Hillary calls for Democratic debate in Flint, Michigan

[firebrand80]

“We’ve agreed to an additional debate in N.H. and are currently in discussions to agree to additional debates — we think one of them should be in Flint," said campaign chairman John Podesta in a statement on Saturday afternoon, referring to the ongoing negotiations over scheduling new debates. The Sanders and Clinton camps agreed in principle to schedule new ones earlier on Saturday.

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/hillary-clinton-debate-flint-michigan-218454#ixzz3ylN9TiUW

[californiabernin]

1. Great Idea! n/t

I'm really glad there are going to be additional debates! Voters outside Iowa/NH deserve it!

[Ed Suspicious]

4. Tell it to December Clinton.

[californiabernin]

6. Hey, better late than never!

[thereismore]

2. She wants to say "I was the first to mention Flint in a debate." Not impressed. nt

[californiabernin]

9. Probably, but Sanders has a lot more political points to score. n/t

[thereismore]

11. Always. nt

[JimDandy]

42. FYI-Bernie called for Snyder's resignation at least a day before Hillary

said anything in the January 17 Democratic Debate:

https://berniesanders.com/press-release/michigan-governor-must-resign/

[californiabernin]

44. I did not know that. n/t

[bigdarryl]

23. She already was the first one to speak on it on either side

That's why the.Mayor is supporting her

[thereismore]

33. Bernie called for Snyder's resignation before she mentioned Flint. nt

[loyalsister]

36. As if she didn't exploit the people of Flint enough already!

Disgusting!!

[Ed Suspicious]

3. Hillary is doing a lot of calling for debate nowadays. She did a good thing bringing attention to

Flint. Sadly, I can't help but get the feeling that she's trying to make political hay out of it on a demographic level.

[californiabernin]

12. Yes, yes that is rather obvious. Still, we get another debate, so it's all good!

[JRLeft]

13. She wants to use Flint as a pawn. Black people have always been

plans to the Clintons.

[SMC22307]

41. There it is.

The always opportunistic Clintons strike again.

[Kip Humphrey]

5. only if all the press in attendance are forced to drink the tap water so they can report 1st-hand

what Flint residents have been subjected to for almost TWO YEARS!

[Ed Suspicious]

8. +1

[Qutzupalotl]

18. But that might make them hostile and lower their IQ.

Oh, wait...

[Karma13612]

62. although I agree that the press often suppresses the truth

and spins to mislead, I don't see why the press should be made to drink the water in this case.

I believe the emergency personnel and the Gov. and other administrative officials should be help accountable and/or fired.

[libdem4life]

7. Shameful pandering. Flint, MI has nothing at all to do with national politics. I think they can

handle it now without bringing the entourage of press, candidates, others from all over, into their town.

I'll say it again...shameful or shameless...probably both.

[JI7]

17. Obama declared it a federal emergency

[libdem4life]

26. as he should have.

[firebrand80]

19. Flint has EVERYTHING to do with national politics

Environmental issues, crumbling infrastructure, political influence of poor and minority communities, access to health care, government corruption...even access to water isn't a national issue yet, but it may well be someday soon.

[libdem4life]

32. Just no. Imagine being a parent of a dead or ill child with press set up on their lawn.,

microphones shoved in their faces. "So sorry your child died. What does it feel like?"

No. They have their hands full. Thank goodness the word is out and water is coming in. And it may well be a plank to energize just what you say, but we don't need to glamorize it and intrude, even for the sake of the environment...for the Live at 11 Crew.

What a political circus...barkers and all...that would be. Poor judgment.

I have some experience with this...and the involved people want FEMA, the Disaster Declarations, and all the other things that will HELP. The Press ... no. Let them go hunt out Other Places...that would be helpful.

I can just see Geraldo Rivera now. Ugh.

[kristopher]

35. That is exactly the reaction I had/have.

It demonstrates a blindness to the pain of other's that troubles me greatly. The number one characteristic I want in a leader is genuine empathy.

[libdem4life]

40. Not grandstanding...and dragging in the Other Party to do it. Imagine the questions.

Who would moderate? Would the victims get the front seats, or behind the Debaters?

[HereSince1628]

56. An early thread to day said dates & places were agreed upon by the campaigns

So I don't know what else there is to say...

[libdem4life]

57. What dates and places? I didn't see it. Won't change my mind, but best to know.

[HereSince1628]

59. The excerpt I saw didn't say just that 4 more were agreed on and that

cities and dates were agreed upon.

[asuhornets]

10. I am very impressed that she wants to draw attention to the crisis in Flint. eom

[californiabernin]

14. Well, we all do.

We want to draw attention to a great many things.

[JRLeft]

15. No she wants to use black people, she could give a damn about us.

[californiabernin]

20. Let all Americans decide if this is a political ploy...I trust you, them and all of us to decide.n/t

[asuhornets]

21. Well I'm Black as well..

And I support her in presidential candidacy as well her support in helping people in Flint. Hillary has been very strong with African-American issues as well as her husband. You speak as if you know her personally. Hillary Clinton character speaks for itself. She is strong and still standing. There is nothing the Republicans nor the Sanders supporters can do about that.

[kristopher]

37. Has she?

I'm of the view that the Hillary/Bill record is mixed at best. Would you mind sharing the positive things re addressing racism that have impressed you about her.?

[libdem4life]

39. This is not about HRC. Can you imagine if they had asked for a debate at Katrina?

Or a debate at the side of the George Washington Bridge.

No. Stop with the politicizing...HRC vs Bernie...just can't stop. Doesn't belong in Flint, MI.

[JRLeft]

47. Please!

[JI7]

16. when does Michigan vote ?

[ErisDiscordia]

52. March 8th

[frylock]

22. Glad to see more debates, but could she be any less transparent?

[in_cog_ni_to]

24. Wow. She'll even use death and tragedy to further her political ambitions. No, no, no, no, no, no,

no, no, no, no, no, no!

Sanctioned DNC debates are sanctioned DNC debates. Now that she knows she's going to lose, debates are important. When she thought herself inevitable, SHE OPTED FOR, fewer debates. SHE set the schedule. Now she should have to live with it.

PEACE
LOVE
BERNIE

[californiabernin]

30. I just think the more debates the better.

If a particular candidate will only agree to a particular debate at a particular venue, so be it. Better than less debates!

[in_cog_ni_to]

46. She's not Queen Hillary. She doesn't get to dictate what happens with the debate schedule anymore.

She already did! Now that she's going to lose, she's all of a sudden had a change of heart? I don't think so. When Bernie and O'Malley were calling for more debates (when she thought she was inevitable), she IGNORED THE PLEAS, so no. She's not in charge. She only thinks she is.

PEACE
LOVE
BERNIE

[Truprogressive85]

25. Bring it

While Flint we can talk about the poisoned waters, NAFTA, Fracking , environment,

[californiabernin]

27. Word! n/t

[jillan]

29. Yes!

[frylock]

54. Yep. This could blow up in their faces.

[jillan]

28. Then there should be one in Porter Ranch because that is not getting enough coverage.

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-socal-gas-lawsuit-porter-ranch-gas-leak-20160126-story.html

[elleng]

31. 'We've agreed,'

right, including dws???

[Autumn]

34. I hope Bernie refuses she can debate herself. Her campaign reeks of desperation

[loyalsister]

38. And I hope he says he does not want to be a part of exploiting a local tragedy

or the people who are suffering through it.

I'm sure Hillary is already trying to contact as many families as possible to trot out disabled children as their parents endorse. Telethon politics.

[ViseGrip]

43. If I were from Flint, I'd find this offensive. To be looking at sickness, lower IQ's and problems

invitro, I'd be looking for a different 'kind of conversation', maybe. But a political debate there, now?
I think it's in very poor taste. It just gives my gut a bad feeling.....

[winter is coming]

45. How's the DNC coming along with sanctioning more debates?

'Cause until that happens, this is all kabuki.

[pandr32]

48. Excellent!

[Motown_Johnny]

49. A City NAFTA Destroyed, BRILLIANT!!!

OMG the Clinton campaign is bad.


Un

Flipping

Believable

[Ed Suspicious]

50. Crazy bad.

[kcjohn1]

51. Not very smart

She didn't really want more debates, so this is her strategy to basically limit debate. She is hoping majority of the time Flint water crisis will be the topic and she can easily beat up on Republicans, and avoid substantical policy.

Hopefully Sanders can address the root of the problem in Flint, and that is NAFTA trade policies brought on by politicians like the Clintons.

[Motown_Johnny]

61. It it is a 2 hour debate, there will be plenty of time for trade policies

as well as mandatory sentencing and welfare reform.

[frylock]

55. They stepped right into this one.

[Arazi]

53. Obama has declared a state of emergency in Flint

while I applaud any spotlight on the disaster there, Flint probably doesn't need the hordes of extras that would pour into town for the debate.

They need those water supplies for their usage, not as fodder for a political campaign


http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/18/us/obama-flint-michigan-water-fema-emergency-disaster.html?_r=0

[Kalidurga]

58. I say bring it...

But, they should bring some cash to Flint as well as the debate. I don't think that the campaigns can do this directly. But, they could ask people watching the debate to send some money to Flint instead of their campaigns. Like hey if you were gonna send twenty to me send fifteen instead send the rest to Flint for water and to help rebuild their infrastructure.

[ljm2002]

60. Grandstanding...

...in the worst way.

I gave her credit when she first mentioned Flint. I was glad she did. Now she is trying to exploit that to her advantage in a hard-fought political campaign. It doesn't sit well. JMNSHO

[Karma13612]

63. absolutely agree. really shameful. eom