For Democrats, Debate on Fox Reveals Divide

[FreeStateDemocrat]

Source: NY Times



By RAYMOND HERNANDEZ and JACQUES STEINBERG
Published: May 27, 2007
WASHINGTON, May 26 — Four years ago, the leaders of the Congressional Black Caucus began looking for a television outlet to co-sponsor and broadcast a presidential debate to address the concerns of minority voters.

But now that relationship is being shaken by the decision of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, and former Senator John Edwards of North Carolina to shun the debate, a move that has exposed fault lines among two major constituencies of the Democratic Party. While the withdrawal by the candidates frustrated members of the black caucus, it mollified liberals who had objected to the involvement of Fox News, whose programming includes some of the most conservative and pro-Republican commentary on the air.

The sensitivities surrounding the issue were evident this week when a spokeswoman for Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, said Mr. Richardson would not participate in the debate, which is scheduled for September. But only a few hours later, the spokeswoman phoned the reporter to say that she had misspoken, and that Mr. Richardson had yet to decide. In the interim the reporter had sought a response from the caucus on Mr. Richardson’s apparent withdrawal.

Meanwhile, members of the caucus have been pushing back, with press secretaries for caucus members getting “talking points on how to cast the debate in a positive light,” as one staff member explained it.

The caucus is bent on salvaging what remains of the debate, and of a relationship that has produced other benefits. Not only has Fox given over precious air time for the debate, but an examination shows that its parent company, News Corporation, has also taken other steps to reach out to the group’s constituency, including making campaign donations to the caucus and its members and creating internship programs at predominantly black colleges. (Contd)




Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/27/washington/27fox.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

[annabanana]

1. The caucus is getting punk'd by Faux. . . . .n/t

[Roy]

5. The caucus is getting punked by the caucus.....

Fox Noise can only do as much as it is allowed to get away with.....

[rpannier]

2. Kudos to Edwards, Obama and Clinton

screw you biden.
Hope ypu're not counting on my vote in the primaries.

I hope Kucinich, Dodd and Richardson do the right thing on this issue.

[ohio2007]

3. Congressional Black Caucus began looking for a television outlet

to co-sponsor and broadcast a presidential debate to address the concerns of minority voters.

There were no takers other than fox?

Well, the smaller 'also rans' may reach out and take up the airtime offer imo.

I know Kucinich will accept any soapbox to get his message out to minority voters. damn the stigma related to the network,free air time is what those with the smallest pockets need the most.

The David vs Goliath in media exposure
just my $.02

[Phredicles]

4. I've changed my mind: The Democrats SHOULD debate on Fox:

I mean, we might as well be consistent and roll over for EVERYone who shits on us...

[physioex]

6. So what's the point?

How many of their viewers would vote for any our candidates?

[Tarheel_Dem]

7. Couldn't agree more......

News Corp has deep pockets, and I can't even begin to imagine what else the caucus has been promised, or why they keep pushing forward with this.

[MethuenProgressive]

8. Congressional Black Caucus should sever ties with FOX "News"

No doubt PBS would host it if given the chance.

[ohio2007]

9. Nobody has given them the time of day.

the PBS audience share is exactly how much of viewers according to the rating system ?
I don't know why PBS turned them down.