Dean Sits Out Of Today's Debate- Second One Of The Campaign

[KittyWampus]

:) Funny but true!

Longshot Democrats Debate in D.C.

By ELIZABETH WOLFE, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Howard Dean got the first question of Friday's radio debate. His answer was a second of silence, followed by muffled laughter and scattered applause. That's because the man who wasn't there couldn't answer why he wasn't there.

In a debate notable for its absenteeism, only three candidates for the Democratic nomination for president — all of them long shots — participated. Carol Moseley Braun, Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich and Al Sharpton sat on the stage with three questioners, a moderator and an empty chair with Dean's name before it.

"Governor Dean, if you cared so much about D.C. and you were so committed to the voting rights of the residents of the District of Columbia to have representation in the U.S. Congress, why aren't you here today?" asked Mark Plotkin of WTOP Radio, which broadcast the debate live.

At the end of the hourlong debate.... candidates were allowed to query each other. Sharpton, facing the empty Dean chair, said: "I would like you to explain to your supporters why you're absent, why that seat is empty." Then he hopped in the vacant spot and wagged his finger in Dean style. Dean campaigned in Washington a few times in the fall and was endorsed by a majority of Democrats on the D.C. Council. He has since disappointed some of his supporters by avoiding the city.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040109/ap_on_el_pr/democrats_debate_1

[Jack_Dawson]

1. Dean SHOULD sit it out -

Sharing the stage w/ minor leaguers is beneath Dean and Clark.

[KittyWampus]

3. Ah, The Royalty Approach

:)

[Jack_Dawson]

Exactly

There's only so man "defend your cuts in medicare" questions you can handle in a lifetime.

[Printer70]

24. Check out Hypocrites Anonymous

Or rather check into it. Clark was nowhere to be found.

[MuseRider]

25. Delete by poster

Sorry, you were not talking to me.

[Jack_Dawson]

5. Exactly

There's only so many "defend your cuts in medicare" questions you can handle in a lifetime.

[MuseRider]

22. It seems to be the

way you reward people these days who commit their lives to public service. How perfectly sad.

[Printer70]

23. Clark sat it out; so did Kerry, Gephardt and all serious...

...candidates. What is your point? Campaign strategy dictates that you don't spread yourself too thin. Trying to read anything into this but political strategy is meaningless and a sad smear attempt.

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[HFishbine]

13. So, how'd Clark do? (n/t)

[windansea]

2. yeahhhhhhhh...wada bout it sports fans?

the debate over the debates continues

[Padraig18]

4. I just LOVE tit-for-tat threads!

:)

[KittyWampus]

7. Technically Speaking Clark Has Missed FOUR Debates Now

and I'm not a fan of "Revenge Threads" but couldn't resist this one.

Kudos to Dennis, Carol and Al for showing up!

[Padraig18]

10. I agree.

And quite candidly, I do believe Dean would have been there, but for the Harkin endorsement.

[Clark4Prez]

6. That's it, it's over for Dean now

Yep it's all over, nail in the coffin, put a fork in him he's done, all over but the crying.

[JNelson6563]

9. LOL Very witty

Good one. :-)

Julie

[Jerseycoa]

8. cryingshame

:loveya:

[HFishbine]

11. "Then he hopped in the vacant spot and wagged his finger"

Sharpton and his radio sight gags. The man's a riot!

[Clark4Prez]

16. LOL- Funny!

Those radio sight gags never quite work well.

[dweller]

19. nah, that was Sharpton

Dennis was the one giving you the finger.

dp

[HFishbine]

20. You're right

My bad. Please ask Dennis to retract his finger now.

[DemBones DemBones]

21. There was a studio audience, not to mention

the television audience (it was live on C-SPAN when I saw it, and has been repeated at least once), three moderators and the other two candidates who kept their commitment to debate today.

[Cheswick2.0]

14. D'oh! and Clark will have sit out three since he entered the race....

or is it four?

[funky_bug]

17. I have to ask, Ches

Why is it that when Clark sits out a debate, some people trip all over themselves to lambast him for it?

But when Dean skips a debate, it's not only okay, but other camps laude him for it?

[funky_bug]

15. As well he should

The last debate was a pathetic "smear Dean" anti-love fest. If I were Dean, I would have sent a gift basket of pens and had them placed on the empty chair.

I'll say that all the attacks on Dean during the last televised debate only made the attackers look weak. Dean MAY have come out ahead if he had attended, however, I do NOT blame him for skipping out on this one. Shame shame on the reporter to posed the first question to an empty chair in order to get a pat on the back for himself.

[maddezmom]

18. it was kinda funny if you were watching :)

[DemBones DemBones]

26. Just to clarify the situation, four candidates had agreed to

participate in this debate. Dennis Kucinich, Carol Moseley-Braun, and Al Sharpton kept their commitments; Howard Dean was represented by an empty chair.

John Edwards, Dick Gephardt, John Kerry, and Joe Lieberman were also missing but since they'd never made a commitment to the debate, no chairs were set up for them. The absence of five out of eight candidates was mentioned, though, in addition to specific mention of Dean's absence.

This was not a typical (i.e. same old, same old) debate. Many, perhaps most, of the questions in the DC debate dealt with the issue of DC statehood, which is supported by DK, CMB, and Sharpton, and with problems in the District and how to solve them.

It made me angry to see that five of the candidates didn't care about issues of concern to the District's majority African-American population. If I were black, I suppose I'd be used to politicians' callous disregard for black people. Dems take the black vote for granted and that's a mistake that will eventually cost us.

On the positive side, it was a real treat to see the three most progressive candidates have some air time to discuss their positions on issues. DK, CMB, and Sharpton were very comfortable with each other and dealt with interruptions with grace and humor. (Interruptions were the radio host having to break for weather/ traffic bulletins; two Larouche supporters attempting to disrupt the event.)

[KittyWampus]

29. LaRouche Supporters Are Like Ants At A Picinic

D.C. should get more respect.

[cindyw]

27. Kick for the Real Deal

:kick:

Looks like it was just a pander for him to stay on the ballot.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

28. Guarantee...

Dean wins D.C.



:kick: