Clinton Backers on Debates: Stop your pointless complaining, it's time for a reality check

[Skwmom]

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe — a close Hillary Clinton ally and former Democratic National Committee chairman — pushed back on Saturday against calls for Democrats to add more debates to their primary schedule, telling POLITICO that six debates “gave candidates the platform they needed” when he chaired the DNC in 2004.

Hours later, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter — another Clinton ally and DNC member, who will be helping host the 2016 Democratic convention — chimed in, referring to the calls to add debates as “pointless complaining” in a more-than-700-word letter sent to POLITICO.

Going further, Nutter said he was “left scratching my head. Why are we debating debates? There’s too much at stake to be so focused on Beltway intrigue and process. At the end of the day this is not what voters care about.”

“It’s time for a reality check fellow Democrats,” he wrote. “Let’s end this pointless complaining and channel our energies into every facet of what it takes to win: registering people to vote, pushing out our message, raising money, and organizing and coordinating our efforts within this great big tent we call the Democratic Party.”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/09/mcauliffe-democratic-debates-clinton-hillary-213850#ixzz3mHeRo1Yw

[FreakinDJ]

1. Will the Dems LOST the election cycle he was chair of

so your expert opinion is on how to lose an election that should have been easily won

[virtualobserver]

2. I hate the smell of insincerity in the morning.....

"pushing our your message" to millions of Americans in a debate is "not what voters are about"

The spin is disgusting.

[fredamae]

3. Reality Check This Terry

You and your ConservaDem Policies are the Problem Not the G'Damned Base! Third Way Bullshitter, imo.
If we're gonna have a Party based upon the will of the people (aka: democracy), then ya'all gotta Stop Dictating to us. Period.

[Blus4u]

27. Damn that was good, I wish I had said that!!!

Peace

[restorefreedom]

4. voters to clinton backers: your bullying tactics arent working anymore

bully politics and corporate rule are over.

enjoy your retirement.

[Autumn]

5. Voter to Clinton Backers: yes it is time for a reality check.

And that reality check? It's coming and you will be left wondering what the fuck happened.

[IDemo]

6. “Let’s end this pointless complaining"

Which will become the likely response of any elected official who agrees with this bs to concerns and complaints over any issue.

[Motown_Johnny]

7. McAuliffe is a Clinton shill.

He knows he owes his Governorship to the Clinton political machine and he knows the only reason he has it is to help Hillary win an important swing state.

His opinion on these things is no more valid than someone like James Carville.

Just a mouthpiece (as far as this topic is concerned).

[Skwmom]

10. He is but now we know exactly where she stands on more debates even though she said

she was open to them.

[CharlotteVale]

13. I live in VA and this is so true.

[oasis]

8. McAuliffe says six was enough when he was Chair in 2004.

I don't remember any dust up about the number of debates back then.

[Autumn]

9. I remember when we lost in 2004

[oasis]

11. Do you believe: 1."swiftboating" 2.access to polls in Ohio or

3.lack of Dem Party debates, led to Kerry's defeat?

[Autumn]

12. I think had there been more debates the swift boating of Kerry

would not have held up as well as it did, he would have had a venue to counter some of it. YMMV

[oasis]

18. IIRC, the swiftboat ads were aired during the GE. <nt>

[Autumn]

22. Maybe, but the talk was already there and Kerry wasn't the best candidate to counter Bush either.

But what harm is there in more debates?

[oasis]

25. Candidates travel from one point to another to attend rallies

and fundraisers. They have frantic schedules to keep track of as it is.

[Autumn]

26. Seriously? There are airplanes you know and a debate can be just one more "event " to attend.

You have a good day

[HooptieWagon]

29. True, debates could interrupt schedule of Clinton's $2700/plate fundraisers.

However, since the remaining candidates are calling for additional debates, they can fit them into schedule.

[oasis]

33. Be my guest. Have more debates.

Doesn't matter to me.

I was asked why were'nt more debates scheduled.

[mythology]

14. There were 3 debates between Obama/McCain and Obama/Romney

I don't remember hearing complaints that there weren't enough debates in those campaigns. What is the difference in the primaries that even double the number of general election debates isn't enough?

[Autumn]

16. I don't remember Obama having a challenger from the Democratic party.

What harm is there in more debates?

[fredamae]

21. Isn't the argument over debates for

the Primaries? Has the 2016 GE debate schedule been announced? And many folks did not accept the limited number of debates, btw-during the campaign between the POTUS nominees!

Additionally, I believe we need to Stop looking backwards to see what did/didn't work, 10, 15, 20 years ago. These are Waaaay different times now. Imo, little to Nothing that "happened back then" should be relied on as a directive formula to win now.
The Dem base is looking a Lot less likely to "get in line, sit down, shut-up and vote purely for the Dem Party" just because "Democrats".
The Dem party is Nothing like it was pre-Reagan, imo. At least on Economic issues.

[Autumn]

24. The Dem party is nothing like it was pre-Obama on Economic issues either, imo

That old "get in line, sit down, shut-up and vote purely for the Dem Party" just because "Democrats" aren't as bad as the other guy just isn't working anymore. Not gonna shut up and sit down no more. Fuck that shit.

[fredamae]

30. Yep, imo also

The Dem party since "the era of Reaganomics" has slowly turned it's loyalty, work and support to help Big Biz, Wall Street and Big corporate interests over the working stiff.
Democrats were once Champions for the working class. Now, "we" are mostly hung out to dry as they "lick our face and pee on our feet" while telling us how Great things are Now economically Knowing the Only economic benefits have gone to those who rigged the system and who need and deserve it the Least to feed their disgusting addictions to Wealth and Power.
They stand there hours on end telling us, in Scripted BS Bullet Points, what "we need". Fuck. We Know what we Need-We want to hear Their Plans on the issues.
All, imo-of course.

[Autumn]

32. The democratic party is a big tent, there just isn't room in it for the

poor and working class in it anymore. Their scripted bullet points are what they need. Well fuck their needs. I'm not voting to meet their needs anymore.

[fredamae]

39. Perhaps This has something to do with it

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141210989
And Why People-Not just Dems/Libs/Progs/Tea Party/Republicans etc but People...Are #FeelingTheBern

[jwirr]

41. By the time we are debating in the GE recognition is

not the issue.

[ibegurpard]

15. I remember the Democratic establishment

Kneecapping a firebrand in favor of a stiff on 2004. And we lost.

[Autumn]

17. Funny how that happens when we have Democratic leadership

that is more in line with moderate republicans than Democrats .

[oasis]

19. Would the "firebrand" be Kootch?

[ibegurpard]

23. I think you know who I'm talking about

Nice try though

[Scootaloo]

37. His name is Kucinich. You don't have to like the dude, but at least use his name

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

20. STFU from another "Democratic Leader".

Wanta end the "complaining" tell Deb to STFU and give more debates.

[DCBob]

28. After the spectacle of that crazy GOP debate last week I wonder if we really want any of that.

The media wants to make the debates an entertainment spectacle.. not a serious discussion of issues. If that happens in the Dem debates it wont do us any good either. The more control the DNC has over this the better.. imo.

[99Forever]

31. Terry McAuliffe is an establishment DINO shill.

Screw him and Nutter. Authortarian s

[morningfog]

34. Not a surprise coming from a hill shill.

[TM99]

35. Reality check this McAuliffe.

There were a total of 15 debates in 2004. Six were sanctioned by the DNC and there was NO exclusivity clause.

The debates began in May of 2003 unlike this season's October of 2015.

Twelve debates occurred prior to the first 2004 primary and caucuses in January 2004. Three debates will have occurred before the first primary in January of 2016.

This is a farce. It is theater, nothing more. It is transparently supportive of the establishment candidate who was not supposed to be challenged this time around. Well fuck that.

[djean111]

36. Translation - shut the fuck up and vote for Hillary. n/t

[Scootaloo]

38. Every time Clinton supporters say that, I read it as support for Republicans

"It's their turn!"

[jwirr]

40. McAuliffe must think we are nuts. We lost in 2004 and

he said that Democrats got the platform they needed. All the candidates were well known and we did not have half the country unacquainted with them yet we lost.

And Nutter is not too brilliant either. If it is not what voters care about why are you getting enough protests to make you talk about it? Pushing out our message? Isn't that what debates are about? Collecting money? Well we have kind of a problem with that also. Collecting money takes exposure when there is no deal making to get it.

We are Democrats and we expect to be represented by the DNC and not for them to push their candidate down our throats.

Forget complaining - we are demanding. There is a difference and the establishment has a choice. You can ignore us and take a chance that we don't start ignoring you or you can at the very least get rid of the republican exclusivity clause. You do not own us.