A wonderful editorial in today’s Dallas Morning News urges Obama to reconsider his girlish retreat on town halls:
Our excitement grew this month when Mr. McCain challenged his fellow senator to 10 town-hall-style appearances, with the candidates effectively shedding their protective wrapping and squaring off armed only with a microphone. Let regular voters, instead of network anchors, ask the questions. So imagine our disappointment to learn that the candidate who made “change” a platform plank, who wants to move American politics to a post-partisan phase, instead appears so rooted in the ways of the past. No, Mr. Obama’s campaign said, one town hall should be enough. His schedule won’t allow much more audience participation. … Perhaps Team Obama should consider whether it’s wise to pass on a chance to charm Hillary Clinton supporters, Reagan Democrats and undecided Republicans. These voters are the middle-dwellers who could well decide this election. If Mr. Obama’s goal is to address “the concerns of the American people,” shouldn’t he stand side by side with his opponent and take their questions?
According to the RNC clock, it’s been more than two weeks since Obama received the invitation–even longer since he said he’d debate McCain “any time, any place.”
