Hillary to Obama: Let’s debate — without a moderator; Update: No debates before Indiana, says new Lincoln
posted at 4:06 pm on April 26, 2008 by Allahpundit
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Part of her new strategy to make him look like a complete wimp. Dude thinks he’s Lincoln? Here’s his chance to play the part. Awesome:
April 26, 2008
David Plouffe, Campaign Manager
Obama for America
P.O. Box 8102
Chicago, IL 60680Dear David:
The attention, excitement and energy around this presidential election is unprecedented. The stakes could not be higher for our country and the American people. The economy is sliding into recession, our men and woman in the Armed Forces are fighting two wars abroad, and our country is reeling from the harsh legacy of the Bush-Cheney Administration. The American people are choosing a direction for their children and families. They have a right to hear from those who want to be their leaders. Our Democratic primaries reflect the keen interest of the American citizenry in this election. Our primaries have brought millions of new people into the political process and invigorated a national conversation about the best solutions to meet our challenges.
Senator Clinton believes deeply that political debates are a vital part of our democratic process. It is the American way to place our would-be leaders side by side to hear them articulate and defend their ideas; to challenge each other on their visions for the future; to answer the tough questions about their plans, their records and their judgments; and to celebrate their achievements.
Senator Obama has declined the invitation from CBS and the North Carolina Democratic Party to appear for a debate at North Carolina State University tomorrow evening. Senator Obama has apparently declined the invitation of the Indiana Debate Commission to appear for a debate in Indiana next week. Senator Obama has not responded to Senator Clinton’s challenge to debate in Oregon. Will there be no debates in other upcoming states? The American people, of course, deserve more. They deserve debates before casting their votes. They deserve debates just like the states who have participated in this invigorating process before them.
I understand that Senator Obama has raised the point that there have already been more than 20 debates this election cycle. However, only four of those have been between Senator Obama and Senator Clinton. We can all agree that many important issues have received scant attention during previous debates, including such important topics as education and the energy crisis.
This year marks the 150th anniversary of the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates, a series of public debates across Illinois where two candidates put their ideas, their visions, and their values before the American people. I have no doubt that Senator Obama, who hails from that great state, understands how valuable and vital these national conversations were to the heart of America. We can surely meet the standard our forbearers did. Our final two primary candidates to date have had three fewer debates than Lincoln and Douglas held in single state over 60 days in 1858.
And if we debate, Americans will come. Recent debates have attracted record numbers of viewers – more than 10 million for the last one. And a great number of voters in recent primaries have said that the debates in their states were important to their decision.
Senator Obama himself suggested the last debate in Philadelphia did not provide enough opportunity to talk about issues that “matter[] to the American people.” A Lincoln-Douglas style debate would certainly provide that opportunity. There would be no questions from the media. There would be equal time and equal opportunity to grapple with the important policy questions we are facing today. As Douglas put it, the two candidates would meet “for the purpose of discussing the leading political topics which now agitate the public mind.”
In the spirit of the Lincoln-Douglas debates, we make this proposal:
Senator Clinton and Senator Obama will participate in a 90-minute debate in an open public forum. Just the two of them — no questioners, no panelists, no video clips. One candidate would speak for two minutes, then the other, alternating back and forth all the way through the debate. Their discussion – not any pre-set rules – would determine how long they spend on one subject before moving on to another. Such a debate would range across all of the challenges, large and small, we face as a nation or it could focus on the most significant issue we face today, — the economy.
We can readily agree on a host, a place, a date, and a broadcaster or series of broadcasters.
Both of our candidates are making history. Let us continue to do so. Let’s debate.
Sincerely,
Maggie Williams
Campaign Manager
A fine idea, and not the first time it’s been proposed this election season. Golly, I’ll bet the left is ecstatic at her proposal, having been so rudely deprived by ABC of the chance to hear all those substantive exchanges about policy they’ve been aching for, huh? Doubtless we can count on tremendous nutroots pressure being brought to bear on Obama to ignore his sliding favorability ratings, accept her invitation, and ladle out wonk-sized servings of Hope and Change in a forum where George Stephanopoulos can’t interrupt. Brace yourself for the blogburst.
Update: What’s the most efficient way to communicate with voters? Surely not at a massively promoted, televised, highly watched debate. Much better to hold a few town halls and meet and greets.
Fox News aired a portion of Obama’s Fox News Sunday interview, in which he flatly ruled out debating Clinton before Indiana and North Carolina vote on May 6.
“We’re not going to have debates between now and Indiana,” he said…
“I am not ducking one, we’ve had 21 — and so, now, what we’ve said, we’re two weeks, two big states, we want to make sure that we’re talking to as many folks as possible on the ground taking questions from voters,” Obama said.
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Illinois is the “Land of Lincoln”. If they frame this as Douglas/Lincoln for the modern age, and they’re happy to put Obama in the role of Lincoln, then he couldn’t possibly refuse. If he accepts, he’ll get another opportunity to show what a greenhorn he is. It’s a win-win for Hillary, even risking identifying Obama with Lincoln.
Nethicus on April 26, 2008 at 4:14 PM
Oh my!
The plot thickens!
Mortis on April 26, 2008 at 4:14 PM
I’d pay good money to watch the Messiah stammer again.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on April 26, 2008 at 4:14 PM
Gotta love the sarcasm just dripping from this post!
And Obama won’t take it–not until he’s beat over the head for a while.
Foolish of him, but what else is new?
Vanceone on April 26, 2008 at 4:14 PM
I were Hillary I would dress like Lincoln.
Blake on April 26, 2008 at 4:15 PM
Frankly I”m sick of both of them but if they”re going to debate there needs to be a tough critical moderator. If left to their own resources they”ll only engage in endless, mindless trivia.
rplat on April 26, 2008 at 4:16 PM
I declared that Hillary would fold after PA.
Keep on making a fool of me Hillary!
Limerick on April 26, 2008 at 4:17 PM
One word: Thunderdome.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on April 26, 2008 at 4:17 PM
Better yet, Hillary could go as Sojourner Truth and do her I Don’t Feel No Ways Tired accent.
Blake on April 26, 2008 at 4:19 PM
Welcome to the Thunderdome
Sekhmet on April 26, 2008 at 4:20 PM
I’d expect the pandering to be a little more evident. I’m thinking Aunt Jemima.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on April 26, 2008 at 4:21 PM
It will get fun when she offers to let him have the questions in advance and to read his prepared responses at the debate.
rw on April 26, 2008 at 4:21 PM
Indeed1 The plot
thickenserh, uh…sickens!Vntnrse on April 26, 2008 at 4:22 PM
Given that Sen Obama appears to not do so well when the process of delivery does not include a prepared speech (whether prepared through notes and/or teleprompter), and that even with a moderated debate (wow I almost typed “moderatored”) he doesn’t do so well either (refer to the first point above), I just don’t think he’ll agree to a less-formal debate that does not include a moderator.
But who knows, apparently, it seems that Obama only agrees to debates when he is winning. I thought only the “politics as usual” politicians do that sort of thing, shrink away from further potential damaging exposure, as opposed to the candidate of hope and change. Not so much.
Weebork on April 26, 2008 at 4:24 PM
A debate without moderators would just show how identical the two really are. I’m totally in favor of lincoln/douglas style in the general election; but I don’t see the point here.
lorien1973 on April 26, 2008 at 4:25 PM
Any time she goes on the attack she is criticized for it. So, I do agree with her complaints that there is sexism. I want to see the British style debates in the House of Commons though I hear that the prime minister does get the questions in advance and an opportunity to prepare them. Still looks like fun.
Blake on April 26, 2008 at 4:30 PM
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - these ‘debates’ are nothing more than pre-planned news conferences. I seriously doubt Comrade Clinton nor Comrade Obama will get away with pushing the MSM out of the picture.
What will likely happen is:
1. A topic (e.g., ‘Is American ready for complete Socialism‘) is raised by a News Reader (Perky Katie comes to mind) and a time limit set. Both candidates will then utilize their time to address the topic.
2. The News Reader will then monitor the time and, as appropriate, call for commercials (unless both candidates agree to fund the entire show from their campaign purses).
3. After listening to each side of the topic, the Audience will vote for the winner.
4. Rinse, repeat.
SeniorD on April 26, 2008 at 4:32 PM
She’s stealing Newt Gingrich’s idea from last year.
VinceP1974 on April 26, 2008 at 4:36 PM
w00t!! Yeah, baby.
Fight, fight…grrrrrr….munch…munch…grrrrr
29Victor on April 26, 2008 at 4:37 PM
If moderators scare Obambi so much, then what won’t scare him?
tarpon on April 26, 2008 at 4:37 PM
No moderators, no teleprompters.
Two enter, one leaves.
chewydog on April 26, 2008 at 4:41 PM
Sekhmet on April 26, 2008 at 4:20 PM
Two commies enter.
One commie leaves.
And is Hillary the Blaster in your image too? I know Obama is my Mel.
VolMagic on April 26, 2008 at 4:41 PM
And no fish-hooking or eye-gouging. Let’s get it on!!!!!!
txsurveyor on April 26, 2008 at 4:50 PM
Greatest.Election.Ever
Except for the McCain part.
Beto Ochoa on April 26, 2008 at 4:51 PM
I hate to say it yet again, but good for Hillary.
aero on April 26, 2008 at 4:58 PM
Right, and who is going to submit the questions, Bubba Billy?
pilamaye on April 26, 2008 at 5:07 PM
This would be a debate I would watch….popcorn,my fav lite beer, chips and dip…all around the table so I wouldn’t have to get up!!!
jerrytbg on April 26, 2008 at 5:12 PM
Lincoln/Douglas? More like one of those knife fights where the opponents are tied together at the wrist. They both know they could deal the other a death blow, and they both know they could cut each other to death. There’s a lotta arguing right now in Oby’s War Room.
eeyore on April 26, 2008 at 5:20 PM
No, they will. They determine who goes first by tossing the bat, doing the hand over hand, and the one who doesn’t have it last gets the chance to kick it out of the other person’s hand. (Is there a name to this?) Then they ask the other candidate any question they want. They each have five minutes to respond than the other party asks the next question.
Blake on April 26, 2008 at 5:21 PM
This would be a debate I
wouldcould watch….oopsjerrytbg on April 26, 2008 at 5:21 PM
Brilliant
Baphomet on April 26, 2008 at 5:21 PM
It’ll never happen.But if it does, I hope it comes out on DVD.
Guardian on April 26, 2008 at 5:25 PM
They are going to pop a neck vein on the left before this is over. What a brave brave woman she is. WTF. She’s got nothing to lose. What a beast. What a couple of hard corp power happy hosedogs these Clintons are. Wow. I hope they destroy each other because they both suck politically.
pc on April 26, 2008 at 5:27 PM
Sounds like a good plan to me, strategy wise. For Hillary.
I can’t imagine wasting my time watching two Marxists debate, but the highlight reel ought to be enlightening to the few Dems that are capable of enlightenment.
LegendHasIt on April 26, 2008 at 5:27 PM
Well played.
WisCon on April 26, 2008 at 5:29 PM
Just doing the campaigning McCain refuses to do.
fourstringfuror on April 26, 2008 at 5:41 PM
Delicious! Just when most libs are turning up the heat and demanding that Hilary “take one for the party” and drop out of the race, she gone and done something like this? WAY TO GO HILL!!! Girl, dont allow anyone, or anything, to stop you from proving “once and for all”, that you Clintons are willing to do “whatever” it takes achieve power.
In less than two years, you have succeeded in convincing more people of your ruthlessness than that “mean Republican attack machine” was able to achieve in almost two decades.
Take it to Denver and claim your prize, me lady!
RMR on April 26, 2008 at 5:51 PM
The empty suit has proven himself to be a sissy whiner of a poor excuse of a man. No wonder limpy could only manage to roll up a 37 at the bowling alley, the guy is a girly-man.
Somebody said this the other day on another thread; put an empty suit up on stage and let Hillary have her debate with the empty suit.
Keemo on April 26, 2008 at 5:54 PM
I’ll bet Obama got chased around on the playground a lot as a kid at
the madrassagrammar school.Cicero43 on April 26, 2008 at 6:02 PM
Dueling stump speeches . . .
with talking points finale.
rockhauler on April 26, 2008 at 6:07 PM
Bush-Cheney Administration
When mega thigh woman uses this term it makes me want to puke. Does this back woods hick not understand that there are people who love the team but don’t like them?
I want to hear about national security issues and I want to hear about them now. All the love and hope in the world will not do a Fing thing to help this country.
I want to hear some tough love from these pandering socialists.
McCain isn’t perfect, but these two turds will never measure up to a thinking American who can actually see the forest for the trees.
winemkr on April 26, 2008 at 6:08 PM
Skeletor v. Bambi. I would LOVE to see this…I would actually watch it just to see Obama turn into a wiggling mass of jello. Go Hillary!
JustTruth101 on April 26, 2008 at 6:12 PM
Lincoln Douglass format is not bad. Even offering to do it shows how confident Hillary is as a candidate, and would highlight her conservative credentials. The big loser here is McCain, who if he was to debate Hillary would not have the guts to challenge one thing that she said.
Snake307 on April 26, 2008 at 6:14 PM
Not a matter of guts… That is the ONE thing that McCain has more of than any other current American politician.
But the outcome would be just the same as in your scenario, because Hillary and John are quite simpatico.
LegendHasIt on April 26, 2008 at 6:27 PM
Barry is right. The prep time needed for a major debate is significant. He knows he can BS his way through Oprah style “town-halls”, so no prep time is needed.
The less practice he has with real one-on-one debates the better for McCain and hence the country.
pedestrian on April 26, 2008 at 6:33 PM
I can’t wait for the new talking points!
Buy Danish on April 26, 2008 at 6:37 PM
The only rule is…there ain’t no rules.
chewydog on April 26, 2008 at 6:38 PM
If McCain’s opponent was a conservative Republican, McCain would have no issue with attacking them. He’s unload the insult wagon and throw every mud pie he could.
If the debate opponent is a Democrat, McCain would spend all his talking time describing how awesome the opponent is and how much he’s really enjoyed working with them for so many years.
That’s exactly how McCain performs on every morning show and meet the press.
Must be a new definition of guts. I’m looking forward to seeing him rejected soundly in November.
Snake307 on April 26, 2008 at 6:40 PM
You could be right. However, it’s still the primaries, and he is not running against either one yet. He may be letting them skewer each other without any help.
chewydog on April 26, 2008 at 6:41 PM
Obama FEARS Hillary!
What a punk, and he wants to be Commander in Chief?
It would be laughable were it not so terribley sad.
What’s he going to do if he gets the nomination and stumbles the first time out against McCain? Declare there will be no more debates until after Election Day?
SuperCool on April 26, 2008 at 6:54 PM
You’re incredible AP. Thanks for all the laughs. Great, just great. And it’s all gratis. What a great life this is.
Great move on her part. She’d cream ‘m. I wonder if they’ll ever debate again. I just saw part of “News Watch” on Fox and the word “funerial atmosphere” was used, as regards the attitude amongst the leftie pundits/media. It’s such a perfect word, especially that the rigor mortis is caused from within.
Entelechy on April 26, 2008 at 7:10 PM
Obama is stuck on certain numbers reflecting the age levels of maturity:
“I’ve already answered like 8 questions already, no more questions!”
“I’ve already debated like 21 times, no more debating!”
He’s such a prick of a big baby, and there’s Hillary ready to play “nice” hiding her club and dagger.
I am not the only one who’d enjoy hearing candidates clarify within time limits answers to questions that are not settled.
It would be nice to tie McCain down to answer HOW he will secure our borders and HOW he will prevent illegal aliens from taking jobs inside the USA, and HOW he will get Mexico to commit to industrialization on THEIR side of our common border.
maverick muse on April 26, 2008 at 7:36 PM
Predictable…..p*ssy.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on April 26, 2008 at 7:46 PM
Is it me, or is Hillary’s giant smile looking more and more maniacal every day. Watch her and you will see that she has a perma-smile that goes from ear to ear…..it is totally un-natural, and unlike any other of the major candidates.
Dpet on April 26, 2008 at 7:48 PM
maverick muse on April 26, 2008 at 7:36 PM
Nicely stated…
Keemo on April 26, 2008 at 7:59 PM
Quick Obama, Change the subject to waffles and Hope that no one notices….
ScottG on April 26, 2008 at 8:36 PM
Baraaaaak bak bak bak
nyrofan on April 26, 2008 at 8:36 PM
Of course you don’t have to duck. Not after the MSMs, and the looney left are willing to risk everything to guarantee that you are not hit with anything harder than a marshmallow. HA! HA!
RMR on April 26, 2008 at 8:47 PM
This situation is what proves that Obama is inexperienced. He should have said weeks ago that the race was over. Now he’s a winner of the election who looks like he has anything to defend.
freevillage on April 26, 2008 at 8:56 PM
Here is a dose of reality that has hundreds (thousands) sporting goose bumps and a quick glance over their shoulder!
PAYBACK TIME: Eleanor Clift observes: “I’m beginning to think Hillary Clinton might pull this off and wrestle the nomination away from Barack Obama. If she does, a lot of folks—including a huge chunk of the media—will join Bill Richardson (a.k.a. Judas) in the Deep Freeze. If the Clinton’s get back into the White House, it will be retribution time, like the Corleone family consolidating power in ‘The Godfather,’ where the watchword is, ‘It’s business, not personal.’”
Keemo on April 26, 2008 at 9:16 PM
Obumble:
“I don’t need to debate, I have a flag pin! And you can BELIEVE in my HOPE for CHANGE! I can take a punch, I just don’t see the need to. BELIEVE! Let’s not have 45 minutes of distractions before we get onto the substantive issues! I CLING to that HOPE! I’ve got the judgment, I simply don’t want to show it before I’m elected. As my former … did you catch that, former mentor and pastor, Reverend Wright, says: “Roost your chickens in every pot!“. Vote for me! The inaugural parties will be a blast. Thanks to my neighbor, the professor, Mr. Ayers. And Michelle, as First Mama, will MEAN what she says! Flag pins! BELIEVE! Go HOPE, beat CHANGE!
Land o’ Lincoln! The fierce urgency of Now (whatever the hell that means)! No debates!”
profitsbeard on April 26, 2008 at 9:22 PM
Sheesh, propaganda like a mofo..
Chakra Hammer on April 26, 2008 at 9:31 PM
But he will stand tall and proud to all the bad bogey men in the world when he is president. RIIIIIIIIIIIght.
jukin on April 26, 2008 at 9:32 PM
Obama the Chicken? Clinton a swashbuckler? Geese, this just gets better and better.
Senator McCain better just hang tight.
HotAirJosef on April 26, 2008 at 9:56 PM
I love the rules of the proposed debate as compared to the actual Lincoln-Douglas debates.
Lincoln and Douglas spoke: 60 minutes of one, then 90 minutes of the other, then 30 minutes of rebuttal from the first.
Hillary and Obama would speak: 2 minute soundbites.
Jeff_McAwesome on April 26, 2008 at 10:05 PM
Indeed. After McCain cancelled the originally planned CNN debate on February 28 (because he didn’t want to debate Huckabee 1-on-1), Huckabee sent McCain a letter, signed by thousands of voters, asking McCain to face him in a Lincoln-Douglas style debate before the March 4th primaries.
Here’s how McCain responded.
Red Pill on April 26, 2008 at 10:58 PM
Whoo-hoo!
Hillary just wanna “obliterate” him!
PattyJ on April 26, 2008 at 11:01 PM
To all my fellow NC voters…Huckabee and Paul are still on the ballot. Vote against McCain..send him a wakeup call!!!!
SouthernGent on April 26, 2008 at 11:44 PM
-
Tyler Durden’s alter egoHillary ClintonPablo on April 27, 2008 at 3:00 AM
“Clinton-Obama debate — without a moderator”
=
“90-minute free Democratic Party TV ad”
…I really can’t see that they’d waste the opportunity - left unattended - to waste the time to do such damage.
Lockstein13 on April 27, 2008 at 7:55 AM
How about a Lincoln - Booth debate?
Coronagold on April 27, 2008 at 8:47 AM
Yes. Considering our history with the Clintons, isn’t it interesting how many of us on the right are rooting for Hillary? If she actually wins the election, we can always go back to loathing her. But for now, she’s rather likeable. And between her and Obama, she’s clearly the better choice.
paul006 on April 27, 2008 at 8:53 AM
I’d surely watch that debate. Both candidates better were protective gear. LOL
jeanie on April 27, 2008 at 9:41 AM
I will vote next week in NC, and I will vote for Hillary. This is why. Not because of Operation Chaos.
NeighborhoodCatLady on April 27, 2008 at 9:48 AM
It’s amazing. Hillary is a horrible person and a lousy liberal/Marxist. Yet compared to B. Hussein Obama she’s wonderful. The Dhimmicrats have found in Obama a profoundly bad candidate.
Mojave Mark on April 27, 2008 at 11:17 AM
Please, someone, take her photo down. I am almost ready to heave my dinner.
JonRoss on April 27, 2008 at 8:18 PM