In May, Barack Obama's response to John McCain's proposal for a series of town hall meetings (I believe the proposed agenda was 10 meetings) was, according to the Associated Press, "I think that's a great idea." Of course in May Obama was head-to-head with Hillary Clinton, their structured debates insurance that hard questions would never surface, considered off-limits by the media and the Democratic National Committee. Once again Obama has flip-flopped and wants no part of open-forum (town hall) debates.

Imagine the following questions for Barack from a concerned citizen, possibly a veteran or one considering military service: When did you start using drugs? (by his own admission). How long did you imbibe? How much blow (cocaine) did you consume over that period? (again by his own admission, "when he could afford it"). Hard drug users do not meet the minimum standard for service in the military. What extraordinary attributes, qualifications do you think you possess that would earn you a waiver, unavailable to the average citizen, and allow you to be commander in chief?

Questions from interested citizens in an open forum would be the death of Obama's presidential bid. His survival depends on media-structured debates with guaranteed Obama-friendly questions.

Brian W. Rolfe

Cape Vincent