Debbie Wasserman Schultz Refuses to Budge on 6 Debates & Exclusivity Rule

[askew]

Via The Hill:

“We’re not changing the process. We’re having six debates,” she said. “The candidates will be uninvited from subsequent debates if they accept an invitation to anything outside of the six sanctioned debates.”
In recent weeks, pressure has been building on the DNC to grow the debate schedule. The national party has sanctioned six debates, a dramatic cutback from 2008, when there were about two-dozen.

She defended the schedule, saying six debates offered plenty of opportunity for the candidates to distinguish themselves, and that too many debates would be a burden on the candidates, pulling them off the campaign trail and eating up valuable resources and time.

Regarding the exclusivity clause, Wasserman Schultz said it was to ensure the “debate process doesn’t get out of control,” citing 2008, when the party sanctioned six debates but the candidates participated in about two dozen.

More from Politico:

Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz dug in Thursday and said her party would stick to the six currently scheduled Democratic primary debates, one day after two vice chairs from within her organization broke ranks and called such a strict limit a “mistake.”

“We’re going to have six debates,” Wasserman Schultz told reporters flatly at a Christian Science Monitor breakfast. “Period.”

“This was a decision that I reached that, absolutely, I consulted and communicated with many people, including our officers, and decided that this was the best way to approach it,” she said. “I will make decisions that will make some people happy, some people not happy,” she added.

[bigdarryl]

1. They should of gotten rid of her as soon as the 2014 midterms were over

[KoKo]

17. ...! Failure seems to be rewarded these days. Think of the Wall St. Banksters...

It's the "New Normal" in America.

[cali]

2. she's a nasty piece of work. but she's a good little bulldog for Hillary.

[cyberswede]

16. Yes, Hillary can say she's open to more debates all day long, but DWS can say no, & that's that. nt

[world wide wally]

3. They really can't do any better than her?

[bigwillq]

4. I feel six is enough but I wouldn't be against more

Neither should DWS. No reason there can't be more if the candidates are willing.

[RufusTFirefly]

5. Kudos to Hillary for trying her darndest! But, alas, it's out of her hands.

You can't fight City Hall!

[kenfrequed]

6. The exclusivity rule is the biggest problem

It is also the easiest to remedy.

[global1]

7. Look - The Fix Has Been In From The Beginning....

Hillary is the presumptive candidate and that's that. The DNC will do anything that they can to protect that decision.

The excuse that "too many debates would be a burden on the candidates, pulling them off the campaign trail and eating up valuable resources and time" is just that - an excuse.

DWS says she communicated with many people, including our officers and decided that this was the best way to approach it.

Shouldn't it be up to the candidates? If they thought it was a burden and pulling them off the campaign trail and eating up valuable resources and time - then why are all the other candidates except Hillary calling for more debates? And isn't a debate part of the campaign trail?

And as for 2008 when the party sanctioned six debates - but the candidates participated in about two dozen - it was the candidates decision to participate in those extra debates.

I guess that turned out alright for Barack Obama - but it didn't bode well for Hillary.

So when DWS says

“This was a decision that I reached that, absolutely, I consulted and communicated with many people, including our officers, and decided that this was the best way to approach it,” she said. “I will make decisions that will make some people happy, some people not happy".

So I guess we'll know why she made this decision by looking at who those people are that are "happy" and who those people are that are "not happy"

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

8. Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Lord

[polichick]

9. Fuck democracy - this is the Democratic Party!

[whatchamacallit]

10. Yay democratic democrats for democracy!

[Gregorian]

11. They aren't even debates anymore. Besides, Bernie gets his message out without debates.

It looks like there are more intelligent people in the US than the "news" would have us believe. Wasserman can do whatever she wants. I think it's irrelevant now.

[virtualobserver]

12. she will see the light and reverse her position on this.....

as soon as Bernie takes the lead in the nationwide polls.

[LondonReign2]

13. Awww, isn't it sweet what BFF's will do for one another?

[NorthCarolina]

14. I hope she is serving her final term in the House. eom

[in_cog_ni_to]

15. DWS needs a Progressive challenger

In her next election. This should put a huge target on her back.