Clinton Accepts Fox News Debate

Risking the ire of progressive activists, Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign announced that it has accepted a debate to air on Fox News on February 11, according to her chief strategist Mark Penn.

"There is an enormous interest in these debates an clamoring on the part of the Democratic Party for them," said Clinton's spokesperson Howard Wolfson. "We have not had a large number in which two people have participated. We've had multi-candidate debates... the fact is Senator Clinton has enjoyed the opportunity to debate and get her message out. Certainly as we move to the next exciting day of this nomination calendar, voters want the opportunity to see these two candidates compete against each other."

Though Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama have frequently appeared on Fox News for interviews, Clinton may be debating alone. Bill Burton, a spokesman for Obama, said that no plans existed as of now for his boss to participate in upcoming forums.

"As of right now, there are no debates on our schedule at all," Burton told the Huffington Post. "We'll figure out our schedule, including any debates, soon."

When the Democratic candidates declined to participate in a FOX-sponsored debate last April, their choice was readily greeted by Democratic bloggers and party activists, who did not wish to legitimize the station as a neutral political forum. Officials at Fox News were apoplectic.

"The candidates that can't face Fox, can't face Al Qaeda," said Roger Ailes, the Fox News CEO.

During a campaign conference call on Tuesday, Wolfson defended the campaign's decision to accept the Fox News debate, citing the reach the network had in the Chesapeake area (the debate will be held in Washington D.C.) and prior appearances by both Clinton and Obama on station.

"Given that Senator Obama had been on the network, we've been on the network, and that the offer is a good one for this debate in terms of this upcoming primary, it made sense to accept it," he said.

The announcement by the Clinton campaign comes as both candidates are acknowledging that the Democratic primary fight will likely continue well after the results of Tuesday's voting is known. Earlier in the day, Clinton aides let it be known that the Senator would participate in two other February debates, one on ABC, the other on CNN.

"In a one-one race it is important for voters to see the [candidates] side by side and see the differences as opposed to seeing them at rallies and big events," said Penn. "We feel very good about making sure that there is a side by side comparison."

Comments

[FogBelter]

If I were Obama I would accept one Debate ... Not on Fox News ... and use the debate to dispel the myth of the glory of the Clinton Presidency.

Bring up NAFTA and WTO and how they cost American jobs ... How the Telecommunications Act undermined American Journalism ... How Clinton ignored the Genocide in Rwanda much like Bush has ignored the Genocide in Darfur ... How the Clinton prosperity was due to the Dot Com Ponzi Scheme and irresponsible running of the Fed by Alan Greenspan ... How Welfare Reform made life more difficult for lower income Americans and forced many single mothers to work multiple jobs, leaving their children unsupervised and in peril ... How Bill Clinton's signing of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act revoked regulations on Banks that had been in place since the Great Depression, leading directly to the Economic Problems we are facing today ...

Then ask Hillary, based on all of those detrimental aspects of the Clinton years, what kind of experience does she actually have and should the American people expect more of the same.

Any Debate going forward should end this battle and move Obama to the nomination ... he should prepare to deliver the coup de grace to Hillary's campaign.

[bjames]

I think its pretty clear why Hillary is comfortable with fox, Didn't Rupert Murdock throw a fundraiser for her last year?

[Buddhabman]

Hillary is backtracking on the unwritten rule to ice out FOX Noise. That is shameful and telling, just like Florida and Michagan.

She needs the free news cycle time a debate can provide, as Hillary really can't compete on a rally coverage basis.

It's getting hard to beleive that the Obama campaign is starting to put a real squeeze on the Clintons.

Think about it. Did anyone really think Obama would be in the game after Super Tuesday. All you Obama cynics should at least realize the force of this campaign. Think about why it has gotten here.

Obama 08

[DownwithFearMongers]

HILLARY CLINTON VOTED FOR THE WAR IN IRAQ.
(JUST LIKE THE REPUBLICANS)
HILLARY CLINTON VOTED TO CALL THE IRANIAN GUARD TERRORISTS.
(JUST LIKE THE REPUBLICANS)
HILLARY CLINTON USED FEAR OF TERRORISM TO GET WHAT SHE WANTED.
(JUST LIKE THE REPUBLICANS)
BILL CLINTON HAS USED RACIST INNUENDO'S TO AWAKEN CLOSET RACISM IN SIMPLE MINDS.
(JUST LIKE THE REPUBLICANS)
THE CLINTONS SEND OUT THEIR FASCIST ATTACK DOGS TO SHAME EVERYONE THAT DOESNT AGREE WITH THEM.
(JUST LIKE THE REPUBLICANS)
And now they want to legitimize an evil network like Fox!
THE CLINTONS ARE REPUBLICANS WITH DEMOCRATIC MASKS!!!

[Tankan]

Should be real interesting to hear Hillary and John McCain debate live on Fox!

Obama will busy himself with more important matters. if he's wise!

[hugs4u]

Clinton is running out of money so sure she would love lots of debates are the free publicity. When she was in the lead and had lots of money it was a different story. but she is always changing songs anyhow isn't she. Like agreeing with the rest to stay out of Michigan and Florida, but then singing different tune now about it, because the rest kept their word and she didnt and won and now wants to count the delegates.

[wndrwrthg]

She fails to realize that if people are sick up and fed with her now, then the additional exposure over the course of the campaign will make even the most die-hard dem vote for mcCain.

[longislandlol]

Remember- and keep it in mind at all times-- FOX wants to spin her in a good light- they'll do anything to place her against McCain-- anything..­. free airspace, flattery,; she's shaking hands with the devil; it's all in the devils' details...

[bodi1313]

I think it's a brilliant move on the part of Hillary. If Obama refuses, he looks like a coward. Hillary can turn up alone and get an hour or two of a forum to express her positions. That much commercial airtime on Fox channel would what? 50 million dollars.
Believe it or not, millions of people watch Fox news everyday.

[buddyd]

I have never watched Fox news as much as I have durning these elections. They have been reporting the numbers without Bias..I can't watch anyone on MSNBC But Dan Abrams..Je­ff Toobin is the only Bright spot on CNN..LAst night Fox did and outstanding job of reporting.­.I'm Done with the Obama networks..­I am one of the small % of African Americans who's still in Hillary's Camp..It's going to be close and I will support whoever wins the primary. I only want fair coverage..

[Mauiloa]

This action demands a comment!

Perhaps more than any other act of desperation made by Hillary's campaign, this one is the most loathesome.

For two decades, this American version of the old Soviet stage organ, Pravda, has stood for nothing but Republican partisan propaganda.

During that time wimpy Democrats have consistently legitimized Fox as an objective news organization by appearing on their programs. For some, it has been an exercise in egoism, as some Dems believed that they could better the Foxistas. But like gamblers in Vegas, they should have realized that they could never beat "the house".

Instead, these Dems have helped this "fair and balanced" organization indoctrinate racist, slow-witted and gullible Americans throughout the years; to the point where they've come to believe that a record 3.1 trillion dollar budget is cutting taxes and giving tax breaks to the wealthiest people in society is compassionate conservatism.

Do the Hillary-handlers need more than Roger Ailes statement that "the candidates that can't face Fox, can't face Al Qaeda" to realize that his brainless throwing of red meat like this is what this network is all about?

Shame on lame-strategist Mark Penn and shame, shame on Hillary Clinton for accepting this insult to Americans who realize the terrible damage to truth and journalism fomented by Fox News Network.

[ALMAL]

Long ago i stopped to watch FOX NEWS,
even after 2004 i continied with CNN and MSNBC,
but,like month ago i started to watch FOX agaain.
May be it is becouse i know,
what to expect from them,
It is true,we are not agree on everything,
but they don't ask me to.

[timregler]

Barrack Obama will be the nominee, and Bill and Hillary Clinton, and their most vocal supporters will be the main reasons why. We don't want the same old character assassination tactics. We want a party that's actually connected to the voters. We don't find that in the Clinton campaign.

[robeson]

Obama should decline unless Homer Simpson or Peter Griffen are the moderators. These two are clearly the intellectual heavyweights at Fox.

[FlowerGirl]

I was once in a college debate. The moderator was asnother student and a friend, but I was embarassed when he couldn't resist taking sides. I doubt that most politicians would be bothered by such help, however. So it isn't surprising that Hillary would like Murdock's FOX to moderate for her. If Obama goes into that lion's den, he will have a hard fight gettinng any points made.