Why won't Obama agree to an open debate with Clinton?

Question

I know this has been asked a few times, but I feel like adding to the growing concensus that this man is avoiding this in the hope he can get Clinton out of the way without the debate in which she could easily damage his chance in the final two face off with Mcain.

This to me is showing that not only is he unfit to be President, he is also being dishonest to the American people by trying to wing his way through.

Answer 1

Obama and Clinton have been in EIGHTEEN (18) debates already.  Obama has agreed to two more.  How many debates do you want them to have?  Is TWENTY debates not enough to get across your views and ideals?

The reason Hillary Clinton is demanding more debates is because her campaign is low on funding and debates = free air time.

How is Obama being dishonest by debating Senator Clinton TWENTY times???

Answer 2

Uhh, he's been in 18 debates and has agreed to two more.

Answer 3

He has already participate in 18 debates with 2 more scheduled.  I don't think you can claim he's ducked them.

It's also classic political strategy; the underdog want as many debates as possible while the front runner wants as few.  

There's nothing particularly devious about it.  If Sen. Clinton still had a big lead the positions on this would be reveresed.

Personally I'd like to see as many debates as possible, if they  were real debates.  What we really have however are just sort of joint press conferences.

The candidates don't really respond to difficult questions; they twist the questions around to reply to the questions they want to be asked.

It's almost pointless, which is sad, because it shouldn't be.

The Lincoln & Douglass debates of 1858 are still read and studied 150 years later.  I guarantee that interest in the Wisconsin Democratic debate, if there is on, won't last 15 days.

Answer 4

Because he would have to have some real answers for the change he promises.

Answer 5

Unfortunately that particular MINUS will not make any difference, as most people are more interested to know that he has Oprah on his Dream-team. Sometimes I wonder, why nobody bothers to examine the basic policies that the candidates present that will shape the future of the American people? Would this actually not be the main thing to worry about?

Answer 6

Because he only knows how to give speeches written by a 26 year old speech writer, he doesn't know how to go head to head with someone who knows what's really got to be done (as shown by his past poor debate performances.) He knows that he does poorly in debates, so he wants as few of them as possible.

Answer 7

Because it would cause millions of watchers to slip into irreversible comas, which would add huge expenses to their free-hospitals-for-all promises.

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Answer 8

Well, I wasn't aware that he won't.  But I'll just accept that you are correct.  And I don't blame him.  If I was Hillary, I wouldn't want to debate either!  We've already heard enough debates from them.  And both of them could best use their time now to meet the people in person.  

Obama probably knows this best.  I believe that he knows he is a great speaker and can get more votes by doing speaking engagements rather than by debating Hillary.  I think this is a proven fact, not sure though.

If I were Obama, I would be going into the Hispanic areas and white old lady areas, and giving speeches to cut into her base, assuming that is where it is.

Hillary, on the other hand should be giving speeches in the part of Obama's base that would be more easily swayed to her side.  I don't know what that is though, unless it's the older black generation.

But if I were a black person, say around 60 or older, then for my own sake, my own self esteem/pride, whatever, I would really want to be able to for the first time in my life vote for a black candidate that had a chance at winning the Presidency.  And that would be especially true if I went to segregated schools when I was growing up.

I'm not black, but I am g*y, and I grew up closeted, so I would love to see the day when I could get married.  And I would, partly because I "could".  Partly out of love,honor and loyalty to my partner.  But just to be able to do that, is in itself a worthy thing to do.  I compare this to older blacks being able to vote for Obama.  They've sort of waited patiently ALL of their lives to be able to do this, so I give them that choice, with blessings.  And it doesn't matter if he is the best candidate or not.  We don't really know who is the best until they actually get in office and run the country.

So, Hillary should spend her time courting young white people, because they are the most easily swayed and have less reason to vote for Obama.  But maybe she feels that she can swing more votes by continuous debates with Obama.