Why not have one of the candidates rebut the State of the Union address?

[ALago1]

As it has been tradition for the opposing party to rebut the current president's speech, why not have one of the most prominent democrats, and perhaps future presidents do it? A potential problem would be picking who would do the job.

Is this a downright crazy proposal that would never fly?

[madmax]

1. Peter Jennings will interveiw Clark after the SOTU

On ABC network news.

[aquart]

4. ABC doing an anointing?

Nice of them.

[LuminousX]

12. It is good TV

They would have run with it if any of the top tier candidate approached them with the concept. Kudos for Clark.

[aquart]

2. Because our candidate hasn't been chosen.

And it gives one of them an advantage.

[Journeyman]

23. I would think they'd have to offer equal time. . .

to all the candidates.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

29. I Don't Think News Organizations Are Bound by Equal Time Requirements

(Assuming they even exist any more, in any practical way.) That's why certain radio shows so desperately want to be classified as "news" programs.

DTH

[DoveTurnedHawk]

3. Clark's Doing This Live, in NH, and He Will Be on ABC

I can't wait!

DTH

[LuminousX]

9. This is a brilliant idea

I'm hoping the Dean campaing does something, like a point-by-point counter via email or on the blog.

[ALago1]

11. Really? Had no idea

Good on ABC for giving him a voice.

[Mattforclark]

18. Oh, ABC is showing it? YAY! Wonderful!

wooohooooooo!

[DoveTurnedHawk]

21. Well, I'm Not Sure If They're Showing the WHOLE Thing

But they're definitely interviewing him right around/after the SOTU.

DTH

[R3dD0g]

5. Who should it be? n/t

[ALago1]

7. I really don't have a preference

My first choice is either Edwards or Clark (keep flip flopping) with Dean coming in next.

But hell, any of the other candidates would be fine with me as I think they all have good qualities and are effective speakers.

[hellhathnofury]

6. Dumb idea.

[ALago1]

8. Because? n/t

[hellhathnofury]

14. How are you going to pick one and not piss off the others?

Even if it was a random draw or something, people would still be mad.

[ALago1]

19. I think a lot more people would listen if one of the candidates spoke.

Hopefully their anger at not being in the spotlight wouldn't deter their willingness to benefit the party as a whole.

[hellhathnofury]

25. Have you been following the primary?

It's all about me this time around.

[sleipnir]

10. Do we know who is Rebutting the speech??

I'd love to know, but usually, you hear about it from Dan Rather right after the POTUS' speech.

[ALago1]

13. We knew last year a bit in advance...

...but I forget entirely who it was. Some governor whom I didn't know.

[hellhathnofury]

17. Gary Locke of Washington I believe.

[Razoor]

22. the rebuttal will be by Daschle and Pelosi

read it in current issue of tv guide it will be Daschle and Pelosi.

[sleipnir]

28. Thanks!

I'll be interested to see how they present it, as two seperate speeches or a "tag-team" affair!! (my vote is for tag-team!)

[FredScuttle]

34. I thought they were doing a "pre-buttal" before the SOTU? eom

[Mattforclark]

15. Clark is doing a rebuttal!

Email C-SPAN to get them to show it!!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=122083

[Mattforclark]

20. Disregard if ABC is showing it n/t

[ALago1]

24. Wait...

...so Clark's rebuttal is happening in concurrence with Bush's speech in a manner that he can comment on Bush's talking points in realtime and its being carried on ABC?

I don't believe it.

If it was after the speech and Clark was just giving his own rebuttal, that I'd understand.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

27. I Think It's Probably the Latter

The more I think about it.

DTH

[diamondsoul]

16. Kucinich is delivering a

"State of The Nation" address in New Hampshire on Tuesday afternoon. He's going to rebut the speech before it even happens. LOL

[La_Serpiente]

30. awesome

:thumbsup:

[Desertrose]

33. which won't be hard cause we know *

is gonna spin & lie the same old stuff!

Go Dennis!
:yourock:

Pece & hope
DR

[beaconess]

26. I don't think this would work at all

There's no way to pick one without running into all sorts of difficulties. First, it would politicize what is supposed to be an official activity (yes, we know it's all politics, but there's still be that hit). Second, any of those not picked would scream bloody murder, as well they should - not to mention the objections that would be raised by the candidates who aren't in Congress.

[mikehiggins]

31. Clark scheduled a town meeting for Tuesday night

The plan was to watch the SOTU with a collection of New Hampshire voters and then have a discussion and a Q&A session after it was done. Several of us wrote to C-Span urging them to cover it.

The Jennings angle is news to us, but good news none the less.

It cannot be stressed enough that Clark is running against George Bush for the Presidency, not for the leadership of the Democratic Party. There is little point, in that view, to run against the other folks for the nomination or to go overboard with "gotcha's" or "attack ads".

If the people accept him he will be the Party's nominee and won't have to regear up to stop attacking other Democrats and start going after George Bush. He'll have a three or four month head start over the other Democrats who are spending most of their time attacking each other, and we'll need every minute to knock the Invisible Airman out of the box. If Clark loses the nomination, a lot of ground work will still have been done that will benefit the winner.

ABB Rules!

[DoveTurnedHawk]

32. Here's the Info

From the official website:

http://www.clark04.com/schedule/

Tuesday, January 20 Epping, NH
8:30 pm - State of the Union Watch & Response
The Palace Theater
80 Hanover St
Manchester, NH CNN
Paula Zahn, CNN, 8 pm EST
ABC
ABC interview with Peter Jennings to follow the State of the Union speech

DTH

[Norquist Nemesis]

35. Wake me up when SOTU's over

Then I'll tune in for the rebuttals. That's all I'll be interested in seeing anyway.

[coloradodem2005]

36. Why don't all the candidates rebut SOTU?