Hartford Foundation donates $1 million for effort to host presidential debate

[George II]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by In_The_Wind (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Hartford Courant

By PETER MARTEKA HARTFORD COURANT | SEP 02, 2019 | 5:00 PM

An effort to host a presidential or vice presidential debate in Hartford during the 2020 campaign has received a $1 million boost from the Hartford Foundation of Public Giving.

The foundation committed the funds to the local organizing committee of the Commission on Presidential Debates, which is hoping to secure the city as a site for one of the 2020 debates. Hartford, the only applicant from the Northeast, has proposed two possible sites for the debate — the Bushnell and the Connecticut Convention Center. Hartford hosted a debate during the 1996 presidential campaign when Bill Clinton faced Bob Dole at the Bushnell.

The Foundation’s board of directors approved the funding for civic engagement events and activities related to the debate. Hartford is among the six U.S. cities that are finalists to host one of the four presidential and vice presidential debates that will take place in October 2020. The foundation believes if Hartford is selected, “the region will garner an extraordinary level of national and international public and media attention.”

“We believe that our financial resources and community leadership can maximize this critical moment to model truly inclusive and respectful civic education and engagement around the issues and challenges that will be front and center of the 2020 presidential campaign,” Foundation President Jay Williams said in a release. “The Hartford Foundation has an opportunity to lead debate-related activities in the year preceding the October 2020 event. Taking on this role advances the Foundation’s goal to achieve greater racial, geographic and economic inclusion.”

Read more: https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-news-presidential-debate-foundation-grant-20190902-r5idznswczhylpplxgrgp6mdje-story.html

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Any debate with Trump is a farce

This is a waste of good civic resources, media time, and sanity

Don't debate that moron

Recall how he stalked Hillary around the stage. Wierdest debate behavior ever. Bad as Krushchev banging his shoe on the table.

[OneBlueDotBama]

2. VP Debate

If the dem VP candidate is female, what will pence do, bring mother up on the stage?

[George II]

3. That would be funny, what if she tries to shake his hand?

[OneBlueDotBama]

4. pence would break out in a cold sweat &

call franklin graham for advice...he'd have to withdraw...

[BlueIdaho]

5. Hard to imagine history's laziest President

Will drag himself away from his TV set long enough to debate anyone.

[kiri]

6. Hartford Foundation--agendas?

The Hartford Foundation is not an entirely benign outfit. Its ED Jay Williams was Deputy Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, nominated by Obama.
https://www.wksu.org/news/story/36785

But...major backers also fund the "crisis pregnancy centers" throughout Connecticut. Williams himself is strongly anti-choice, and the Hartford Foundation has fought against Planned Parenthood for 60 years. Recall the Griswold case--from Connecticut 1965. Birth control!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Griswold_v._Connecticut

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

7. Prediction: Trump is not going to debate, not even once.

"It's rigged."

"It will keep me away from my presidential duties."

"I don't have to debate. Everyone knows I'd win, just like I won all the debates against Crooked Hillary."

"I've already got a tee time scheduled."

[In_The_Wind]

8. Locking. Please continue this discussion in GD or the Connecticut Group.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1042