Barack Obama continues to renege on his pledge to meet John McCain "anytime, anywhere" for Joint Town-Hall Meetings. He agreed today to only participate in the three regular style debates this Fall:

Democratic candidate Barack Obama on Saturday backed away from rival John McCain's challenge for a series of joint appearances before the political conventions, agreeing only to the standard three debates in the fall.

In May, when a McCain adviser proposed a series of pre-convention appearances at town hall meetings, Obama said, "I think that's a great idea." In summer stumping on the campaign trail, McCain has often noted that Obama had not followed through and joined him in any events.

On Saturday, in a letter to the Commission on Presidential Debates, Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said the short period between the last political convention and the first proposed debate made it likely that the commission-sponsored debates would be the only ones in the fall.

"We've committed to the three debates on the table," campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Saturday in an interview. "It's likely they will be the three appearances by the candidates this fall." . . .

The first debate planned by the commission is set for Sept. 26 in Oxford, Miss., three weeks after the Republican National Convention concludes Sept. 4. The Democratic convention is scheduled for Aug. 25-28.

The other presidential debates are set for Oct. 7 and Oct. 15 and the vice presidential debate for Oct. 2.

Obama continues to show that his word means nothing. He knows he is a different candidate when he has no teleprompter, and when the questions are not controlled by his buddies in the Liberal Media. McCain must make an issue of this all the way to Election Day. How can he stand up to our enemies when he's afraid to stand up with John McCain and go toe-to-toe?