# How many debates/townhalls should Obama agree to do? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 21, 2008, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-debates-townhalls-should-obama-agree-to-do/453644 "2008-06-21T00:31:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2008, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-debates-townhalls-should-obama-agree-to-do/453644/21 "2008-06-22T04:18:53Z")
Five. Two Town Halls, two “traditional” moderated debates and one Lincoln-Douglas. Town halls are stupid anyway. Either the audience is picked and screened so it may as well be a moderated debate or else the audience isn’t screened and you get people asking jacktarded questions about lapel pins and whether or not you love America enough to be president. Neither seems a great use of a candidate’s time. In any event, five seems like more than enough for them to compare and contrast to one another. We could go about one a month if they get started. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2008, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-debates-townhalls-should-obama-agree-to-do/453644/22 "2008-06-22T04:54:54Z")
[QUOTE=gravitycrash] Obama needs a Teleprompter almost as much as McCain. I have not been impressed or surprised by either one. Here we go again. I still can’t believe we are forced into a choice of these two for president. Has anyone watched Obama speak without a cue card of some sort? I’m less than impressed. Most powerful nation in the world? Not for long if all we can come up with is these two clowns. [/QUOTE] I saw Obama give a 45 minute speech without a teleprompter or notes one time (it was one of the Primary speeches, I forget which one…might have been super tuesday). I’ve also seen hims speak quite well and thoughtfully in other situations. The meme that Obama can’t operate without a teleprompter is right radio myth (and wishful thinking). ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2008, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-debates-townhalls-should-obama-agree-to-do/453644/23 "2008-06-22T07:11:44Z")
Obama wants a series of debates where one side gives a one hour speech, and the other side gives a one-hour rebuttal. I do not like that format. Because all it would become is each candidate giving a pre-scripted answer. I’d rather see a debate in which they have a direct dialog. I understand neither candidate is asking for that. Something like having a debate moderator simply say, “Senator Obama, you may begin. Tell us what you think we need to know to elect you.” Then let Obama talk for five minutes, then the moderator simply says, “Senator McCain? Your thoughts?” And simply bounce the ball back and forth and see where the candidates take it. That would give you a much better sense of their ability to think on their feet, and would be a much better test of their knowledge and judgment. I think Obama would win those debates, but I still think they’re a good idea. I get tired of ‘debates’ that are nothing more than opportunities for candidates to utter sound bite versions of their platforms and deal in platitudes. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2008, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-debates-townhalls-should-obama-agree-to-do/453644/24 "2008-06-22T07:26:43Z")
I guarantee you, there is no possibility that either campaign will agree to a scenario in which anything spontaneous or unpredictable could happen. Like it or not (and I don’t like it either) Presidential debates are fanatically controlled by both sides and orchestrated to assure that nothing “interesting” could ever happen. ---
**Author:** ![gravitycrash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@gravitycrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gravitycrash)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2008, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-debates-townhalls-should-obama-agree-to-do/453644/25 "2008-06-22T07:42:35Z")
I agree \*\* Diogenes \*\* Which makes this very sad and pitiful for me. At least a 1/4 of the people in GD could debate better…assuming they or you can speak well in public. Maybe my angst is just coming to a head at the moment. I’m pissed off and just need to blow off some steam. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2008, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-debates-townhalls-should-obama-agree-to-do/453644/26 "2008-06-22T08:43:52Z")
Yeah, no disagreement here. In Canada, our debates are pretty similar, but occasionally they do become more freewheeling and the candidates have at each other and go off script and basically argue for a few minutes. It’s a refreshing glimpse into their characters and intellects. You rarely see that in American debates. They’re far too controlled by the candidates. I wish the people would stand up against it in a bipartisan way and say, “Listen, WE are the ones electing YOU. We’ll tell you which hoops you need to jump through to get the job. You don’t get to outline the parameters of the election. If you won’t agree to this, we’ll find a President who will.” ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2008, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-debates-townhalls-should-obama-agree-to-do/453644/27 "2008-06-22T14:18:24Z")
[QUOTE=gravitycrash] Obama needs a Teleprompter almost as much as McCain. [/QUOTE] Oh, baloney. Did you watch him speak at the the “Compassion Forum” at Messiah College? If not, I strongly suggest you check out the [YouTube record](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RBC_xYUkEA&feature=PlayList&p=791B2F5285708FA2&index=7) of it (link is to first of five segments). That was about as unscripted as you’re likely to see, and he got pitched some hardballs, not least by the moderator Campbell Brown, whose bias against him fairly dripped from her fangs as she spoke. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2008, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-debates-townhalls-should-obama-agree-to-do/453644/28 "2008-06-22T15:30:44Z")
[QUOTE=Sam Stone] Yeah, no disagreement here. In Canada, our debates are pretty similar, but occasionally they do become more freewheeling and the candidates have at each other and go off script and basically argue for a few minutes. It’s a refreshing glimpse into their characters and intellects. You rarely see that in American debates. They’re far too controlled by the candidates. I wish the people would stand up against it in a bipartisan way and say, “Listen, WE are the ones electing YOU. We’ll tell you which hoops you need to jump through to get the job. You don’t get to outline the parameters of the election. If you won’t agree to this, we’ll find a President who will.” [/QUOTE] I think it would help immensely if we gave the whole debate process back to the League of Women Voters, which [withdrew sponsorship in 1988, citing unreasonable demands by the candidates’ campaign organizations.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election_debates#Debate_sponsorship) Since then the debates have been run by [the Commission on Presidential Debates,](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commission_on_Presidential_Debates) i.e., the candidates’ campaign organizations. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2008, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-debates-townhalls-should-obama-agree-to-do/453644/29 "2008-06-22T15:55:36Z")
I think the town hall proposal from McCain was a ploy. He had no intention of actually agreeing on anything that was relatively fair to both candidates. What he did gain was the ability to claim Obama was avoiding a debate after claiming “anytime, anywhere” I saw Fox pundits promoting this lie last night along with a couple of other ridiculous points. It will get some millage but ultimately fail. It’s just one more way of insulting voters intelligence. I think the Bush mistake made voters a little more cautious and thoughtful than that. I love this from the above link > [@](#): > > The League of Women Voters is withdrawing sponsorship of the presidential debates … because the demands of the two campaign organizations would perpetrate a fraud on the American voter. It has become clear to us that the candidates’ organizations aim to add debates to their list of campaign-trail charades devoid of substance, spontaneity and answers to tough questions. The League has no intention of becoming an accessory to the hoodwinking of the American public. Maybe this is rose colored glasses but I’m thinking Obama is smart enough and capable of using this to his advantage. If he could ask for a less controlled debate and some serious questions that are more than a chance to repeat talking points then the pressure would be on McCain to put up or shut up. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2008, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-debates-townhalls-should-obama-agree-to-do/453644/30 "2008-06-24T20:52:00Z")
57: one for each state. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2008, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-debates-townhalls-should-obama-agree-to-do/453644/31 "2008-06-24T21:10:54Z")
[QUOTE=DanBlather] 57: one for each state. [/QUOTE] _blinks_ I gots whooshed. The 50 states, D.C., Samoa, Puerto Rico, Guam… and.. ummm… what are the other three? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2008, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-debates-townhalls-should-obama-agree-to-do/453644/32 "2008-06-24T21:34:46Z")
[QUOTE=mlees] _blinks_ I gots whooshed. The 50 states, D.C., Samoa, Puerto Rico, Guam… and.. ummm… what are the other three? [/QUOTE] Once during a specch, an exhausted Barack Obama accidentally said he’d been to 57 states instead of 47. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2008, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-debates-townhalls-should-obama-agree-to-do/453644/33 "2008-06-24T21:36:52Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] Once during a specch, an exhausted Barack Obama accidentally said he’d been to 57 states instead of 47. [/QUOTE] Ah. Thanks. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-debates-townhalls-should-obama-agree-to-do/453644.md?page=1)