Please respond to this column RE: Obama/Keyes debates

[wndycty]

PLEASE NOTE: The writer, Mark Brown is PRO OBAMA, so please do not bash him. Just point out that Keyes is a fringe candidate and does not deserve to debate Obama at this point. BE RESPECTFUL Brown is on our side, but this deserves a response, A RESPECTFUL RESPONSE.

Obama's backpedaling is a disappointment

August 11, 2004

BY MARK BROWN SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST [e-mail]

Democrat Barack Obama found himself in an uncharacteristic position Tuesday as he met reporters in the basement level of the Harold Washington Library. For the first time in months, he was on the defensive.

Obama was trying to explain why he doesn't intend to stand behind the written offer he made earlier in the campaign to hold six debates with his Republican opponent for the U.S. Senate, back when that opponent was Jack Ryan.

Now that Ryan has been replaced on the GOP ticket by Alan Keyes, our excitable visitor from Maryland, Obama thinks three debates should be "sufficient."

The problem was that Obama's explanation for this change of heart didn't quite wash, which you would hope is the reason he at times looked just a wee bit uncomfortable as he delivered it.
-snip-

http://www.suntimes.com/output/brown/cst-nws-brown11.html

[Catch22Dem]

1. I've said before

I think it would be hilarious if Obama campaigned as though Keyes didn't even exist. I think a debate with Ryan would have covered serious issues. Debating with Keyes is like getting into an "I know you are but what am I" shouting match with a freeper.

[dogman]

2. I've sent mine.

Mark, I agree a debate would be interesting and possibly enlightening. However I don't think it should be considered until Keyes shows proper respect and pronounces Barack correctly. Keyes is simply a hired gun brought in to conduct a character assassination. He will leave town after the election and the state GOP will claim their hands are clean. Keyes cannot even engage until he has studied a map and knows where the State of Illinois is and what our issues are. He has already admitted he does not know about O'Hare expansion. He is here to give Illinois a wedgie and should pack his flip flops in his carpet bag and head back to Maryland. By the way shouldn't he pay off his previous campaign debts before he comes here and starts a new one?
Thanks for your reporting.

[sandraj]

3. Just heard a plausable explanation (radio)

for the debate avoidance.

First, Chicago's media whores and the IL GOP are trying to paint this as Obama running scared. But I have a hard time believing Obama is "scared" of debate when he's such a competent public speaker and has so much else going for him.

On WGN just now a political analyst (I didn't hear his name) is saying that initially, when Ryan was still running, both the Ryan and Obama campaigns had money and were well established.

The Obama campaign still has money, but Keyes is coming to the race late and working on funding and establishing himself. Debates are free publicity. So if Obama agrees to six debates, he would in effect be helping Keyes get free airtime.

If this is true, I think it's a good strategy and well within bounds.

[chiburb]

4. And while you're writing the Sun-Times...

(You beat me to Brown today, WNDY. But I beat you to Steinberg...)

Write Steinberg and thank him for THIS excellent summation of Alan Keyes:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x609274

[lottie244]

5. Actually, he should just refuse to debate at all. Deligitimize Keyes run

by indicating that he thinks Keyes' move is not worthy of debate because he really doesn't sincerely represent the voters. Do like Israel does to Arafat...label Keyes as irrelevant.

[murielm99]

6. I sent mine, too.

It was respectful.

I suggested that he write a column requesting that Obama come out with a written statement explaining why he wants to reduce the number of debates. It would be be a constructive way to engage Obama, to communicate with him and with readers. He could issue it as a challenge or a question, depending on what he thinks his readers want.
(They do have to sell papers).

Obama's offer was made to Ryan, not Keyes. Keyes would only engage in demagoguery and name calling, cheapening the process.

Obama is probably doing Keyes a favor by reducing the number of debates. Keyes does not have much knowledge of our state, and would not have enough material for more than two or three debates.

I do some work for the Democrats in my county, and time permitting, in other places in the state. One of the things I have noticed is that Obama is such a uniter. He is intelligent, articulate and charismatic. He unites us across race, class and age. He even seems to be uniting us across the divide of political party. That is so rare. And our country is so polarized that we are crying out for someone who can unite us.

What were they thinking when they chose Keyes? Are they trying to discredit Obama by turning the race into a circus? I will be so glad when their hand picked clown gets on a plane and goes home!