Archived: Should Democratic candidates withdraw from the Fox News debate?

I like it!

Looks good to me!

Still think it's a good one.

IHT

Fox's supporters within the caucus have moved quickly to close ranks, even taking the unusual step of sending a letter to candidates seeking the Democratic nomination, urging them to participate in the debate and noting "the importance to African-Americans and others to hear from you."

While 26 members of the caucus signed the letter, it is also notable who did not, including Representative Maxine Waters, Democrat of California, a prominent and powerful member of the group.

Asked about the debate in a brief telephone interview, Waters said only, "I'm opposed to it."

Politicalwire

"It's a TV show. If you can't handle TV questions, how are you going to stand up to Iran, and North Korea, and the rest of the world?"

-- NBC anchor Tim Russert, quoted by DC Fishbowl, saying Democrats should debate on Fox News.

As much as I think Fox News is the WWE of news outlets, I thought banning this debate was a bad move by the top candidates.  Here's my sample evidence for this issue...

Think Progress

Biden to attend Fox News debate.

Several presidential candidates, including former Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) and Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Barack Obama (D-IL) have withdrawn from the Fox News debate cosponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus. But others are still mulling the decision:

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. […]

“The candidates that can’t face Fox, can’t face Al Qaeda,” said Mr. Ailes. “And that’s what’s coming.”

Good one.

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