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

[Brainvoyager]

As I recall, the leading Republican candidates refused to participate in the BET debate held on the east coast this past fall.

[Cunningham]

Hillary doesn't have the $$$ to run ads like Obama does. That's why she wants as many debates as she can get. Obama has money coming in from both new and loyal grassroots supporters every day and is able to get his message out through paid ads and campaign stops. Hillary doesn't have that kind of Joe Public support.

[tanmany2k]

Obama wants to bring black, white, gay, straight, hispanics, republicans, independents and progressives together to work for a better future for us all. I am an Obama volunteer and I know that many of my Republican friends are enthused by Obama. I don't want a debate between these 2 at all. But I know there are plenty of people that will be impressed by Obama if he had a sit down with Greta (Clinton supporter but she will be fair) or Shepard Smith (he is a progressive and would probably do a great interview) or just Alan Colmes one on one with Obama. Fox's ratings are very high and Barack can win this thing with the exposure that he would recieve on Fox. JMO

[OtayPanky]

Here's a question to ponder:

If Hillary thinks a debate a week is such a good idea, why didn't she propose it MONDAY?

The answer is dead simple.

She thinks it's a good idea ONLY because she didn't run away with Super Tuesday, and all the momentum since South Carolina has been with Obama...closing the gap in the national polls, tying her for number of delegates captured, etc.

Had Hillary scored significantly bigger than Obama on Super Tuesday, does ANYONE think she would have invited Obama to have a second chance on national TV?

Frankly, these two have pretty much said everything they're going to say, to each other and about each other, too. Right now Obama's big job is to give a lot of people a fuller look at him, as we move through March. He can do a better job of that alone, than sitting at a table with Hillary.

[CaptainVideo]

I hope that even if the Presidential race is between Obama and McCain, Obama refuses to debate him on FOX. One should never miss the opportunity to dissrespect FOX.

[CaptainVideo]

If Hillary wants to debate on FOX, let her debate Robert Murdoch. Murdoch has raised funds for her Senatorial campaign and she owes him.

[kennedy]

OBAMA IS IN BED WITH REZKO

OBAMA IS COUSINS WITH BUSH AND CHENEY.

AND YOU OBAMA PEOPLE ARE VOTING FOR A CON MAN, A USED CAR SALESMAN.

I AM FEELING SICK TO MY STOMACH THE WAY I DID IN 2000 AND 2004 WITH BUSH. YOU PEOPLE ARE SELLING AMERICA OUT TO BUSH II.

[kennedy]

ONE IRAQ VOTE IN 2005 IS LISTED ( THERE ARE MORE) WHERE OBAMA WAS A NO SHOW TO VOTE ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.

AND IN 2007 ALONE, THE VOTES OBAMA WASN'T PRESENT FOR & LOOK HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE:

04/18/2005 Future Military Funding for Iraq Amendment NV

07/26/2007 Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act NV

07/26/2007 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations NV

07/26/2007 Border Fence and Customs Appropriations NV

07/26/2007 REAL ID Funding NV

07/20/2007 Student Loan Lender Subsidy Cuts and Student Grants

09/27/2007 State Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization NV

09/10/2007 Bridge Repair Funding NV

09/07/2007 Student Loan Lender Subsidy Cuts and Student Grants NV


09/06/2007 Prohibiting U.S. Assistance for Groups that Support Coercive Abortion

10/30/2007 Amtrak Reauthorization NV

10/25/2007 Amtrak Federal Subsidy Limits NV

10/23/2007 Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies NV

10/18/2007 Prohibiting Funds for Groups that Perform Abortions NV

10/16/2007 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2008 NV

10/03/2007 Border Fence and Customs Appropriations NV

10/01/2007 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008

10/18/2007 Prohibiting Funds for Groups that Perform Abortions

10/30/2007 Amtrak Reauthorization

11/08/2007 Water Resources Development Act of 2007 NV


11/07/2007 Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies NV

11/01/2007 Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (CHIP)

12/14/2007 Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) NV

12/13/2007 Cap on Income to Qualify for Farm Subsidies NV

12/11/2007 Government Sponsored Farm Insurance Policies

12/18/2007 Inclusion of Iraq Operations Funding with the Consolidated Appropriations NV

12/18/2007 Inclusion of Consolidated Appropriations NV

12/14/2007 Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) NV

12/13/2007 Energy Act of 2007 NV

[angel66]

Obama supporters are delusional hypocrites.

Obama has APPEARED ON FOX TWICE THIS PAST MONTH.

He also BOUGHT SUPER BOWL AD TIME that all you phonies were watching all day Sunday.

It's this kind of Kos bullshit that's going to drive people away from Obama. Knock it off.

[Ginzaman]

I know there's no freaking chance in hell this will ever happen. But since Hillary brought it up, I'll say it.

In other more civilized countries, they have (big shock) ACTUAL debates. Example: the last French election. Picture Sakorzy and his opponent facing each other for one hour. No audience, cheerleaders, network propaganda for Hillary. Instead, two candidates face each other with two moderators in the middle. The hour is split up into segments (one topic per segment). Then, no one interrupts them during that segment (unless necessary). Then, onto the next segment. Pretty damn impressive, eh?
And, all debate time is free. As a long-term expat, I've seen for myself that yes, this actually does work. You can have far more informative and successful elections this way.

Now, if you agree with the above, tell me with a straight face why the American system is better.

[kennedy]

Teenage_indepeant
AMERICA WILL ELECT THE FIRST WOMAN PRESIDENT BECAUSE SHE IS BETTER THAN OBAMA ON EVERY ISSUE. SHE HAS MORE EXPERIENCE ON EVERY ISSUE AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF AND MY FAMILY ARE SO EXCITED TO SEE HER AS THE FIRST WOMAN PRESIDENT!

WHAT ARE PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO HAVE HATRED IN YOUR HEARTS FOR THE SENATOR CLINTON AND FOR WOMEN GOING TO DO WHEN SHE IS THE NEXT PRESIDENT? SHAME ON YOU!

[midtown]

Read what Al Giordano says about this at http://ruralvotes.com/thefield/?paged=2

"Will Debate for Food!"

I can’t remember a time when the frontrunner in a primary wanted more debates with his or her rival. Or is the Clinton camp’s call for a debate-a-week really just a reflection of what we’ve noted here:

The Clinton campaign is flat out of money after today’s primaries and caucuses. It won’t be able to afford to advertise on TV sufficiently in Louisiana, Washington state, Nebraska, Maine, Virginia, Maryland, Washington DC, Wisconsin or Hawaii with 444 delegates at stake in the next two weeks. The gas tank is empty. So the only way she can get on TV is on the coattails of Obama’s ratings? That’s funny.

My guess: Obama will agree to occasional debates - one, maybe two a month - but, really, meeting up once a week is something that people do when they date. People might begin to talk, y’know?

Memo to Mark Penn: Wouldn’t the candidate’s time be better spent, um, fundraising?

[1will]

Most Foxnews viewers will not vote for Hillary or Obama but since the Democrats have pandered to every Demographic in America except Conservatives I guess we were due.
At least the candidates will get some intelligent questions instead of a Left Wing Cheeleader throwing softballs at them all night.

[dr4Will]

you little sick Clinton haters can't stand a women with courage--you want to bow down to the black candidate--you are pathetic - fox should be heard ,even if Ali-Bama is afraid!!

[kennedy]

HILLARY WINS ARIZONA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!