Donald Trump back out of debate with Bernie Sanders

[Maeve]

Source: BBC

Republican nominee Donald Trump has backed out of an offer to debate Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders.

Mr Trump's campaign said it would be "inappropriate" to debate the second place finisher since Hillary Clinton is poised to win the nomination.

Mr Sanders' campaign had said it was willing to participate in a debate with the billionaire businessman, who just cinched the Republican nomination.

Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2016-36401179

[stopbush]

1. Sanders got rolled by Trump.

What an amateur.

[Poincare]

2. Hillary reneged on a deal

[stopbush]

3. So what?

She's already won the nomination. Why give the loser another chance to regurgitate his boring, one-note stump speech?

[cloudythescribbler]

7. this "so what?" attitude on reneging on a deal is EXACTLY what might elect Trump ...

The contemptuous attitude towards Bernie, towards commitments, and towards Bernie's supporters can only PREDICTABLY reduce the level of support for Hillary among my fellow Sanderistas. If and when Hillary is nominated, I expect to try as hard as I can to get other Bernie supporters -- at least in swing states -- to vote for Hillary regardless of their misgivings about her; this country cannot afford to have someone like Trump in the White House. When it was Gore v Bush, many pooh-poohed the difference between them, but the difference turned out to include quite a few major disasters. But when Hillary reneges on promises, and shows contempt for Bernie and his supporters, or when the kind of stacking of the deck that took place at the NV Convention AND the hue-and-cry at Bernie for not sufficiently excoriating his backers based on claims many of which turn out to be quite dubious -- the only REAL loser is Hillary of votes she needs AND AMERICA NEEDS HER TO HAVE in the General against Trump.

What does Hillary stand to lose by debating Bernie and living up to her promise? Nonsense about waste of time doesn't cut it -- showing good faith to the the large proportion of the Democratic (AND Independent) voters who supported Bernie is important. Likewise there is nothing, logically, to gain from the whole handling of NV by Hillary & Co, unless what is being sought are scapegoats for a defeat in Nov. I don't want to see Trump win and I don't want to see Bernie and his base scapegoated for it -- but it is PRECISELY the HRC camp at this point who are making those goals more difficult to achieve

[stupidicus]

11. yep, it's one of many things they share with their rightwing cousins like Trump

it's basically their only defense (other than "some repugs did it too!!!!&quot to her ignoring the rules with the email thing, as but one additional example.

The amusing part about it is that the poor things can't figure out why she's so distrusted and looked upon so unfavorably by so many.

[stopbush]

44. Right, like Sanders commitment to release his taxes.

[beerandjesus]

17. Because some of us care about keeping promises.

[redstateblues]

33. Like Bernie's promise to not run a negative campaign?

[stopbush]

45. Or to release his taxes?

[billhicks76]

31. How Could We Stop Bush???

With Bill Clinton covering up for him after Iran/Contra? It allowed Bush Sr's entire administration to return in 2000 because in 1993 Bill said we need to look forward, not backward and not prosecute Bush Sr crimes. Well backward came forward in 2000 and we have a lot of dead people because of the Iraq War.

[pandr32]

58. This!

There is no point in having and funding a "primary" debate when there is no longer a contest. It is enough that the DNC is allowing Bernie to go through the motions of winding up his campaign, but for him to expect to have further demands met or to be treated as though there is still a contest...uh, no.

[Botany]

4. troll much?

[cstanleytech]

5. Yes she did pull out of that last one of 4 debate but I dont believe its an end of the world

event.

[cloudythescribbler]

8. It may not be "the end of the world" but it could cost her Sanderista votes in the General

[SunSeeker]

38. Sanders reneged on his promise to turn over his 2015 tax return.

And why? Because he knows he lost. No reason to release damaging info at this point.

[SpareribSP]

16. Twitter right now is trending with #ChickenTrump

The whole thing was pretty silly, but you've got to admit Trump got some egg on his face.

[L. Coyote]

34. PLUS: #donaldduck #chickentrump #chickenhillary #donaldducked - great tweets

Sarah Silverman @SarahKSilverman 2 hours ago
You wussy @realDonaldTrump - you're afraid to debate @BernieSanders ? You should be! #ChickenTrump

Tania Mirozlava ?@TaniaMirozlava 4 minutes ago
What a coward! He deserves this hashtag lol #ChickenTrump

Nicole Barrett ?@NicoleBarrettTV 6 minutes ago
We should stop calling him #ChickenTrump . Chickens don't deserve to be downgraded. #FeelTheBern

The Baxter Bean ?@TheBaxterBean 26 minutes ago
When your whole campaign is about being the "tough guy" but you're too scared to debate. #ChickenTrump

Donna Presnell ?@AppMtGirl 50 minutes ago
Why did the #ChickenTrump cross the road? To keep from getting #Berned!

[billhicks76]

23. You Are So Blind

Sanders rolled Trump and made him look like the coward Michael Moore claimed he was. Saying he got played just shows your bias clouds your judgement. And if the debate did happen Bernie wouldve debated Trump about Trump and NOT drawn Hillary into it. You must really miss what he's all about to not see that. It wouldve helped Clinton tearing apart Trump if she ended up being the nominee. And anyone complaining he is really an independent is also being stupid because if he ran as one Clinton could never even come close to winning and Trump could but not necessarily win. You say you are called 'stopbush'...Clinton didnt stop him remember? She enabled him and vote for the Iraq War. And on top of it Hillary and Bill have been called "honorary Bush family members" numerous times by different members of the Bush family. And no Jimmy Carter, Al Gore, Obama etc don't get that gratuitous title. You should really ask yourself who's is the amateur and look deep within my friend.

[blackspade]

24. More like the other way around.

Fuck yourself Trump!

[libdem4life]

53. Say what? Trump flip flops as does HRC

and some how it's Bernie's fault. Another massive fail trying to smear the One Candidate who has repeatedly kept his word.

Parallel Universe.

[still_one]

6. Trump got exactly what he wanted. He dissed Hillary and the DNC, said they were "robbing Sanders

of the election", and because they are "stealing the election from Bernie", there is no point debating him, since he would come in second, and you don't debate seconds

His strategy, throw out the conspiracy bullshit to divide the Democrats, and hopefully entice some Sanders supporters to vote for him in the general election

[blackspade]

25. If that was his 'strategery' it was an absolute fail.

[still_one]

27. I am just speculating. How would I know what goes through his mind. Trump is nuts

[libdem4life]

54. Pretty sure Trump has seen the polls

showing Bernie much higher than him. But we Democrats are determined to run the least favorite and least likely to defeat Trump.

Say what you will about thr VRWC, but that is peanuts as to what material and fearlessnes Trump brings. It's already started. He's getting Yuuuge free media while HRC is mostly in hiding.

He's already taking it to the DNC...and DWS, as well.

[still_one]

55. That is a false flag. Bernie has not had one negative ad aired against him

He has not been vetted

[libdem4life]

57. Cool, but worn out meme.

What you are implicitly stating is that they have failed to find his dirty laundry closet so they have gone after The Big One...his.wife and the college start-up that failed.

Or maybe a couple of Brock' s imaginary theses.

Going to have to do better than that.

[tomm2thumbs]

14. B I N G O

they're both afraid to speak to the truth

______

corporate shills never want to face the music

[tomm2thumbs]

21. OMG - DUzy

or a book of morals

[SunSeeker]

39. Hillary won all 9 debates she had with Sanders. nt

[A Little Weird]

10. What a wimp

I even heard republicans say it. Trump just made an unforced error.

[bucolic_frolic]

12. Totally Agree

He's waffled again, on both sides of everything and spinning it for himself

Plus this series of charity debates is getting old but it's so so billionaire

"Look at me! I'm so rich, and so concerned about others and society, that
I'll give LARGE sums of money to a worthy cause IF YOU DO WHAT I WANT."

Philanthropy my f)%)(#@$!!

[corkhead]

35. no, actually it's "I'll give OTHER PEOPLE'S large sums of money to a worthy cause"

[Gore1FL]

13. Unforced errors are the strength of both apparent nominees. n/t

[63splitwindow]

15. He just be...

[Paula Sims]

18. Chicken Donnie

Afraid to debate an old man? What next -- afraid to debate a girl?

Typical bully - call his bluff and he backs down.

[Dr. Strange]

37. #ChickenTrump

Now trending.

https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChickenTrump?src=tren

[NCcoast]

20. I think Trump realized what a dangerous game he was playing

This event was going to make Hillary look awful without a doubt. And it might have handed Sanders a chance to drub Trump in public, elevating the Sanders who has a better chances of beating Trump than Hillary Clinton.

[libdem4life]

56. This ^^^^

[blackspade]

22. HaHa!

Trump is such a loser.
He couldn't handle the BERN!

[SmittynMo]

26. Trump is such a wus.

[liberal N proud]

28. Bernie Fail

[4now]

29. Put your shinebox away Bernie

Trump doesn't need you now.

[Gene Debs]

43. At least Sanders isn't chickenshit. Can't say the same for Clinton or Trump.

[dchill]

30. Trump reneged, Hillary reneged, LOSE/LOSE.

[L. Coyote]

32. This may mean Bernie gets a big bump in California.

Sanders now gets to lump Hillary and Trump as too chicken to debate.

[riderinthestorm]

36. Lol, like Trump just realized Bernie’s campaign status? Pathetic excuse. He's just afraid to go 1 to

Trump is exposed as the coward he is. I bet he doesn't debate again for the rest of the campaign. Why would he? It's his worst forum.

Hillary reneges. Coward.

Trump backs out. Coward.

Bernie. Win.

[SunSeeker]

40. Bernie broke his promise to turn over his 2015 tax returns..

Sanders reneges. Coward.

[Mira]

42. ...

[L. Coyote]

49. This video is superb!

[apnu]

46. Was there actual evidence Trump was negotiating with Bernie for a debate?

I only saw hearsay from a late night host saying this was on, and comments from Bernie's erratic campaign manager. Do we actually know there were negotians to debate?

A lot of people seemed to take ot as fact the debate was 'on' when there was little to no evidence I could find that it was for real. Help me out here.

[sinkingfeeling]

47. Trump is a chicken.

[rladdi]

48. Donald Trump doesn't know what a debate is. Thus far he has won just trashing his

opponents. Sanders would debate the real facts and issues about America, Trump doesn't have the slightest clue as to what going on in the world. He is focus on trashing only. Hopefully enough smart, educated voters can out vote all the ignorants that are choosing Trump.
Trump really needs to refocus his campaign soon or he will lose big time in November. Thus far, the media and those at this rallies enjoy the clown show. The trashing and bragging that Donald is so good at. But for the real policies and facts he has no idea or clue yet.

[L. Coyote]

50. #ChickenTrump "Mr. Trump has been known to change his mind many times in a day" Bernie

GD-P thread here.

[jpak]

51. coward grifter

yup

[Walk away]

52. What a shock!