Hillary gets a half hour of free air time on ABC all over VA/DC/MD since Obama refused ABC debate

[Herman Munster]

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=5843

Hillary to Participate Live in ABC7/POLITICO Candidate Forum
Obama Rejects Debate Invitation In Advance Of Chesapeake Primary
Voters in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia will be able to watch "The ABC7/POLITICO Candidate Forum: An interview with Hillary Clinton" Monday night on the eve of Tuesday's "Chesapeake Primary."

Initially, an invitation was sent to the both the Obama and Clinton campaigns to participate in a debate sponsored by The Politico and ABC7. Senator Obama, however, declined to participate in a debate with Senator Clinton in advance of Tuesday’s primary.

"We're disappointed that Senator Obama would deny the voters of Washington, Maryland and Virginia an opportunity to see the candidates debate side by side before they head to the polls on Tuesday," said Clinton campaign spokesman Mo Elleithee. "Senator Clinton is happy that she will have the opportunity to participate in this forum regardless. The voters deserve no less."

The forum will air live from the ABC7 studios in Rosslyn, Virginia from 7-7:30pm ET Monday on ABC7 and News Channel 8 in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, and will be streamed live on Politico.com. ABC7 will also make the feed available to all ABC stations around the country.

ABC7’s Leon Harris and Politico’s editor-in-chief John Harris will conduct the interview. Additionally, viewers will be able to submit questions in advance online at Politico.com and wjla.com.

[Aptastik]

1. Why did he decline? n/t

[VarnettaTuckpocket]

2. Fraidy Cat nt

[Seeker30]

4. He had not had enough time to figure out where he stands on issues

[Iceburg]

6. He has great difficulty in debate situations ...better to lie low under the radar/nt

[FARAFIELD]

8. Why should he?

He has nothing to gain, I was hoping he wouldnt and was smart enough to. Debating just pins him down, and gives him air time(the type he doesnt need) If you were a candidate that could get crowds and votes what would you rather do, spend a bunch of time preparing for a debate and debating or getting face time with crowds and coverage. Since she is short of funds it makes sense to her but not to him. Its a political move and a good one.

[griffi94]

14. god knows

we wouldn't want him to pin himself down by answering questions at a debate...hell what if he
came off looking like like he didn't know what he was doing.....that can do serious damage to any dear leader lol

[Tennessee Gal]

23. "Debating just pins him down"

Well, we can't have that!



:rofl:

[FARAFIELD]

46. WHy should he be pinned down

Locked into showing up at such and such a time on such and such a date. Unless you conflated the meaning of the previous posts as pinned down meaning answering questions. if thats what you think I meant then read again.

[nonconformist]

41. Because he sucks at debating... you have to have a keen grasp of the issues to debate effectively.

[jackson_dem]

47. He is afraid Hillary would beat him. This is who we want to nominate to fight for us?

[in_cog_ni_to]

54. He's afraid the people will see right through him, like some do already.

Hillary is MUCH better at debating than Obama and he knows it. He's afraid of her.

[napi21]

3. WHY did Obama decline? I know it's probably been a PIA for

all the candidates doing all the debates this year, but it doesn't make sense to me that he should say no!

[adapa]

5. Thank YOU!, What wonderful news-!!

[Radical Activist]

7. When does Obama get his free 1/2 hour?

I guess they don't care about equal time. What was all that stuff I read about how the media hates Hillary?

Sure, half her coverage is negative but she also gets the most coverage. The media is obsessed with talking about her and has been from the start.

[Iceburg]

10. Probably part of the debate offer ..."Should your opponent decline bla bla bla "/nt

[NastyRiffraff]

17. Obama COULD have had his air time.

He was invited. He refused. You can't legitimately complain about not being able to participate in anything when you refuse the opportunity to do so.

I get that Obama says he'd rather campaign "face to face" with his preferred method...making uplifting speeches. But he could have reached more people who perhaps don't go to rallys with this format. Unfortunately, he's not that good at debates.

I'd LOVE to see both candidtes together do a Town Hall meeting like HIllary did just before Super Tuesday. But I can't see Obama agreeing to that, either.

[Radical Activist]

36. Its self serving blackmail on ABC's part.

They can say its for the public but the modern talking point debate format is always shallow. Its a show for ratings. If they were interested in serving the public they would give both candidates more than 1/2 hour free time on their own, regardless of whether there's a debate.

[jackson_dem]

48. Obama gave VA, MD, and DC voters the bird

ABc has no obligation to rescue Obama. Obama had a chance to debate. He wussed out. Hillary didn't and will benefit from half hour of free airtime while Obama is speaking to 10,000 already converted people somewhere.

[napi21]

22. No free 1/2 hour for Barack. HE made the decision to turn down

participating in the debate. I have no idea why, but the invitation was extended to BOTH candidates. He turned his half down!

[Leopolds Ghost]

44. No, now that they offered Hillary her own PRIVATE 1/2 hour they "1/2" to do so for Obama.

Says so right in the Fairness Doctrine.

[ArkySue]

49. There is no longer a "Fairness Doctrine."

Obama's favorite President, Reagan, repealed it back in the early 80's.
So sorry.

[jackson_dem]

50. The Fairness Doctrine being repealed was one of the "changes" Reagan brought

[MADem]

37. He can have his free half hour WITH Senator Clinton!!!!

He has REFUSED the time they have offered him.

Pull that head out and READ the report.

You got that wrong, and the rest of your post is equally off the mark..

[MADem]

9. Give this a day or two, some whiners will spin it that ABC was being UNFAIR to

Obama because he refused to debate!

Tick, tock, tick, tock....it's only a matter of time...

[joshcryer]

12. See post #7.

[MADem]

40. How foolish of me to think it would take so long!!! nt

[thunder rising]

19. NOT ABC, a LOCAL AFFILIATE.

[MADem]

30. An ABC affiliate at the nexus of THREE primary contests.

You'd think he'd want to LEAP on that opportunity.

What a chance to reach out right before the contests.

[thunder rising]

11. This stinks of a setup ABC7 (who's that?) and Politico?

[BenDavid]

13. Clinton Accepts Fox News Debate...obama a no show come

Monday night. Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign announced that it has accepted a debate to air on Fox News on February 11.

Obama may not participate in Ohio debate...Obama may not participate in a planned Feb. 27 debate in Ohio,

[UALRBSofL]

29. If he refuses this debate, Fox will probably give her an hour of free air time

He needs to debate her and not refuse this one.

[AX10]

53. He can't control the audience in a debate.

He can control it with his "meetings" or tent revivals. Just like Bush, Obama only wants audiences that swoon over him. :puke:

[Lucinda]

15. Perhaps he will become available now that it seems it will proceed without him...

:)

[thunder rising]

16. It's a setup! ABC7 studios in Rosslyn, Virginia. Some local affiliate in cahoots with Billary

[joshcryer]

24. What do you mean "set up"?

[moosen]

18. What's Obama afraid of?

Get him out of his element, empty cliche motivational speeches in front of unhinged gospel church like crowds, and the warts begin to show.

hey obama, you don't take a knee when the score is tied

[Tatiana]

20. This is probably a smart strategy.

He's well ahead in those states. There's really nothing to be gained from a debate, from a strategic standpoint. Hillary is the one who needs to make inroads with those constituents.

How many people do you think are going to tune in to watch Hillary essentially give an interview. Obama and the conflict between Obama and Clinton is the draw. Without Obama, no one other than those already supporting Clinton are going to bother to watch.

The Obama campaign is really, really playing this smart. I'm probably going to have to eat every single word I said about Axelrod.

[griffi94]

27. i call bullshit

hillary can make it a draw just by repeatedly asking why he wouldn't debate her.
smart move on her part...he shows up and gets his brain knocked out...or skips and
looks like he's afraid to face hillary one on one

[Tatiana]

32. Well looks like Obama will be interviewed after all... n/t

[BlackVelvet04]

33. Well, I'm really impressed that he thinks he can take Virginia voters

for granted. Sort of a pattern....like he thinks he can take Hillary voters for granted in the GE should he be the nominee.

[tokenlib]

21. Well, she could debate with herself...

Bankruptcy reform was bad--so why did I vote for it??

The Iraq war was wrong, so why can't I apologize for my judgement lapse?

[John Q. Citizen]

25. Why can't the voters hear from Gravel?

[Leopolds Ghost]

45. If even DUers won't acknowledge Gravel's existence, you know MSM won't.

[557188]

51. Gravel is the true progressive still in the race

So Obama fans want him ignored so they can continue the myth that their guy is any sort of progressive.

[joshcryer]

26. Guess she got her "free air time" after all. :)

[xspowr]

28. Obama changed his mind

This thread is actually moot now, as Obama changed his mind and agreed to appear. It will now be an interview with both candidates. Just FYI.

[joshcryer]

34. He did change his mind? Good, he was in a no win situation. :)

[Straight Shooter]

39. Obama changed his mind and has agreed to appear?

Flip-flopper! :P

[Enrique]

42. it's not flip-flopping

it's "change" :-)

[madrchsod]

31. go to the politico website and read the questions

that have been submitted...i really feel sorry for who ever has to go through those emails...

[pampango]

35. MSM is so rough on Hillary. n/t

[Tatiana]

38. OK... it appears this is not correct. Both Obama and Clinton will be "interviewed."

Whatever that means.

Politico editor-in-chief John F. Harris and ABC 7 News anchor Leon Harris are interviewing Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama on Monday — one day before the Chesapeake primaries in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. — and you can submit questions for us to ask the Democratic presidential hopefuls.

The discussions will air live at 7 p.m. Monday on ABC 7 News and News Channel 8 and will be streamed on Politico.com.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8404.html

[jackson_dem]

55. What a coward. He can take time for an "interview" but can't face Hillary

So much for the "I need to talk directly to voters" excuse. He's just a coward who is afraid to take on Hillary...

[libertee]

43. Good for her!

[UALRBSofL]

52. The thing about it is

Will he debate her every week and if not she will get free air time every week. Smart move on her part. :)