So is the debate tonight the one that Bernie wasn't going to attend out of "Principle"

[liberal N proud]

[Ned_Devine]

1. I believe it was because it wasn't originally sanctioned by the DNC

I've been busy with work, so I don't know if this one has been officially sanctioned by the party. Has it?

[gcomeau]

4. DNC agreed yesterday to sanction more debates. Including this one.

So he's in... since now they can't later pull a "you participated in an unsanctioned debate" maneuver.

[99th_Monkey]

14. Good! It was damn smart of Bernie to not take that bait.

But I'm sure Hillarians are sadly disappointed they have been deprived of a new
"Aa-Haa! Bernie's in an unsanctioned debate, so forfeits his right to be in any more debates!"
talking point.

[NowSam]

2. The debate tonight is now sanctioned

by Hillary's pawn, DWS, and is therefore green lit for attendance by candidates without reprisals. Bernie also negotiated for 4 more debates and got them although Hillary won't debate in NY for some reason.

[bettyellen]

5. I am curious what difference the location makes, since the audience is national?

Does Sanders feel it will help with local voters, or is it symbolic somehow? Honest question.

[Fumesucker]

15. NY is closer than average to Wall Street

I think Hillary wishes to avoid talking about Wall Street and it's a natural topic of discussion in NY.

[Blue_Adept]

17. It's a natural topic of discussion everywhere

[bettyellen]

18. Bernie brings Wall Street to the absolute forefront every time he speaks- so this is symbolic.

I thought he was hoping to win NY or something, but I guess that is not it.

[dreamnightwind]

19. It makes a lot of difference

The in-person audience, for one thing, also the questions are often tailored to the interests of the host state or the state with an upcoming primary (usually those two thingss are the same).

[Uncle Joe]

28. Precisely and Hillary only became "anxious" about having more debates particularly this one

in New Hampshire after Bernie started catching up to and eventually leading her in the polls of New Hampshire.

[NowSam]

23. The energy of the house audience and

both candidates claim NY as home.

[MoonRiver]

21. Bernie resisted doing it, after he pushed for it, because he realized he sucks at debates.

DWS just went along with what both candidates finally agreed to, as we all knew she would. Looking forward to watching Bernie lose, again.

[NowSam]

22. I think he is great at debates.

I believe he is sincere and has great vision.

I believe she comes across as a total phony and completely unbelievable.

I think he won every single debate. But I don't let the M$M tell me what the result is. I think for myself.

[MoonRiver]

24. I have a doctorate and participated in many debates during high school and college.

I don't let ANYBODY think for me, cause I have a well functioning brain! And I am 100% sure Hillary won every debate and Bernie is a very poor debater. But we will just have to agree to disagree.

[NowSam]

25. I have an associate degree and eyes to see

and your doctorate doesn't impress me nearly as much as my sense of wonder as how any thinking person who cares about their fellow human beings could ever support your candidate. Yes, we can agree to disagree.

[Nite Owl]

27. Agree

Bernie's authenticity shines. He answers every question completely and I think people appreciate that. Can't think of any debate he lost.

[NowSam]

30. :) eom

[thesquanderer]

32. He resisted doing ONE debate in the worst possible venue for him...

...in order to get three MORE debates in places where they could potentially do him more good.

Debates favor the underdog, and New Hampshire is the one and only state in which he is currently expected to win handily, so a NH debate favors Hillary. He didn't want to give that up without getting something in return.

See also http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511133521

As for Bernie "losing again," do you really think he would have come from 30 points behind to finish within 2 tenths of a percent in Iowa if there had been no debates? He may not be the world's best debater, but he's still managed to benefit from them nicely.

[Kip Humphrey]

3. ...of adhering to the DNC rules as set forth by DWS? Yes. The DNC has sanctioned this debate so

Bernie will attend.

[closeupready]

6. Because yeah, taking millions of $$$ from Wall Street interests is principled.

[NorthCarolina]

10. Might not be principled, but it sure as hell is profitable.

I'd love to suffer with their bank account.

[immoderate]

7. Right. He wouldn't go against the rules.

It had to be OK'd by the committee (Hillary) first.

--imm

[Warren Stupidity]

8. Yes this whole sticking to principles thing is

such bullshit. We need a candidate who has no principles.


Nope and No Change 2016!

Amirite?

[Ed Suspicious]

26. +1 What an excuse! This guy wants us to believe he has principles! After a lifetime of fighting

for the lower and middle class eschewing vast riches and easy campaign money from corporate interests, you know this guy is on the take.

[ErisDiscordia]

9. Do you have a point?

Because the only principle involved was contract law. A contract set up by HRC and DWS, who I believe are both lawyers....one is, certainly.

[earthside]

11. Sanders wanted more debates, more than just one more ...

... and he got them.

Looks to me like his adherence to principle paid off.

It’s on: We’re getting four more Democratic debates
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2016/02/03/its-on-looks-like-were-getting-four-more-democratic-debates/

On CNN just now, Bernie Sanders was asked by CNN’s Wolf Blitzer whether the two campaigns had agreed on upcoming debates. Blitzer noted that Sanders confirmed earlier today that he would be attending tomorrow’s MSNBC debate, and asked Sanders whether the Clinton camp had agreed to the three more debates he had wanted in exchange for agreeing to tomorrow’s affair:

BLITZER: You now say you will be participating in that Democratic presidential debate tomorrow night. Did you get the commitments from Secretary Clinton you wanted about three additional Democratic presidential debates down the road?

SANDERS: Yes. To the best of my knowledge we have. We didn’t get all the commitments that I wanted. We got California, we got Michigan — and that’s good. I wanted a debate in New York City….but Secretary Clinton has not agreed to do that. But I believe we’re looking at a debate in Pennsylvania…but I do believe we have her commitment, as I understand it, for three additional debates.

[kath]

12. Way to totally twist the situation.

Sadly, way too typical here.

[Goblinmonger]

13. That's a pretty weak sauce attempt to slam Sanders.

I wasn't sanctioned by the DNC. Now it is. The fact that it wasn't is the "principle" that he was standing on when he said he wasn't going to attend.

[Gamecock Lefty]

16. He decided to attend . . .

in hoping that he wins at least one of the debates with our future Madam President!!!

[H2O Man]

20. Please.

[Ken Burch]

29. There's no issue to attack Bernie on with this either way.

Why are you dwelling on something that doesn't matter.

[Snotcicles]

31. Another silly drive-by. nt