Obama Should Say Yes to McCain

OK, the video of the man asking a three-minute question — I mean, rambling uncontrollably — at a McCain town hall was hilarious and unnerving and, frankly, a reminder of why most of us wouldn’t even think of running for president.

That said, Barack Obama should say yes to McCain’s town hall challenge and do it now. There is no reason to hide — no good one, anyway. The campaigns are still negotiating this question, because the Obama campaign doesn’t want to accept the original proposal, so there is talk of one on the Fourth of July but nothing has been decided. Obama knows he only gains if the American people get to know him better. He knows he became a better debater after having to endure 21 debates against Hillary Clinton, who was far better in that forum.

So it happens to be McCain’s comfort zone. And he said last week, “It gives us a glimpse and an idea of your hopes, and your dreams, and your aspirations, and your frustrations today, and the challenges that you face, and better sets our priorities, and it helps me enormously.” He is right: It helps the candidates and the voters.

Now a McCain spokesman is chiding Obama for refusing to agree. “Barack Obama requires more preconditions to meet with voters and John McCain than he does Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.” There will be more of this. Get on board, Barack.