TPMCafe: Hil not seeking to give Edwards,Obama more time-besides, she doesn't even much like Edwards

[flpoljunkie]

Hillary And Edwards Camps: We Are Not Plotting To Exclude People

Aides to Hillary Clinton and John Edwards are denying allegations that they are plotting to exclude other candidates from debates, after the two were caught on an open microphone discussing how to make debates smaller. A spokesman for Edwards said the candidate's real intention was to possibly break up the field into smaller groups for debates, without excluding anyone from the process. Meanwhile, some Hillary aides speaking on background gave a more cynical perspective in their defense of their boss: Hillary would not seek to give Edwards and Barack Obama more time at debates; And besides, she doesn't even like John Edwards that much.

http://electioncentral.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2007/jul/17/election_central_morning_roundup



Howard Wolfson, a spokesman for Mrs. Clinton, denied there were private discussions about excluding rivals from the debates. Other Clinton advisers made three other observations.

First, Mrs. Clinton, as a leading candidate, was not interested in giving her main rivals, Mr. Edwards and Senator Barack Obama, more television time. Second, even the idea of back-channel discussions between the Edwards and Clinton camps was no longer viable because the notion was now public. And third, Mrs. Clinton is neither close to nor terribly fond of Mr. Edwards.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/07/16/debatetalk/

[saltpoint]

1. This controversy is bullshit. I believe the emphases might swing on

two hinges -- one being historical perspective and the other being the future of the United States.

Lincoln's cabinet was a wild mix of folks and a slap-dash jigsaw of personalities and ideologies. Many folks who would prefer Lincoln's job in the government agreed to serve in his cabinet. Their duty to the greater good kicked in and eclipsed their prviate ambition. It was a strong cabinet.

There's nothing stopping our next Democratic White House from having a similarly strong cabinet comprised of people who might not be ideologiclly or even personally akin. Why would a Democratic president NOT want to tap the skills and gifts of our candidate field?

I think Lincoln's model for cabinets -- and therefore his model for governance -- would be enormously useful in 2008.

[Snotcicles]

2. With ya on this one. nt

[flpoljunkie]

3. What does Lincoln's model for cabinets have to do with these candidates looking to exclude others

from future debates? Are you perhaps responding to another post.

[saltpoint]

4. An amalgam of impressive if disparate talents would comprise a strong cabinet.

I'm calling for that model -- Lincoln's -- in the present case of 2008.

[Maribelle]

5. "Hillary aides speaking on background " should be fired by Hillary

You can see it in Hillary's eyes - - she loves John Edwards.

[Maribelle]

6. And by the way your topic is totally misleading.

I thought TPMCafe was saying what followed the colon.


Perhaps this was just a widdle game you played?

[flpoljunkie]

8. No game--just giving credit to TPMCafe who posted this item today. NYT credited in body of post.

[zulchzulu]

7. I've thought about this event and have modified my view

I am firmly still with thinking Obama is the best candidate to run and beat the GOP in 2008. I also thought it was odd he wasn't included in the conversation.

But I think and hope it was a wake-up call for Edwards and Clinton to consider their ideas about smaller groups in debates to be shared with all the candidates in first and second tiers. It was unfortunate that both of them were seen as somehow having exclusivity in deciding debate scenarios.

I also think that Kucinich had a point but was also overstepping a bit with political theater on the unfortunate event.

It will probably be brought up in the next debate or two and we'll see how it flies or whether the story has any "legs".

As for Clinton not being overly fond of Edwards, I'm sure that the feeling is mutual.

[flpoljunkie]

9. But Clinton's camp says she's not interested in giving her main rivals, Edwards, Obama more tv time.

I think the Clinton camp now considers this subject closed, but I agree that it is likely to be brought up in the next debate--the July 23rd CNN/youtube debate.

[marshall]

10. It's a catfight, ya'll

Considering the way Mrs. Edwards is talking about Mrs. Clinton on Salon, I wouldn't be surprised if Clinton didn't spit at them the next time she sees them.

It's an election and it's dirty and it's all about who goes at it the hardest. May the best (wo)man win!