Hillary rival accuses Democrats of manipulating debate schedule to protect her

[octoberlib]

One Democratic 2016 campaign adviser who spoke to Business Insider said they believe the Democratic National Committee's debate schedule was "worked out" to benefit Hillary Clinton and hurt her opponents.

The adviser, who requested anonymity in order to speak frankly about the party's campaign arm, suggested the DNC is hosting a small number of debates in an attempt to give Clinton's more low profile rivals "less screen time." They also suggested the relatively late schedule of the debates will make it harder for Clinton's lesser known opponents to introduce themselves to voters.

Having just six Democratic debates is a far cry from 2008 when there were over 20. However, the majority of the debates in that election were hosted by other organizations. The Republican National Committee is hosting more than six 2016 debates. It will sanction at least nine debates and may add up to three more. The RNC also has an exclusivity requirement for debate participants.

The adviser claimed the DNC "explicitly promised in negotiations that there would be no exclusivity clause." They also alleged the DNC initially said there would be six debates when they began negotiating with the campaigns. "Their starting point — presumably worked out with Clinton campaign — was six debates," the adviser said. "Over the course of three months of negotiations, they never once budged from six debates, so the negotiations were all a grand act of kabuki theater."



Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/clinton-rival-dnc-rigged-debate-schedule-to-help-hillary-2015-5#ixzz3ZK6534t5





Also check out these threads : http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026626985

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026627476

[elleng]

1. The 'rival' and the 'adviser:'

Responding to the announcement on Twitter, Clinton suggested that she was on board with the DNC plan.

"While GOP debates the same failed policies, Democrats will debate how to help families get ahead. Looking forward to a real conversation," she said.

O'Malley's camp, however, took issue with the DNC's new exclusivity rule.

"If Governor O'Malley decides to run, we will expect a full, robust, and inclusive set of debates -- both nationally and in early primary and caucus states. This has been customary in previous primary seasons. In a year as critical as 2016, exclusivity does no one any favors," said Lis Smith, the governor's spokeswoman.


Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/05/democrats-presidential-debates_n_7214218.html

[octoberlib]

3. Good for O'Malley!

[RoccoR5955]

2. Not sure that this will matter.

Bernie has 200,000 volunteers now. By the time that the debates come around, he will have a couple of million at least. For certain, his name will be a household word. His picture will hang in people's living rooms!
Let them try their low tactics. It's not going to help them overcome the overwhelming populism that Bernie has, and will get. This Bernie campaign will multiply like a virus.
And Bernie does not run negative campaigns. He will not do it this time either.
That will benefit him also.

[sabrina 1]

4. Who schedules these debates? Can't other groups schedule debates and invite all the candidates

to be there? If so, I don't see how this matters.

Candidates who don't show up won't be gaining any points from voters.

[octoberlib]

5. If any Dem candidates show up at non- DNC sanctioned debates,

they will be barred from participating in DNC sanctioned debates. This means there will be a total of 6 debates , period. In 2008 there were 20.

[sabrina 1]

7. Well, there is a solution to this. Candidates go to all debates scheduled if invited.

If the DNC bars them for doing so, make it a huge issue in the campaign, and BOYCOTT the DNC debates.

Let this plan be known now, so the DNC loses its control over the debates.

The American people should not be prevented from hearing from candidates if there is an opportunity to do so.

I imagine the DNC isn't going to want the rest of the field announcing they will be boycotting those debates and telling the public why.

O'Malley has already expressed his opinion on this. Bernie is likely to comment and any others who enter the race.

It sounds as though they have already chosen a candidate, and they do not want to expose that candidate to any more public debates than they feel is necessary.

Which could lead one to believe they are trying to protect her.

It's likely to have the opposite effect. Now is the time to let them know, this will be a huge issue unless they, either allow all candidates to participate in their six debates regardless of other debates they many participate in, OR expand that number.

[rhett o rick]

11. I am with you on this. I think Democracy Now should have debates and maybe the BBC.

The DNC and Corp-Media can all go to hell.

[marym625]

21. I like that

The DNC hasn't been all that D in a while

[-none]

29. The problem here is that most likely only the DNC sanctioned debates will be televised nation wide.

Any others will have a hard time getting any but local coverage.
Nice bow the corporatist DNC has on the debates.

[Cheese Sandwich]

6. And this is why we need populist reform of the Democratic party.

[NYC_SKP]

10. DU needs a group like that: Populist Reform of the Democratic Party!

Brilliant!

And I shall be one of the hosts!

[Cheese Sandwich]

18. I'll have to check that out

[NYC_SKP]

19. http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1277

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1277

[Cheese Sandwich]

20. Oh

Was kidding. I've already seen it.

I almost posted this article there this morning but didn't want to start a war.

[NYC_SKP]

24. Post it. I don't have a problem with it as a host.

That group, while not about bashing Clinton in particular IS about fighting the powers of which she is clearly a major part.

And, the source is reputable.

I say go for it.

[Cheese Sandwich]

28. Naaah

Too controversial for me.

But thanks

[BrotherIvan]

13. +1

Well said

[Gregorian]

8. Whoops. Pay no attention to this post. I was posting about something else.

[TM99]

9. Bought and paid for.

This election season is going to a brutal one.

Funny how the Democratic Party is doing exactly what the Republican Party is in order to control the debates and push their chosen corporate backed candidates.

And yet we are supposed to remember that really there is a difference always between the two parties.

[rhett o rick]

12. When we say "Democratic Party" there could be confusion. There is the DNC, Corp-controlled

Democratic Party machine that will get the big corporate bucks, and then there is the grassroots Democratic Party that will shun the big money candidate. Clinton can debate herself.

[TM99]

14. Agreed

I would love to see all the other candidates force Clinton and the DNC to change this requirement.

[billhicks76]

15. Typical Hillary

Maybe she can have a fundraiser hosted by the Bush Family too.

[Robbins]

16. Here Is the thing

with 2016 the establishment of democratic party is acting like GOP

Republicans go with it's your turn with nomination to who they feel is next in Line.

Democrats have fight and discuss issues.

Look at the debates for 2008.There were several for 2000.

The DNC is trying to limit damage that can be done to Hillary in debates.If she is afaird of bernie sanders just imagine republicans.

I firmly believe inless O'Mallory,Chaffe,and Webb all formally get into race she won't take part in debates because she doesn't want a one on one debate with Bernie.Much less 6 of them.

[KittyWampus]

17. There are other media events that can be organized by lower profile Dems.

Got to think outside the box.

[marym625]

22. But if a candidate does a debate that isn't one of DNC 6

They can't be in the DNC debates

[KittyWampus]

25. I said "media event". Lots of media events can be organized that aren't "debates".

Democratic Candidate Barbecue, Coffee Klatch, Ice Cream Social, for instance.

[marym625]

23. The fact there are only 6 may work in our favor

If O'Malley and Sanders can be invited to 6 debates outside the DNC that are national, then who needs the DNC? Screw it

[KittyWampus]

26. That would be delicious… only Hillary shows up to DNC debates. LOL

[marym625]

30. yep.

[still_one]

27. Actually six should be more than enough to determine a candidates view. If you have too

many I doubt it will shed new information, and they will lose viewers except for political junkies

[rhett o rick]

31. I agree that there can be too many. However, I believe Sen Sanders can make it clear how

he differs from H. Clinton on the issues the more times they go over it.

[still_one]

32. I have no doubt he can, and that there will be sufficient opportunity to do so, including what he

and the other candidates are doing now