Sen. Brown will debate Elizabeth Warren on the condition that MSNBC drops out

[cynatnite]

Fascinating sign of the times: Sen. Scott Brown announced today that he will accept an invitation to debate Elizabeth Warren at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute in Boston, but only on two conditions -- one of which is that MSNBC, which is scheduled to host the debate, must drop out as a sponsor.

In a letter to the Kennedy Institute, campaign manager Jim Barnett wrote that while it was ok with the moderator, NBC's Tom Brokaw, it could not accept a network "with a reputation for political advocacy." Via the Boston Globe:

While we accept Tom Brokaw as a moderator, we prefer debates with local media sponsors, not out-of-state cable networks with a reputation for political advocacy,” he continued. “We are confident that issue can be easily addressed as there are a number of Massachusetts media outlets that would be willing to sponsor a debate such as the one you are proposing for the Kennedy Institute, and I’m sure they would be pleased to have Mr. Brokaw as moderator.

I've just reached out to MSNBC for comment and response, and will update here if and when I hear back.

Sen. Brown's other caveat is that Vicki Kennedy, Ted Kennedy’s widow and the woman who invited the candidates to the debate, promise to stay neutral in the election.

UPDATE: A spokesperson with MSNBC tells POLITICO the network was never confirmed to air the debate:

http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2012/06/sen-brown-to-debate-if-msnbc-drops-out-126530.html

[Tennessee Gal]

1. Would he accept Faux News?

You betcha!!

[politicasista]

2. Yes'm

He is scurred.

[AsahinaKimi]

36. Not only Accept Fox News...

He would want the debate to be broadcasted at a later date, so the program can be edited, you know, to make her look stupid, and edited so he wins the debate.

[hrmjustin]

3. Fat chance!!! Vicki Kennedy will be for Warren, end of discussion.

he is a scared little boy!

[warrior1]

4. he's a coward

[GoCubsGo]

20. Being a coward is the least of it.

Who the hell does this asshole think he is demanding that ANYONE remain silent and not be able to voice their opinion? The unmitigated gall of these people is just astounding.

[MightyOkie]

30. Yeah.

Except when its Obama and the questioner is Munro. Then its heckling. I keed. Saw you Cubs handle.

[GoCubsGo]

34. Yes, interrupting someone who is trying to speak is heckling.

What is your point?

[Blaukraut]

5. I'm sure he'd like our local ABC affiliate to host the debate

That way he could have his BFF (and wife's former colleague) Ed Harding throw him the softball questions he'd like. As to Vicki Kennedy staying neutral in the election.

[Champion Jack]

6. What a chickenshit

[graywarrior]

7. I smell a lily-livered coward

[Arkansas Granny]

8. Wait just a darn minute. By stipulating that Vicki Kennedy, a private citizen, stay neutral

in the election, wouldn't that be denying Vicki her the First Amendment right of free speech? Am I missing something here?

[LynneSin]

24. Maybe if she was a Corporation dumping millions into Scott Brown's accounts he'd be ok with that

God forbid as a private citizen she speak her voice.

[tularetom]

9. I don't like this game I'm gonna take my ball and go home!

[ProgressiveEconomist]

10. Local station hosting=NO national audience

except for C-SPAN, which often simulcasts local commercial station coverage of statewide debates.

And local stations can't IMMEDIATELY fact-check the numerous outright LIES Browon is prepared to tell. Brown wants only delayed MSNBC analysis of th efew "fair use" debate clips a local station would release--eventually

[graywarrior]

11. Sounds like he's looking for a way out of the debates

Challenge Elizabeth and then make stupid rules up so he can back out.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

12. YES! Who's ever heard of demanding "neutrality" from the widow

of one's predecessor in office as a debate condition? IMO Warren's campaign should saturate the media with ads featuring Vicki DENOUNCING Republican efforts to tape her mouth shut about the right-wing BUFFOON who took the last Kennedy Brother's place in the Senate.

[graywarrior]

13. He made some kind of statement last week that "they keep calling it Teddy's seat."

Well, yeah, dufus. It is!

[cynatnite]

16. It always will be and that man has disgraced it. n/t

[graywarrior]

18. Yes, he has

And he is not a nice person

[chelsea0011]

14. This from the guy who lives on RW and RW sports radio here in MA

[abelenkpe]

15. If it were the other way around

And a dem candidate was refusing to debate a rep on FOX you know that the right would freak.

[spanone]

17. what? he doesn't like joe scarborough? ron christie? michael steele? david gregory? mark halperin?

[Rectangle]

19. EW should say: "What's next Scott? Do you demand Sean Hannity hold

your hand through the debate?"

[theaocp]

21. Yoda sez:

Debate or debate not. There are no conditions.

Fuck this guy.

[ashling]

22. He's afraid that he might be acosted by ||||||shudder||||||||

Rachael Maddow !

[Omaha Steve]

23. Wonder what he is so afraid of?

A real debate?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

25. eom

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

26. He is such a vagina!

[krawhitham]

27. So someone else in the GOP wants to silence a woman's voice

[Thinkingabout]

28. What a woose, I guess he would agree to a debate if EW would drop out of the race.

If he is afraid of MSNBC why is he running for a senate seat, if he can't stand the heat he needs to get out of the kitchen. EW will eat him up.

[Aerows]

29. I don't understand

the bit about Vicki Kennedy being neutral. What the heck? Is she supposed to keep her mouth shut and offer no opinions just to please Scott Brown?

Wow. If I was Vicki Kennedy, I would immediately release a statement that I would offer my opinions just like every other American has the right to do, and if Scott Brown is too chicken to debate because he's scared of my opinions, then he's not suitable to be running for office.

My goodness. Who does he think he is?

[longship]

31. Elizabeth Warren will debate Sen. Brown on the condition that Fox News drops out.

Actually, Warren would never do that. And that describes the difference between them.

If Brown, or his campaign, went on the record on this, if I were Warren, it would figure prominently in the debate. My mantra would be, "You seem to be afraid of my political positions. What are you trying to hide that you will only be questioned by friendly forces? I suppose all our debates should be moderated by Fox News like maybe Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, or maybe Rush Limbaugh.

Maybe you can't stand up to unfriendly questions. Well, Mr. Brown, I will go onto Fox News any day as long as you meet me on MSNBC or Current equally. Let's just see how each of us stands up to unfriendly fire.

Deal, Senator Brown?

Or not.

[egbertowillies]

32. He is simply trying to not debate.

Mr. Brown is simply trying to avoid debating.

[Jamaal510]

33. You know, this is funny.

It's funny how Republicans always want to duck MSNBC and any other network that isn't named Fox News. For instance, we still have yet to see Mitt Rob-me go anywhere like the Ed Show or Rachel's show. I think they have the boo-boo jeebies about being asked any hardball questions. But any politician who really wants to fight for what they believe in would never be afraid of debating anywhere. We saw Pres. Obama go in hostile territory on Billo the Clown's show, so why can't Scott Brown do an MSNBC debate?

[JHB]

35. Translation: excuse, excuse, smokescreen, jump to my tune, score points with my fans at no cost

In other words, the usual whining.

[SoCalDem]

37. How about co-questioners? Maddow/Hayes?

That would be pay-per-view worthy