The Triple Dog Dare -- McCrypt's declaration that he will bring up Ayers is foolish

The Triple Dog Dare

John McCain's declaration that, thanks to Barack Obama's gibes, he will bring up William Ayers at tomorrow night's debate seems to me rather foolish on several grounds.

First, it's hard to see how McCain wins an exchange on this subject. Polls have suggested little public interest in Obama's past association with Ayers, and thanks to the McCain campaign's near-constant invocation of the subject very few people will be hearing about it for the first time. Moreover, poll after poll shows that voters believe Obama is talking about the issues more while McCain is attacking more, which is a real problem for McCain when people are justifiably worried about the economy.

It's not hard to envision how this may play out: McCain will raise Ayers in that awkward, semi-comic manner of his, as if he's not really sure it's something he wants to be bringing up. (Possibly moderator Bob Shieffer will bring it up for him, which would help, but I suspect any comment he makes will still sound uncomfortable.) The real-time viewer response needles will nosedive, as they have almost every time McCain has attacked in the debates so far.

Obama will very reasonably respond that it's a distant association, that he was 8 years old when Ayers committed his crimes, that he deplores said crimes, etc., etc. Then he'll turn it around on McCain, pointing out that it is all very old news, and the McCain campaign didn't think it was worth discussing until it found itself in a deep electoral hole. He'll accuse McCain of trying to "change the subject" and will cite the top McCain strategist who idiotically told the Daily News, "If we keep talking about the economic crisis we'll lose." Anyone who thinks such an exchange is a win for McCain should contact me immediately, as I have a lucrative opportunity in the housing market I'd like to discuss with you.

Even apart from the particulars, McCain's promise seems to fail three general debating rules:

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http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_plank/archive/2008/10/14/the-triple-dog-dare.aspx

to his post on the Annenberg Foundation by a McCain supporter and former Ronald Reagan associate.

I mean the man picked Caribou Barbie as VP for cryin out loud! What does that tell you? :rofl:

I hope the jackass does bring up Ayers and all the other horseshit the reich wing has invented so Obama can destroy him on national TV!

First, why tell an opponent what the hell you plan to do ~~ so they will be good and ready for ya??? LOL

Second, no one cares about that bullshit except the haters that are already on your side ~~ so ya wanna turn off other people??? LOL

:eyes:

McCain is NOT getting it: Obama is more than ready for any negative that comes his way.