Breaking: Edwards Not Participating In Fox/CBC Debate

[DeSwiss]

Source: TPMCafe

Breaking: Edwards Not Participating In Fox/CBC Debate

By Greg Sargent

John Edwards -- who was first out of the box to pull out of the Fox-sponsored Nevada debate, earning accolades from the netroots and Dem activists -- has done it again.

His campaign has just called the Congressional Black Caucus and informed them that Edwards will not be part of the proposed Sept. 23 debate with Fox.

Edwards deputy campaign manager Jonathan Prince has just e-mailed us the following statement:

"We just called the CBC to let them know that we're looking forward to their January
debate with CNN but we're not going to participate in the proposed debate with Fox.
The CBC champions critical issues that matter enormously to the future of our country, and we look forward to discussing them throughout this campaign and at their debate in January. But we believe there's just no reason for Democrats to give Fox a platform to advance the right-wing agenda while pretending they're objective. If there was any uncertainty as to Fox's objectivity, it was put to rest when they attacked Democratic candidates, Democratic constituency groups, and the Nevada Democratic party when their last proposed debate was cancelled for lack of support."

Tough stuff. This'll earn another round of praise for Edwards, who keeps showing he's making a credible bid to be the netroots candidate, and ratchet up the pressure on the other candidates to act accordingly in the increasingly high-stakes battle with Fox.

Read more: http://electioncentral.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2007/apr/06/breaking_edwards_not_participating_in_fox_cbc_debate

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John Edwards!!! :thumbsup:

And there's no point in Dems supporting FAUXNews' sagging ratings. Let em' lie like the dawgs they are!!!

[Uben]

1. I know some dawgs.....

...who might take offense to that statement!

[lpbk2713]

2. Good move

To appear on Faux would make them appear legitimate and give the erroneous impression that they are a real news outlet.

[barb162]

7. That is a great whatever on Limbaugh you have there

Great. Looks like he needs his calming meds

[lpbk2713]

21. Thanks

If it's possible that it has made him look like even more of a jerk then it has served its purpose.

[barb162]

25. Well he does look like he's doing some sort of crazed dance

(you bad)

:)

[SteveM]

53. Not a dance, just normal reaction after 3rd handful (nt)

[SteveM]

54. Good for Edwards, but Fox is "fair & balanced." Your choices are

the Right, the Far Right, and the crap-in-your-pants-and-go-to-heaven Right. What more could you ask for?

[Chemical Bill]

58. That's Rush doing his Michael J. Fox immitation.

Really. 'Nuff said.

Bill

[barb162]

63. Oh, I forgot about that.

That was so totally disgusting. I hope at least some of his listeners left him over that.

[Joe Chi Minh]

50. If they read the news... that really would be news. After the fashion

of man bites dog.

Fox set the standard for bullsh*t. They represent THE gold standard. Eat your hearts out, CNN!

[johncoby2]

3. You go John!

Damn......this is going to be a tough primary!

[Blackhatjack]

4. Edwards is showing what leading by example is all about....

Fox News should be treated like this by all legitimate Democratic candidates, and Democratic voters should support this position.

Otherwise we are setting up Fox News to have an appearance of legitimacy they do not deserve.

[rodeodance]

29. I hope it creates a WAVE.

[anotherdrew]

34. this is a thrilling example of leadership. Let's keep the party together and all cancel now

it's time to strangle fox news in a bathtub of it's own design

[philosophie_en_rose]

5. Score another one for John Edwards!

No need to feed those trolls.

[kstewart33]

6. Good job, John.

Why feed the wolves?

[Purveyor]

8. K&R

[FreeStateDemocrat]

9. Thanks John Edwards for showing other responsible Democratic candidates how to act on this issue.

[Vincardog]

19. BINGO no real DemocratIC candidate should ever give FAUX the time of day.

[gratefultobelib]

10. I love this! Show Fox for what it really is. The more this is pointed out, the better.

[Faygo Kid]

11. I totally agree with Edwards on this. Fox is a fraud, and a danger to our nation.

To acknowledge that the network has any degree of credibility whatsoever is a mistake. Time to push back.

[Tarheel_Dem]

12. Words can't even express how disappointed I am....

with the CBC. You have to wonder if Fox is throwing money to someone to increase black viewership? And to learn that Harold Ford, Jr. & Sheryl Underwood are joining their lineup just really saddens me.

[loudsue]

40. Harold Ford, Jr. is DLC

He's trying oust Dean from being Chair of the DNC. Ford is trouble.

:kick:

[natrat]

59. of course-ford,mcaullife,clinton total scumbags

[SemperEadem]

64. Didn't fuxnoise lead the charge against Elizabeth Edwards'

when she announced her cancer was back? Didn't they pretty much say for her to go home and die? Or say that she was doing it to get votes for John? Now, why in hell would he agree to appear on their outlet when they're not even legitimate?

[IsItJustMe]

13. I am going to have to send Edwards a contribution. I am 100% behind his decision.

[AlCzervik]

14. Good and consistent, lets hope the others follow suit.

[Old and In the Way]

15. This is what leadership is all about.

Not waiting until it's safe and not waiting for the grass roots to tell you to do it. Leading by doing. There's a message in this for all of our candidates.

[Jacklyn75]

16. True leadership! Way to go John! n/t

[rurallib]

17. Bravoooooooooooo John!

:kick: :headbang: :yourock:

[David Zephyr]

18. Jesse Jackson also has condemned this. Come on Obama.

Great stuff from Senator Edwards. He continues to impress me daily.

Come on Obama.

[anotherdrew]

35. I'll be stunned if Obama doesn't pull out too

no one needs their coverage anyway, Fox is irrelevant.

[KAZ]

20. Bravo! I'm starting to give him a second look.

Always liked him, just didn't think he could get past the "trial lawyer" thing. Maybe I was wrong.

[anotherdrew]

36. he's got what it takes to go the distance, and I could support him now

as long as they keeps up the anti-fox line, anyone gets my support.

[fshrink]

22. Each time I see spine, I'm happy. That's not too often. nt

[southerncrone]

23. Screw Faux! Right on, Edwards!

[BearSquirrel2]

24. At this rate ...

At this rate Hillary Clinton will be debating herself at the Fox event.

[BrklynLiberal]

26. I am liking Edwards more and more....

[skipos]

27. Oh man, Kucinich is going to be PISSED!

:)

[PittPoliSci]

28. i'm split on this.

i think he's a coward for not addressing fox on their own terms, then ripping them apart, but at the same time, i like the fact that he's willing to avoid them all together.

hm...

[laureloak]

30. What do you mean, "on their own terms".

He's not out looking for a fight but he's being straightforward when it comes to him.

I'm really curious to understand what you're calling him a coward over.

[PittPoliSci]

49. i think that edwards should embrace this.

i think he should go on fox and ram all their bullshit down their necks. what i meant by "on their own terms" was fox deciding how the frame the debate.

edwards should just go for their throats. i think it's cowardly to hide from fox news. i think of all the candidates (except for kucinich) he's the one who best embodies working america, and should be strong for us and fight big mean nasty fox news.

[SemperEadem]

65. the error of your thinking

is in thinking that fuxnoise would allow that footage to be aired uncut/unedited and in its original form. There is no way in hell they would allow video of Edwards dissing them to see air--they would cut that video up to make him say the opposite of what he said.

No. He knows what he's looking at when it comes to fuxnoise. To engage them in anything is futile if you're a Democrat. That's what the others are too stupid to see. They think fuxnoise operates with some modicum of credibility and actual fairness when for the last 11 years, they've tacked so far to the right that the bubble on their tripods aren't used anymore to balance the camera.... they don't care if they appear right-leaning because they are.

[librarycard]

31. Why would any democratic candidate associate with FOX

any more than they would Rush Limbaugh?

[cascagraphic]

32. I love to see Dems dictating the terms.

[anotherdrew]

33. is this debate really "owned" by the CBC or is it really more of a FOX vehicle? n/t

[Born Free]

37. John Edwards continues to be my favorite

The current democratic field is very good, I believe any one of the democratic contenders would be a good president, but John Edwards and Barack Obama are my favorites.

[Rebellious Republican]

38. Good, I hope this trend to boycott Faux news keeps growing!

Lets not limit it to debates, anyone with Democratic party affiliations should not appear for any reason on Faux news channel, period. Its absolutely pointless to be on that channel for any reason.

:toast:

[JimboDem]

39. That's the way, John.

You(and Rep. Pelosi) have my deepest gratitude and $upport.
:patriot:

[plgoldsmith]

41. Sirota backs Edwards as People Party candidate

This is a great post by David Sirota laying out why John Edwards, though far from perfect, is the people's representative in this primary campaign. I totally agree with Sirota's reasoning:

http://www.workingforchange.com/blog/index.cfm?mode=entry&entry=BEAA1AD7-E0C3-F084-D74FE7E45E334D6E

[gulliver]

42. That's cool. Definitely much appreciated.

Maybe we have a true fighter in the running after all. It's about time all Dem leaders started calling out Fox News.

[sakkatta]

43. this is awesome

fox is not a real news channel

[in_cog_ni_to]

44. GO JOHN GO! That's how to handle the propaganda machine!

NEVER appear on that network. WTG, John Edwards!:thumbsup:

[truthisfreedom]

45. I keep waiting for the faux noise machine to kick into action again, and I'm not hearing it...

Is faux bashing Edwards for this yet?

[Tektonik]

46. AWESOME

GO JOHN!

[VegasWolf]

47. Great! I hope Obama follows his lead. nt

[NashVegas]

48. According To Fox's Own Poll, Most People Believe a Debate Host Influences the Outcome

http://www.foxnews.com/projects/pdf/032907_foxnewspoll.pdf

65% - page 10, question #34.


Good for Edwards!

[Vidar]

51. Bravo, Mr. Edwards!

[tn355]

52. Edwards is saying the right things...

... and doing them, too.

[benny05]

55. Johnny 'Backbone' Edwards Called "Gutsy"

Gutsy John Edwards Jettisons a Second Fox-Sponsored Debate

By Don Hazen, AlterNet. Posted April 7, 2007.

Showing striking leadership, presidential candidate John Edwards, encouraged by Black activists, Black bloggers and Jesse Jackson, dropped out of a scheduled debate for September to be sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and Fox News.

But here's a bit more about the story itself.

It's been a bit of a mystery as to why the CBC Institute, an offshoot of the Congressional Black Caucus, went ahead with the debates in the face of powerful evidence underscoring Fox's negative attitudes about Black people.

An Afro American Newspapers Editorial, printed in Black papers around the nation, read: "What were they thinking? What possible justification could the Congressional Black Caucus Political Leadership Education Institute have for picking Fox News to partner with on an upcoming presidential debate? 'Fox News is not a "fair and balanced" source of information or political debate, and it has repeatedly proven itself hostile to the interests of Black Americans.

http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/50285/

[NeoConsSuck]

56. Expose FOX for what they are

a right wing propaganda smear machine.

If every Democratic politician would ignore them, they couldn't continue to operate as a "News" organization.

[benny05]

57. I thought at first I read

They couldn't continue as a "Newt" organization. :D

My bad...:-)

[Seedersandleechers]

60. That does it....

I'm putting my money on Edwards.

[mitchtv]

61. I just emailed Bill Richardson

He was responsive last time
http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/page/st/contact

[aaronbees]

62. excellent!

THIS is how you fight back at the right-wing smear machine and devalue their credibility. Right on, John Edwards.