So - Gennifer Flowers will be in the front row of the debate.

[Avalux]

If I were Hillary, I'd acknowledge Gennifer first, say hello to her by name. Do it before Trump has the opportunity to do so. It would completely screw up his plan to use her to embarrass Hillary. It would surprise everyone.

[cilla4progress]

1. Good one!

[jberryhill]

2. How bizarre

Can you imagine this man as leader of the free world?

[bettyellen]

3. No, they don't introduce the audience and I believe they stay in the shadows.

[Avalux]

4. I'm expecting Trump to call attention to Gennifer anyway, that's why he asked her there.

Do you not think the cameras will show her? Of course they will, it's a chance for a headline.

[bettyellen]

15. No, that would be a huge break with precedent. They keep them in shadow the entire time.

Will she probably look for a talking head to speak to before or after? Quite possibly. The networks will look like big assholes for trying to pretend that counts as reporting though.

[Avalux]

19. Good to hear. Trump is trying to make it a circus of course.

Let's hope the media doesn't take the bait, although they probably will.

[bettyellen]

22. It would be a break from tradition to interview anyone like that when there is so much

Punditry they have planned for before and after.
I hope to god they have enough women at the networks to explain what a huge mistake it would be to interview a woman who has nothing to do with the debates like that.
That would be pretty disgusting - so likely Fox wil do it.

[nadine_mn]

37. This whole election has been a break with precedent - hard to believe

they would miss the chance for a ratings bonanza (which is what the media would see it as - wife vs. mistress instead of a presidential debate)

[bettyellen]

43. The debate commission does not allow the media to put their cameras anywhere they want...

If Trump wants to mention her name, they couldn't stop him but he'd risk looking like a big ass.
I guess they could try and camp outside trying to get an interview but really- what does she have to say? They'd look like idiots.

[nadine_mn]

45. I know you are taking this seriously

and if it were any other election year I would too and expect rules and decorum to be followed. But this has become such a farce - thinly veiled assassination threats, calls for Russia to hack a candidate, penis size actually being referenced in a debate.... I no longer have any faith in anyone. It feels like a damn free for all and the reward is ratings/$$

"they couldn't stop him but he'd risk looking like a big ass"

that ship sailed a good 40 yrs ago

Trump is a narcissist - any attention even bad attention is what fuels him. I think back to the story (not sure if it was in a book or article) about how he has his aides clip out every single mention of him in the papers and every morning he would go through the stack. He didn't actually read WHAT was said about him, just that something was said.

[bettyellen]

48. I agree he is always trying to steal headlines. That's why she should ignore it and also

Tell Cuban to stuff a sock in it. She does not need him to "intimidate" Trump. Just pointing out that it is a controlled environment and there should not be a single moment where she is forced to acknowledge her. So if he tries to, it's not going to be good for him. Forcing a cat fight? I can't believe there's another thread here suggesting she lecture Flowers. Flowers is a nobody.

[Hortensis]

49. Good grief. LOL. What a lowlife jerk.

"When they go low, we go high." Winning strategy for those always under attack. I can't imagine the slightest benefit to Hillary in noticing her in the crowd, even if audience interaction was on the agenda.

Flowers is 66 now and reportedly living in a tiny town in Missouri near the Arkansas border. Let Trump "own" her presence. It'll no doubt win over many who are current on the fence -- not!

[bettyellen]

65. He's trying to change the headlines from "he sucked despite low expectations" every surrogate should

Change the subject immediately. She is not news.

[doc03]

6. You think CNN won't show her and tell us who she is? I knew that

asshole would pull some kind of stunt. That will be the media's focus of the whole debate.

[bettyellen]

12. They will talk about it, but from what I recall they keep lights off the audience the whole time and

No one ever ever "introduces" someone in the audience beforehand, that would be ridiculous. All the ones that I have ever seen have the audience in shadows and you can't make out faces. Sheesh, it's not a concert.

[TexasProgresive]

17. And EVERYBODY at this stage has released their tax returns. n/t

[bettyellen]

20. Taxes are ot within the debate commissions control- but the lighting and sound in the venue has been

Consistent for many years, and it seems they have never slowed it to become a side show before. It's gross he's trying to make a side show of it, but doubt the debate commission will give him any assistance in that.

[TexasProgresive]

24. What I was thinking is that he may bring his own spot light and shine it right on Ms. Flowers

He just does whatever he want, whenever he wants and however he wants.

[bettyellen]

25. HA. I wonder if he can resist making an asshole move for ninety minutes.

I'd love to see him try that. Would backfire.

[SunSeeker]

70. He's already made an asshole move and the debate hasn’t even started. nt

[Gabi Hayes]

5. obviously.....bring in Jane Doe and Jill Harth

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=7980814

[Thinkingabout]

7. Good idea, Hillary has been towering over people such as Trump for years,

She has forgotten more in five minutes than Trump has learned in a lifetime.

[Charles Bukowski]

8. This is destined to blow up in Donald's face

HRC will stay classy despite Trump's obvious attempt to humiliate her and he'll come off as a victim-shaming asshole. Mainly because he is one.

Team Clinton is probably high-fiving en masse right now.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

9. No, she will not.

The debate commission has said they don't want Mark Cuban in the front row either because they don't want audience members to affect the debate.

[Avalux]

10. Can you provide a link with that information? Thanks in advance. n/t

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

13. Here:

http://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2016/09/24/fahrenkopf-mark-cuban-will-not-sit-in-front-row-of-debate.cnn

[Avalux]

18. I'm happy to hear that. I stand corrected then, she won't be in the front row.

Trump asked her for a reason though. His campaign might say it's because Hillary invited Mark Cuban, but Mark Cuban isn't linked to Trump's wife.

[bettyellen]

27. Just tit for tat. It was stupid of Cuban to showboat like that.

He might have actually been allowed to sit up front if he hadn't tried to upstage the debate itself, as it were. Dumb move.

[razorman]

33. I agree. I think this is pretty childish on the part of both campaigns.

Just give us a straight debate, already; without the hijinks.

[bettyellen]

34. I doubt he vetted that tweet with HRC. It may or may not be something they joked about privately

But I doubt the campaign is that stupid. Sounds like a bit of machismo on Cubans own part.

[razorman]

41. You're probably right. With today's social media, no campaign

can completely control the actions of its followers or allies. That's why I do not totally blame even a candidate I don't like when some crackpot endorses him. Let both Cuban and Flowers attend the debate like anyone else and ignore them.

[bettyellen]

44. On a Twitter today the deplorables were trying to push a meme that the KKK grand wizard

Has switched his endorsement from DT to HRC.
I don't know if it was a true ploy or a fake story but only a bunch of bigots were pushing it. Seems like the rest of the world ignored it. Hopefully it should be that way w Flowers.... If she shows up. I expect his campaign is also regretting this whole thing. It will not work in his favor.

[razorman]

69. I pretty much tune out whenever I see mention of the KKK. It has been a big

bogey-man for decades, when it is actually pretty meaningless anymore. I was born and raised in the South, and have never met a Klan member as far as I know. Yet, movies and TV would have you believe that it infests the entire region. The KKK is scorned and ridiculed virtually everywhere today, as it should be. So, please take with a grain of salt any political statements that you hear attributed to it.

[Skoods]

40. I don't believe it's tit-for-tat

Mark Cuban is just a rich private citizen who doesn't want trump to rip this country apart. Him being in the front row shouldn't even be a story.

Trump threatening to convey a brutal personal attack on a presidential debate stage; attacking a candidate for their spouse having an affair, has no place in our political campaigns.

Imagine if Hillary had threatened to do the same thing? The GOP would be screaming how offensive it is.

[bettyellen]

46. Well Cuban pulled this macho intimidation shit on Twitter. Which was dumb.

And Trump responded with Flowers, tit for tat. Yeah it's worse, but Cuban was dumb for baiting him. He should have asked HRC before stealing headlines and making a game out of it on Twitter. So dumb.

[Loki Liesmith]

74. Hardly

This was a grade A trolling move. Worked like a charm.

[bettyellen]

76. Not if Trump gets more ink with this Flowers shit. Seems like a lot of people would love her to

Roll in the mud w Flowers but that's not who she is.

[pnwmom]

93. G.F. will not get a bit of attention from Hillary. And if the media

wants to make a big deal out of Trump's attempt to humiliate Hillary with Gennifer, the woman who committed adultery with her husband, and then bragged about it, they can go ahead.

Hillary will get the sympathy vote from millions of married women and men.

[bettyellen]

98. I agree- am kind of shocked people are suggesting she even acknowledge her at the debate-WTF?

[pnwmom]

91. +1.

[pnwmom]

89. I think it was clever of Cuban to bait Trump and get under his skin.

Hillary won't be in the least perturbed by having G.F. there. Not in the least.

[bettyellen]

96. I only disagree because the MSM will pay more attention to the Twitter War than issues...

Trumps strategy is to steal all coverage so there's no time to give HRC her due. To me, this is just more of the same crap.

[pnwmom]

97. The media will NEVER give the most coverage to the issues.

What they will give a lot of coverage to is if Trump has a melt-down on stage, or if he's simply a sexist pig.

Hillary must carefully needle him till he goes berserk. And Cuban has already started the process.

[pnwmom]

94. Who says he isn't allowed to sit in front? That's not what the statement said.

It said he can't sit there IF the purpose is to disrupt.

[pnwmom]

88. That's not what it says. He says it's up to the candidates but the commission will "frown"

on anyone being put in the front row IF the purpose is to be disruptive.

Mark Cuban won't be disruptive.

[pnwmom]

31. Not exactly. They said it is up to the campaigns where they seat people, but the commission

would "frown" on campaigns seating anyone in the front row IF the purpose was disruptive.

That is a big IF.

Mark Cuban isn't planning to disrupt, just to sit there and watch.

[Dem2]

101. Thanks

Whew. Glad they won't let it become a zoo in there.

[LAS14]

11. I sort of hope Trump goes this route.

Hillary would get a 10% jump in the polls from women who remember those days.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

14. She probably will not, unless Donald Jr gives up his seat like the gentlemen he will never be.

I'm sure the candidates have a very limited number of seats given to them, maybe a half dozen each.

Trump probably sold his remaining non-family seats long ago.

[underpants]

16. Neither will mention her but Trump's spin room will make sure it is mentioned in coverage

That's what I would expect but then this is the Teump wrestling show.

[pnwmom]

95. Hopefully they do. Millions of married women will have even more reason to hate Trump,

the serial philanderer.

[JI7]

21. that would be fucking stupid. let trump control the debate ?

She should do what she has been doing which is running for president and focus on things that matter.

[still_one]

23. Is this trump's answer to jobs, the Supreme Court, healthcare, education, etc?

[Else You Are Mad]

29. Yes!

Moderator: "Mr. Trump please explain your policy about X."

Trump: "Bill Clinton cheated on Hillary with that woman in the front row!"

And no one during or after the debate will call Trump out on it.

[Beartracks]

38. Afterwards: "Trump Wins Debate"...

... says FOX.

========*****

[nadine_mn]

42. he won't be able to stop himself

he is going to be like a 3 yr old trying to keep secret - he'll blurt it out within the first 10 min. And yup, no one will stop him or redirect him...which actually would work in Hillary's favor. Hard to say the moderators or the debate is unfair if they let you turn the debate into a Springer show

[Else You Are Mad]

51. Exactly. Nt

[klook]

83. Springer show debate

Last edited Sat Sep 24, 2016, 11:53 PM - Edit history (1)

-- would make a good SNL sketch.

[LeftRant]

26. I can't even call it unfair after Cuban was mouthing off about his invite.

It's not exactly the same, but perhaps no one should have played this particular game. It can only go down from here *sigh*

[pnwmom]

56. It isn't the same IN THE SLIGHTEST. Cuban criticizes Trump for his fraudulent business practices

and his utter unpreparedness for the office of President.

Gennifer Flowers is the woman whose only claim to fame is adultery with Hillary's husband.

[LeftRant]

61. We agree. It isn't the same.

But putting a prime antagonist of your opponent in the front row to purposely "rattle him" was only going to lead to escalation here. What did we expect as a response from Donald Trump? Where does it end now? It all feels very childish to me.

[pnwmom]

87. Hillary won't be the least bit rattled by G.F. -- unlike Trump, who has already been

rattled by Cuban.

[LeftRant]

106. She's a strong cookie and I hope that is the case :)

[Else You Are Mad]

28. This is the type of BS that will diminish anything Clinton says...

Regardless of what policy Clinton explains or how many lies, crimes and inconsistencies she points out about Trump, THIS will be the only thing that the media will talk about for the few days after the debate. No matter how many times or how hard the Clinton surrogates try to explain what Clinton said, the narrative will ONLY be about how Trump brought this woman to the debates.


Trump knows exactly how to play the media.

[bettyellen]

35. I can't imagine anyone doing that around the women anchors. WTF they'd look lok

Like fools. A lot of the commentators would shut it down. I

[Else You Are Mad]

50. Sadly...

I don't think that will stop them because this will be a ratings extravaganza for the MSM. Sure, some guest analysts will call out the main news readers, but that won't stop it from being the lead story for days.

I hope I am wrong, but I am not going to hold my breath.

[bettyellen]

68. Lead story for days? Flowers is a nobody. No reaction, no story. Period.

[Else You Are Mad]

109. How many Trump non-stories dominated for days?

It was all over CNN this morning. Thankfully, she won't be attending so it's a non-issue.

[bettyellen]

110. Disinvited because there was no upside to making a fuss of her unless HRC was willing to be baited

And engage in a verbal cat fight. It's really bizarre to see how many people here thought she should walk into this trap with a snappy comeback. Ugh. Glad it's not an issue.

[Else You Are Mad]

112. I never thought Hillary would have a come back. She is too smart for that.

But, I am sure that the media is pissed because they lost potential ratings in this professional wrestling media atmosphere these days.

[bettyellen]

113. I think the campaign has done everything they can to deflate his "controversies" but he goes

More outrageous just to grab the headlines. Next step is calling out the media for not debunking the most significant lies and not talking about crucial policy issues

[Else You Are Mad]

114. I hope that such will change...

After Monday's debate when the average, low info voter realizes what a con Trump has been. But, I sadly, won't hold my breath because the media will call it a tie or a win for Trump no matter what happens at the debate.

I just can't wait to see Hillary wipe the floor with Trump tomorrow.

[Beartracks]

39. We have such an "Ooh, shiny!!" media.

It's embarrassing... and predictable.

===============

[Norbert]

30. Gennifer who?

[Renew Deal]

32. I have a feeling this will not go over well with women

[CanonRay]

36. What a pair of lowlifes.

[Ilsa]

47. Has she really said she'd be there, or was she yanking donald's chain?

If she's really going, then she's as big an ass as donald. Maybe she'll be wife number 4 after Melania divorces him next year.

[underthematrix]

52. Hillary is running to be President. She'll treat Gennifer like any other

constituent, pleasantly

[Historic NY]

53. Maybe Trump's rape accuser would like to attend....

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/07/21/trump-rape-accusers-turn-on-each-other.html

[NHDEMFORLIFE]

54. Anything for a distraction

Isn't this pretty par for the course? In all likelihood he is going to yammer on with (at best) half-truths and generally ridiculous statements, but no one will be talking about the moron if he can focus the media's attention on a 24-year-old scandal.
The media will jump on Flowers (so to speak) because it is much easier to report nonsense.

[wisteria]

55. I fail to see why Jennifer Flowers is an important person any longer.

This just seems
Like a mean spirited thing to do. What does this have to do with Hillsry running for President? She was supposedly part of Bill's history- not Hillary's.

[Sunny05]

64. You are right. Flowers is not important. trump has wasted

a front row seat on a has-been, cheatin' fourth-rate bar singer while HRC has given a front row seat to a successful businessman/billionaire. And Hillary won't be fazed.

[wisteria]

57. So we know know what zTrimp will do rather than explaining his plans.

Thanks to Roger Ailes, they intent to turn a serious debate into a hurtful attack on The Clinton's.

[colorado_ufo]

58. Why not? She's going to be Gennifer Flowers' president, too!

Remember Michelle O.: "When they go low, we go high!"

I will always remember that in my day to day life!

[fierywoman]

59. or if Hillary can't mention Flowers by name...

...HRC has this thing where whenever she walks into a public place she looks like she recognizes someone in the audience, then points at them and gives them a huge smile ... THAT's what I'd like to see her do with Jennifer Flowers.

[Simongren]

60. Why would a serial adulterer

bring notice to the fact that his opponent is actually the victim of adultery? The whole Mark Cuban thing is making him act even more incredibly stupid than he usually does.

[KittyWampus]

62. Thank Heavens she would never take your suggestion.

[NanceGreggs]

63. I totally agree.

Trump is hoping for a tension-filled evening that will throw HRC off her game.

Demonstrating that she is not the least bit put-off by Gennifer's attendance would deflate that balloon immediately - leaving Donald looking like the asshole he is, right off the top.

[bettyellen]

71. The audience sits in darkness, there should not be any tension

If Trump brings her up, she could just gesture to the moderator to deal with- because THAT would be their problem to control, not hers.

She should ignore her completely - ANY reaction is a win for him. It will take away time for actual discussion of the debate. It deserves no air.

[NanceGreggs]

75. What "deserves no air" ...

... and what actually "gets no air" are totally different things.

[bettyellen]

77. And Hillary stooping down to this level would be unprecedented and get her negative headlines

There is absolutely no way she can engage on this without giving up all the good press she should be earning from the debate. If she ignores it then Trump looks like a fool. She can't beat him at the tabloid headline game.

[NanceGreggs]

85. I fail to see how being gracious ...

... to someone like Flowers equates to "stooping down to this level".

Like with everything else, no matter what HRC does, she's "wrong".

Apres debate, the headlines will be about how Hill "appeared to be embarrassed, was obviously humiliated," etc.

The headlines are already written. And no matter how Hill reacts, those headlines are going to be printed anyway.

[bettyellen]

92. Because she would not normally be addressing any of the many people she knows in the audience

And they are not going to cross paths. There will be no visible face to face.

Someone might TRY afterward to shove a question or comment about her in her face at most... And her response should be polite disinterest and pivot to how she kicked ass in the debate. Paying any attention to Flowers is unnecessary and yeah it would fan the flames.

[NanceGreggs]

99. Obviously ...

... you and I would handle this completely differently were we in HRC's shoes. But the truth is that neither one of us are.

She'll handle this her way - and I'm good with that.

[bettyellen]

100. I trust her as well, Nance! Good point.

[Sunny05]

66. I think HRC won't be fazed. Also, this shows how out-of-touch

trump is. He doesn't get it that women -- and some men -- won't be impressed by this old-fashioned notion of insulting a woman with what her husband did. I mean, it is nineteenth century, maybe early twentieth century, thinking.

And HRC has faced so many challenges from enemies and has been through far worse than this -- and far more than this in recent decades. (Gosh, trump had to go back this far in time to dredge up someone -- late 1990s, almost two decades ago when Bill admitted.)

[bettyellen]

79. Yeah- it's weird that anyone would think she should care or even react.

I bet he's going to change his mind about this because it's not going to work out well for him.

[Duval]

103. It's a moot point now, anyway.

since this is already in the internet, you know someone has already told her Flowers has been invited and has accepted. She will be ready for it. I hope she just ignores.

[Sunny05]

104. I'll bet you're right.

Wonder if he'll admit it!

[broadcaster75201]

67. I tink this is an utter non-issue. nt

nt

[CarrieLynne]

72. why would she agree to it though?

is she vindictive like that?

[exboyfil]

81. $$$$$$$

[klook]

105. Which will end up being reduced to

airfare, a 1-night stay in a Trump property, and a 10% off coupon for Trump steaks. Remember, Trump never pays in full.

[TomCADem]

73. Will She Jump Up and Yell I F$&ked ...

...your husband and turn the debate into a scene from Jerry Springet? Actually it is a brilliant move on Trump's part to cheapen the event and detract from the actual substance.

[YOHABLO]

78. What does any of Bill's indiscretions have to do with Hillary? What does that prove?

She's running for commander in chief and President of the U.S. .. this is some misogynistic attempt to throw Hillary off. She's probably laughing it off. Trump is a MORON.

[sunnystarr]

80. crazy like a fox

This is the plan to control the post-debate narrative. It won't matter who won. The talk will be Trump/Flowers to maintain his polling. The media will be all over it like white on rice. I'm sure they've already pulled the old footage.

[maxon23]

82. hee

all about media....................[url=http://www.vecarolifestyle.com].[/url]!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RKP5637]

84. Trump, has dragged the level of the debates down to this level. All the issues in the world, and

this is where Trump's mind is. The guy is a total disaster.

[nolabels]

86. Yea, your right, so?

[herding cats]

90. Trump is trying to create a "Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!" level debate.

I'm seriously concerned for our country, and that's not a joke.

[raging moderate]

102. As a fellow Methodist, I have a thought for Hillary.

"Thou preparest a table for me in the presence of my enemies."

23rd Psalm

[anneboleyn]

107. Trump blames women if their husbands have affairs. Bullying Hillary like this will BACKFIRE

big time, as many women feel empathy for a woman whose husband has been unfaithful. Trump clearly has an incredibly sexist attitude to all of this and thinks Hillary should be blamed/shamed for her husband's actions decades ago (I don't even know if the Flowers affair was even confirmed, and of course I couldn't care less). Hillary stayed by her husband. Trump is HIMSELF a serial adulterer so what in the hell is his point?! This makes him look like even more of a sexist ass.

[anneboleyn]

108. Trump is a serial adulterer and NOBODY CALLS HIM OUT ON HIS BULLSHIT.

[Sancho]

111. Put a row of 13 year old girls in the front row...

Trump's past is horrid, and he should be asked about it at the debate. He's a predator.