Legal Commentary

Politics As Usual: Obama Refusing To Debate Clinton

By Big Tent Democrat

By Big Tent Democrat

Let me get this out of the way first - given Hillary Clinton's money woes, Barack Obama would be crazy to agree to once a week debates with Hillary Clinton. He is coldly and remorselessly pressing his money advantage by NOT debating her. I would think less of him if he did agree to debate once a week.

But this does underscore a fact that is always glossed over if not simply falsely spoken about - Barack Obama is a run of the mill politician in his tactics. There is no "new" politics here. Even worse, his "unity schtick" is not good for the Democratic Party and Dem values. It may be good for the Party of Obama, but that remains to be seen. But one thing is clear, this is politics as usual:

When asked whether he would accept the invitation from Mrs. Clinton to attend four more debates in the coming weeks, he laughed. “I don’t think anybody is clamoring for more debates,” he said. “We’ve had 18 debates so far. I think we’ve had 10 more than we’ve had in the last Democratic contest.”

That is a pol being a pol. And good for Obama. But please, no more about how he is transcending the usual politics. There has been one one on one debate. Just one. And it was a terrific debate. As a citizen, I say more please. As a Democrat I say more please. As an admirer of Abraham Lincoln, I say more please. But Barack Obama is a pol, doing what is best for his campaign. As he should. Being a pol is what he is supposed to do.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on February 07, 2008 (boomark / email).