NYT/AP: John Edwards to Skip Nevada Democratic Debate Hosted by Fox News

[DeepModem Mom]

Edwards to Skip Debate Hosted by Fox
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: March 8, 2007

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards won't participate in a debate co-hosted by Fox News Channel and the Nevada Democratic Party, his campaign said Wednesday, as party officials tried to settle a dustup over their partnership with the cable network. Edwards' campaign said Fox News' participation was part of the decision to pass on the Aug. 14 debate in Reno, but it also cited scheduling conflicts.

Online activists and bloggers quickly hailed the decision as a victory in their campaign to urge Nevada Democrats to drop Fox News as a partner. MoveOn.org Civic Action says it has collected more than 260,000 signatures on a petition that calls the cable network a ''mouthpiece for the Republican Party, not a legitimate news channel.''

Fox News Channel vice president of news David Rhodes issued a statement calling it ''unfortunate that Sen. Edwards has decided to abandon an opportunity to reach the largest mainstream cable news audience in America.'' (NOTE: "MAINSTREAM"???)

Democratic Party officials and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid initially touted the partnership with Fox News as an opportunity to reach out to a different bloc of voters. But in a letter posted Wednesday on the party's Web site, Democratic Party Chairman Tom Collins said Reid now shares activists' concerns and ''has asked us to take another look.''...

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-On-the-2008-Trail.html

[Erika]

1. Faux Noise is disgusting

I hope Obama has the guts to void it also. They reported he was educated in Muslim schools.

[DeepModem Mom]

3. That would be a good argument; why would Obama in particular...

participate in a debate hosted by Fox News?

[Canuckistanian]

26. Didn't Obama make a similar decision?

I seem to remember that Obama declined to be interviewed on Fox shows.

[GainesT1958]

2. Of course, Rhodes' idea of a "mainstream audience"...

Is having Little Oral Annie tune in!:eyes:

I'm proud of Edwards and his staff for boycotting this one---suuure hope our other candidates come around and tell Britt Hume & Co. to go Cheney themselves!:D

B-)

[Straight Shooter]

4. All Democrats need to turn their back on Fox News and its hateful divisive agenda.

Fox has had years and years to prove themselves, and all they've done is gone deeper and deeper into the muck.

Time to let go, Harry Reid, of your "dream" of reaching out to neocons and their enablers.

[MADem]

8. That's it, really. Precisely. They ALL need to do it, but I don't know if they will.

The moneygrubbing owner of that hideous franchise is, I believe, more concerned about keeping his access to power than ideology, but that disgusting outlet is like a carrier, slow to turn.

Parasites, that media bunch.

[David__77]

5. Sadly, many Democrats and non-affiliated voters do watch Fox News.

They do so largely unaware of its rightist position, which is shocking, I admit. But when you see whorishness in the other networks, why be surprised.

[Erika]

6. Huh? Faux Noise is the whore

Where are you coming from? Give examples.

[FrenchieCat]

7. They are all whores.....

although some walk the streets while others may be hanging out at hotels.

From where I sit, the difference between them is not that great. The standards are so low that it makes the call girl sitting in the hotel seem less whorish than the one out on the stroll. But in reality, they are both whores.

[CookieD]

22. Yes, and here are some specific examples ...

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/990649463?ltl=1171991355

Regardless of whether you sign the petition or any of the other petitions, is there any doubt that the Fox agenda will rear its ugly head before, during and after the next sponsored debate?

Democrats have no business helping Fox News make money. John Edwards is right to skip the event. The other candidates would probably follow his lead, except that the other candidates don't want to look like "followers" of another candidate's lead.

Here's an idea. Why don't the Democrats just hold their debate at next year's CPAC convention and pick Ann Coulter as a moderator? Yeah, that's the ticket ...

:sarcasm:

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

9. Barak? Hillary?

This is a time when Democrats can really make a point. We don't consider Fox a legitimate news source, and won't deign to appear on it. They should both join Edwards (and every other Democrat) and simply ignore their existence.

[primavera]

24. Are you kidding?

Hillary will probably pounce on this as an opportunity to pander to conservatives and bash Dems for their apparent intolerance of Faux's "mainstream" views.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

28. I hear you...

but I still think that Dems could utterly discredit Fox News (and possibly hasten its demise) if they would not even acknowledge its existence.

[theaudacity]

10. Edwards Rejects Nevada Debate Invite due to Fox News Involvement

Former Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) has rejected an invitation to attend a Democratic presidential debate on Aug. 14 in Reno hosted by Fox News, according to CBS News.

Edwards campaign said, "There were a number of factors and Fox was one of those. We're already planning to participate in a jam-packed schedule of debates across this country ... we can't attend every single debate and forum."

MoveOn.org Civic Action says it has collected more than 260,000 signatures on a petition that calls the cable network a "mouthpiece for the Republican Party, not a legitimate news channel."

Fox News Channel vice president of news David Rhodes issued a statement calling it "unfortunate that Sen. Edwards has decided to abandon an opportunity to reach the largest mainstream cable news audience in America."

http://politicalinsider.com/2007/03/edwards_rejects_nevada_debate.html

[tblue]

11. K&R I wish they'd all do it! nt

[Beaverhausen]

17. Me too! Fox is not a legitmate news station

Why would any of them participate in this farce?

[David Zephyr]

12. I salute John Edwards for doing this. This makes the debate itself a crock of shit now.

Edwards is brilliant and I applaud him.

Everyone else should also cheer him for this move.

This took real guts.

Let's hear it for John Edwards.

Hillary and Obama need to also not participate.

[screembloodymurder]

13. He just got my vote.

That is a smart move.

[David Zephyr]

14. This is the Biggest Story of the Day. K&R.

I'm posting a second time because this really deserves attention by the Left and by all within the Democratic Party.

How long have we been exasperated at the enabling of Fox by Democrats who are complicit in Roger Ailes' propaganda?

How long have we groaned and complained at the co-dependency weakness of many in our Party?

John Edwards really has gone up in my estimation. A lot.

[The Backlash Cometh]

15. Well done.

[Donnachaidh]

16. BRAVO!

NICE one!

He's gone up quite a few notches on my list JUSt because he shows some GUTS on this one! :bounce:

[truthisfreedom]

18. I'm very pleased they owned up to it. Stating directly that Fox was a factor in the decision is

empowering to other candidates in making their decisions later.

[David Zephyr]

19. Please "Recommend" this story. It should go to the top.

I'm only one of a few that have recommended this to the Greatest Page?

[Doctor_J]

20. Yes! Let's pound on the rest of the candidates to do the same

I see no reason to patronize Fox at all

[sendero]

21. Dems....

.. ALL Dems, need to tell Fox that they are not interested in begin seen on their propaganda channel. All Dems. There is never anything good that comes from appearing anyway, why lend legitimacy to their broadcast?

[MasonJar]

23. Kudos for John....a good decision...put it to Faux like they put it to us.

[NotGivingUp]

25. edwards just scored a few points in my book!

[gratefultobelib]

27. This is wonderful news. John Edwards is to be commended. Wouldn't it

be great if all the candidates followed suit??