Trying to talk issues, Obama put on defense over campaign ads

ABC's Chris Cuomo grilled Barack Obama over the weekend about whether he has been second-guessing any of his campaign decisions in light of John McCain's recent rise in the polls.

"This thing just goes in cycles," Obama told Cuomo calmly. "There are times where you're a genius, there are times where you're an idiot."

Although Cuomo introduced the segment by stating, "Voters are saying they're focused on the issues now. They're past the personalities," he appeared less interested in asking Obama about the issues than in blaming him for not focusing on them himself.

"Early on in the race, McCain was after you to try to get this series of town hall meetings going," Cuomo suggested. "They didn't happen. Now you're saying the issues are all that matter here. Why don't you pick up the phone to him and say, 'What are you doing next week?'"

In response, Obama called McCain town halls idea "a little bit of a gimmick." He told Cuomo, "The reason that we're not talking about the issues doesn't have to do with the fact that we didn't have town halls. The reason that we're not talking about the issues is because John McCain has shown a lack of interest in talking about the issues. That's how their campaign's been run."

Cuumo also accused Obama of negativity in his "new ads that come out calling McCain an old man. ... You say he can't use a computer, he's never sent an e-mail."

"Hold on ... I mean, let's be fair, Chris," Obama expostulated. "What I said was that John McCain is out of touch."

"We've got a 21st century economy," Obama continued, "and John McCain does not have a vision for how to move that forward. ... You would be hard-pressed to explain to me what John McCain's economic vision is, about how he's going to get this economy back on track."

"So no apologies for that ad?" Cuomo asked.

"Oh, no," Obama replied. "If we're going to ask questions about, you know, who has been promulgating negative ads that are completely unrelated to the issues at hand, I think I win that contest pretty handily. John McCain has not focused on the issues that matter to the American people."

This video is from ABC's Good Morning America, broadcast September 15, 2008.


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Why are the Dems always held to a higher standard? It seems the GOP can stoop to whatever depths they want but when the Democrats do it they are chastised for it.

The News has been canceled. Who cares what some BushCo-paid tool member of MediaCorpse says?

I am left with no choice but to that Barack is on the money when he says, "the American people are smarter than that."

At least, more than half of the people, and it will be proven on November 4.

This is getting annoying. The issues are important, and McInsane being out of touch with the general American population is indeed an issue.

What's also annoying is that this "reporter" also couldn't see the town halls were just a gimmick.

Because the corporatacracy pushes it throw the MSM.

I agree; and every time something comes up McCain uses the POW war hero scenario. Its time to let retired general Wesly Clark out of the box. He knows just how to paint McCain.

That reporter is Mario Cuomo's son. Guess he was just doing his job for the Mouse. That interview was just a bit obvious to say the least.

It almost seemed that Chris was purposely avoiding the deeper message to Obama's message - this John McCain said today our economy is doing just fine. Today is BLACK MONDAY. Wall Street in chaos. Hello? Wake up?

On second thought don't wake up, you're more dangerous when you're wide awake.

Anyone on Wall Street who voted for Bush probably realize how bad their mistake is right now.

People need to wake up to the fact that Republicans aren't about making money or keeping a balanced budget. Well, anymore at least if that were ever the case.

Most people who join the Republican party nowadays are people who just like hoarding things for themselves.