If Edwards asking Kerry for a 1-on-1 debate is offensive to DK+Sharpton

[DaisyUCSB]

which is basically the talking point that both Kerry's camp and Kerry supporters here are using more or less, then what was Kerry asking/challenging Dean to a 1-on-1 debate to Edwards, Graham, Lieberman, Gephardt, Mosley-Braun, AND DK+ Sharpton?

Kerry's camp and his supporters, you are being hypocritical here, right ?

[bigwillq]

1. DK and Sharpton should be able to debate

They are officially still in the race

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

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[bigwillq]

18. That is very harsh of you to call Al

a "racist". Why do you feel this way? By the way, I think Al has more delegates than DK so he should be able to debate at least for that reason. I do believe both DK and Al should debate until they officially drop out, if/when that will be.

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

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[liberalnurse]

29. Your verbal insults to Rev. Sharpton is highly

unacceptable.

[Dookus]

3. I see no hypocrisy at all

first, I, personally, have said for weeks that Kucinich and Sharpton should be excluded from future debates. They've had their chance, didn't go anywhere, and now we should focus on the frontrunners.

I expect any second-place (or lower) candidate to challenge the frontrunner to a one-on-one debate. It's a staple of electoral politics. I also expect the front-runner to refuse. That's also a staple of electoral politics.

[Slice]

4. I think Dennis should be allowed to debate

He brings a lot to this race, and he has beaten Edwards in some states.

[Dookus]

5. Kucinich has 2 delegates

and polls under 3% nationally.

He's had his say. It's now just a vanity candidacy.

I like DK; very much, in fact. But as a matter of general principle, I don't think fringe candidates are OWED a permanent platform for their views. DK can still speak out on any topic he wants, whenever he wants, but he's not a real candidate for the presidential nomination, and debates focusing on helping us choose that nominee should be for the people who actually have a chance to win.

[Slice]

6. Why does everyone focus on Dennis though?

Why are more people not clamoring for Sharpton get out?

[Dookus]

13. I never focused on Dennis

I have said reliably that both Sharpton and Kucinich should be excluded from further debates. I haven't, in fact, seen anybody suggest that Kucinich should go, but not Sharpton.

[iamjoy]

8. Sharpton and the Debates

I would never vote for Sharpton, but I think he has behaved very well in the debates.

Should Kucinich and Sharpton be included in future debates? Only if they still mathematically stand a chance of getting the nomination. Aren't 75% of the delegates still up for grabs? So theoretically (not practically) one of these gentleman could still get the nomination (if one of them wins by sweeping landslides in the remaining primaries).

Senator Edwards is thinking practically, but I don't think Kucinich and Sharpton are really running because they think they can win, I think it is to raise awareness of issues. I like John Edwards, but shame on him for saying this, at one time he was polling in the single digits, so I expect a little more from him.

[Slice]

11. Sharpton is a scumbag

He is a racist man and I would never ever vote for him for anything.

[bigwillq]

19. You better edit some of your posts

Or you will get a warning and/or banned. be careful. We're here to discuss political topics in a productive and intellectual manner. If you're here to bash I think you should leave in my opinion.

edit: spelling

[Slice]

21. Good thing that's your opinion

Sharpton is a scumbag, and I won't retract that statement. I have not disparaged any of the other candidates, and I don't intend to. But when you have someone like David Duke or Al Sharpton in a race, I feel that I have to criticize them.

[bigwillq]

23. OK, I respect your opinion

but I still thing DU shouldn't be used as a place just to criticize other candidates or other people for that matter.

[Slice]

24. Lol

You do realize that you're saying this in GD2004, right? ;-)

[bigwillq]

25. Yes, I do

And I do not criticize others candidates. I make sound and intelligent judgements based on facts. I do not support others who choose to just criticize others candidates. People do and that's their right but I don't have to think it's right.

[Slice]

26. you're right, you don't.

but you also don't have the right to threaten me by saying that I might be banned if I continue to espouse my opinions. I'm not breaking any rules.

[bigwillq]

28. I am not threatening you nor saying I think

you will be banned. I said to be careful. I thought and I could be wrong that name-calling in a subject was against the rules.

[AP]

10. I distinctly remember Dean accepting, but it never happened.

Why doesnt' Kerry accept too?

[Citizen Kang]

14. Agreed...

Sharpton and Dennis need to drop out. They are no longer viable candidates. Both are simply running vanity campaigns at this point. Neither should be allowed to debate.

HOWEVER,

What would Kerry backers say in October, when Bush refuses to debate Kerry if he is the nominee??? Is that "just politics"??? Or is there a double standard here?

[ShaneGR]

7. This is not an Edwards thing, this is a CNN and LA Times thing

And CNN and the LA Times stand to profit by having the first and probably only 1-on-1 debate. It will be there decision, and DK and Sharpton people can be mad at those two organizations. Edwards has no power to force a 1-on-1, the media does though.

[iamjoy]

12. Shame on Me

For jumping to conclusions about Edwards and believing the media if that isn't really what he said.

But I still think as long as it is mathematically possible for Sharpton or Kucinich to get the nomination, they should be included.

[Mairead]

20. Edwards has the power to DECLINE a one-on-one, though

Which he should certainly do. And so should Kerry.

[SEAburb]

9. Call it what you like, I call it being smart

If Kerry were to agree to the one on one debate, it would give Kucinich and Sharpton supporters another reason not to vote him in the GE. Kerry can't win on this issue.

And another thing if Kerry had ask to exclude Kucinich and Sharpton from a debate, like Edwards has, this forum would be wall to wall with threads calling for Kerry's head on a post. Seems to be a double standard at work .

[Dookus]

16. the funniest part is

a few days ago, a lot of people were positively apoplectic about the notion of excluding DK and Sharpton from the debates. Some of those people are now clamoring for a one-on-one debate between Edwards and Kerry.

4 - 2 = 2 no matter what day it is.

[Name removed]

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[MidwestTransplant]

17. Neither of those 2 should be in the debate

but if you have to have one, it shold be Sharpton because he is has such great 1 liners!

[Dying Eagle]

27. yes

Everyone that is in the race should debate. Al and Dk have great ideas and should be allowed to get there message across