Democrats Have A Growing Debate Problem On Their Hands

[Purveyor]

By Chris Cillizza September 20 at 5:23 PM

Democrats — and, specifically, Hillary Clinton — have a growing debate problem on their hands.

At the New Hampshire Democratic party convention — usually a rah-rah event — over the weekend, national party chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Fla.) was repeatedly interrupted during her prepared remarks by chants of “we want debates.”

Retorted Wasserman Schultz: “What’s more important, drawing a contrast with Republicans or arguing about debates?”

The answer to her (rhetorical) question was not immediately clear in the room. The New Hampshire uprising is only the latest sign of discontent — being fomented by long-shot Democratic candidate Martin O’Malley — about the party’s announced schedule, which features a total of six debates beginning next month.

As 538’s Harry Enten has pointed out, if Wasserman Schultz does stick to the six debates, it would be the fewest the party has held in a year when there wasn’t a Democratic president seeking a second term since 1980. It would also match the fewest debates Republicans have held over that same time period.

more...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/democrats-have-a-growing-debate-problem-on-their-hands/2015/09/20/e3d8194c-5fc9-11e5-b38e-06883aacba64_story.html

[Fred Sanders]

1. Retorted? And what is the correct answer? Rec'd for posing the question!

Wasserman-Shultz was right to ask the question - not "retort", as "opinionated" in the WP "report":


"Asked Wassermann Schultz: “What’s more important, drawing a contrast with Republicans or arguing about debates?”"

Answer: Drawing a contrast with Republicans is more important than arguing about (the number of) debates.

Ergo: "U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton accuses Republican counterpart Donald Trump of ''trying to bully and buy his way into the presidency''."

[cui bono]

3. Why don't you want more debates? n/t

[jeff47]

4. And magic pixie fairies are standing by to draw that contrast!!!

Lord knows we couldn't draw a contrast by, say, debating.

Much better to let only the Republicans talk, and await the pixie contrast delivery.

[Fumesucker]

5. It takes two to argue

DWS is acting as if she has no agency in the matter when she has more agency than anyone else, she is the one in the drivers seat and is at least as much a part of any argument over debates as anyone else is.

[BuelahWitch]

9. Don't debates help draw a contrast with Republicans?

[restorefreedom]

10. only in the real world. nt

[Pope Sweet Jesus]

12. When I received an email from DNC telling me to go watch the Republican debates

I said "What for? If I wanted to see clowns on parade, I'd buy a ticket to the circus" and replied as such. I then turned off the money spigot for the DNC - totally tone deaf and certainly not for the people.

[Fred Sanders]

15. And....sure....we all believe you! Turned off your "spigot" of money? The DNC weeps. DU weeps.

My morning chuckle...thanks!

[RobertEarl]

19. Way to show disrespect, Fred

And some wonder why Hillary supporters are not well liked on DU.

[Fred Sanders]

21. Come on, did you read the comment I responded to? On the contrary, isn't supporting such comments

from new posters, 60 posts, deserving of disrespect?

Or will any anti-Hillary comment do? Which is why some wonder why Sanders supporters are not "well-liked" on DU...some are less Sanders supporters than they are here at DU, and elsewhere I would wager, to hate on Hillary........open your eyes.

Or not, whatever, knock yourself out pretending otherwise.

And, yes, I admit it!

I have "new poster bias"....I will talk to my shrink about it.

[RobertEarl]

22. Sure I read it

You should read it again, apparently for the first time. It was showing displeasure only at the DNC, and not, as you twisted it "hate on Hillary"

Look at your reply about showing even more dis-respect for new posters.
To whit: "... isn't supporting such comments from new posters deserving of disrespect? "

Shameful exposition, Fred.

[Fred Sanders]

23. Clipping quotes......my whole sentence is right here!....is what is shameful, and not clever at all.

[RobertEarl]

24. You're losing it Fred

You should probably log off now and take a walk?

[Fred Sanders]

25. I think I will! It is a very nice day! Thanks for the suggestion!

[virtualobserver]

2. we can do both, have more debates and draw a contrast with the Republicans

Debates would be the perfect place to draw that contrast.

[haikugal]

27. Love the Bernie doll!!

[NCTraveler]

6. Our first debate is going to have a lot of viewers with this build up. Nt

[yeoman6987]

14. It better have more then 24 million or we'll never hear

the end of it. We need to beat those Repugs in viewers. Our biggest viewers was 5.6 million viewers between Clinton and Obama. We have to do better then that.

[Fred Sanders]

17. Quality over quantity, debate over babble....the concern over ratings is a side issue.

The CNN and Fox GOP Clown Debates is nothing that anyone should want to set any standard by.

[yeoman6987]

18. I personally agree with you

However we live in an illogical world today.

[Uncle Joe]

7. This is only a mediocre article regarding the debates, no mention of several dynamics

1. Bernie Sanders.

2. Expired state registration dates in some states ie: New York, before the debates even begin.

3. Sanctions against candidates for participating in non-approved debates.

4. Scheduling debates on weekends instead of weekdays when they would most likely be viewed.

5. Scheduling a debate opposite of a prime time NFL game between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets.

Thanks for the thread, Purveyor.

[NorthCarolina]

8. Bernie should start talking about where HE thinks Hillary is on the issues...

since she is not detailing her positions beyond vague generalities, and given that there will be limited debates on inconvenient times/dates.

For instance, he can speak to his position on Social Security, and then state that while Hillary has not made her positions clear, it is safe to assume that she, like her establishment Democrat peers, support cutting benefits through means such as chained CPI, means testing, and raising the retirement age.

That would pretty much size up the truth. Then it would be on Hillary to own up to it, or to refute them all...on the record.

[KelleyKramer]

13. Ummm, in 1980 there WAS a Democratic president seeking a second term

So are they trying to say it's the fewest since 1984? 1976?

[WillyT]

16. K & R !!!

[hifiguy]

20. Run of the mill Democrats are seeing that this process is as rigged

as a 3-card monte game and they are royally pissed about it.

People do not want a shotgun wedding to HRH as the Democratic nominee.

[Bill USA]

26. as it is (with 2 candidates) each one will have 4 hours to make their points...Not enough time?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251611320

[Purveyor]

29. Last I knew there are more than just 2 candidates in the running. eom