Clinton open to more debates.

[elleng]

Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton on Saturday suggested she's open to more presidential debates, amid pushback from her competitors about the Democratic National Committee's (DNC) light schedule.

"I am open to whatever the DNC decides to set up. That's their decision," she said during a stop in New Hampshire. "I debated a lot in 2008 and I would certainly be there with lots of enthusiasm and energy if they decide to add more debates, and I think that's the message that a lot of people are sending their way."

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), both of whom are competing with Clinton for the party's presidential nomination, have criticized the DNC for only setting up six primary debates and barring candidates from participating in outside debates.

That's roughly one-quarter of the number offered during the 2008 primary, and half of the number expected for Republican candidates this cycle. DNC Chairwoman Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) has defended the debate schedule as sufficient.

O'Malley's campaign quickly pounced on Clinton's comments. John Bivona, the New Hampshire state director for O'Malley for President, said that "it is time for Chairwoman Wasserman-Schultz and the Democratic National Committee to take themselves out of this process and end the unprecedented exclusivity rule."

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/252845-clinton-open-to-more-debates

[99th_Monkey]

1. Your move Debbie! -nt-

[Skwmom]

19. No, it is still Clinton's move. All she needs to do is pick up the phone. n/t

[DonViejo]

26. LOL. The all powerful Wizard of the State Department just has to pick up the phone!!

[A Simple Game]

41. You don't think she's going to send an email do you? n/t

[Ed Suspicious]

48. zing!

[A Simple Game]

51. Sometimes when they ask for it you just have to give it to them. n/t

[DonViejo]

54. I understand she has a fairly reliable wireless Morse Code system established.

[A Simple Game]

61. That just might work! n/t

[SonderWoman]

2. Welp, this kills 2 birds with one stone.

The whole "Hillary is afraid!" meme and the whole "why isn't Hillary calling for more debates!" meme.

[jfern]

4. But it helps with the Hillary isn't honest or trustworthy polls

Because if Hillary actually told DWS she wanted more debates, there would be more debates.

[orpupilofnature57]

7. Bingo

Good cop Bad cop .

[SonderWoman]

12. According to you.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

13. +1

[jfern]

17. So if every candidate is asking for more debates

And we're not getting them, what do you think is going on?

[cali]

29. bingo.

[Armstead]

18. Not so much...."I am open to whatever the DNC decides to set up. That's their decision,"

Hardly a heartfelt urging. Sort of passing the buck, in contract to the impassioned statements of O'Malley

[kenfrequed]

25. Yeah... she didn't actually say anything.

She said she was open to whatever the DNC decides when she already knows what was decided. The matter was closed at the DNC meeting the other week so it is very disingenuous to suggest that this means she is "open to more debates."

[RufusTFirefly]

37. Yes. She's doing what I like to call "Feinsteining"

Made famous by California's allegedly Democratic Senator

[Logical]

62. You forgot the "Hillary embarrassed by Bernie in the debates" meme

[HereSince1628]

3. Pretty safe, she says: I am open to whatever the DNC decides to set up

And we were told by DWS herself, that it's the prerogative of the DNC chair and DWS isn't changing it.

[elleng]

6. We'll see who pressures whom to do what,

still up to Dem candidates to maintain pressure on dws/dnc/hrc in accord with wishes of We the People.

[HereSince1628]

10. DWS has leverage over the campaign committees...

I don't expect relief from there.

What I encourage the other candidates to do is to hold not debates that violate the letter of DWS edict, rather to hold public "Joint Question and Answer Sessions" attended by invited media.

[Logical]

63. And that is why Hillary is all of the sudden willing to have more debates, because.....

Hillary knows DWS will not. LOL, she cracks me up.

[HereSince1628]

65. Exactly, but, -WHY- try to create the deception?

Last edited Sun Sep 6, 2015, 12:08 PM - Edit history (2)

Because it's another fantasy about politics... first because you can't look like you're against an open exchange of ideas, second because you can't look like you are afraid of debating or looking like you are afraid of a debating oppinent, and of course you can't look like you are throwing obstacles in the paths of your oppponents.

And perhaps most importantly of all... you get to be on both sides of the issue. People who love to dissemble (transitive verb 1 : to hide under a false appearance) -NEED- to create the Potempkin foiles to hide behind.

[orpupilofnature57]

5. And campaign reform, HA Ha Ha .

[BeyondGeography]

8. Iow, we didn't get it right the first time

Try again, DNC.

[99Forever]

9. And our collective intelligence...

... receives another insult.

[hifiguy]

14. Eeyup! nt

[Le Taz Hot]

11. Yeah, it's September already.

This shit needed to be worked out last spring. NOW she's "open to more debates." Well, how brave of her.

[MissDeeds]

28. Oh yeah

She's 'open' to more debates, but her protectors will find a way to keep it from happening. Debates with Sanders and O'Malley are her worst nightmare. No way her cohorts at the DLC/DNC will let that happen, no matter how much she is "open" to it.

Not buying it. First of many smoke screens to come.

[Le Taz Hot]

31. You're right.

Its Kabuki Theater. Her and her handlers continue to act like the people haven't caught onto this. Some politicians can pull it off and people will believe them (Bill Clinton, Pres. Obama) but she doesn't have that ability.

[Peacetrain]

15. Thank You Sec. Clinton

We need more debates.. and if you get behind the push to expand the debate schedule along with Gov. O'Malley and Senator Sanders.. it will get done..

[Truprogressive85]

16. Lets see ! well only took up till now

DWS will you listen to the "frontrunner" ?

or is this some game

If the DNC doesn't want to add more debates the other candidates need to come together set up more debates

[Warren DeMontague]

20. "If only the DNC would allow it"

Yes, unfortunately Debbie Wasserman Schultz has made her decision, sorry.

[antigop]

55. precisely. nt

[Armstead]

21. Hardly an argument for more. .....Rather like passing the buck.

[Scootaloo]

47. Nailed it.

[jwirr]

22. So she is open to more debates. If so then she should

join the other candidates in a debate right now - sanctioned or not by the DNC.

[retrowire]

43. This. n/t

[Autumn]

23. Open to whatever the DNC decides. Remind me again, who is the head of the DNC?

The head of the DNC says that's up to the head of the DNC and the head of the DNC says she isn't changing it. Oh I remember who the head of the DNC is, Hillary's good friend. I think it's safe enough for you to call for more debates now Hillary. Whichever way the wind blows.

Seriously, I would have respected her more had she not said anything about the debates. She fucking knew what DWS, the head of the DNC decided on.

[Geronimoe]

34. She told Debbie what to decide

Hillary is the decider. This is obvious because DWS couldn't explain her own decision of only 6 debates.

[thereismore]

40. That's what I think too. nt

[JackInGreen]

24. So her former #21 should be getting a call

Any minute now....right?

[quickesst]

27. Doesn't matter here

For many here, it's damned if she does, and damned if she doesn't. I think that they think she's the Don of some DNC mafia. I'll just add another to the pile.

[demwing]

30. "Go ask your Dad"

A teen asks her Mom if she can go to Cabo for Spring Break. Mom says she's open to whatever Dad decides.

If you've ever been a teenager, and asked for something that might be risky in your parent's eyes, you may have heard a variation of this message, and it's clearly a dodge. Why? Because Dad has already said "Hell No!" (or knows damned well that he better!) and Mom knows it.

If you've ever been the parent in this play, and your significant other tells your kid to to ask you first, it's not because they want to say yes. It's because they want to say no, but don't want any of the blame that comes on the side.

[Warren DeMontague]

39. Sure, let Debbie Wasserman-Schultz play the bad cop.

I mean, she's already pretty widely disliked.

[HappyPlace]

46. LOLOLOL!

[font size=30] LOL! [/font size]

[whatchamacallit]

32. Clinton open to everything

... that she isn't forced to commit to.

[jalan48]

33. I think Clinton has adopted the "run out the clock" strategy.

[Blus4u]

52. You are correct!

If they wait another week or so, then "look" into it, it will be too lat to squeeze one I n before the October scheduled date.

Oh well, we tried! Aren't we magnanimous?

[AgingAmerican]

58. The consequence being

The Democratic message does not get out and we lose the general election. Wonderful strategy, Hillary.

[jalan48]

59. A few weeks ago I didn't think it was possible Hillary could lose the general election.

If she wins the primary I'm not so sure anymore. With all her baggage and the endless Monica Lewinsky drama we will be exposed to she could find Americans just don't want her and Bill back in the White House. It may not be fair but she's a sitting duck for the endless right wing attack ads. And her strategy of waiting until later to respond or champion her ideas will only hurt her more.

[HerbChestnut]

35. Being "open" to more debates...

...is not the same as calling for more.

[frylock]

36. "I am open to whatever the DNC decides to set up. That's their decision."

Another amazing display of leadership.

[Warren DeMontague]

38. as they say, "how conveeeeeenient!"

[Live and Learn]

42. In my house, we call those, 'weasel words'. nt

[CharlotteVale]

45. Mine too.

[AtomicKitten]

57. Mine too. Exactly.

[morningfog]

44. Then all candidates are in agreement and the exclusivity clause can be made a nullity.

Sanders and O'Malley should call Hillary's bluff. They can agree to engage in as many debates as they want. The DNC won't ban all the candidates from the sanctioned debates.

[cantbeserious]

49. Suspect That DWS Is Covering For HRC - So - No More Debates - To Be Had

Establishment Politics In Play - Move Along - Nothing More To See Here.

[Indepatriot]

50. The High Priestess of Plausible Deniability

once again shows how it's done. That works just great for the "American Idol" watching masses, for those of us paying attention, NOT SO MUCH. It's really quite amazing how she refuses to actually state a position on so many matters. She's like the customer at the restaurant who just can't make up her mind what to order, then when she finally does, she forgets what she ordered and tells the staff they got it wrong....

[GitRDun]

53. Now that Hillary is "on the record"

MOM and BS teams should be on the full court press to pressure DWS publicly to add debates.

[eridani]

56. If so, this will boost the Dem brand by contrasting our sane candidates with--

--the other side's clown car. The only problem we have is disagreements on policies--much easier to deal with than outright batshit craziness.

[MoveIt]

60. They really think we are stupid.

[ibegurpard]

64. Jesus the arrogance...

Not just from her but the people speaking for her..."I'm open to whatever the DNC decides"??? How stupid does she think people are???