# "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:** 3
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/41 "2008-10-09T21:12:16Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Did you see McCain’s reply to that? > > Biden must look the American’s (grammatical error in original) in the eye and explain when he stopped beating his wife. > > Pathetic. Perhaps Obama would like to explain why he was in the minority who voted against a bill that was passed in response to domestic terrorists who perpetrated arson, bombings, and murder to prevent women from exercising their rights. _**[Oh, wait, that was McCain who did that](http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE3DA1439F934A25752C1A965958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all)**_. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/42 "2008-10-09T21:14:52Z")
> [@Critical1](#): > > 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. “Yo’ running mate so fat, when she sits around the statehouse, she sits AROUND the STATEHOUSE.” ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/43 "2008-10-09T21:26:06Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > Also, in the thread for the first debate, when people were wondering why Obama wasn’t being more aggressive, I pointed out that his approach all along has been to play the Long Game, to follow an extended strategy that was laid out from the beginning of the season to the climax of the election. It seemed to me then that Obama was very aware that the first debate was merely the first of three, and that a knockout punch there would be premature; more likely that he would save his body blows for the end. That, I think, is exactly how things are playing out. In the final debate, Obama will get right in McCain’s face (metaphorically: I agree with **Chimera** that a physical confrontation would be crude and ineffective at best) and tell him to put up or shut up. Checkmate. Start interviewing prospective artists for Obama’s presidential portrait. Obama has a pair of Muhammad Ali’s gloves hanging in his office. He probably knows a little about the rope-a-dope. ---
**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, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/44 "2008-10-09T21:41:17Z")
And here we go…[McCain joins in on the attack](http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iE2JCSH5p9r2GBkQWS9TWAMzmuvQD93N72HG0). > [@](#): > > In his strongest criticism of his presidential rival, McCain told a Wisconsin town-hall crowd: “We need to know the full extent of the relationship.” Looks like the ball is in Obama’s court. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/45 "2008-10-09T21:46:07Z")
> [@Punoqllads](#): > > Looks like the ball is in Obama’s court. Actually, it’s still in McCain’s. That was NOT to his face. Hell, he wasn’t even in the same state. ---
**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, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/46 "2008-10-09T21:51:14Z")
> [@Punoqllads](#): > > And here we go…[McCain joins in on the attack](http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iE2JCSH5p9r2GBkQWS9TWAMzmuvQD93N72HG0). > > Looks like the ball is in Obama’s court. No, it’s still in McCain’s court. He hasn’t joined the attack, he started it. We already know that McCain is willing to slander Obama when Obama is out of the room. Now let’s see if he has the balls to say it to his his face. Since, to date, McCain is too ashamed and afraid to even look Obama in the eye, I doubt he’s man enough to bring this crap to the debate. ---
**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, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/47 "2008-10-09T21:52:46Z")
McCain’s internals must look like grim death. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/48 "2008-10-09T21:59:13Z")
> [@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. I have no idea what that means. ---
**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, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/49 "2008-10-09T22:05:36Z")
See post 33. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/50 "2008-10-09T22:07:26Z")
> [@TWDuke](#): > > _[Oh, wait, that was McCain who did that](http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE3DA1439F934A25752C1A965958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all)_\*\*. And I’ve since realized that I cleverly linked to an article that, while informative, does not actually say how McCain [voted](http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=s1993-373). ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/51 "2008-10-09T22:22:07Z")
> [@Critical1](#): > > Obama is Black, he grew up playing dozens Really? When was this and with whom? It seems unlikely from what I understand of his childhood. Oh, and there is a way we might see Obama mad during this campaign, though it would not do any good for McCain. He got angry with reporters for that topless beach photo of him. Made me glad I did not have to face him over that. Something similar might well do it again, or just a lot of play of that photo in the wrong context. I also think there are ways to provoke him to anger, direct threats and harrassment of his family in public would do it, but also destroy anyone who did that. I don’t think you would see him hot-headed, flapping his mouth ala McCain even over that. It would be more like the wrath of G-d-the-Father and I would not want to witness it. ---
**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:** [October 9, 2008, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/52 "2008-10-09T23:14:04Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > I disagree with EDT on the “walk up to him” bit. That would come off as confrontational and an attempt at physically intimidating a frail old man. Obama should very calmly and even with a smile on his face challenge McCain to own up to and repeat the smears, while sitting back a respectable distance in a relaxed posture. But unlike his reaction to the “green behind the ears” comment in the last debate, he should not turn away from McCain or look away from him during his response. Keep looking straight at him, calm, cool and collected. Don’t show any anger or irritation, or it will distract from McCain’s asshattery. Yes, you’re right; the approach you suggest is much better. I hope he does it, heck, I’d pay good money to watch. (That would be **ETF** , by the way.) ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/53 "2008-10-09T23:38:18Z")
[At a rally today:](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081009/ap_on_el_pr/mccain_25) > [@](#): > > One person at the rally here suggested McCain get tougher in his final debate with Obama next week: “I am begging you, sir.” > > “Yes, I’ll do that,” McCain said. Now McCain has a perfect chance to show us that he is not a lying coward. ---
**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:** [October 9, 2008, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/54 "2008-10-09T23:46:56Z")
Heh. Before the second debate, an audience member at one of McCain’s rallies implored him, “When will you take off the gloves and go after Obama?” To which the Hero replied, “How about next Tuesday? Hnyeh hnyeh hnyeh…” We all know how that one went. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/55 "2008-10-09T23:58:26Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > Heh. Before the second debate, an audience member at one of McCain’s rallies implored him, “When will you take off the gloves and go after Obama?” To which the Hero replied, “How about next Tuesday? Hnyeh hnyeh hnyeh…” > … That’s a wonderful way to write out McCain’s laugh. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/56 "2008-10-10T00:12:12Z")
I hope none of you expects McCain to explode in the next debate. He won’t, no matter what. Instead, if Obama taunts him to “Say it to his face,” McCain will do exactly that - cooly, statesmanly, logically. At least from his, his point of view. He’ll vomit it all in one fell swoop and Obama will use the rest of the night refuting him. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/57 "2008-10-10T00:23:44Z")
> [@BarnOwl](#): > > McCain will do exactly that - cooly, statesmanly, logically. Just like at his [interview with the Desmoine Register?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHcPXfgD4jM) That’d destroy him. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/58 "2008-10-10T00:24:34Z")
> [@BarnOwl](#): > > I hope none of you expects McCain to explode in the next debate. He won’t, no matter what. The things some people here have expected and occasionally hoped McCain would say (not just in this thread, I mean overall) are downright bizarre in some cases. He’s not going to jump up and down and scream, and he’s not going to call Obama “boy” or start dropping racial slurs. Neither of them is going to get _that_ confrontational in the debate. I don’t think McCain will get much more direct than making some vague comments about the people Obama has associated with, compared with his own military record. That keeps McCain relatively slime-free while allowing him to claim he stood up to Obama on that issue. And what Obama says about that will be pretty much what he’s saying about it now, not “look and me and say that to my face, old man.” 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/59 "2008-10-10T00:25:22Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > [At a rally today:](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081009/ap_on_el_pr/mccain_25) > Now McCain has a perfect chance to show us that he is not a lying coward. And if he tries to pursue the Way of the Guttersnipe and feign dignity on the debate floor, he’ll look like a wimp to the red-meat-eating base that he’s been firing up with this crap. He’s hosed no matter what he does, and it’s entirely his own fault. Did it never occur to him to wonder why Bush and Cheney had the sense not to get any of the Swiftboat slime directly onto their own hands? ---
**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 10, 2008, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195/60 "2008-10-10T00:30:07Z")
> [@BarnOwl](#): > > I hope none of you expects McCain to explode in the next debate. He won’t, no matter what. > > Instead, if Obama taunts him to “Say it to his face,” McCain will do exactly that - cooly, statesmanly, logically. At least from his, his point of view. He’ll vomit it all in one fell swoop and Obama will use the rest of the night refuting him. There’s nothing cool, or logical or statesmanlike about any of the allegations, and there’s nothing that takes more than 4 or 5 seconds to refute. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-to-my-face-obama-baiting-mccain/467195.md?page=4)