Right answer.
October 9th, 2008My suggestion (elsewhere) following the Washington Post article about McCain’s planned stepped-up character attacks on Obama:
Obama should bring up McCain’s negative ads in the last debate, assuming they start by then. “John, you’ve been running ads for the last two weeks that lie about my record on taxes and abortion and ethics and say I’m too risky for the American people and that because I live in the same neighborhood with some people, I must agree with them. If this is so important, why didn’t you bring this up in our first debate? Why didn’t your running mate bring any of this up in her debate? If you’re so worried about my, quote, associations, why won’t you challenge them to my face instead of running negative ads. If the moderator will permit it, I’ll let you ask me any question right now and I’ll answer it directly and, as you’d say, give the American people some straight talk.”
And later, just before Tuesday’s debate (wondering whether Brokaw would bring up Ayers):
Brokaw was on Morning Joe or something this week saying that Obama’s never really had to answer questions about Ayers before, but frankly I want Obama to have a chance to take that head on and say something on the order of, “And if anyone has a question about people I’ve crossed paths with, know that I’ll be the first to cross swords with anyone who threatens America, and ask those questions to my face before you lie about my history in sleazy campaign speeches.”
Now, Obama on ABC News last night:
GIBSON: Were you surprised, A, that he didn’t bring it up last night at the debate and use that line of attack? And, B, since you must have prepared for it, what were you going to say?
OBAMA: Well, I am surprised that, you know, we’ve been seeing some pretty over-the-top attacks coming out of the McCain campaign over the last several days that he wasn’t willing to say it to my face.
But I guess we’ve got one last debate. So presumably, if he ends up feeling that — that he needs to, he will raise it during the debate.
The notion that people don’t know who I am is a little hard to swallow. I’ve been running for president for the last two years. I’ve campaigned in 49 states. Millions of people have heard me speak at length on every topic under the sun. I’ve been involved now in 25 debates, going on my 26th. And I’ve written two books which any — everybody who reads them will say are about as honest a set of reflections by, at least, a politician as are out there.