Bipartisan Boycotts

By: Matthew Felling
Topics: In The News

(AP)

The majority of Democratic presidential candidates have been criticized – even by sympathetic soul Keith Olbermann – for their refusal to participate in a September debate to be broadcast on Fox News Channel.

It's starting to look like boycotts may be a bipartisan trend.

The Washington Post reports today that the September GOP CNN/YouTube debate – the Democrats' one this week was all the rage, just ask CNN
– has received only two RSVPs from the Republican field: Ron Paul and John McCain.

Rudolph W. Giuliani and Mitt Romney, both with dozens of videos on their YouTube channels, have not signed up. Neither have the rest of the Republican candidates, including Rep. Tom Tancredo (Colo.), whose "Tancredo Takes" on his YouTube channel draw hundreds of views. Sources familiar with the Giuliani campaign said the former New York mayor is unlikely to participate. Kevin Madden, Romney's spokesman, said the former Massachusetts governor has seven debate invitations over a span of 11 days in September.

"We haven't committed to any of them yet," Madden said.

In an interview Wednesday with the New Hampshire Union Leader, Romney said he's not a fan of the CNN/YouTube format. Referring to the video of a snowman asking the Democratic candidates about global warming, Romney quipped, "I think the presidency ought to be held at a higher level than having to answer questions from a snowman."

Whether it's Frosty or Jim Lehrer asking the questions, these nationally-televised debates are a singular chance to reach potential voters. Candidates who give them the cold shoulder lose the opportunity to make their own case and voluntarily hand opponents the chance to misportray them.

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by bigmickie July 28, 2007 12:07 AM EDT: No.... It tells us that these folks are liars and unfit to govern this nation.

If they run away from a debate now.

What makes anyone think they won't cower like little girls when a real crisis occurs?

This is not tactical.

This is a case of WIMPS and LIARS.; Reply to this comment


by memekiller July 27, 2007 7:53 PM EDT: Q: What does it tell you when Dems refuse to take questions from FOX, and the GOP refuses to take questions from the American People?

A: A politician never willingly place himself at the mercy of the enemy.; Reply to this comment