Matthews said Dems pulled out of Nevada/Fox Sponsored Debate...Is this True?

[KoKo]

If so it would be INCREDIBLE! Because folks were saying Dean said we need Fox to reach out to the Western States...It would be a BACK TRACK by the DNC...In answer to all of us who signed the MOVE ON.org. PETITION that was posted here many times by DU Posters.

Is this TRUE? Did DNC REALLY BACK OUT OF IT? :shrug:

We had word that Dean Backed Down over the MoveOn Petition...here's post from DU Archives:

---

madfloridian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Fri Feb-23-07 01:53 PM
Original message
Once again our party is catering to the other side against our grassroots. Updated at 11:53 AM

Edited on Fri Feb-23-07 01:56 PM by madfloridian
Hardcore Fox viewers in Nevada can very easily turn the dial to another station if they really want to hear Democrats. We do not have to cater to them. Now the MoveOn action is negated, Robert Greenwald's Fox Attack is negated...all because our Democrats have to pander to Fox Viewers. There are others groups as well, and I get mail from all of them.

I don't like Dean going along with this. I wonder though if now our party is becoming rather obligated to Murdoch. We know Hillary had a fundraiser with him, or was planning one. Who else did?

http://www.mydd.com/story/2007/2/23/111323/979

"The reason, according to an online letter MoveOn sent to 2 million of its members Thursday, is that "Fox is a mouthpiece for the Republican Party, not a legitimate news channel. The Democratic Party of Nevada should drop Fox as its partner for the presidential primary debate." Joining the chorus Thursday was liberal filmmaker Robert Greenwald, the director of the anti-Fox film, "Outfoxed," who released a video online of Fox's coverage of Democratic candidates.

But the Nevada party organizers -- and Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean -- said Thursday that while they may not think much of Fox's reporting, they want to reach out to viewers of the largest cable news network, one with double the number of prime-time viewers of CNN. And one whose believability is much higher with Republicans than Democrats, according to a 2005 study by the Project for Excellence in Journalism."

Here is Move On's Take on Fox action:
http://civ.moveon.org/foxdebate /

Here is Greenwald's Fox Attacks:
http://foxattacks.com:80 /

There are other networks to use. Let them turn the dial if they care.

Here is more, and I disagree with Dean on this firmly.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/200 ...

"This is about talking to voters, not a network," Dean said Thursday. "While the Fox News Channel rarely has coverage that is fair and balanced, we believe that Fox viewers, who are potential voters, should have the opportunity to see a debate between our candidates. These forums provide an important unfiltered opportunity for potential voters to see Democrats without the bias of the network."

No, unfortunately it will not be an unfiltered view. Right after the 03 debates they switched to Bill Bennett to tear down the Democrats.

[hippiechick]

1. Not DNC, but Richardson and Edwards ...

... scan GD, there are several threads discussing the particulars.

:hi:

[KoKo]

4. Thanks...I had to go out when the Huff Post Rumor that Dems were Pulling Out was posted

and just got back and my quick scan didn't come up with new news and I then went to Matthews. GLAD DU'ers were covering this one.

I'll do the "scan."

[tulsakatz]

2. it's true!

I was just reading this article about it!

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0307/3069.html

[Pale Blue Dot]

3. This appears to be true, and it's great news.

It's one of the few times lately that I've disagreed with Dr. Dean.

[AnnInLa]

5. Kos says "Yes"

Fox News debate is officially dead
by kos
Fri Mar 09, 2007 at 02:49:31 PM PST

So it's official, though I'm still waiting for an official statement from the Nevada Democratic Party and maybe even Harry Reid.

The Big Winner: the Progressive movement, which came together at all levels -- netroots, grassroots, and even some institutional players.

The other Big Winner: John Edwards, whose early leadership dropping out of the debate spurred intense media coverage (hence pressure) and fueled its demise.

Snatched victory from the jaws of defeat: Richardson, who announced he was pulling out just an hour or so before the official demise of the debate. He would've been left isolated, the only candidate to agree to a now-dead debate. Spared by the hair on his chinny chin chin.

Mild loser: The other campaigns, especially Obama, who could've shown some leadership and hit back at the network that has been tormenting them with non-stop smear attacks. Instead, they played it safe.

The Big Loser: Fox News, which will now face a whole new round of stories discussing their "conservative bias" and propaganda function. For a network that wanted this debate to obscure their partisan purpose, this is the worst of all worlds.

Next up: Will the Congressional Black Caucus team up with Fox for its own debate?

Update: The Fox News cabal will open up about how "afraid" Democrats were to be part of this. Just remember, it was Fox News that was afraid to co-host this event with Air America. They didn't want to be paired off with a progressive operation because it would ruin the point of the debate for them -- to present themselves as an unbiased and credible news operation.

Had FNC agreed to share the stage with Air America, this debate would've likely survived.

Aside from that, expect some serious concern trolling from conservatives who, really, only wanted to give Democrats an opportunity to speak to their large audience! Because, you see, they're all about helping Democrats, right?

Update II: A big "thank you", btw, to Roger Ailes, who probably sealed the fate of his debate last night by trashing Obama as a terrorist, making a bad joke about Bill's infidelities to Hillary, and threatened Edwards for dropping out. This decision may not have been made today without Ailes showing his (and by extension, his network's) true colors.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/3/9/17353/39693

[KoKo]

7. So...does the Credit for this go NOT TO DEAN/DNC..but to Edwards/Richardson?

The Candidates STRUCK BACK? :shrug:

[madfloridian]

9. Give credit to the NV Dems who fought back.

It was done without the knowledge of most of them. Harry Reid told them to reconsider..they did.

[KoKo]

10. But I thought your post said Dean shut down the MoveOn Movement to STOP THIS?

I and many others just kept going signing the petition..and it must have been well into the THOUSANDS after we were "asked" to Pull the Plug.

I think the Petition Signing ACTIVISTS deserve MUCH CREDIT HERE, too. :shrug:

[madfloridian]

11. NO, NO....what is going on here today. No one shut down MoveOn.

Dean made on statement about it, and then did not say more. He got lots of mail.

What are you talking about???

Today here at DU I have been called stupid and a traitor. I will find my post if you wish. Where did you get that stuff?

I said I did not agree with him on this issue. But I never said that he shut down MoveOn.

[KoKo]

13. It's your post. that said Dean came out against efforts to stop Fox Debate............

Here's the post.....

madfloridian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Fri Feb-23-07 01:53 PM
Original message
Once again our party is catering to the other side against our grassroots. Updated at 11:53 AM

Edited on Fri Feb-23-07 01:56 PM by madfloridian
Hardcore Fox viewers in Nevada can very easily turn the dial to another station if they really want to hear Democrats. We do not have to cater to them. Now the MoveOn action is negated, Robert Greenwald's Fox Attack is negated...all because our Democrats have to pander to Fox Viewers. There are others groups as well, and I get mail from all of them.

I don't like Dean going along with this. I wonder though if now our party is becoming rather obligated to Murdoch. We know Hillary had a fundraiser with him, or was planning one. Who else did?

http://www.mydd.com/story/2007/2/23/111323/979

"The reason, according to an online letter MoveOn sent to 2 million of its members Thursday, is that "Fox is a mouthpiece for the Republican Party, not a legitimate news channel. The Democratic Party of Nevada should drop Fox as its partner for the presidential primary debate." Joining the chorus Thursday was liberal filmmaker Robert Greenwald, the director of the anti-Fox film, "Outfoxed," who released a video online of Fox's coverage of Democratic candidates.

But the Nevada party organizers -- and Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean -- said Thursday that while they may not think much of Fox's reporting, they want to reach out to viewers of the largest cable news network, one with double the number of prime-time viewers of CNN. And one whose believability is much higher with Republicans than Democrats, according to a 2005 study by the Project for Excellence in Journalism."

Here is Move On's Take on Fox action:
http://civ.moveon.org/foxdebate /

Here is Greenwald's Fox Attacks:
http://foxattacks.com:80 /

[AnnInLa]

6. Ailses said this yesterday, before the cancellation:

"Recently pressure groups are forcing candidates to conclude that the best strategy for journalists is divide and conquer, to only appear on those networks and venues that give them favorable coverage.

There's a long tradition of news organizations, national and local, sometimes together, sponsoring presidential and other candidate debates. The organizations and the panelists have been the objects of a lot of advice and even pressure as to how these debates should be conducted and what questions should be asked. This pressure has been successfully resisted, but it's being tried again this year with the added wrinkle that candidates are being asked to boycott debates because certain groups wants to approve the sponsoring organizations.

This pressure must be resisted as it has been in the past. Any candidate for high office of either party who believes he can blacklist any news organization is making a terrible mistake about journalists. And any candidate of either party who cannot answer direct, simple, even tough questions from any journalist runs a real risk of losing the voters.
The public knows if a journalist's question is unfair. They also know if a candidate is impeding freedom of speech and free press. If you are afraid of journalists, how will you face the real dangers in the world?"

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/3/9/17353/39693

((How's that threatening of John Edwards working out for ya, Roger?))

[KoKo]

8. The "Powers that BE" still SHOVE.."What's Gone Before...Down Our Throats"

and that's WHY we have the CRAP Media we PAY BIG BUCKS FOR TODAY!

If we just stayed on the "Internet" we'd be Okay...but it's impossible when so many of us are so used to tuning in the Cables and Networks...out of HABIT... It's imprinted on our BRAINS since BIRTH! Most of us got our Baby Bottles or Mommyies Breast Milk while the TEEVEE WAS ON!

It's our LIFE'S MILK! THE MSCORPORATE MEDIA...It's IN OUR BRAINS!

[SlowDownFast]

16. "Any candidate for high office of either party....

who believes he can blacklist any news organization is making a terrible mistake about journalists."

Problem is, Roger, your 'network' is not a 'news organization', it's a propaganda machine.

[madfloridian]

12. Here is my post on this. I disagreed, but I did not say all that.

I am almost afraid to post here anymore for people taking things wrong.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/1108

Dean made the one statement as far as I can tell. I disagreed with him. He never shut down anything.

I think you and I were discussing that the momentum might be slowed. But apparently MoveOn got well over a quarter of a million mails about it.

I am glad they backed down from having the debate. Glad to hear that.

[KoKo]

14. Not getting things wrong...because I posted after you and asked "WHAT SHOULD WE DO?"

and folks didn't know WHAT TO DO!

:shrug:

[KoKo]

15. There are always folks here who misunderstand or get things wrong.....and if one

let it "get to them" one would just move on an become part of the "Vaste Wastland" of Bushies and Bushie Clone Apologists.

I think it's GREAT NEWS that DNC "backed Down" for TRUTH and KEEPING FOX OUT....

My question was why did DNC try to derail it. Was it infighting between the Rahm Wing of the Party against the Dean Activists?

That was my point. I felt we were encouraged to sign a Petition and then the PTB asked us to QUIT THE EFFORT.

That's all I was asking and you heard the word and posted about it. No Big Deal...

[KoKo]

17. Josh Marshall's TPM gives credit to Richardson for Final Blow to Fox over Debate:

Fox-Hosted Debate Effectively Dead — Richardon and Nevada Dems Pull Out
By Eric Kleefeld | bio

Another Democratic candidate has pulled out of the proposed Democratic debate hosted by Fox News: Bill Richardson. Markos "Kos" Moulitsas has just reported that Richardson "just called to say that he will not be doing the Fox News debate in Nevada." Richardson had previously been the only candidate to confirm he would be going to the debate in August, and John Edwards had already pulled out in response to objections by Democratic activists that Fox should not host a Democratic debate. Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and other candidates have yet to say whether or not they'll attend.

Update: The Politico reports that the Nevada State Democratic Party is cancelling their involvement with the debate. Since the debate had been a joint project of Fox and the state Dems, it is now effectively dead.

Late Update: The Huffington Post adds more, reporting that the Democrats say they're pulling out because Fox News head Roger Ailes publicly joked about the Democratic candidates:

more here..........

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/