe and don’t give her a chance at the knock out punch because she’s desperate.
Stay off the ropes, stay in the middle of the ring, and dance till it’s over.
April 27th, 2008 at 1:32 am
[...] « Clinton Wants “Real” Debate [...]
April 27th, 2008 at 4:56 am
If he wants to prove that he can be president, he ought to try this.
April 27th, 2008 at 5:38 am
Yeah like debates are really that important to a president
April 27th, 2008 at 11:51 am
Scared of HRC — poor lil’ Obama — she’ll be mean to me!!! pussy