Thompson Refuses To Debate At Historically Black College

Former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson has become the fourth leading GOP presidential candidate to shun the PBS debate this month at a historically black college in Baltimore, the Huffington Post has learned.

The debates, moderated by Tavis Smiley, will go on as planned, despite the absence of Thompson, former mayor Rudy Giuliani, former governor Mitt Romney, and Sen. John McCain. Each campaign cited scheduling issues as the reason for their absence. Nevertheless, the rejections underscore the consistent absence of GOP candidates at minority voter forums.

"There is a pattern here," Smiley told the Huffington Post. "When you tell every black and brown request that you get throughout the primary process that 'no, there's a scheduling problem.' That's a pattern... Are we really supposed to believe that all four of these guys couldn't make it because of scheduling?"

The Republican frontrunners' snubbing of Smiley and PBS comes on the heels of their rejection of a debate sponsored by the Spanish-language network Univision (McCain was the only GOP candidate to accept that invitation). This past June, only one Republican presidential candidate, California Rep. Duncan Hunter, showed up at the convention of the National Association of Latino Elected & Appointed Officials.

"It's not just that they are not coming. It's that some of them are visibly insulting us," Cecilia Munoz, vice president of NCLR, told the Politico.

According to Smiley, the Thompson campaign knew about the debate - taking place at 9 pm on September 27 at Morgan State University- well before he declared his candidacy. Former RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman chose the date because it worked best for all the potential candidates, Smiley said.

An official on Thompson's staff called up the PBS host on Monday to deliver the message.

"I told them I thought they were making a grave mistake and I thought they should reconsider," said Smiley. The Thompson campaign did not respond for a request for comment by the time of print.

The five other Republican candidates for president have all committed to the PBS debate and Smiley plans to proceed with the plans - albeit with four empty lecterns on stage.

"Unlike Univision which cancelled their debate, unlike CNN, which changed their date [of the YouTube debate] we are going live," said Smiley. "We are delighted the other five are coming and appreciate their courage for showing up. The beat goes on."

Comments

[ceasenake]

2000 black vote for Gore 90%.

2004 black vote for Kerry 88%.

What do the Repubs have to gain by courting the black vote?

They will only be able to give bad news when they are surely asked about reperations and affirmative action, that they don't support it.

Obama and/or Clinton 44 are going to get 95-97% of the black vote this time so why even pretend there is a chance for the repubs.

Espousing self reliance is not going to win favor there - it's all about government handouts and preferences.

[clumberfeet]

The GOP candidates RSVP said;

Don't taze me bro!

[Warmglobe]

To me it is still a matter of what racism really is...and how some people don't see that it is right to have debates segregated by certain groups like the liberals do.
I also again ask the question..if a liberal refused a debate at an all white college or in front of an all right group, wouldn't the Huffies cheer him as a hero?....isn't that racism by the true meaning (not the liberal twisted version?)...it is totally dishonest.

[freeloader]

Right.

[truesonofliberty]

"But" (says the GOP frontrunner with trembling lips at the National Convention).."but, we're the Big Tent parrty!"

[Ammobob]

Wow, this'll hurt their candidacy.

Let's see, GW got 9% of the Black vote and they're roughly 13% of the overall population. So skipping this Media event will not hurt their electability one bit.

Also, "Tit for Tat"

Dems skipped CBC and Fox

Repubs skip Smiley and PBS

Duplicity is "I" sayeth a HuffPo Whiner

[truesonofliberty]

Love the new math, Bob.

Another product of NCLB!

[Ammobob]

Alittle 'Tit for Tat' going on, eh?

Democrats snubbed the CBC and Fox

Republicans snub Smiley and PBS.

Duplicity is "I" sayeth a HuffPo Whiner.

[truesonofliberty]

Look out!


The 101st NeoCon Chairborne has landed!

"Set your keyboards for spin! We're being overwhelmed by facts!"

[SupremeIdiot]

Oh yeah, I REEEAAALLLYYY hope this comes back to bite these guys on the ass.

Of course it won't draw any blood from any of them

Fred and McCain are already dead.

Giuliani has no heart to begin with.

Mitt? Come on! Can a guy with helmet hair NOT have enough overspray from his FinalNet to have armored his butt in it?

[gardengoddess]

You know that "R" behind the name of all those people? It doesn't really stand for "Republican".

[lornejl]

In honor of Don , the Ho, and the dolphin....

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-232533017787925458&q=don+ho+tiny+bubbles&total=37&start=10&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=3

I'm an so out of here !

[Don the Anti-Terror-Dolphin]

O

O O

Republican

Senator Larry Craig

O O O

O O

O

has found a

new stall mate

O O O

O O

O

the ACLU

O O

O

[LaFeminazi]

ACLU the repugs favorite target.

Just until

They need their help.

Can we now officially call this era

The Age of Hypocrisy

?

[gardengoddess]

Even Rush rushed to the ACLU for help when he was caught ODing on his oxycontin. Of course, he never bothered to mention that on the radio...but then Slimebaugh has always been a coward.

[DavidGetsInvolved]

The gopocrisy of it all.

:)

[Thalia]

They also hate abortion...until they or their mistress (or even wife in one case) needs or wants one.

They also hate perjury, until a Repub commits it.

They also think the president is a scoundrel for not getting bin Laden, even though he was trying to get attention about the issue and was being accused of creating a phony issue and wagging the dog, until Bush doesn't get bin Laden, in fact says he's of little concern, and then veers off to go after his personal nemesis, using bin Laden's attack on the US to do so.

They also hate the government, until their house gets blown to bits by a hurricane or their pols want a war for oil.

And they're big ol' troop supporters, until one runs against Dubya or they follow Bush policy and abuse prisoners and the trail starts leading to the White House, then they're "bad apples."

Or until Bush decides to hide behind a general and use him to continue selling Americans his blood-for-oil-and-glory-and-to-show-dad-up fest.

Repubs have very different standards and rules for themselves than they do for everyone else, needless to say.

[SupremeIdiot]

It's funny, the neoCONs rag on an organization that does ONE thing--Protect civil liberties enumerated in the Constitution, all the while wrapping themselves in the flag and talking in glorious terms about the greatness of America. They then turn around and rape the depth of meaning from the Constitution and yet hide behind the ACLU's skirts when in trouble. Could they be more hypocritical or confused and inconsistent on right/wrong and truth?

Sad, pathetic and immature behavior is the new hallmark of neoCON intellectualism.

[samcerritos]

Today, the real issue in America politics is about demographics, i.e., which race, religion, or socio-economic group will actually vote and, as importantly, which one of these groups will donate the most money towards campaign contributions.

The Republican Party, more so than the Democratic Party, believes fewer African Americans vote than Latinos or other racial groups; therefore, they don't pay as much attention to the African American voting block.

The Jews contribute more money to political campaigns than any other religious group, so both parties pay very close attention to issues directly affecting Jews and Israel.

Demographics was the real issue in the South African political process during the rise of Nelson Mandela (black majority, white minority)and the fall of white South African government; and the birth and death rates of Palestineans vs. Israelis , (Palestinean majority, Jewish minority) i.e., demographics is the heart of the political problems in Israel and Palestine.

Now, America is going through the very same process. As the Latino population grows, and more and more of them vote and contribute to campaigns, their voice will be heard by both Repulicans and Democrats alike. Unlike the Latinos, however, African Americans, Catholics, and other racial groups less prominent in the media, have more severe and immediate internal economic and moral issues to deal with (poverty, lack of jobs, priest pedophile issues, etc.) and, therefore, at this time they are not capable of influencing elections in critical mass sufficient to offset the clout of these other groups.

Someday, this might change; however, demographically speaking, it will not change in the immediate future.

[Don the Anti-Terror-Dolphin]

O

O O

O O O

Although President Bush's nomination of Judge Michael Mukasey has won bipartisan praise, key Senate Democrats have indicated that his confirmation will not go forward unless the White House turns over documents related to the investigation of the firing of a number of US attorneys.

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/politics/bulletin/bulletin_070918.htm

heh... heh...

O O O

O O

O

[peacekitten]

why are those of you on the right so full of hate?

why are you so flat out mean?

what i see of this on these pages from right wing sympathizers is appalling beyond belief.

why do you think it somehow makes you superior to deny an act of kindness to someone in need?

how can you possibly justify the idea that a person has no right to good health simply because they may be poor or down on their luck?

where do you get off thinking that you are entitled to all the benefits of a taxpaying society, yet you are magically exempt from contributing to it because god forbid, someone else may benefit from your contribution besides you? can you not see the hypocrisy of this?

where on god's earth does your arrogance that you have the right to be so cavalier with decisions about life and death come from?

what possible justification do you have for judging someone based on the color of their skin, or their sexual preference, or their gender, or the size of their wallet? none of those things are a valid indication of a person's strength of character or integrity. not one.

i can't for the life of me figure out what could have happened to you to make you so totally unable to have compassion, unable to feel any sense of responsibility towards other living beings, and proud of being so completely lacking in humanity.

you have all the hallmarks of men who beat their wives. unable to see or give any importance to the needs of anyone besides yourselves, your emotional growth has never progressed beyond that of a spoiled, petulant, peevish three year old who thinks that the world owes him because he has graced it with his amazing presence.

my wish for those of you on the right is that you find yourselves having to live with the dire circumstances of the judgments you espouse now, and that you find yourself unable to find a way out, totally dependent on chance for the end of your misery.

[freeloader]

you have all the hallmarks of men who beat their wives. unable to see or give any importance to the needs of anyone besides yourselves, your emotional growth has never progressed beyond that of a spoiled, petulant, peevish three year old who thinks that the world owes him because he has graced it with his amazing presence.
---------------------------------------
WRONG, sounds like your the judge. Grow up lady, aint all people freeks like your friends.

[peacekitten]

you're a waste of space.

your moniker fits you.

and don't you dare lecture me about judgment after all the vile, bitter, unfounded hate you have spewed here.

[peacekitten]

and btw, i must have struck a nerve for you to have picked out the part you did to make your feeble response with.

truth hurts, doesn't it?

[HumeSkeptic]

Grow up lady, aint all people freeks like your friends.-
freeloader
------------

But PK never called you a friend, freak.

Hey, freeloader, want free killing lessons? Blackwater is hiring.

[JaneC]

Hit a nerve did she?

[lornejl]

You post a well thought out, articulate question, and then freeloader answers with that brilliant retort. It speaks volumes.

[HumeSkeptic]

I like freeloader. It makes our job of proving that all Republicans are depraved so much easier.

Go! freeloader.

[WigWamWag]

Peace Kitten, I am sure you mean well but you cannot legislate compassion with out forcing it on those who do not want to be compassionate as yourself. You may be suffering from a strain of good hearted over optimism that is not realistic. It is just possible for most people to be consistently kind and “play nice.” We are not that evolved as a species.

In fact, we are not morally obligated to be our brother's keeper. Altruism only works in theory but not in the real world.

Any form of welfare, entitlements, localized earmarks etc. is a form of economic slavery. That slavery has the shackles of financial supporting policies and practices in which many disagree in ideology.
For example:
1. The fact that taxpayers are forced to support the stupid war is a form of economic and political slavery.
2. The fact that Affirmative Action is allowed to continue is another form of slavery against anyone who does not reap the unmerited benefits. Reverse discriminate is very evident.
3. Having only 2 1/2 or 2 3/4 parties to choose from is a form of slavery to a system that is highly flawed by the actions of those who try to control the party for their own benefit.
4. Both the Republican and Democratic parties are perverted / contorted / misdirected with special interest groups that have very specific agendas that aim to benefit certain predefined demographics.

The political parties overtly pander to these race / religious / economic / profession / trade demographics. Each party has some loud mouths that attempt to demonize their opposition. They really mean to say, “They are bad, so we must be good.” In reality, they all have good and bad characteristics. Fairness gets lost in the shuffle. Wedge issues divide the populace, the whole process begins to be more divisive, and the stench of partisanship and forced loyalty/alliances raises its ugly head.

[WigWamWag]

Some gatekeepers may insist that no one “question the directives of the band wagon’s leader.” Everyone and every group need to be examined closely and be held accountable for all their actions. The process of accountability and oversight is key in forming personal and social responsibility. Some might say that the US has a base of rampant irresponsibility, politically and socially. Watch the US does have is an ever churning propagana machine that aims to control much of the international trade and finacial markets by spinning the presentation and public relations.

Often these very partisan irresponsible special interests within each party do not represent the interests of the huge number of Middle Americans who are disgusted with the very poor choices of candidates from the various political parties. The world deserved much better than what the US and its policies has to offer.

[peacekitten]

As long as there are those who take disproportionately from the economy such as grotesquely overpaid CEOs, your argument about economic slavery in the form of welfare is specious at best.

If welfare truly is as you say, a form of economic slavery, then why not do away with those who suck up the most in dollars of it, and cut it off to corporations? i happen to think we should anyway, because unlike someone who has been wiped out by colossal medical bills, or some other cataclysmic event in their lives, corporations don't need to worry about food and shelter to survive. that money could and should be used for far more good than making greedy, parasitic executives richer.

it is unfortunate that you refuse to accept the concept that sometimes people go through hard times in their lives and need help. leaving them to flounder is the true slavery, not extending a helping hand to show them a way out. it is well nigh impossible to present oneself appropriately for a decent job interview when you are homeless, depressed and hungry.

if we are not going to try and put some sort of compassionate and morally sound social policies in place because we have no real responsibility to do so, then we should do away with the law against murder, perhaps. after all, what is the notion that taking a life is wrong, if not a moral judgment of a kind?

i am sorry that you seem to feel so disconnected from your fellow earthlings. life is not intended to be a spectator sport, nor are we supposed to live as isolated units, oblivous to suffering and indifferent to making life better for all who share it.

[DavidGetsInvolved]

PK - these folks that post here and get the tread all filled with hate are not republicans or conservitives - they are paid to be here.

Nothing will change as long as things remain the same. Some titdbits fron a couple days ago:


TOPIC:

Richardson: "Something Is Wrong When The Patriots Face Stiffer Penalties For Spying...Than Cheney And Bush"

SOME THOUGTHFUL RESPONSES:

Bill Richardson is a dope!

George Bush is a shitforbrains fucking idiot and so are his supporters.

you are garbage

You drink puke for breakfast, candy ass.

Like hell you didn't, this is the link you sent me to , fuckhead,,,

you are a CUNT arianna and i may take out a baseball bat and break my own leg to prove it.

you should retire to, you greek bitch!!

Good thing too, since there's nobody on this planet who would give you the time of day, you swamp thing..

idiots like richardson are bad for the country and have no idea how to defend it

you need to spend less time worrying about bush and his freinds and more time worrying about yourself because you are seriously fucked up

war is hell - millions have died - millions will die defending this country and protecting sorry pieces of shit like you

Only when you replace him with a murdering psychopathic failure seeking clusterfuck!

i eat at the y a couple of times a week and i lick it

ewee

Licker and poker in the front ...

backdoor for exit only!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--- the thoughtful intellect on display is _________________________.

[Don the Anti-Terror-Dolphin]

O

a nice

big chunk of

gubmint cheese

O O O

O O

O

and a herring

O O

O

[Don the Anti-Terror-Dolphin]

red

O

[LaFeminazi]

The GOP looked out and saw.

The Chinese madarins dream of corporate communism.

And said.

That's just what we need.

Time to be worried if you are not one of the 0.01%.

[Don the Anti-Terror-Dolphin]

with no

civil rights

O O

O

[speakingtruth2power]

We are one false flag operation away from murdering another million more Muslims and the MIC owned MSM wants US to focus on this bunch of losers?