Dems Sign On For More Debates — Will Katie Get Her Day?

It looks like Katie Couric may finally get her chance to moderate a Presidential debate. ABC News' Ed O'Keefe reports,

Both candidates have accepted an ABC News debate in Philadelphia and Obama has accepted a similar invitation from CBS News to debate at a location to be determined in North Carolina.

The CBS News debate would be their first debate of the 2008 campaign season.

Couric is, notoriously, the only prominent anchor, on cable or network news, to not moderate a debate in this extensive primary season (there have been 20 debates thus far). CBS News was forced to cancel their planned December debate due to complications from the Writers' Guild of America strike, though the New York Observer also speculated that CBS was reluctant to shell out the money necessary for a primetime debate.

Comments

[Manx]

I don't need to watch a Couric moderated debate. I already know the candidate's favorite colors.

[nazirmo]

As I have written about in my books, I first joined Trinity United Church of Christ nearly twenty years ago. I knew Rev. Wright as someone who served this nation with honor as a United States Marine, as a respected biblical scholar, and as someone who taught or lectured at seminaries across the country, from Union Theological Seminary to the University of Chicago. He also led a diverse congregation that was and still is a pillar of the South Side and the entire city of Chicago. It's a congregation that does not merely preach social justice but acts it out each day, through ministries ranging from housing the homeless to reaching out to those with HIV/AIDS.

Most importantly, Rev. Wright preached the gospel of Jesus, a gospel on which I base my life. In other words, he has never been my political advisor; he's been my pastor. And the sermons I heard him preach always related to our obligation to love God and one another, to work on behalf of the poor, and to seek justice at every turn.

OK . So let it get right. 20 years you have known the preacher and had enough times to go listen to him speak when you went to the church. And you are claiming that you never got to listen to those bad comments from your preacher. How can one take your word on this ? It simply does not make any sense to me. You say that he has not been your political advisor but a pastor. If you are so good at leadership and knowing right from wrong then how come you failed to get the feel of your pastor ( his profile and teachings ) long ago ? You blame Hillary for authorizing the Iraq war - you attribute it to her lack of leadership skills. On the other hand here you have been going to a church for 20 years and you are saying that you never listened to your preachers wrong sermons. Give me a break. It must be a fairy tale.

[mcfried]

AAARG! Really, sorry not Katie (although meh) but another debate, this is beyond painful. Please end our suffering PA, although like TX and Ohio I fear you won't.

[happytrails]

Why would any serious candidate allow a NEWS-READER to ask debate questions? What questions?

What did you have for breakfast?
What is your favorite color?
What car do you drive?

Allowing the Iraq-war cheerleader to frame questions for a Democratic Party debate is absurd and won't give voters any more information than we already have and will probably result in many smashed TV sets.

Please, a debate hosted by someone who THINKS!

[angst2000]

I don't know about you but I really enjoy watching the debates. But I would skip this one if she's the moderator. There is a reason why it is notoriously known that she is the only one who hasn't yet moderated a debate. Whatever the reason may be, I hope CBS sticks with it.

[enoughalready13]

I hope Katie is not the moderator - no one can stand her!

[ahornick]

If the MSM hasn't asked the right questions by now, why should we expect it this time?

And what new information could the candidates possibly impart to the public that we haven't already heard a dozen times?

And if their issues and positions weren't clear the first 30 times, what makes them think we will understand it on the 31st go round?

The only purpose for yet another "debate" is that the MSM hopes there will be a gaffe to jump on almost as much as each of the candidates hope their opponent makes one.

[rojo7449]

CBS should save it's money. Although, if you notice, the Clinton campaign has still not agreed to participate in this debate. Just maybe Hillary hasn't been able to stop laughing long enough. Please SNL, pick up on this theme and go to town with it!!!!

[DoAsISay]

All her questions will begin, "Some people would say....."

Remember the Elizabeth Edwards interview on 60 minutes, after she announced her cancer recurrence?

Q1. Senator Obama, some people would say you are lucky you are a black man.

Q2. Senator Clinton, some peope would say you are lucky you are married to Bill.

And what exactly will be different in any of these debates? Can't they just replay the previous ones for the people in PA?

[jsinclair]

Yes! That's exactly how she'll introduce dirt and innuendo (primarily at Obama--the Clintons have successfully intimidated the media, and Couric doesn't want to look "soft" on Obama. She's a Serious Journalist!"

But, yes, she'll introduce all kinds of stupid questions with the favorite, "Many people are saying,...." or "Some people wonder....." or "Commentators have said that....."

I dread the sound bites the following week.

[RobertaInCT]

Good, now Couric has her chance to ask a lot of goofy and meaningless questions of the candidates rather that dealing with the bread and butter issues facing Americans. I for one will pass. I have had enough of debates and for that matter the candidates as well................

[GetoffMylawn]

Katie Couric can have a dance off with the candidates and then take us on a tour of their homes. Then she will smile so big her face will fold back on itself.

[DoAsISay]

Don't give her any ideas. If she starts opening Bill's closets, ......................

[imsosure]

Katie will get her day, no one lives forever.

[Zyzzygowski]

How is it possible that CBS cancelled it's debate because of the writer's strike? Doesn't Katie write her own questions? Give me a break. Any BLOGGER posting here can come up with twenty questions to ask the candidates. The reality is half the questions asked in previous debates have been repeats, or variations on the same theme.

I'll go with the speculation that CBS is too cheap.

[speakingtruth2power]

More likely, too chickenshit!

[InofTouch]

It was cancelled because the Obama, Clinton and Edwards didn't want to be shown crossing the line...should be noted that CBS News division was on strike.

[NeverRepublican]

Why not let Noam Chomsky and Bill Moyers run the showW They are by FAR AND AWAY MORE EDUCATED AND RESPONSIBLE than this so-called idiot who thinks she is a reporter.

Noam Chomsky and Billl Moyers for President.

[BlueBoomer]

Do We Have To???...

Have Couric, I mean...
Is there a lamer (sic) "journalist" alive. (There are worse ones, but not "lamer", except maybe Campbell Brown.)

I already had to take a deep breath to watch Couric informally interview Joe Biden a few weeks ago (ironically, I had just told a friend that if she ever interviewed Biden, whom I supported for POTUS, it would be a hard decision as to whether or not to watch it... but then I was faced with the decision, and caved when it turned out to be a YouTube cam, and I didn't have to actually watch HER...whew!)

But an entire debate?...Geez!...Puleeze!

Aren't we being tortured enough with all the BS that this campaign has become, without adding insipid to insult and injury?

[ArchAngel]

Anyone but her! She is cut from the same DNA as Billary!!!!!