Why No Scheduled Democratic Party Debates? Are They Afraid of Bernie? Time for Social Media to Force

[RKP5637]

the Debate.

(To me, not having Democratic debates until October is allowing the GOP to set the message and to plant information into the populace via their media machine. Additionally, the psychological "Primacy Principle" is at work wherein, generally, the first information into ones mind is often the last to leave. Additionally, Trump is being well branded again. Much of the population probably does not even know all of the Democratic candidates running.)

http://ringoffireradio.com/2015/07/why-no-scheduled-democratic-party-debates-are-they-afraid-of-bernie-time-for-social-media-to-force-the-debate/

Before the 2008 Presidential primaries, the Democratic Party scheduled a total of 26 debates between the candidates. The first debate, broadcast over MSNBC, was held on April 26th, 2007. It involved a total of eight candidates. Among them: then-New York senator and former First Lady Hillary Clinton and her young, relatively unknown senate colleague from Illinois, whose name was Barack Obama. The stakes were high in 2008. The incumbent president, George W. Bush, could not run for a third term – so the contest was wide open.

Part of the reason may be due to the fact that the Democratic line-up was late in forming. Until Bernie Sanders entered the race as a Democrat, it wasn’t altogether certain who would be challenging Hillary Clinton – and for several weeks, nobody was sure if Sanders could mount a real campaign against the former Secretary of State and First Lady.

By now, of course, there are a total of five Democratic contenders with the addition of Lincoln Chafee, Jim Webb and Martin O’Malley. Nonetheless, it is clear that Bernie Sanders is the most serious contender for the Democratic Party nomination other than Clinton.

It’s becoming obvious that the corporate Democratic establishment doesn’t want Sanders’ voice publicly challenging Clinton in a head-to-head debate. Furthermore, it’s a good bet that the DNC is putting off scheduling the debates because corporate media giants are equally afraid of Sanders. Consider Comcast’s recent actions. If one media company is that apprehensive over one Progressive radio host speaking out on a single issue, a serious Progressive Presidential candidate speaking out on a range of issues must have all six in a state of abject terror. After all, despite the crowds Sanders has been drawing and the overwhelmingly positive reception he’s getting, the mainstream corporate media barely acknowledges him.

[SonderWoman]

1. There's always a sinister conspiracy.

Full disclosure: ROF is campaigning for Bernie.

[DURHAM D]

2. Huh? Old article but at least you didn't put it in LBN. nt

[Agschmid]

3. No.

This isn't the GE, how many months do we have before the GE?

We aren't going to win over the idiots, let's not force it.

[global1]

4. The Repugs Are Sucking All The Oxygen Out Of The Room...

It's 'All Clown Car All The Time' now in the media. I read the other day where even the President's numbers have fallen. What do you expect when the Dems are censoring their own candidates from debating each other. The reason: because Hillary is the annointed one and it is her turn. If the Dems had debates now Hillary would be eaten alive by her Dem opponents. Why chance that? The unfortunate thing is that all The People hear is coming out of the mouths of 17 liars and their talking head minions in the media. To me that a recipe for disaster in Nov 2016 and a risk that we will wind up with a Repug clown in the WH along with a 'clown car' administration. The Dem power's that be better wake up soon and get their candidates talking in debate form or all The American People will know is Hillary's e-mails, Bengahzi and the next Repug created scandal meant to further sink her chances.

[RKP5637]

5. Thank you! Exactly what I was trying to say! Basically, the clowns are framing the discussions and

is what will stick IMO in many peoples minds. Also, definitely, I think the DNC is afraid HRC, the anointed, will face too much competition from dems in democratic debates at this time. To me, if that is the case, it well might backfire, because the clowns are gaining momentum and will frame the message the democrats will face. DU will see through it all, but many in the populace IMO often vote on what they first heard that they liked. A lot of voters do not use the best analytical critical thinking when they vote. Far too many vote purely via their emotions.

[NorthCarolina]

6. Bernie will expose the third-way agenda in debates. TPTB seek to protect the establishment candidate

It's that simple.

[RKP5637]

9. Yep! Exactly what is going on. I'm so fed up with it all. Bernie gets my vote for sure and

he's also getting the vote of many others I've talked to that are fed up with the third-way agenda, the DNC and the DLC.

[George II]

7. So you Sanders followers want to emulate the 2007 primary schedule?

If the DNC had, you all would be whining that "Not fair, Sanders wasn't even a candidate when the first debate was held"!!

He announced on April 30, the first 2007 debate was April 27.

I see everyone forgets about the complaints from 2007/2008 - "there are TOO many debates!"

The republicans are doing a great job of making idiots of themselves in their "debates" (organized arguments), let them do it a couple of more times before Democrats get some of the action.

[HereSince1628]

8. I think there were only 8 or so debates televised nationally in 2008

The first one wasn't until October and three of them occurred late in the process two in April, iirc.

If you look at this primary what you see seems to be the DNC focused on the nationally televised primary debates.

And what you see is participation of the half-dozen or so that weren't nationally televised but were significant for the earliest states have been banned.

That's unfortunate, but it probably reflects the DNC/dem establishment belief that there would be no significant challenge to Clinton. And that such debates strengthen challengers just by the sharing of a stage, while exposing the front-runner to risks from potential 'mis-speak' that could go into opposition ads during the general election.