Some say that McCain pulling out of the debate on Friday is brilliant, because it demonstrates that he's willing to put the hard work of running the country ahead of frivolous activities like debates. Some say otherwise.
I'm the "some" in that case.
Because not campaigning is, of course, a form of campaigning. Republicans scored pretty big points by cutting down a convention night and turning it over to Hurrican Telethon activities. So let's put the idea of nobility aside and concentrate on the practicalities. McCain recognizes that he's getting clobbered in the polls right now, and not campaigning is simply a way to avoid throwing resources (ad money, political capital) into a huge pit. Once the economy is a little more stable, that's when McCain has a chance to land a few blows. So to me, this is strategy.
So as brilliant strategy, why aren't we supposed to believe that he's simply afraid to debate Obama? He made such a big deal of those 10 Townhall meetings, and here he is indefinately postponing a third of the scheduled presidential debates.
Now there's the troublesome problem of the debate itself. Friday's event was (is?) to focus on foreign policy, the subject McCain is supposed to be strongest on. He should be able to take it on in his sleep. And yet, he has to go into intensive preparation for it, so intensive that he can't do that AND decide how to vote on the Senate Budget bill. So the fabled straight talk express doesn't have enough time to rehearse its straight talk.
In other words, campaigning is TOO IMPORTANT to McCain for him to concentrate on it this week. He's putting his party second. And if he truly believes that he's the best man for the job, he's putting his country second as well. To avoid, I assume, personal humiliation.
Well, it wouldn't be the first time Republicans had other things to do than to show up for debates with black people at them.
Update*** Good news, he CAN campaign and save the economy at the same time!
Why did you choose to bring up race?
ReplyDeleteWhat does that have to do with anything?
Just a cheap shot, completely beside the point. What do you think of the rest of it?
ReplyDeleteNoted Right-Wing fanatic Bill Clinton said this on the subject:
ReplyDelete" "We know he didn't do it because he's afraid because Sen. McCain wanted more debates," Clinton said, adding that he was "encouraged" by the joint statement from McCain and Sen. Barack Obama.
"You can put it off a few days the problem is it's hard to reschedule those things," Clinton said, "I presume he did that in good faith since I know he wanted -- I remember he asked for more debates to go all around the country and so I don't think we ought to overly parse that." "
I think that in today's overly sensitive, partisan political environment, it won't make a difference.
McCain guys will say it shows leadership, Obama guys will say it is to run from slipping poll numbers.
The guy in the middle will probably think each guy is playing politics.
I'm worried less about the debates, and more about how people can think that the same clowns that got us into this financial mess, can get us out of it in 72 hours, with no problem.
Of course you're less worried about the debates NOW, but it was a huge deal when you said a Democrat was backing out of them.
ReplyDeletePiker, he's not backing out, just postponing.
ReplyDeleteI think they are important.
I just think that right now, a $700,000,000,000 blank check is more important.
There are less than two months until the election, and you know how things like this can get away from you.
ReplyDeleteI mean, it's possible that other important issues won't come up, but suppose they catch Osama Bin Laden? McCain will have to postpone again to examine the evidence. Or maybe the New York Times will say something mean about Sarah Palin; McCain might postpone so they can't have a debate to cover. Let's face it, Obama has never come out and said he won't do those Townhall debates either.