It's time for Obama to accept McCain's invitation...

[CoffeeCat]

If John McCain wants to gallivant across this country--asserting that the Democratic nominee for
President consorts with domestic terrorists--then it's time for Barack Obama to throw the hammer down
and agree with John McCain--that this is indeed, a serious issue.

And the American people deserve answers--now.

I'm sorry, but the time for just saying, "These accusations are not true" is over.

Obama needs to be bold. He needs to call out McCain and accept McCain's offer for a town-hall meeting
to discuss the Ayers issue in the open--in front of the American people.

I can see Obama turning this situation to his advantage, like what he did with the Wright situation.

Obama could say, "Look, if Senator McCain is leveling charges that a nominee for President has
close ties to domestic terrorists, then those are serious charges and I feel that the American
people deserve answers. Americans need to understand what John McCain and his campaign are asserting,
and they need to hear the truth from me. The time for communicating about this serious issue,
through attack ads and stump-speech soundbytes--is over. The time for honest, transparent discourse
is now."

All Obama needs to do is tell the truth. If he does this...McCain will look like a rumor-mongering
gossip and Obama will look like the mature, open, honest and very intelligent candidate in this race.

It would be a bold move, but it would re-define this entire campaign--with Obama positioned
as the adult, and McCain as the dirty-tactic fool.

[cags]

1. Here Here!!!! It would be perfect... and it would squash McCain once and for all

[ncgrits]

2. What a terrific idea!

And if falls within the approach the campaign has been taking.
I hope somebody from the campaign sees this. You should send them the meat of this in an email.

[Lakerstan]

3. I disagree.

Obama has already addressed this. We need to keep the conversation on the economy. That will move voters. Ayers won't.

[CoffeeCat]

9. Obama could argue that he's doing this...

...because he wants to remove the distractions--so the American people
can be better served and get back to the real issues that are affecting
their lives.

Obama could say that he wants to take this issue head on--for one day--so
the entire country (and the McCain campaign) can move on and get back
to the real work of the country.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

4. Intriguing idea

However my fear is that it would take the focus off of the economy, which seems to be what most people are most concerned about. Any time spent on Ayers is just a needless distraction IMHO that doesn't appear to be gaining any real traction in the polls AFAIK. OTOH I do think that Palin is perhaps putting too fine of a point on the whole Ayers smear job and could potentially radicalize people to engage in violent activity (terrorism) as a result of her rhetoric and Obama's surrogates should perhaps be doing a more aggressive job of calling Palin and the McCain campaign out on her rhetoric in order to help keep the situation from becoming too volatile.

BTW: Where is Ayers and why has nobody attempted to interview him personally about all this? He's not dead, is he?

[CoffeeCat]

11. If Obama did this...

He could:

1.) Take control of the messaging on this issue.
2.) Get this issue resolved in one day, allowing the entire country to move on from this issue.

Otherwise, it just continues on until Nov 4.

Obama has the truth on his side. He needs to get it out there.

It's real easy for coward McCain to lob political grenades at Obama through campaign ads and
soundbytes. Personal attacks and lie-based accusations won't translate so well on a stage--with
both men sitting down.

Obama can demonstrate that he's resourceful, intelligent and honest. The strategy with doing
isn't solely about discussing Ayers. Ayers may be the topic, but the real message is that
Barack Obama is a fighter and he is bold, honest and real change.

Just like the Reverend Wright situation. Obama's speech--which was brilliant, was about Wright, but
the real message was about Barack Obama'a character and his ability to rise above politics as usual.

[Ichingcarpenter]

5. What a dumb idea

Oh, yes just what McCain wants and free TV at the same time.

[gravity]

6. Let's not give McCain what he wants

He is just trying to create some drama for the campaigns, so their Bill Ayers story can start taking off. It's a trap

[CoffeeCat]

12. We ARE giving McCain what he wants....

John McCain wants to hide behind attack ads--and launch outrageous lies, without accountability, because this
attack only thrives in the dark.

This Ayers nonsense is only effective if it's launched from behind the bushes.

This is what John McCain wants.

We're giving him what he wants right now--by not challenging McCain to discuss this issue openly--in
front of the American people.

McCain launches these attacks, because he doesn't think Obama would ever say, "Ok meet me in St. Louis to discuss
this topic in front of the American people--not behind attack ads, surrogates and stump-speech one
liners. Let's really discuss this issue and be honest with the American people."

We're giving McCain what he wants right now--by allowing McCain to discuss this issue on his terms.

[gravity]

16. He is like a whiny child, and no one is listening

The only people who care, are the ones who already support him in the first place

Obama has already been vetted by the media, and they aren't going to jump on the story unless something new develops. If Obama creates drama, then they will have a reason to push the story to the front page.

[Sivart]

7. I agree

And the case to be made is simple - If you take John McCain at his word, implying that Obama is a terrorist, or friends with terrorists, or whatever, and is therefore dangerous.....then you would have to also believe that John McCain has knowingly sat there and done NOTHING while this so called terrorist has taken public office, physically been at the white house, etc. etc.

I mean if McCain truly believed what he was saying, then it would be his duty to prevent Obama from having access to the capitol building, etc, since these are the buildings that McCain and Palin are saying were targeted by Obama's friends.

Since this perspective makes the whole thing obvious bullshit, the only conclusion left is that McCain is willing to say ANYTHING to win the election. He is willing to lie, plain and simple.

If Obama explained it, or responded in this fasion, I don't see anyway that McCain could continue with these attacks.

[Tarc]

8. This isn't a Swiftboat redux, though. McCain isn't gaining traction with this attack at all

It has effectively been put to bed already. Why dig up the dead horse?

[Alter Ego]

14. Right--the economy was nowhere NEAR what it was during the Swiftboaters.

People don't give a shit about Obama's mythical friendship with Bill Ayers--they care more about the economy. They're scared. They need someone to talk to them about how it can be fixed, and Obama can be that guy.

[ecstatic]

10. McShame is a coward and would never agree such a plan

He does not want the truth to get out.

[CoffeeCat]

13. Then, allow McCain to demonstrate that....

...in full technicolor.

Force McCain to turn down Obama's invitation to have an open, honest discussion.

McCain would look like a crooked jerk who just wants to lob attack ads while hiding from the American people.

Hell, Obama should show up anyway--and have that discussion with the American people anyway--without
John McCain, if McCain refuses to show up.

[Vinca]

15. It would be very funny to watch McCain make up excuses why

the town meetings he was begging for can't take place now. McCain is not brave enough to confront Obama with the lies to his face.