Biden to attend Fox News debate.
Biden to attend Fox News debate.
Several presidential candidates, including former Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) and Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Barack Obama (D-IL) have withdrawn from the Fox News debate cosponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus. But others are still mulling the decision:
The sensitivities surrounding the issue were evident this week when a spokeswoman for Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, said Mr. Richardson would not participate in the debate, which is scheduled for September. But only a few hours later, the spokeswoman phoned the reporter to say that she had misspoken, and that Mr. Richardson had yet to decide. [...]
While Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware said this week through a spokesman that he would be there, he may not have much company; representatives for two other Democratic candidates, Senator Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut and Representative Dennis J. Kucinich of Ohio, did not respond to messages asking whether they were in or out.
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Eeek! Facing tough questions is hard, better run! Pelosi and the Democrats can talk to Syria and Iran, but they can't talk to FOX News? Is the prospect of having to deal with a tough question so frightening for Democrats?
A Democrat wants to run for president but cannot answer questions from a supposedly unfriendly television network?
Hmmm. Does that mean that the White House should throw out all the reporters they don't like from the press conferences because they don't like their political leanings?
The Democrats sure are setting quite a precedent.
May 26th, 2007 at 7:25 pmjoementum!
May 26th, 2007 at 7:25 pmSo?
It's Joe Biden....
May 26th, 2007 at 7:28 pm"A Democrat wants to run for president but cannot answer questions from a supposedly unfriendly television network?"
i know, right?
"Bureau Chief John Walcott and current and former McClatchy Pentagon correspondents say they have not been allowed on the Defense Secretary's plane for at least three years, claiming the news company is being retaliated against for its reporting.
"It is because our coverage of Iraq policy has been quite critical," Walcott told E&P. He added, "I think the idea of public officials barring coverage by people they've decided they don't like is at best unprofessional, at worst undemocratic and petty."
May 26th, 2007 at 7:31 pmWhy does anyone really care about a debate or any of the debates nearly 18 months before the election? Who other than someone with a photographic mind is going to remember a single thing any candidate says 18 months out? Does this mean that on January 21, 2009, the Republic Party will have the first debate of their candidates for the 2012 election?
Why dont we all start getting bent out of shape about who is or isnt in the debates next year when they will really matter.
May 26th, 2007 at 7:34 pmF*ck off,TP
May 26th, 2007 at 7:36 pmBoycott fox news till it collapses in a cesspit of its own making
May 26th, 2007 at 7:38 pmi am glad biden is there...i suspect that he would whip all the republicans in the debate,,,i hope he is the only one there at the republican debate...1 on 10 good odds to me....
May 26th, 2007 at 7:40 pmBuzzflash.com, item 24 left column. G*ddammit.
May 26th, 2007 at 7:42 pmpgw,
Comparing a presidential debate on a TV network to having access on a specific DoD plane? Really? Is that the best example you could come up with, because that's pretty hilarious.
Even then, you are sanctioning what you deem to be petty behavior by the Secretary of Defense against a smaller news agency by Democrats against the most widely watched news network in the US for a presidential debate.
Republicans didn't mind going on MSNBC to debate, even though MSNBC leans very liberal and pro-Democrat.
You can try to come with all the excuses you want, but in the end, you're defending a bunch of weaklings who can't even stand up to a tough question from a news reporter in a presidential debate.
Bush has gone on CBS, a network that tried to sabotage his bid for president in 2004 with phony documents. But Democrats can't even appear on FOX News for a debate?
Tell me again why anyone should trust Democrats with national security if they act like such big babies....
May 26th, 2007 at 7:52 pmBoycott fox news till it collapses in a cesspit of its own making
Comment by Tobey Tall
I wouldn't watch the debate if it was on Fox News and I'm sure I'm not alone. Debating on Fox is like negotiating with terrorists or worse.
May 26th, 2007 at 8:12 pmYou can try to come with all the excuses you want, but in the end, you’re defending a bunch of weaklings who can’t even stand up to a tough question from a news reporter in a presidential debate.
Comment by DreamCrusher
By which comment you make it obvious that, besides your obvious agenda, you have no clue as to what the issue is.
May 26th, 2007 at 8:15 pmDreaCrusher, how many lies can you put in one post? You working on some kind of record?
May 26th, 2007 at 8:18 pmWasn't Biden the only Democratic presidential contender that voted to give Bush his blank check this week? Kind of sealed the deal on his ass.
May 26th, 2007 at 8:19 pmI won't be watching and I wish Biden wasn't going.
However, given the ten dummies running for the GOP, Biden will talk circles around them, so if Biden can show them up, there may be an acceptable result.
MSNBC does not run pro liberal and pro Democrat. Except for Olbermann, there is no one, on MSNBC, or CNN, or NBC, CBS, ABC and certainly not FOX that is decidedly democrat or liberal.
Anyone who claims so, just isn't paying attention.
Fox, on the other hand, is well-known as a propaganda outlet for the repugs.
May 26th, 2007 at 8:19 pm"Comparing a presidential debate on a TV network to having access on a specific DoD plane? Really? Is that the best example you could come up with, because that’s pretty hilarious."
i guess if you think the concept of 'free press' is funny than it is indeed hilarious.
"Tell me again why anyone should trust Democrats with national security if they act like such big babies…."
tell me again why anyone should pay an ounce of attention to a troll repeating a republican talking point about a democratic debate.
May 26th, 2007 at 8:38 pmI think it is Very short sighted for Democratic candidates to avoid Fox news. I think they know this, and I think the only reason they're avoiding Fox is to appease the Democratic base in the run-up to the primaries.
Come the general, the Democratic candidate (whomever it may be) will welcome Fox coverage.
I realize that nearly everyone reading this hates Fox News, me included. But the only way for the Democratic candidates to reach the Fox faithful is for them to appear on Fox news. A lot of the Fox faithful are sick of the war and are starting to hate Bush. I live in a RED state, I know a lot of Republicans who voted for W twice and have recently told me they hate Bush. Katrina started to turn them and the war has turned them completely.
They're still Republicans and they still watch Fox news almost exclusively, but they're very open to other choices for the next President.
Why do people so turned off on Bush still watch Fox news? Good question, I think it's because Fox doesn't cover the really depressing stuff as much as the other news networks. Fox News has the least war coverage of any of the networks, and a lot of their viewership feel pretty guilty about supporting Bush's war.
Once the candidates are decided, there will probably only be 3 or 4 national debates. Each of them will probably be covered by the national networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox). So these primary debates may be the only chance for the Democratic candidates to apppear on Fox news.
I think appearing on Fox News it's a win-win for Democratic candidates. They get to be seen by people who would otherwise never hear their un-spun words, and they get to answer some tough questions. Because if (when) Fox has their shill "reporters" ask tough, leading, and loaded questions, I say Fantastic! Those same tough questions are going to be asked in the run-up to the general election. It's better to know which of our candidates can handle the rough stuff now than be shocked when they falter in the general.
May 26th, 2007 at 8:57 pmshane,
I wouldn’t watch the debate if it was on Fox News and I’m sure I’m not alone. Debating on Fox is like negotiating with terrorists or worse.
And that, my friends, is the problem today in America. The Left sees Republicans as a greater enemy than the terrorists who killed 3,000 of our citizens. You have just discredited yourself completely as a brainwashed partisan tool. Golf clap.
Marie,
Oh, so you don't think the non-FOX media runs pro-Democrat? Really? OK, riddle me this: When's the last time Al Gore received a tough question on any of those channels you cited?
You know, try to block out the times Matt Lauer said he could save the world and all the other sycophantic stuff. When have the media asked tough questions of Al Gore? Or Hillary Clinton?
So you believe that even though most of the journalists in the USA (over 75%) are liberals and Democrats, it is only the conservative FOX that biases their news?
Oh, and I wonder if your own political affiliation will bias your answers... Hmmmm....
pgw,
i guess if you think the concept of ‘free press’ is funny than it is indeed hilarious.
So when the Democrats boycott an entire news channel, the most watched news channel in the country, that encompasses the spirit of free press you're insinuating that I don't cherish?? Come off your Hypocrisy Chair when you're ready there, son.
tell me again why anyone should pay an ounce of attention to a troll repeating a republican talking point about a democratic debate.
I'm a troll for asking you a tough question that you can't and won't answer because Think Progress never provided you with a talking point?
Why can't you just address what I said? Why is it OK for Democrats to pick and choose which reporters they deal with, while you liberals whine when Cheney admits that he watches FOX when he watches news?
Would you feel it was fair if the White House shut out all reporters it did not want at the press conferences?
If not, then how do you square that with the Democrats' treatment of FOX?
You have quite the dilemma going there, buddy. Calling me a troll isn't going to make it go away.
May 26th, 2007 at 9:03 pmYou have quite the dilemma going there, buddy. Calling me a troll isn’t going to make it go away.
Comment by DreamCrusher
Of course not. Trolls don't "go away". They may change their names, but they can't live without the attention.
May 26th, 2007 at 9:26 pmJust anyone answer the following question:
If it's OK for Democrats to boycott FOX News, wouldn't that make it OK for the White House to ban any reporter they don't like from White House press conferences?
Courage.
May 26th, 2007 at 9:47 pmBoycotting Fox is pathetic and weak. If you can't stand up to a news network, how will you lead the free world. I would be embarrased to be a Democrat. Get some balls or go home.
May 26th, 2007 at 10:20 pmBiden can debate himself on FOX network all by himself, because he straddles the fence on every issue.
May 26th, 2007 at 10:35 pmYeah maybe Biden can then debate current Benedict Arnold,Joe Lieberman.Or Faux news can supply Zell Miller as a standin.
May 26th, 2007 at 10:53 pm"OK, riddle me this"
"Come off your Hypocrisy Chair when you’re ready there, son."
Comments by DreamCrusher — May 26, 2007 @ 9:03 pm
Too funny!
May 26th, 2007 at 10:58 pmWow. No one will answer my simple question. Just like the Democrats, you liberals are too weak to answer a simple question because you need to hide from the ugly truth. Hypocrites every last one of you.
May 26th, 2007 at 11:10 pm"If it’s OK for Democrats to boycott FOX News, wouldn’t that make it OK for the White House to ban any reporter they don’t like from White House press conferences?"
no. question answered.
May 26th, 2007 at 11:24 pmYeah, Joe Biden would sell his mother to be president.
May 26th, 2007 at 11:33 pm"If it’s OK for Democrats to boycott FOX News, wouldn’t that make it OK for the White House to ban any reporter they don’t like from White House press conferences?"
Umm, dolt. Two different situations. We are talking about a Democratic primary. Democratic voters don't want Democrats on Faux News. On the other side of your false argument is Bush, who "represents" everybody. Almost everybody (except you and your sick brethren) wants accountability from the executive branch. Thus, the WH press corp is kinda necessary (though they aren't very good at it).
May 26th, 2007 at 11:38 pmGo, Joe!
You can be the winner (by default).
Fox will announce that pinko Joe Biden won handily over the other pinkos, and that HE should be the Democrat candidate,
as he is less of a pinko than the others for being on the debate...
Have FUN, Joe!!!
May 27th, 2007 at 2:28 amI think it is Very short sighted for Democratic candidates to avoid Fox news. I think they know this, and I think the only reason they’re avoiding Fox is to appease the Democratic base in the run-up to the primaries.
Um, and exactly WHO votes in the DEMOCRATIC primaries? Granted, there are cases where a Republican can (or may) vote in the Democratic primary (especially in years when the GOP field is almost non-existent), but it's unlikely that such a Republican voter is voting for the "best" candidate (it's far more likely he's voting for a candidate who he hopes will be defeated by the Republican nominee in the general election). With independent voters, well, it's unlikely that any of them are going to watch Fox either.
Come the general, the Democratic candidate (whomever it may be) will welcome Fox coverage.
Oh, sure. There isn't a Democrat who will get ANY sympathetic coverage from Fox. Exactly what Fox coverage benefited either Gore in 2000 or Kerry in 2004? As I recall, the Fox "reporters" were reluctant to give ANY "positive" coverage but very quick to relate (and even rehash) ALL "negative" coverage.
I realize that nearly everyone reading this hates Fox News, me included. But the only way for the Democratic candidates to reach the Fox faithful is for them to appear on Fox news. A lot of the Fox faithful are sick of the war and are starting to hate Bush. I live in a RED state, I know a lot of Republicans who voted for W twice and have recently told me they hate Bush. Katrina started to turn them and the war has turned them completely.
Um, exactly how did Katrina BENEFIT the CURRENT Democratic candidates? Fox LED the "Barack Hussein Obama" charge. Fox has NEVER given Hillary a fair shake. Fox has pulled the "John--Breck Girl--Edwards" card. And I certainly don't think that the "war has turned them" makes much of a real impact since the war preceded Katrina. Where were they when OUR TROOPS were dying for two solid years before Katrina?
They’re still Republicans and they still watch Fox news almost exclusively, but they’re very open to other choices for the next President.
And since Dubya is barred from running for another term, if they're "still Republicans", they have an ample number of "other choices for the next President" within THEIR party. They may now "hate" Dubya, but fortunately (for them) they don't have to deal with the odious task of voting for Dubya again.
Why do people so turned off on Bush still watch Fox news? Good question, I think it’s because Fox doesn’t cover the really depressing stuff as much as the other news networks. Fox News has the least war coverage of any of the networks, and a lot of their viewership feel pretty guilty about supporting Bush’s war.
Why do they still watch Fox? I'll tell you why. They're f#ckin' brainwashed. They've been fed a diet of lies for over a decade over Fox's alleged lack of bias while Fox continues to admit they bring a conservative "balance" to the media. (Think about that for just a minute. Fox isn't "biased" in its reporting yet is proud that it brings a "balance" to the media. You have to be either brainwashed or just plain stupid to stick with Fox.)
Once the candidates are decided, there will probably only be 3 or 4 national debates. Each of them will probably be covered by the national networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox). So these primary debates may be the only chance for the Democratic candidates to apppear on Fox news.
Well, if you REALLY think about it for a minute, Fox *SHOULD* be covering ALL the candidates' campaigns NOW, regardless of the Democrats' appearance or non-appearance at a Fox-held "debate". YOU were the one who brought up that the candidates should "welcome" coverage by Fox News. Well, if Fox is *REALLY* "fair and balanced", they should already be covering appearances by Hillary and Barack and JohnE and BillR (and the rest). Otherwise, you seem to hint at the idea that Fox won't be giving a "fair" shake to a Democrat who chooses to pass on a Fox debate program.
I think appearing on Fox News it’s a win-win for Democratic candidates. They get to be seen by people who would otherwise never hear their un-spun words, and they get to answer some tough questions. Because if (when) Fox has their shill “reporters†ask tough, leading, and loaded questions, I say Fantastic! Those same tough questions are going to be asked in the run-up to the general election. It’s better to know which of our candidates can handle the rough stuff now than be shocked when they falter in the general.
Comment by David — May 26, 2007
Well, you're acting under the presumption that Fox will hold the debate at a time when a majority of its viewers will be watching "live" or even that a large number of its viewers will want to tune in to watch the Democrats. I honestly don't think either scenario is likely to happen. Fox WON'T ask "tough questions" of the Democrats for a very good reason--Fox doesn't LIKE the Democrats. There will be a lot of loaded questions along the "So, Senator Obama, when did you quit beating your wife?" or the "So, Senator Clinton, would you support Chelsea's being drafted?" or the "So, Senator Edwards, if Elizabeth collapses halfway across the country while stumping for you, will you immediately fly to her side and disappoint people who may be waiting for you or is your career more important to you?" THOSE are the types of "fair and balanced" questions that I expect would come from a FoxNews reporter.
May 27th, 2007 at 2:59 amGood to see there's at least one Democrat with the cajones to face off against Fox.
May 27th, 2007 at 9:50 amGlen > Sen. Biden's balls shriveled up and fell off years ago > LOL only complete fools like Biden and LIEberman cater to phony FOX network.
May 27th, 2007 at 10:19 am"Good to see there’s at least one Democrat with the cajones to face off against Fox."
the candidates aren't dodging questions or the debate. they're choosing to broadcast it on a different network, one that better understands the concept of journalism.
May 27th, 2007 at 11:07 amWhy are the Dems afraid to go into the enemy camp? Why are they dodging the opposition party?
If they can't hold their own on Fox, how can anyone expect them to hols their own in the International Arena of politics?
May 27th, 2007 at 11:39 am"Why are the Dems afraid to go into the enemy camp? Why are they dodging the opposition party?"
enemy camp? opposition party? i thought fox was 'fair and balanced'. you're admitting that fox is a republican entity, and then saying that the democrats should be obligated to have a debate on that republican channel? the dems have nothing to gain by having a debate on a network, and that kind of smart, informed decision-making would be a welcome addition to the "International Arena of politics" as its absence in the current administration is problematic to say the least.
May 27th, 2007 at 12:54 pmRight, because no one in Iowa or New Hampshire watches FOX News. Snort. I can't wait until a Democrat gets in the White House. Their first order of business will be to shut down FOX News, just like Chavez is doing to RCTV in Venezuela.
The Congressional Black Caucus only received an offer from FOX, but the Democrats don't want to show up because they're too weak to answer questions from moderators (who they're being allowed to choose!) that they deem to be too conservative for their tastes.
The Democratic Party: Only Softball Questions Allowed!
Great slogan you guys got going for you.
May 27th, 2007 at 3:44 pmThe Congressional Black Caucus only received an offer from FOX, but the Democrats don’t want to show up because they’re too weak to answer questions from moderators (who they’re being allowed to choose!) that they deem to be too conservative for their tastes.
Uh huh...
Wasn't it George W. Bush that INSISTED on knowing EVERY QUESTION beforehand? Like Arnold did also?
And didn't he SHUT OUT people, even Rapeublicans, if they were even
THOUGHT to be dissenters?
And didn't Bush and Cheney require people getting in to sign
LOYALTY OATHS??
ProJECT much???
P.S. Bush and Cheney (and the PNAC, who STAFF the Bush admin, have been shown to be LIARS, TRAITORS, expose CIA spies, politicize the DOJ, and on it goes...
Foxnews SUPPORTS the actions of these WAR CRIMINAL TRAITORS, and so do YOU.
WHY should ANYONE, except your own kind (right-wing wacko supporters of TREASON)
pay ANY attention to Foxnews or YOU???
See YOU in hell azzlicker (cause I'LL be THERE),
Mr. Bush
May 27th, 2007 at 4:48 pmMURDEROUS WAR CRIMINAL
COWARDLY TRAITOR TO THE USA (TM--BushCrimeCo, Inc.)
At least Biden isn't a coward, like the rest of his ilk.
May 27th, 2007 at 7:31 pmWasn’t it George W. Bush that INSISTED on knowing EVERY QUESTION beforehand? Like Arnold did also?
Yes, they're the only ones who prefer to know questions beforehand. Because they are evil. Ignore the fact that every other politician does this and keep dreaming the dream.
And didn’t Bush and Cheney require people getting in to sign
LOYALTY OATHS??
In some venues, yes. They're not the only ones doing it. But when you see how conservatives act versus how liberals act, you can see why they would do this. When's the last time someone threw pies at a liberal speaker? When's the last time someone shouted down a liberal speaker? When's the last time someone disrupted the speech of a liberal speaker?
Foxnews SUPPORTS the actions of these WAR CRIMINAL TRAITORS, and so do YOU.
I support some of their actions, yes. Aren't FOX News free to support political positions, just like CBS, ABC, and NBC do? Or is it only those who you disagree with that aren't allowed to?
WHY should ANYONE, except your own kind (right-wing wacko supporters of TREASON) pay ANY attention to Foxnews or YOU???
I imagine Chavez is making the exact same argument down in Venezuela while he shuts down one of the most popular TV stations in the country. It's called fascism, but of course you don't see that because you are blinded by your own politics. I'm not a right-wing wacko, and the fact that you even say so without knowing a thing about me says a lot about your lack of integrity and mob mentality.
See YOU in hell azzlicker (cause I’LL be THERE),
Sorry, hell does not exist, so I doubt I'll be seeing you there.
May 27th, 2007 at 9:57 pmits not the questions that be a reluctance for democrats to attend the debate. its how fox will again spin their answers to twist them negatively.
May 28th, 2007 at 12:30 amBuhu. FOX can "spin" their answers on any televised debate, so what's your point other than trying to make up yet another pathetic excuse?
Just face the facts: the Democrats are acting like pussies.
May 28th, 2007 at 6:18 amOne Question...
If Democrats won't debate on Fox because they are biased to the right, why would the Democrats then expect the Republicans to debate on the other news organizations who are biased to the left?
If a presidental candidate from either party can't stand up and debate in a hostile enviroment, then they are not up to the task to be President of the United States. In the real world they will not be sheltered by a friendly a press. There are to many parties very willing to do harm and to present difficulties.
For me any candidate that fails to debate because of perceived un-fairness has lost my vote. Further more, in conversations with friends I will express my feelings that these candidates are not qualified to be president and my reasons.
June 21st, 2007 at 9:27 am