Democratic Congressman Bennie Thompson, who is chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus Political Education and Leadership Institute, today made something of a pitch in The Hill newspaper for using the Fox News Channel for presidential debates, citing "the unbiased forum" of a pair of debates shown on Fox four years ago.
This time around, the CBC Institute had planned a Democratic presidential debate to be aired on Fox that leading candidates John Edwards, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have vowed to boycott. A second CBC Institute debate to be aired on CNN will not be boycotted.
In a letter to The Hill printed this morning, Rep. Thompson explained that the debates are the work of his institute, and that “the institute has not been approached by any member of the CBC requesting it to withdraw from the debates on Fox.”
Wrote Thompson (emphasis added):
The institute will produce four first-rate presidential primary debates (two Democratic and two Republican). Our debates will give all candidates who participate the rare opportunity to speak directly to American voters, unfiltered by any political organization or by any news organization.The institute sponsored two widely attended, highly rated Democratic candidate debates in the 2004 presidential primary election cycle that were televised on the Fox News network. All Democratic candidates in the 2004 election cycle participated in both CBC institute-sponsored debates on Fox News and were showcased in an unbiased forum. The 2008 debates on Fox News will be no different. Fox News has a subscriber base of 70 million — a tremendous number of people for the presidential candidates to share their positions on important issues that may not be covered in other forums.
The [previous] article [in The Hill] noted there were liberal activist groups objecting to a Fox News telecast of the debates, citing Fox’s conservative bias as their primary concern. We understand their position and are sympathetic to their concerns. Our response to that concern is that, as the debate sponsor, the CBC institute will control, and be responsible for all critical decisions pertaining to the debate format, including the journalists invited to serve as moderators, the panel of questioners and other pertinent matters (for example, the airing of commercials during the broadcast).



















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Well silky pony will still say no.
May 17, 2007 - 15:09 ET by terrigYou know, those of you who are fans of these idiot dimocraps-please tell me why Fox News scares these people? The Republicans were on MSNBC with Chrissie Matthews and he was an absolute ass to them. However, they were polite, answered the stupid questions posed to them and did their job. Yeah, I would feel real confident in someone who was in the White House who was afraid to debate on Fox. Losers-losers-losers!
" You know, those of yo
May 17, 2007 - 15:28 ET by Gothampc"You know, those of you who are fans of these idiot dimocraps-please tell me why Fox News scares these people?"
I'm not a fan of the dimocraps, but my opinion is that Fox will ask them unscripted questions which they won't be able to locate the answer to in their talking points. With Fox having a 70 million subscriber base (as well as hit shows like The Simpsons, 24, and American Idol) it can't be considered a second tier network worthy of ignoring.
John Edwards, Barack Obama
May 17, 2007 - 15:14 ET by JDWJohn Edwards, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have vowed to boycott
What if they do?
JDW
News media: Scoreboard for terrorists
Good question! It would be
May 17, 2007 - 15:44 ET by InsufficientContextGood question! It would be very interesting to see how the race would shape up if all of the Democrat second tier debated on Fox and the other 3 idgets actually kept a vow(as unlikely as that seems). Do you think someone from the second tier could overtake some of the front-runners?
IC...Laughing out loud...now
May 17, 2007 - 15:48 ET by bigtimerIC...
Laughing out loud...now that idea would be priceless.
For the 2nd tier and the cute by half losers that didn't go on FOX.
I beg for CBC just to do that
May 18, 2007 - 09:31 ET by Senior ChiefI beg for CBC just to do that at FOX- after the big 3 democrack candidates complete their CNN gig- same day. I would stop whatever I'm doing just to get a closer look at what the democracks are saying unbiased.
How about inviting FOX panelist to moderate CNN-Democracks debate. That would be unbiased!
Plans within plans
May 17, 2007 - 17:34 ET by UndercoverConservativeI see how this will be played out already:
Hillary and the rest boycott Fox claiming "bias"
The boycott causes them to lose important face time as well as critical exposure.
Loss of exposure causes one or more of them to lose any chance at election.
People discover, and rightly so, that it was their refual to debate on Fox that cost them their election.
Since they stayed away because of supposed "bias", in MSM logic, they blame their loss directly on "Fox Bias".
And another Big Lie is born.
I think the Republicans shoul
May 17, 2007 - 16:18 ET by general companyI think the Republicans should go on all of the networks just to get the swing voters. If the Dems don't want to go after swing voters who cares. I sure would not try to convince them, ask them once, if they decline, move on with the rest. Besides they will want scripted questions and other malarkey as well.
They will have no choice in the mixed debates, and will pay dearly for it as well.
That would be the job of GOP
May 18, 2007 - 09:37 ET by Senior ChiefThat would be the job of GOP campaign managers. Get hold of the networks (more viewers than cable, I believe) and propose a debate. Conservative candidates need to be exposed to the lefty population in their media- nothing to lose, maybe win more hearts.
Debates on FOX
May 17, 2007 - 16:50 ET by pocomocoThe voters should be continually reminded of what Jay Leno asked: If the Democrats are afraid of Fox News, how do they expect to talk to a real enemy?
Great point.
May 17, 2007 - 17:05 ET by LionKingGreat point. We need to keep bringing this up. Show the voters what cowards the Dumocrats really are.
Why would the Democrat cand
May 17, 2007 - 17:21 ET by gueinWhy would the Democrat candidates spurn the viewership of FNC to head to a smaller audience on MSNBC? Only George Soros knows for sure.
Only George Soros knows for s
May 17, 2007 - 17:25 ET by bigtimerOnly George Soros knows for sure.
Bingo guein!
The less number of people th
May 18, 2007 - 09:45 ET by Senior ChiefThe less number of people they get exposed to, the less number of people will know who they really are. And George Soros DO KNOW this...
If the Democrats (Cowards)
May 17, 2007 - 17:40 ET by ZoneDaiatlasIf the Democrats (Cowards) don't appear on Fox News to debate then none of them should be President...
Dennis Miller Said It Best...
May 18, 2007 - 07:18 ET by cjbreisch"If these guys are afraid of Fox News, how are they going to stand up to terrorists?"
Very True
May 18, 2007 - 07:27 ET by JimboVery true. The Republican candidate needs to remind the public of that fact in the home stretch. But I’m afraid he won’t. I’m afraid that the Republican candidate will try to pander to the middle and run a more politically correct campaign. I hope he realizes that at the end of the day, the middle will vote for the candidate with whom they feel the safest and who has the country’s interests at heart. I say take off the gloves and expose these liberals for what they really are.
Jimbo says - "There is a fine line between freedom of speech and treason"