Hillary camp argued for fewer than 6 debates in negotiations with DNC

[Catherina]

How Democrats got bogged down in a messy dispute over debates

By Greg Sargent September 21 at 3:17 PM Follow @theplumlinegs

The Democratic Party is embroiled in an increasingly loud argument over the schedule of presidential debates, one that flared up in New Hampshire over the weekend when DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz got heckled by audience members. Senior Dems such as Nancy Pelosi and Howard Dean have criticized the DNC. Hillary Clinton’s rivals have charged that the DNC has only scheduled six debates to deny them airtime and protect front-runner Clinton, who has subsequently said she’s open to more debates but won’t say whether she actively wants more of them.

...

Last spring, when negotiations between the DNC and the Dem campaigns over the debate schedule got underway in earnest, the Clinton camp’s preference was to have only four debates, one in each of the early contest states of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina, according to a senior Democrat with knowledge of those conversations.

...

Here an important nuance needs to be noted. At that point, the DNC had only announced the amount of debates, and not their schedule. The dates of the debates were announced in August. It was at that point that outrage really began to build, because the dates themselves created a situation that began to be seen as problematic. (Those dates are October 13, November 14th, December 19th, January 17th, and two in February or March that are not nailed down yet.)

The problem is that of the four debates that are actually scheduled, three come on weekends (as opposed to during weeknight prime time), one of them on the weekend between the end of Hanukkah and Christmas. The two remaining (as yet unscheduled) debates are in February and March, one on Univision and the other on PBS. Between those two and the one in January, there will be only three Dem debates in 2016, during the period in which Democrats will be voting in dozens of contests — from the early contests through the big state primaries in early and mid March, a period that could very well settle the outcome. By contrast, Republicans have six debates scheduled throughout that period, many on major networks.

...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2015/09/21/how-democrats-got-bogged-down-in-a-messy-dispute-over-debates/

[cali]

1. wow. thanks Cat. She really is a piece of work.

That's disgusting.

[Catherina]

10. Arrogant and entitled

It goes along with the attitude that *all your votes belong to me*. Oh yeah?

Cali

P.S. Thanks for delivering such a fine Senator to the Presidential race. We owe Vermonters a huge debt of gratitude.

[passiveporcupine]

65. "It goes along with the attitude that *all your votes belong to me*"

And "It's my turn".

[roguevalley]

67. I love the Bernie people here. They find shit. :D

Ironic isn't it that she wants the democratic nomination when she's so autocratic. I would suggest to Hillary devotees or Hillionaires as someone said on another thread, don't try and spin this. Just think about it, examine your conscience and ask yourself, do you really want a woman president so badly that you'll take one that is closer om practice and actions to Dick Cheney than even her own husband?

[AtomicKitten]

68. it's downright offensive

She wanted four. Four were scheduled, the other two out in the ether.

Blowback will be Uuuuge.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

90. I can already see their replies to this.

"This is a non-issue."

"Hillary wants more debates."

"Bernie can't possibly win."



And all the other lackluster replies to run interference for a lackluster candidate.

[AtomicKitten]

102. The DNC has screwed the pooch with this.

[magical thyme]

210. you forgot, "she's evolved on debates."

[appalachiablue]

238. Isn't that special, 4 debates. We must change this, by doing the following, TODAY!

*VOTERS NOTE !:



1. Get the word out. We need more debates, and without 'exclusion'.

2. Telephone the DNC, Main No. *[phone], M-F, 9-5 PM ET

3. Email the DNC using the *form in the link below ([e-mail])

4. Write to the DNC at: Democratic National Committee, 430 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003

~ The LINK has *Examples of what to say when you call, email or write, no matter what candidate you prefer.

We count and let's make our democracy work!

LINK: voteforbernie.org/debate
http://voteforbernie.org/debate/

[Enthusiast]

87. Bernie's anger is entirely justified.

We should all be steaming mad! Cartoon mad, like Yosemite Sam with steam coming out of our ears.

We need more fucking debates! And we need them earlier!

[99th_Monkey]

2. The sole deciding factor is Hillary 'evolving' from 'being open' to actually WANTING more debates?

Tell me this isn't a completely rigged process again.

DWS isn't even bothering to put on a show anymore, about how 'impartial'
the DNC is handling this election to Hills, and then to the GOP..

Impartial my ass. She could't be more partial if she was Hills campaign chair.

[cali]

3. pretty nauseating. Hillary is just so dishonest

[Aerows]

82. If you were Hillary Clinton

Would you want to be on a stage where Democratic voters could compare and contrast you with Sanders and O'Malley?

I sure as hell wouldn't.

[99th_Monkey]

97. You have a point, I suppose

That would take a shred of integrity and principled concern for the Democratic Party.

I can only deduce that she has neither, if she doesn't rapidly 'evolve' on this one.

[840high]

150. Mrs. Manipulator has no integrity.

[eridani]

203. If I were running as a Democrat, I'd want to promote the Democratic Party brand

Every single one of our candidates is going to look astoundingly sane next to the Repub lineup.

[Vincardog]

4. This is the proof that the Democratic insiders would rather lose the election than surender their

Agenda They would rather have the GOP win than a real progressive.

[cali]

5. the primary is a sham.

[Vincardog]

7. It was before Berie anounced.

[dorkzilla]

16. That’s not the point..

Its not about Bernie per se, its about a person who presumes to be “the" candidate using her puppets to rig the game. Yes, I’m a Sanders supporter, but no matter WHO I supported I would want MORE not LESS exposure. There are many people unfamiliar with the candidates that need to hear each candidate’s message. Did she think she was going to run unopposed?

[Vincardog]

20. She thought it was an auction. Whomever had the most corporate $$$ wins. We have to prove her wrong

[dorkzilla]

24. I’m going to laugh my ass off when they’re all beaten by the guy who wouldn’t be bought.

Look at Walker, who is announcing the end of his run at 6pm tonight; the Koch brothers spent all that money propping up that dummy and look what they got. And this isn’t the first time they’ve dumped money into a loser.

Guess that officially makes them Kochsuckers? Now its not the candidates doing the sucking...suckers!!!!!

[artislife]

26. This could be an indication of things to come!

Cue the foreboding music!

[Unknown Beatle]

47. The Kochs were throwing money at a complete dunce.

Might as well be throwing money at a rock.

[roguevalley]

73. Bernie running actually saved this shit from being a cake walk. Thank you again,

Bernie. I don't want to die in a fascist country and Hillary is practicing fascist tactics here.

Ban me. But prove me wrong first.

[merrily]

217. The money they donated to the DLC was a much better investment for them. The gift that keeps

on giving, indeed.

[Enthusiast]

94. Even the Republican rank and file recognize there is a problem with the money in elections.

And those people don't recognize much.

I don't think the Kochs even recognized Walker as a dummy.

[Mnpaul]

170. This is the easiest way to make Citizens United go away

render that money useless in our elections

[dorkzilla]

179. I couldn't agree more. Bernie may be taking a metaphorical bullet for democracy.

He's a brave, principled and great man. We need more like him and less prostitutes.

[hifiguy]

63. Exactamundo.

She thought she could do what Little Boots did in '00 in the Repuke primary. Throw bags and bags of money on the table and buy the nomination.

Too bad, so sad, it didn't work. Just like it didn't work in '08.

She's disgracing herself and her party.

[Vincardog]

86. Bingo Right in one.

[merrily]

134. She, the DNC and the Party's mouthpieces sure did their best to bring about that result.

[Lancero]

196. With as much as the deck has been stacked...

Won't surprise me if someone makes a excuse to have Bernie disqualified.

[Le Taz Hot]

49. And I, as a voter,

am just supposed to ignore all this and blindly follow the Democratic Party in whoever they order me to vote for? Fuck party politics! Party politics is how they keep people blind and unquestioning. And fuck their party loyalty oath.

[HereSince1628]

52. Well, like everyone, the DNC tends to go with the folks who best represent their positions, right?

[TrumanTown]

57. Hillary Doesn't Know What She Is

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/09/13/1420944/-This-one-clip-shows-why-many-choose-Bernie-Sanders-over-Hillary-Clinton

[AlbertCat]

234. Performing on stage....

..... adjusting the monologue to fit the audience.

Pandering.



What does she REALLY think?


Who knows?

[passiveporcupine]

72. I'm not sure I'd go that far

But I do think they think they have a wrap and can control this...or at least they used to think that. I think they are getting worried now.

[merrily]

120. +1

[merrily]

131. +1 Hillary did not do right by the party during the 2008 primary, hanging on after she had no chance

of winning, while McCain dove into his general campaign. Now, when the Democrat should have been introducing themselves to the country, people have had nothing to talk about but the Republican debates and Trump.

Thanks a lot.

[mhatrw]

201. D N C = Desperate Neoliberal Corporatists

[morningfog]

6. Rec! Not a surprise. She got what she asked for: Four Debates.

You can't count the last two as for sure. They would come after Super Tuesday, which by HIllary's math, she will be crowed the victor.

DWS and DNC are doing HIllary's bidding.

[cali]

9. And this sort of crap is why I don't just oppose her on some policy issues, record and rhetoric.

I oppose her on character issues.

[morningfog]

13. Yep. She cannot be trusted. She "welcomes more debates." Bullshit.

She cares only about her position and her power.

[Dustlawyer]

15. It is this sort of corruption that makes Bernie so popular.

People are just fed up with it. It has become so open that they don't even try to hide it anymore. I have heard several politicians acknowledge openly that the politicians themselves do the bidding of their big donors. For Cheif Justice John Roberts to say that there is no quid pro quo is laughable even before the Princeton (I think) study that demonstrates that politicians do only what their donors want while what the people want makes no difference at all

When the rest of America learns who Bernie is and what he stands for Hillary will be begging for more debates to try desperately to catch him!

[arcane1]

46. Both parties are doing a good job of thoroughly discrediting themselves this year n/t

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

99. Well put.

[stillwaiting]

19. +++ Fuckin' A!

She doesn't want us to be able to have a fair and open primary season like we've had in the past.

It's nauseating.

With each passing month my having to vote for HRC becomes more and more of a distasteful act. With that said, I'll still do it if I have to in the general, but she's going to be losing some votes in the General due to her behavior for sure. And, it will be HER fault. Her political machinations are in pursuit of what's best for HER and not what's best for the Party.

[Ed Suspicious]

42. . . . What's best for the people.

[roguevalley]

77. She will NEVER get mine. We have to put them all and the DNC on blast. Now

DNC

http://my.democrats.org/page/s/contact

Wasserman-Schultz

Debbie Wasserman Schultz for Congress Mailing Address
1071 Twin Branch Lane
Weston, FL 33326
Phone: [phone]

Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz
[e-mail]

Jason O’Malley
Political Director/National Finance Director
[e-mail]

Courtney Whitney
Florida Finance Director
[e-mail]

[philosslayer]

76. And.......

In November of 2016 you'll be voting for her for President anyway. Because what will the alternative be after all?

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

103. "Because what will the alternative be after all?"

Oh, i dunno.... integrity perhaps?

[Nothingcleverjustray]

113. Jill Stein

[merrily]

218. Writing in Bernie?

[merrily]

132. More alternatives than that.

[haikugal]

172. I'll write in Bernie...I will not vote for the lesser of two evils ever again! I won't do it..fuck

Her and the DNC! There I said it...so those making a list can add my name.

[Avalux]

8. This is just something else that screams "YOU DON'T MATTER'

to every potential voter. Clinton and the DNC have decided she is the nominee, and the in between part, the journey to the primary if you will, is of little consequence. That means actually campaigning by meeting people and giving speeches so that we can get to know her.

Clinton can't have it both ways. She can't expect to stay locked in her ivory tower, hollering down to the masses that she should be president...just because....and have people believe she isn't really who we think she is.

[Aldo Leopold]

70. Not speeches. "Thoughtful discussions."

I can't decide which is more distasteful to my core Democratic/democratic values: the campaign, or the candidate herself.

[passiveporcupine]

93. You Don't Matter

Instead of big venues for speeches, Hillary has selected small groups of people to "talk to" who can and do pay a lot to be in that small gathering, so their needs can be heard.

Well, that tells me something UUUUGGGGh!

Hillary only wants to talk to the people who can afford her, because she knows that is her base.

Bernie wants to talk to the everyday man...because that's his base.

Who would you rather have representing you in the whitehouse?

For the top 10% (and wannabees), probably, Hillary

For the rest of us, Bernie

[arcane1]

104. Donors are the only people who apparently matter n/t

[4139]

11. LOL! Did the republican set the debate schedule for us??!!

The November debate is on a SAturday night!

The December debate is on a Saturday night opposite the Jets x Dallas game

The January debate is on a Sunday ..... Nfl playoff Sunday div champs vs wild card winner... Very goof chance the New England Patriots will play that day.




The evil republicans set our debate schedule so no one would watch!

[cali]

14. fuck the dnc

[dorkzilla]

17. Fuck them because that’s exactly what they’re doing to us.

If DWS had one fucking ounce of integrity she would be announcing the revised and expanded schedule today - did she think those people who shouted her down this weekend were doing it for fun?

Silly me, DWS doesn’t have any integrity!

[Enthusiast]

101. Jeez!

[Uncle Joe]

154. They might as well have, the Dec. 19th game is opposite a prime time NFL football game

between the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Jets which also happens to be the state that Hillary was a Senator of and Trump's home turf.

Now whether you're a football fan or not, millions of American are and many of them especially from New York and Texas will be tuning into the game vs the Democratic Primary debate.

Aside from that the primary registration deadline for (New York; again the state that Hillary was a Senator of and Trump's home turf) was this month (exceptionally early) and having the first debate after that is a means to neutralize or diminish Bernie's strength of bringing young and/or disenchanted people in to the fold) before the first Democratic primary debate is even held on Oct. 13th.

I can't use enough adjectives to describe this kind of anti-democratic manipulation against the American People, disgusting, atrocious, grotesque, cynical, authoritarian, inexcusable, treasonous to the Democratic Party, a betrayal against the peoples' best interests, exposing all the bullshit platitudes for what they are.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

12. Why bother with risky debates when you can just buy the election with corporate cash? K&R

[litlbilly]

18. Here's how to force the DNC into more debates. Have debates with all candidates except Hillary

Have debates with all candidates except Hillary, then is would look rather dumb to have the 6 main debates with just Hillary. Just a thought, but it might work

[Vincardog]

21. It won't work, the schedule is such no one will be watching anyway..

[tblue37]

64. Ignore the DNC debate schedule and its exclusionary rule. If ALL of the other candidates

debate whenever and wherever they want (and thus end up excluded from the official DNC debates), then Hillary can stand all by her lonesome up there on the official DNC debate stage on the 6 awkwardly scheduled nights. Meanwhile, the other candidates will get their message out to the voters in frequent and lively debates at convenient times.

[merrily]

137. which is what she'd love

[tblue37]

216. Why? She would look terrible, and the other candidates would be seen

frequently and by millions explaining their positions.

If all the others had their own debates, inviting her to join them, of course, the DNC would have to drop the punitive exclusionary rule to prevent HRC from ending up alone on the DNC debate stage, with the whole country knowing why.

[merrily]

220. .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=611877

[AlbertCat]

235. then Hillary can stand all by her lonesome up there....

.... and debate empty chairs.

[Catherina]

240. I'm warming up to this idea & am almost on board. Bernie doesn't need the DNC.

Go debate O'Malley and whoever else and let Hillary talk to empty chairs. Put a cardboard cut-out of her in the people's debate and everytime you ask that cut-out a question, just throw a slide of her record up there. Expose the corruption in our paid-for political system.

I think enough people #FeelTheBern to dump the corrupt DNC and RNC altogether.

It's OUR country, OUR political system. Who the fuck is Clinton-loving Wasserman Schultz to dictate her complicity and thwart the will of the people?

Sanders and O'Malley are more familiar with whatever advantages and disadvantages being chained to the DNC brings. I'll follow their lead.

[restorefreedom]

22. she does not deserve, nor will ever

get my vote. And for those that are going to jump all over me screaming Supreme Court Supreme Court, save it ....she hasn't done a single thing to win the vote of any progressive. So if she were to get the nomination which is unlikely, she will lose the general, and that's on her, not us.

[senz]

23. An interesting look at DNC party politics

John R. MacArthur, a big shot at Harper's magazine, thinks Hillary is washed up with no ideas and very little energy left. He also thinks the Party elite will not back Bernie. As a means of beating Jeb Bush he proposes a Gore/Warren ticket. He castigates Al Gore for doing Clinton "dirty work" while VP but thinks he's a changed man since the 2000 election.

An excerpt:

It’s not what Clinton said in answer to Mitchell’s robotic questions about her emails, or anything else she talked about. As far as substance, there was none—just the usual Clinton caution and excruciatingly scripted bromides designed to offend as few people as possible. More distressing was that her energy level was as low as her authenticity, and this is bad news for anyone who dreads a restoration of the Bush dynasty.

He concludes,

If the Democrats want to keep the White House, it’s time to dump Clinton.

http://harpers.org/blog/2015/09/clinton-caution/

If anyone wants to start a discussion on the ideas in this article, feel free. I am not ready yet to join the ranks of discussion-starters.

[JDPriestly]

37. This is Bernie's year. Harper's John R. MacArthur needs to rethink

things. I suspect that Elizabeth Warren is not running for very good personal reasons.

Bernie is doing well in his campaign. The DNC will catch up with voters. It's in their interest to have a top candidate who attracts new voters.


It's really too late for Gore or Biden. And I don't think either of them has the energy to compete with Bernie who is winning the hearts and minds of Americans.

Try wearing a Bernie pin around town. Maybe if you are in DC you won't get a reaction -- but elsewhere especially in California or on the West Coast. Wow. The response is quite amazing. Everybody loves Bernie.

[roguevalley]

79. Agreed. JD. Just like a ghost, they don't know they're dead and irrelevant yet.

I'm going to Anchorage this weekend with my bernie shirt. It is cold up here but I'm going to go around town without a jacket. I think its going to be huge here. A kid who works where I do, his girlfriend is HUGE for Bernie. I was totally and completely surprised. If a small town girl in Alaska is ape for Bernie, then the elites can keep dreaming. And they can shove it too.

[merrily]

138. +1

[senz]

195. What interested me in MacArthur's article is a growing consensus re Hillary's chances.

Clearly, he is not in touch with the rest of us and how we feel about Bernie. People like John R. MacArthur usually don't understand populism and how the will of the people can sweep away "official" party preferences. But I think they are in for a surprise this year and next year.

[AlbertCat]

236. Maybe if you are in DC you won't get a reaction

When I go to DC just to do the galleries and the Smithsonian and maybe a ballet of something at the Kennedy Center.... even tho' I'm not even paying attention to politics... it's apparent you are on another planet that has little to do with the rest of America.


Talk about "Under the Dome".... the Capital dome.

[Ichingcarpenter]

25. This is going viral on the internet right now and not in a good way

can't wait to see how they try to spin this bad shit with her megadonor machine.

[RufusTFirefly]

27. "The game is rigged. And nobody seems to notice. Nobody seems to care. "

[leftofcool]

28. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[cali]

30. you can sleep through this, but it's big trouble for dems

If it just fucked up Hillary's campaign, I wouldn't have a problem with it.

[Purveyor]

43. Exactly what many progressive will be doing come election

day, 2016.

[roguevalley]

80. it got all the way to her before a hillarian showed up. That must be a record.

apparently not only repukes like authoritarian leadership.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

109. Nice sig line, but do Democrats votes matter?

[leftofcool]

111. Yea, in the primary and the GE

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

118. It doesn't appear that way, but there's plenty of lip $evice to that effect.

[Warren DeMontague]

169. As long as the voters do as they're told in these "primary" thingies, eh

It is important to have the illusion of a process, for some reason.

[Warren DeMontague]

168. La la la

[morningfog]

176. I enjoy the sound of graveyard whistling.

[Darb]

212. Exactly.

This is much ado about nothing.

[Javaman]

241. so falling asleep is your tactic?

I'll wake you up when Bernie wins.

[Logical]

253. Is that hillarys response to any question? Nt

[ut oh]

29. This is ridiculous

There should have been one Dem debate already... in Prime Time.... Not this weekend BS that seems to be the case now.

Quite honestly with all this favoritism going on and the way the debates are set up makes me want to vote for HRC even less.

[AlbertCat]

237. Not this weekend BS

Maybe people will DVR it.... and watch it over and over.









I was joking, but can you imagine if the debates were that closely scrutinized..... by non-talking heads so thick in the forrest they can't see the trees?

[yuiyoshida]

31. This needs to go to the greatest page..

if true, my oh my!

[portlander23]

32. declined

[arcane1]

39. She dodged those questions with the cowardice of a republican n/t

[MindfulOne]

66. Two yes or no questions, met with a word salad.

I don't want a word salad president.

The questions were simple, I guess the answers were "no" but she's unable to express the truth.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

119. With the guise of a lawyer with something to hide.

[Indepatriot]

40. Has she ever actually answered a single question directly? About ANYTHING?

[tblue37]

69. No. (Do you see what I just did?) nt

[Ino]

164. She couldn't even give a simple answer to the question...

"Did George Bush keep us safe?"
http://tominpaine.blogspot.com/2015/09/hillary-clinton-dodges-and-deflects.html

Her answer was one of the most obfuscated, circular non-answer dodges about a pivotal, life altering policy and political event in the country's history as has been given so far on any subject during the presidential campaign season. It was an obvious attempt to skirt the question about the unprecedented failure of a Republican president and to avoid both the truth and political controversy. It was not very becoming.

Clinton's answer to the question of whether George W Bush kept the country safe, was:

" I think it's a complicated question because of course 911 happened. I was a senator from New York. And I was basically consumed by my responsibility in my state and in the city. So it did happen. And then I do give President Bush credit for trying to bring the country together around the threats that we did face. I have said the war in Iraq was a mistake. I supported what happened in Afghanistan. So if you sort it all out, its a mixed picture".

It was also an attempt to completely avoid answering the question.

[restorefreedom]

186. craven pandering

and as a former ny senator, she should be ashamed of herself for not taking jeb! to the woodshed
when it was presented in a silver platter

[tblue37]

224. W did NOT "try to bring the country together"! He deliberately used a national trauma

for political capital so he and Cheney's other minions could have their way with the American people and the Constitution.

[JDPriestly]

33. Voters in the first primary states get so much exposure to and access

to the candidates.

Here in California, we elect [b]55 delegates to the electoral college. But our primary is scheduled for June.

We might get to see a candidate once if we make a huge effort, drive, ride trains and buses. Unthinkable that even someone as active as I am would ever get to shake hands with a presidential candidate (unless you are a very wealthy donor and then, at least with the Hillary's in this world, you will probably get lavished with attention).

The debates are the way we can measure the candidates, compare them, understand what the subtle differences are in their policy proposals, personalities, approaches, etc.

And WE ARE BEING CHEATED. We get 6 chances to match and compare the candidates, and that is it.

For those of us who campaign and go out and talk about the candidates, that's a real problem.

We need at least ten debates. And if Hillary can't debate well, can't think on her feet, needs somebody to hold her hand when she is on that stage, and I suspect that is why we are having so few debates, she should not be running.

We need more debates, and we need them early so that undecided voters can hear and see what we Democrats are proudly offering to the country.

Hey! If you want to sell something, you put it on the shelf, you don't hide it in the back room.

[arcane1]

34. Another lie from Clinton? I wish I could say I was surprised.

That certainly explains her "I'll go with whatever the DNC decides" and the blatantly dishonest attempts at spinning that into "Hillary supports more debates."

We are being played for fools and I'm not playing anymore.

[merrily]

219. "The left has nowhere else to go."

[freebrew]

243. True enough...

though many may just stay home...

HRC is screwing the party for her own gain...

Though at this rate, she may lose, and that loss will be ENTIRELY her fault.

[WillyT]

35. K & R !!!

[Indepatriot]

36. Her and Little Debbie are thick as thieves, and democracy is what their stealing from us.

[randys1]

38. In this one thread alone, these are the comments by ALLEGED Democrats about DEMOCRATIC

candidate Hillary Clinton

She really is a piece of work.

disgusting


Arrogant and entitled


pretty nauseating. Hillary is just so dishonest

She cannot be trusted.

fuck the dnc

Fuck them

As one of the few FAR LEFT liberals on this board, I am amazed that so called liberal people can be so blind as to what will happen if repeated attacks of Hillary make it possible for the GOP terrorist network to take over the entire government.

[cali]

44. it's revealing that you are more upset about those rather tame expressions

of anger than about the dishonest, undemocratic and completely incompetent behavior of the DNC chair and the undemocratic behavior of the clinton campaign.

[randys1]

54. Nah, like i said, I am so much further to the left than you it would give you a headache

I dont trust anyone who says the shit I see around here about not supporting the Democratic party in the current political climate

[Live and Learn]

192. I can guarantee that you are not further to the left than me and

I don't trust anyone that thinks buying elections and attempting to silence candidates is okay.

[randys1]

232. You already lost the bet, nobody said anything about OK

You see this is how a real lefty looks at the situation

work 24/7 to elect actual liberals, real lefties, Bernie qualifies but isnt lefty enough in some areas for me, and on election day you take 5 minutes out (unless you are Black then it could take up to 8 hours) to vote for the candidate who does the least harm so you can continue to organize and get what you want.

Nobody said anything about OK, I am WAY ahead of that kind of thinking.

If you dont understand what I am saying, then that is further proof of my point

[Live and Learn]

248. I think your post proves my point. nt

[Scootaloo]

45. You're asking people to self-censor for fear of the GOP.

if Clinton is that fragile, then she is the last candidate we would want, anyway.

[blue neen]

48. Yep.

+1000.

[Ichingcarpenter]

50. Hey she thinks Kim Kardasian is inspirational

if that counts.

If you like this oligarchic candidate that lets the oligarchs decide your democracy for you then you don't understand democracy or what being 'far left' is.

[Metric System]

51. Most of the commenters are NOT Democrats. They proudly say so, too.

[Jackilope]

149. Baloney.

My parents were Democrats, I have been a life long Democratic Party member. A George McGovern, Wellstone Democratic Party enthusiast. I call some projection.

Hillary is not my idea of a Democratic candidate. She is far too corporate and hawkish. What the DNC has slid into, with it's Third Way, Corporate agenda is something we should all be standing against.

For those of you that are Hillary supporters, if you can overlook the attitude of entitlement and enable and encourage unDemocratic practices -- such as blatant manipulation of debates, discouragement of involvement of candidates or voters -- perhaps you are a Republican. War? If a Hillary is shaking that saber, OK! TPP? Well......... if Hillary is for it, ok! Keystone Pipeline? Well, she has to give in some .....

Perhaps if one could really look at their Clinton enabling, one could realize that perchance they are part of watering down the Democratic Party.

Me? I will continue to fight this by calling out DNC and DWS. I will donate and work my a$$ off for Sanders. Don't you dare assume those of us not fooled aren't Democratic Party members.

[haikugal]

175. Thanks for your very clear response to the smear against those of us who won't play this game.

[Live and Learn]

194. Bernie is and has been far truer to Democratic principles than Hillary ever was or will be. nt

[Live and Learn]

193. It would be nice if people here would stick to the truth when trying to make a point.

Most of the commenters are Democrats and have said so. They are just not 'my party, wrong or right' individuals like some are attempting to make them be. When the party is wrong, it needs to be called on it and changed.

[Ed Suspicious]

53. We hold our own to a higher standard. Republican shitheads

do not set the height of our ethical bar.

[arcane1]

55. We're expected to suck it up, in silence, for the career of a flawed candidate?

This is why we can't have nice things.

[Autumn]

60. I'm of the opinion that if Hillary makes it so easy for anyone

to attack her, maybe she should stop doing those things or drop out so another Democratic candidate can win the White House, It's pathetic that posters here trash Democrats on this board for pointing out the many shortcomings of Hillary Clinton. Her shortcomings are never ending. She has brought these criticisms on herself by her actions, Hillary's actions. No one else's. I don't trust her, not as far as I could pick her up and carry her.

[bvar22]

155. I agree, and put DWS in the same bag.

DWS should have been kicked to the curb long ago.
It is no secret that she plays dirty in Florida.

In 2008 Debbie Wasserman Schultz refused to endorse these 3 Democrats
who had won their Primaries and had a chance to win Republican seats:

Miami-Dade Democratic Party Chair Joe Garcia

Former Hialeah Democratic Mayor Raul Martinez

Democratic businesswoman Annette Taddeo

All three had won their local Democratic Primaries, and were challenging Hard Core Republican incumbents with whom Wasserman-Schultz had become cozy.
Not only did the head of the DCCC Red to Blue Program REFUSE to endorse these Democratic challengers,
but she appeared in person at at least one (possibly more) Campaign/Fundraiser for their Republican opponents.



FL-18, FL-21, FL-25: Wasserman Schultz Wants Dem Challengers to Lose
by: James L.
Sun Mar 09, 2008 at 7:15 PM EDT
<snip>

Sensing a shift in the political climate of the traditionally solid-GOP turf of the Miami area, Democrats have lined up three strong challengers -- Miami-Dade Democratic Party chair Joe Garcia, former Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez, and businesswoman Annette Taddeo to take on Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart, Lincoln Diaz-Balart and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, respectively.

While there is an enormous sense of excitement and optimism surrounding these candidacies, some Democratic lawmakers, including Florida Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Kendrick Meek, are all too eager to kneecap these Democratic challengers right out of the starting gate in the spirit of "comity" and "bipartisan cooperation" with their Republican colleagues:

But as three Miami Democrats look to unseat three of her South Florida Republican colleagues, Wasserman Schultz is staying on the sidelines. So is Rep. Kendrick Meek, a Miami Democrat and loyal ally to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

This time around, Wasserman Schultz and Meek say their relationships with the Republican incumbents, Reps. Lincoln Diaz-Balart and his brother Mario, and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, leave them little choice but to sit out the three races.

<my inserted comments>
(The Head of the DNC's Red to Blue program can NOT endorse Democrats because she doesn't want to hurt the Republican's feelings?
Awww. Ain't she sweet and considerate of her close Republican friend's feelings,
but doesn't give a shit if the DEMOCRATS can't get the endorsement of the head of the Democratic Party's "Red to Blue Program"???!!!!!

<end of my commemts>

"At the end of the day, we need a member who isn't going to pull any punches, who isn't going to be hesitant," Wasserman Schultz said.

<That makes absolutely NO SENSE AT ALL....very poor excuse.>

Now, you'd expect this kind of bullshit from a backbencher like Alcee Hastings, but you wouldn't expect this kind of behavior from the co-chair of the DCCC's Red to Blue program, which is the position that Wasserman Schultz currently holds. Apparently, Debbie did not get Rahm's memo about doing whatever it takes to win:

The national party, enthusiastic about the three Democratic challengers, has not yet selected Red to Blue participants. But Wasserman Schultz has already told the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee that if any of the three make the cut, another Democrat should be assigned to the race.

http://www.swingstateproject.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1537

The bloggers also are furious with Rep. Kendrick B. Meek (D-Fla.), who similarly refuses to endorse the Democratic challengers to the three Cuban American Republicans.

They are calling for Wasserman Schultz to step down from her leadership role at the DCCC. And they're not letting up, even after one Florida liberal blogger reported that the congresswoman seemed "frustrated" by the blogs and had asked to "please help get them off my back."

This prompted even harsher reaction from perhaps the most influential of the progressive political bloggers, Markos Moulitsas, a.k.a. Kos, founder of Daily Kos, who wrote on his blog Wednesday: "On so many fronts, the Republicans are standing in the way of progress, on Iraq, SCHIP, health care, fiscal responsibility, corruption, civil liberties, and so on. Those three south Florida Republicans are part of that problem. And she's (Wasserman-Schultz) going to be 'frustrated' that people demand she do her job?"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/19/AR2008031903410_3.html

Here are Kos comments on the Wasserman-Schultz betrayal of the Democratic Party:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/03/20/480511/-DCCC-Says-Uproar-Over-DWS-Recusal-Much-Ado-About-Nothing




A lot of time has passed since 2008, but I don't take these kinds of betrayals lightly.

bvar22
Cursed with a memory

"I want to thank Debbie Wasserman-Schultz for being an outstanding chair of our party. (Applause.) She is a great partner."--President Obama

With "partners" like this, we don't need Republicans!

[Autumn]

157. I have no use for DWS at all.

I don't know who the hell she was a great partner for but it sure as shit wasn't the Democratic party.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

123. Because PalinRomneyRyanWalkerBushTrump boogieman!

Last edited Mon Sep 21, 2015, 07:45 PM - Edit history (1)

AS a progressive Socialist Dem please just give it a rest.

The problem does not lay with the consumer that wants quality. The problem lays with the shitty product that is being stocked on the shelves.

And yeah, you can quote me.

[randys1]

124. Dont mind me, I will just follow Thom Hartmann's lead, one of Bernie's biggest

supporters on the planet.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

147. You go right ahead, haus.

[arcane1]

126. "Clinton 2016: Because What Else Can You Do?" n/t

[randys1]

127. Nope, mine is "Bernie for the Win"

I dont know what is so complicated to simply say you will support Clinton as if your life depends on it if Bernie doesnt win.

[merrily]

139. LOL!

[mhatrw]

205. Clinton 2016: Deal With It

[morningfog]

177. You get right to the point. Hillary is a shitty candidate who can't be trusted.

We'll be fucked should she weasel and buy her way to the nomination. We'll lose and be stuck with whoever the goppers put up.

[restorefreedom]

188. plus a jillion. nt

[Puglover]

239. I am absolutely convinced she will lose.

[chervilant]

187. "One of the few FAR LEFT liberals on this board"?!?

And, you know this how? Have you acquired a membership roster? Have you queried everyone on that roster to determine how FAR LEFT are the members thereof? I have to say, I'm quite skeptical about your assertion I've quoted herein above.

"Alleged" Democrats have every right to criticize/analyze/discuss our candidates as they gear up for the handful of debates that are supposed to give us great insights into each candidate's relative worthiness to earn our party's nomination. Much of the criticism of Clinton that I'm seeing has merit, and she is consistently dodging direct answers.

So, you can whinge about the "alleged" Democrats participating in this thread all you want, but you are treading on thin ice, considering your insupportable assertions.

[cali]

222. And you're an ALLEGED FAR LEFT liberal. not that I have EVER seen any evidence at all

that backs up your claim.

[Javaman]

242. so let me get this straight, you are more concerned about comments here on DU than...

our democratic process.

okay then, noted.

[randys1]

244. I am VERY concerned with what is said everywhere as it can turn Democratic

candidate voters into GOP voters or non voters.

You should be too if your avie means anything to you.

Surely you see a difference between all Dems and all GOP as to war and peace?

Iraq vote not withstanding.

and

As to social issues, well the differences couldnt be wider

Actually, the GOP represents death to many...

I dont care which of our candidates wins as much as I care that one of them does.

[Javaman]

245. and as my "avie" indicated, hillary voted for the war Bernie didn't

and as such, if Hillary is so afraid of a debate, then I can do with out her as well.

but if you are so concerned about insults regarding a Democratic Candidate, perhaps she should take a hard look at the debate schedule and decide for herself and not allow the DNC to make up her mind for her.

there in lies the rub. if she's unable to make that very basic decision how are we to trust her with the big decisions.

So I agree with all who have hurled insults upon her.

[randys1]

246. So it appears you are willing to risk a GOP government and I am not. Not even Bernie

approves of hurling insults at Hillary, but that is because he knows as different as she and he are on a couple issues, they are very similar on many and the very idea of the GOP in power frightens the hell out of him.

[Javaman]

247. LOL stop the baiting it's very unattractive.

Yes, the world will burn and it will be GOP all the time, blah blah blah blah.

I thought you said you were for Bernie. LOL

You seen to enjoy using her teams mantra.

I can see what you are trying. You failed and we are done.

Ta!

oh and you may now have the last word because no matter what I say you will have some sort of "insightful" retort.

Ta, again!

Oh and one other thing, I'm not Bernie, I just support him. I can still think for myself.

[philly_bob]

250. +1. I too am surprised by intensity of anti-Hillary statements.

I support Bernie and more debates, but come on, people.

Also, your comment led to an interesting but incomplete side-conversation about what FAR LEFT means. A conversation in which FAR LEFT was not a negative insult, but a positive qualification. Like FAR LEFT was the high ground. Interesting...

Randys1, I thought you were a voice of sanity in a chaotic and irrational discourse. I'm sure you shrugged off all the Boos.

[randys1]

257. Thanxs ..A far left person, like me, believes individuals owning land is insane, for instance

A far left person like me thinks you cant compete or even exist economically on this planet without the internet, so access to the internet MUST be available to all without cost on an individual basis (cant use the word free, the capitalists will have heart attacks).

That is just a start.

For instance I consider companies like Walmart to be anti American and counterproductive to life itself, so I would figure out a way with tax law and import tariff law to render them non existent and replace them with community owned shops.

A far left person like me would have far less drug users in prison and far more wall street traders in prison in their place.

I could go on and on...

On social issues, I think it is self explanatory.

[Logical]

254. So you must LOVE repubs who blindly support all their candidates? Nt

[hifiguy]

41. Not surprising, and for a simple reason.

Two hours on the stage with Martin and Bernie and there would be nothing left of HRH but a pair of smoking shoes. They give ACTUAL ANSWERS to ACTUAL QUESTIONS and never have to take the time to remember who they are "supposed to be" for any given audience.

She'd finish fourth in a three-horse race.

[Le Taz Hot]

59. Now I can't WAIT for that first debate.

She thinks her numbers are going down now, they'll plummet after hearing her against the other candidates. BS & MO come off as sincere and you can't fake that. Her fake non-answers, her waffling, the only people that works on are the blind party loyalists. The rest of us have brains that we use regularly.

[ladjf]

85. Beware of a "rigged" moderator. That could change things in a bad way. nt

[Le Taz Hot]

92. I fully expect a rigged moderator.

It still won't help her. People just flat DON'T LIKE HER. It's what her supporters refuse to see.

[ladjf]

95. The rigged moderator can allow it to turn into a junk

shouting match. Bernie's manners are too good. He doesn't like to fight over the floor. I heard him with Bachman a few days ago.
She wouldn't let him finish his points.

[hifiguy]

96. And people are sick to the teeth of the Clintons

AND the Bushes.

Enough already.

[hifiguy]

89. She will sink like an anchor in deep water.

The contrast between the plain-spoken honesty of O'Malley/Sanders and HRH's focus-grouped Turd Way platitudes will not end well for her. Think:



or

[MissDeeds]

62. Spot on

[fredamae]

56. If this is 100% Credible?

DWS is the one tossed under the bus/taking one for the Clinton Team...Bad news for the Dem Party, Bad news for democracy....just a real bad situation for all of us all the way around.
Guaranteed Dems will lose the WH in 2016 if this sort of tactical planning is continued if Sanders isn't successful. People (Dem Base/Voters) will be so demoralized, defeated and deflated they won't come out for HRC. I know many have said the Will vote for her if Bernie doesn't win, but it's the ones who are Silent about supporting HRC that they ought to be worried about.
DWS/Clinton Team would be best placed within the GOP Team for strategy cuz, this bs is Really Helping them.
Here comes Pres Trump. And I don't believe that FEAR mongering will work - I don't think folks are gonna give a rats ass what happens at that point. And that's scary.

[ion_theory]

114. This is why people keep calling Hillary a Repug-lite...

On almost every non-social issue she is either silent or leaning right. Before I read this I was in the boat that if Hillary is the nominee than I will support her, but if this is true, I don't know how I can in good conscious pull that lever for her. Even if it may mean giving a re-pug the advantage, she really f'd up here.

[fredamae]

125. If this were the GOP

they'd be saying they were "stealing" the nomination cuz candidate "ABC" can't win on their Own merits.

But here, for Dems: DWS: "I Know what's best for You-I don't wanna hear it-Sit down, Shut-up and stay Out of my way! You don't like it? Leave" is all I can hear.

[ion_theory]

129. Also why many of the centrists I talk too have a problem with Dems...

At least the R establishment says what their electorate wants to hear. The Dems seem to always have ppl saying 'they know what's best for you.' No one knows what is best for the people...except the people.

[fredamae]

141. Well, the GOP

definitely says what their base wants to hear and then they stab 'em in the back...blame it all on Dems while they hold the purse strings...I find the GOP leadership far more despicable that Dem leadership.. I'm pissed off at Dems because they've seemingly have begun to operate like the GOP by shutting the base out of the process.
Remember when the GOP base was Livid over FOX setting their debates? The Who gets to play, when and where they get to play? I felt bad for the GOP base....and then along came DWS.
Remember when the Dems scoffed at that GOP tact?

[ion_theory]

153. To be honest I didn't feel anything but bizarre comedy with

everything that had anything to do with that first debate. Terrible that a presidential debate can be skewed in so many ways. I just hope we get to at least see as much non-bias as possible from CNN in the Dems, but the more we learn the less optimistic I feel.

[fredamae]

156. I hear ya and loss of faith/trust in the system n/t

[in_cog_ni_to]

58. There ya go.

Need we say more?

[Doctor_J]

61. She said over the weekend she's fine with more debates

Awww, another little white "evolution"

[arcane1]

74. Hell, she didn't even say that. She said she's fine with whatever the DNC decides.

I have yet to see a post where she states her own personal position on the number of debates.

Just when I think I can't be more cynical.

[merrily]

140. Maybe she knew this story was going to hit the fan?

At least one study shows that people tend to believe what they hear first and later contradictory info serves only to reinforce the original impression.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

148. She's not demanding them. She's just "fine" with them.

Lawyerly gibberish.

[merrily]

71. Didn't Hillary recently say she'd do more debates if the DNC allowed? Seems dishonest,

if this story is true.

[think]

75. Kick /nt

[olddots]

78. cue the Leslie Gore song

It's My Party And I'll Cry If I Want To .

Politics is a game of exposure and the DNC is full of Payola.

[zentrum]

81. She doesn't want….

…us to see her. We're just to vote based on the "Clinton" name.

I had been seeing her only as arrogant, politically incompetent, and inauthentic——but I'm starting to see her as so ambitious, she's become dangerous. Which of course the poor people in Iraq have known since the Iraq War.

[arcane1]

106. The "Clinton Brand" is more like it. n/t

[turbinetree]

83. And the party wonder.................................

why are voters upset---------------duh:

"Senior Dems such as Nancy Pelosi and Howard Dean have criticized the DNC. Hillary Clinton’s rivals have charged that the DNC has only scheduled six debates to deny them airtime and protect front-runner Clinton, who has subsequently said she’s open to more debates but won’t say whether she actively wants more of them."

She is open to more, okay, when are you going to tell us when you and the DNC are "open" to more debates and "not" on the weekends and by the way WHY won't you say that you will "actively support them" it's not were asking for too much.

It's only because of the U.S. Supreme Court, TPP, wages, jobs, unemployment benefits, homelessness, children going hungry, education getting gutted, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid.

Here's a a little history Anthony Scalia worked in the Nixon White house and now look at what we got sitting in the chair---ranting with a black robe on




Honk---------------------for a political revolution Bernie 2016

[fredamae]

84. It's the New Exclusvity Clause

I believe that everyone is so PO'd about. I don't see that folks are demanding the DNC sponsor more debates...but she has put the kibosh on Anyone Else Sponsoring Any debates as well. And last time others Did sponsor a few debates, hence why there were so many last time. She has tied up democracy.
We want that Clause Nullified to open it up so "we" can have more debates. HRC doesn't even Have to show if she doesn't want to. It's that simple, the way I see it.

[bvar22]

159. What would happen if all the other candidate just went ahead and held non-DNC Approves debates?

Would little Debbie try to kick them ALL out of the Democratic Party?
I don't see her doing that. There is a limit to what the public will stand.
We could prepare the Tar & Feathers before hand... and keep it close.
DWS needs to be run out of politics.

[fredamae]

171. No, If the other candidates do that

the "DWS/DNC rules" state they cannot participate in the DNC debates, I understand. Sweet, eh?

[whatchamacallit]

88. No better than election fraud IMO

It's this kind of shit that's going to turn voters away from the party in droves.

[99th_Monkey]

98. First voters need to notice that the Democratic Party actually still exists

before they can leave in droves.

[Motown_Johnny]

91. I can't wait until the debate schedule is debated at the debate

I think that it will come up early on and be very enlightening for people just starting to pay close attention to their choices.

[cantbeserious]

100. It Is Increasingly Clear That HRC Is Unfit To Serve

eom

[hifiguy]

107. I have, somewhat reluctantly, started to use the other N-word (Nixon)

when discussing HRH. The similarities - the overweening arrogance, grotesque sense of entitlement, decades-long obsession with the office, willingness to rig the process with money and paid operatives, a willingness to say or do absolutely anything to have the office - are now as apparent as a Kodiak bear in a phone booth.

[fadedrose]

105. Fascism started out like this

Just eliminating competition is what did it.

[merrily]

225. Well said, fadedrose.

[Tommy2Tone]

108. Of course he did but so what?

The leader always wants less debates.

[Vinca]

110. She knows if people are exposed to Bernie on a grand scale, she's toast.

[hifiguy]

115. See post #89, above.

[Bill USA]

112. with 4 debates & 2 candidates that's 4 hrs for each candidate to make their case. Not enough time?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251611320

[arcane1]

116. Only two candidates?

One good question: why aren't they using debates to "make their case" right now?

[think]

128. There are 6 candidates. And there are DOZENS of issues that should be discussed

In detail and at great length.


Gun control
Climate change
Clean air & water
Renewable energy
Jobs
Infrastructure projects
Military spending
Military readiness
Foreign policy
Veterans programs
Education reform
Debt free college
Student loan interest
Job training
Ending Structural racism
Women's rights & issues
LGBT rights
Voting rights
Civil rights
Police reform
Privacy and national security
Health care
Drug prices
The war on drugs
Private prisons
Small business programs
Wall Street regulation and reform
Revolving door and lobbyists

There are many more I'm sure I missed.......

[Hoyt]

121. So far, it has proven wise to let the greedy, ignorant, racist GOP go first and in prime-time.

[cali]

130. we don't know that at all.

[Hoyt]

142. We don't know more debates will help a Democrat get elected, either. We do

know that many of those complaining about the debates are most interested in hurting Clinton, which is not smart IMO.

For all we know, Sanders and/or OM will bomb in the debates and hurt the Democrats.

[bvar22]

161. Not very Democratic.

Our Democracy benefits from MORE debates....not less.
Why do you believe Hillary is dodging more debates?

[Hoyt]

163. Our democracy benefits from a Democrat in the White House. Debates will not necessarily

help.

[bvar22]

180. I agree.

Our Democracy benefits from a Democrat in the White House,
and Hillary doesn't make the cut on the criteria.

[Hoyt]

197. Well, Sanders has even less chance, a lot less IMO.

[merrily]

231. LOL!

[Geronimoe]

122. Bermie & O'Malley should opt out

Bernis and O'Malley should opt out then they can have as many debates as they want and invite Hillary.

Hilllary can debate herself.

Here is a go oppurtunity for Bernie and O'Malley to show they can stand up to the establishment and win.

[DirtyHippyBastard]

136. "Hilllary can debate herself"

Sure can. She already has come out on both sides of most issues.

[pinebox]

133. Let her debate herself

and all the other candidates should say a giant FU to the DNC and call CNN because they'd sure as hell carry a debate with everyone except her.

[merrily]

144. That is what she wants. Let O'Malley and the others pick off Bernie while she is free of

head to head comparisons, free of any need at all to debate.

The exclusivity rule was pure Clinton. If the DNC controlled the debates, the other candidates would be disadvantaged. If the other candidates rebelled, she was home free or freer.

[sadoldgirl]

135. So we come back to the establishment

happily losing the election to the Repugs, and
then later putting the blame on the left.

The oligarchs have won!

The primary is a sham, and so will be the GE!

[99th_Monkey]

158. You haven't heard, Hillary just announced she's an now "outsider" candidate.

She must have evolved yet again.

[bvar22]

160. Watching Hillary "evolve" is like watching a snake shed its skin.

Bright new colors, but same old snake.

[Mnpaul]

173. Outsiders are popular this election

so, of course, she is going to claim to be one. I doubt anyone is going to buy it.

[merrily]

221. .

[99th_Monkey]

229. lol - yep, but not nearly as artfully as Dianna -nt-

[Uncle Joe]

143. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Catherina.

[NowSam]

145. I won't vote for her.

So transparently trying to rig the game.

Bernie has the momentum anyway. This has backfired on her. Most people see right through this. If she doesn't agree to more debates and the DMC establishment AKA the Hillary machine doesn't add more debates then she will look scared.

By the way, today due to patent purchase the price of one medicine went from $13 per dose to over $700 per dose. That is what is hidden in the TPP too. Patents can be renewed indefinitely and then the profiteers just screw the most vulnerable people. Bernie has voiced his opposition to TPP. What is Hillary's stance? We all know but as long as she ducks the debates she can hide behind rhetoric.

The problem is she doesn't have the charm her husband does who could sell ice in the north pole.

No more Bushes and no more Clintons!

[hifiguy]

146. The shamelessness of it all is nauseating.

She will do or say ANYTHING to get her hands on the WH.

The only meaningful point of comparison at this point is Richard Nixon, for the reasons I state above.

[restorefreedom]

152. this needs to be understood by the hilary people

blatantly and shamelessly rigging the system to benefit a weak candidate who probably can't win a general is going to piss off a lot of voters, especially progressives and supporters of the other candidates. Many of these people, in the unlikely event that clinton becomes the nominee, will decide to stay home, vote for somebody else, or write in their preferred candidates name in the general. I don't want to hear any bitching about how it is "our fault" if Hillary would lose the general. We are not under any obligation to support a candidate who gets the nomination through trickery, deceit, undemocratic thievery and cheating. If she gets the nom and loses the general, it's completely on HER and Debbie.

[noiretextatique]

182. +1000 i agree with your assessment

i believe clinton will lose the general against any republicon clown, and not because of progressives sitting it out. i think she will lose...period.

[restorefreedom]

185. agreed. she can not get the support

even with all the free gifts she has been getting.

[mhatrw]

206. Clinton is, as Kerry was, a corpawn to make sure the RepUkes win. n/t

[restorefreedom]

209. yup. nt

[Darb]

213. What a crock of shit. This is sooooo normal.

It is not in Hillary's interest to have endless debates with anyone, much less someone who has been in the party for 6 months, conveniently.

Four debates is too many. Debates change feeble minds only.

[restorefreedom]

215. then you are free to not watch

and you absolutely nailed it. "its not in hillarys interest." that says it all. she has made it about HER, this election is supposed to be about the COUNTRY.

[jkbRN]

162. I thought this was the Democratic Party,

Not the Republican Party. If she thinks she is the best candidate for representing the American people, then why suppress other candidates from debating her?

This isn't suppressing the vote, but what is doing is suppressing the knowledge and policy ideas of other candidates--which doesn't seem all too different.

This is disgusting.

She was my second choice, now I won't even consider her.

[merkins]

165. DNC & Hillary Are Corrupt

They are giving us a giant F.U. and not one bit ashamed about it.

[sadoldgirl]

166. Actually I am glad that this came out.

I plan the coming week to canvass, and I can bring this up
now, since we are permitted to bring up the facts,
but no negative attitudes about HRC.

Of course, should this be proven false, I shall not do so.
I doubt though that it will be found to be wrong.

[Warren DeMontague]

167. I bet.

They probably think they're doing everyone a favor just having any.

[Not Sure]

174. Congratulations, Hillary!

You made me donate to a presidential candidate. I didn't even need to see you debate to make my choice.

#Feeling the Bern!

[Rosa Luxemburg]

178. Frightened of debates?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

181. SO WHAT??? What front runner of any election would not?? nt

[kelliekat44]

183. Hillary is a fighter and she has been fighting all of her political life. And she is the victim of

many unproven attacks by both the right and the progressive left. No matter what is said she has been a team player in the face of many unkind and hateful attacks from talk radio to Bernie supporters. Even Bernie would not go as far as some of his vocal supporters. Both he and Hillary are trying their best to remain above the fray. I admire both of them for this. If there are to be only four debates let them be the best debates ever and let the entire country see what admirable candidates the Dems have. If only their supporters could be as civil as the candidates have been.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

184. Oh Lordie - Just glancing through - this should be renamed "Bernie

fans pissed off about debates"

And, I haven't even decided who I will vote for.

[bowens43]

189. She know's she can't win in a free and open election process, so she does what does, she cheats

[restorefreedom]

190. and THEY GOT FEWER THAN SIX

Last edited Mon Sep 21, 2015, 11:21 PM - Edit history (1)

only four are scheduled.

we need to keep reminding people of that.

[MisterP]

191. look, this faction thinks we're damned lucky they let us *vote* on

they usually blame losses on us grubby-fingered commoners choosing someone who failed to play The Game

[C Moon]

198. I'm a Bernie supporter; I don't see how six debates is too little.

I've always thought the debate thing goes on way too long—especially with the GOP.
Six to me is more than enough.

[eridani]

204. And I suppose you want them on opposite major sporting events? n/t

[mhatrw]

207. On weekends and right before Christmas? n/t

[Betty Karlson]

199. Debbie absolutely doesn't have a preferred candidate.

SARCASM

[lbrtbell]

200. Remember when Poppy Bush refused to debate his opponents?

Some people started trolling him by dressing up in chicken suits and following him to his rallies.

That's what needs to be done to HRC, to make it clear that We The People know she's too chicken to debate her opponents.

[eridani]

202. What I really don't get is why she doesn't understand that this is going to hurt her if--

--she is the nominee. Failing to advance the Democratic Party brand will hurt WHOEVER gets the nomination.

[Darb]

214. Because it won't hurt her.

Debates are for shit.

[eridani]

249. Not according to the huge ratings for the two Republican debates so far n/t

[BeanMusical]

208. OFFS, she's pathetic.

[Darb]

211. Stop whining about debates.

They are pretty much useless. I know you think Bernie can overcome Hillary with his brilliant debate style but I am certain that you would be disappointed.

And buy a clue, there is no reason why Hillary should be calling for endless debates, none whatsoever. Two or three is plenty. She has nothing to gain. Whine all you want to.

BTW, I will vote for either Hillary or Bernie, or OM or Biden for that matter. I just cannot abide a primary where it is kill or be killed. Get some fucking perspective.

[cali]

223. stop telling people what to do. grab a clue.

[d_legendary1]

233. The debates are an important part of our Democracy

Its there where we find out who is interested in the American people and who are pretending to be. We had 28 debates in 2008 and they propelled our current President into the White House. To say they're not important not only deprives people of what their choices are, its also Un-American.

It should also speak volumes when three of the four candidates are calling for more debates while the lead Dem has remained mum on the issue.

[djean111]

252. Why don't you just not read threads about debates? Since you really are not in charge of

anything but your own mouse and keyboard. You may need some fucking perspective, if you think you can tell DUers what to do.

And buy a clue, there is no reason why Hillary should be calling for endless debates, none whatsoever. Two or three is plenty. She has nothing to gain. Whine all you want to.

Yeah, we got that more debates will not help Hillary. Peddle your clues elsewhere.

[Logical]

255. LOL, hillary is that you? What a silly post! Nt

[GoneFishin]

226. Hillary wants more debates but it is not up to her, it is up to her "camp".

[Faux pas]

227. Well, if you can't beat 'em

CHEAT 'em.

[ish of the hammer]

228. The Oligarchy that runs this country has spoken!

[senz]

230. The "Hillary camp" disdains democracy. They are afraid of the people.

And that speaks volumes about the kind of presidency Hillary would inflict on our country.

[Sunlei]

251. one a month is enough. Mrs. Clinton, Sanders and O'Malley need to meet for lunch and talk.

no rules, one camera and talk. And invite Joe Biden.

[kenfrequed]

256. This doesn't surprise me

In her defence the Front runner or incumbent often favors fewer debates.


However, you generally shouldn't allow the opposition party to dominate the free media opportunities or negotiate such opportunites into being useless. At a certain point you have to consider your party and policy over your own political ambitions.