Yesterday Solon pointed out that Hillary Clinton has challenged Barack Obama to more debates, and he rightly suggested that if Obama found himself behind, he might well take her up on an entire round of them. At this point Harrogate predicts that is exactly what will happen, which is arguably very good for the country except....
Last night Harrogate was watching A Daily Show, and Jon Stewart's guest was Chris Wallace. Wallace revealed that if Obama agrees to debate, that the first one is scheduled to be held by Fox News. Hmmmm, said Stewart, does this mean the Dems' boycott of Fox is over? There was never a boycott, Wallace informed us all, it was just John Edwards, who Wallace went on to describe, in his characteristic Fair and Balanced manner, as a panderer and a demogogue.
So, with Edwards out of the way Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama jump right in with Fox as though it's a legitimate format for them to be debating in? How disappointed Harrogate will be in both candidates when they stoop this low in hopes on conquering.
One more reason to be proud of John Edwards. He was a pretty bad Senator, but he's been speaking a hell of a lot of truth for the last few years. And the need for Dems to boycott Fox, which does everything in its power to hatchet them 24/7, is part of that truth.
3 comments:
There will be a debate before March 4th but I am not sure if there will be a debate before 2/12.
Obama will only agree if (1) he is ahead in delegate count by a good margin after 2/12 or (2) the polls are very close in Texas and Ohio and he needs an edge.
If he is smart, he will see where the momentum goes and if his rise over the past 2 weeks continues. If it does, he may not have to debate.
I do not see Obama choosing to accept a debate on Fox because of the way in which Fox treated with with the "terrorist school" stories. Two or three weeks ago on Fox News Sunday, Chris Wallace needed to make a personal plea that Obama come on the show. Obama has not yet accepted as far as I know.
Harrogate hopes you are right that Obama won't appear on Fox. They did do a number on him with that "story", and that they have been doing a number on the Party for years is outside the realm of reasoned debate.
OTOH, Wallace claimed that HRC has already agreed to appear on Fox. Man, that bites. For either her or Obama to go on there for a debate now, is to say, I just didn't want to be made to look badly by Edwards and lend him much-needed galvanization, there was zero actual conviction in my decision.
Harrogate likes conviction.
The Clinton camp needs to agree because of the exigence of the campaign. If Obama refuses, she may try to spin it that he is not tough but I think Democratic resistance to Fox would win out over not tough enough.
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