# "Say it to my face." Obama baiting McCain? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 9, 2008, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195 "2008-10-09T17:50:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/21 "2008-10-09T19:08:14Z")
> [@An\_Arky](#): > > To me, it’s kind of like (beware, football analogy) putting 8 in the box and daring the QB to throw the ball. You said that because you knew DtC and I are Vikings fans! Admit it! Admit it! ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/22 "2008-10-09T19:12:26Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Could Obama be attempting a rope-a-dope here? Is he intentionall _baiting_ McCain to go personal during the debate for some kind of tactical reason. It feels to me like he’s almost challenging McCain’s manhood. “Say it to my face, punk.” He’s almost leaving McCain no choice but to do it. If he doesn’t, then Obama can _really_ call him a little bitch after the debate, and he won’t exactly be wrong. I think that by the time of the third debate this thing will pretty much be decided. At the point, (assuming everything with the polling continues as it has been, of course) McCain will have the choice of either giving up, because he’s lost, or going balls-out and going for a berserk meltdown in Obama’s face. Will he continue to convince himself he’s a gentleman or will he just admit to himself that he’d do anything to become President, even if it means having to do the dirty work himself? -Joe ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/23 "2008-10-09T19:13:42Z")
McCain is pissed. This black nobody is taking his presidency away. He has a temper problem and was seething when he was on stage with him in the debate. It belongs to him and it is fading away. There is nothing he will not do. It will get ugly. If Obama stays above it, he will look presidential. It will help him. ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/24 "2008-10-09T19:14:29Z")
Obama is Black, he grew up playing dozens, when McCain starts talking smack Obabma will rip him open with a sweet comback involving McCains Mother, Uncle, 2 Rottweilers, and a Goose. Game, Set, Match. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/25 "2008-10-09T19:22:41Z")
> [@NurseCarmen](#): > > You said that because you knew DtC and I are Vikings fans! Admit it! Admit it! I was going to use Brett Farve and Tarvaris Jackson as examples instead of Manning and Rosenfels, but thought better of it, as that would be cruel… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/26 "2008-10-09T19:26:54Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > McCain is pissed. This black nobody is taking his presidency away. He has a temper problem and was seething when he was on stage with him in the debate. It belongs to him and it is fading away. There is nothing he will not do. It will get ugly. > If Obama stays above it, he will look presidential. It will help him. So, Obama shouldn’t handle it like [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci6YPGQedr0&feature=related)? ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/27 "2008-10-09T19:27:27Z")
> [@BarnOwl](#): > > But I wonder if Obama is making a similarly bad move with this “Say it to my face,” stuff. That’s giving McCain and company until next Wednesday to formulate a deadly reply. I have no idea what it might be, but those guys are so cunning, whatever it is, it’s bound to be effective. > > However if it turns out that **Steve MB** has it figured correctly, I’ll be overjoyed. So far Obama has been two steps ahead of McCain. McCain can’t do anything but promise to keep government and evil liberals out of your lives. What will McCain say that’s different from what the GOP has been doing since the days of Nixon? However, this time McCain has proven himself less sophisticated than GOP political masters like Karl Rove. He has made a fatal error. Rove was smart enough not to have the swiftboat ads come directly from his campaign. Rove probably knew that if Bush had to answer for the swiftboat ads then the lie would fall apart. The fact that McCain is saying these nasty rumors himself means he’ll have to answer for them. Such a fragile lie can’t be allowed to get challenged. What’s more is you can’t tell the fucking world that your strategy is to forget the economy and go negative. Now people know why your running the ads. People will get distracted by the ads only if they believe them. It kind of defeats the purpose of the ads to tell people you’re running them so that people will get distracted. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/28 "2008-10-09T19:28:52Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I disagree that Obama should directly challenge McCain during the debate. He has already effectively done that. It will still be hanging in the air on Wednesday night. Everybody will already be aware of it. I think it would be overkill and look unnecessarily confrontational for Barack to further call him out at the debate.The gauntlet is already thrown. Obama should proceed at the debate as if nothing is out of the ordinary and leave it to McCain. It will make any frontal attack by McCain look that much worse, and any unwillingness to “say it to his face” can still be duely noted as chickenshit after it’s over. Totally agree with this. The gauntlet is thrown. The ball is in McCain’s court now. ---
**Author:** ![vison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e47774/32.png) [@vison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vison)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/29 "2008-10-09T19:32:12Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I disagree that Obama should directly challenge McCain during the debate. He has already effectively done that. It will still be hanging in the air on Wednesday night. Everybody will already be aware of it. I think it would be overkill and look unnecessarily confrontational for Barack to further call him out at the debate.The gauntlet is already thrown. Obama should proceed at the debate as if nothing is out of the ordinary and leave it to McCain. It will make any frontal attack by McCain look that much worse, and any unwillingness to “say it to his face” can still be duely noted as chickenshit after it’s over. I hope that’s exactly what he does. Can you call Mr. Obama and give him this most excellent advice, please?🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/30 "2008-10-09T19:34:37Z")
> [@Lakai](#): > > It kind of defeats the purpose of the ads to tell people you’re running them so that people will get distracted. It’s also insulting - it implies (or directly states) that people are too stupid to know any better. “We’re not going to talk about what you want, we’re going to bullshit you, because you’re so stupid.” “Hey buddy - I know you’re about to lose your house, but… TERRISTS!! Lookie! Over there!” ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/31 "2008-10-09T19:53:23Z")
> [@vison](#): > > I hope that’s exactly what he does. Can you call Mr. Obama and give him this most excellent advice, please?🙂 I’m sure that’s exactly what he is going to do without this excellent advice. Right now the story isn’t about “terrorists” but mostly about McCain going negative. This is going to push the story into McCain being both negative and chicken. I can imagine some people believing whatever McCain would say in response to a direct challenge, but I don’t think anyone, even those believing this crap, is going to respect McCain for being too chicken to bring it up. Which is what is going to happen. McCain was less likable in the last debate - going negative would drive his numbers way down, so his handlers wouldn’t permit it. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/32 "2008-10-09T19:56:41Z")
> [@An\_Arky](#): > > To me, it’s kind of like (beware, football analogy) putting 8 in the box and daring the QB to throw the ball. Not something you’d try against Peyton Manning, but maybe Sage Rosenfels. Mmmmm…wha? Anyone have a Football to Jossverse translator handy? Or maybe Battlestar Galactica? 😃 ---
**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:** [October 9, 2008, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/33 "2008-10-09T20:09:15Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Mmmmm…wha? > > Anyone have a Football to Jossverse translator handy? Or maybe Battlestar Galactica? 😃 I won’t go position by position. I’ll jus simplify it to say that football teams will sometimes try to stop a team with a good running game but no passing game by overloading to stop the run. They basically send 8 or 9 defenders to swarm the running back (“8 in the box”) and leave only 2 or 3 defenders to cover the receivers. By doing this, they are showing disrespect for the quarteback by leaving receivers uncovered and saying they don’t believe he can hit them. You can do that to Tavaris Jackson (and they do – frequently). If you do that to Favre, he’ll light you up for 6 touchdowns. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/34 "2008-10-09T20:10:39Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > I love this. I will have to look back over the last few weeks and try to pinpoint the moment when the campaign transmogrified from Regular Old Politics to Epic Opera. No matter what happens, this is truly a campaign for the ages. It’s going to be studied for decades. Totally agree. I hope the next Theodore White - or even the next Hunter Thompson - is out there on the campaign trail and in the campaign offices. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/35 "2008-10-09T20:11:24Z")
It’s like sending out a lone Viper, with an engine out, limping along for home. Waiting behind a nearby moon is the Pegasus, ready to nuke whatever Toaster shows up to snack on the Viper. It’s as if Spike had entered Willow’s dorm room, intent on vengeance, and when he heard the door click behind him, suddenly notices that Buffy, Angel, Giles and Faith are all between him and escape, and they’re _pissed_. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/36 "2008-10-09T20:18:37Z")
No offense, but I think we need a dorkiest analogies thread. Anyway what you’ve got there is a good description of the trap Obama’s people are apparently hoping to set, but it doesn’t really mesh with the eight men in the box analogy specifically. In _Buffy_ terms I think it would be something like trying to neutralize all of the good guys while deliberately ignoring one - say Xander - because you don’t think he can beat you on his own. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/37 "2008-10-09T20:28:24Z")
But there is Xander, and he’s got a _yellow crayon_! I’m such a geek. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/38 "2008-10-09T20:30:37Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Biden’s saying it now too: [“Say it to his face.”](http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/10/09/1522310.aspx) Did you see McCain’s reply to that? > [@](#): > > Biden should look the American people in the eye and explain why Barack Obama supports raising taxes for middle class voters making as little as $42,000. Joe Biden must explain Barack Obama’s ties to a domestic terrorist and other radical organizations like ACORN. Biden must look the American’s (grammatical error in original) in the eye and explain when he stopped beating his wife. Pathetic. ---
**Author:** ![stolichnaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@stolichnaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stolichnaya)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/39 "2008-10-09T20:42:51Z")
Mal: He can talk about an army, but I don’t see one. He can talk about a plan, but he doesn’t have a plan. He’s got one boat, just like us, out here in the middle of nothin’, and here’s what I think. I think he’s scared. Whatever he wants, we’ve got it here. It’s in the hold, or it’s down yonder. Kaylee: Don’t you say that. Jayne: 'Bout time. Mal: So he can’t scuttle us. He’s gonna have to come aboard. So I say we let him. I say we open up and swallow that shuttle and take what’s comin’. Because I think we can take it. Because I think he’s scared. River: He’s coming. ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/40 "2008-10-09T20:48:09Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Did you see McCain’s reply to that? Actually, according to the article it was “McCain spokesman Ben Porritt” and was again said to the media instead of to Biden or Obama. Proving their point once again. Are McCain’s people intentionally running his campaign into the ground? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195.md?page=3)