Debate Debate Continues

After learning of George W. Bush's rejection of the Commission on Presidential Debates' plan - and his counterproposal for debates on NBC's Meet The Press and CNN - executives at two major networks announced they had no intention of carrying rival networks' broadcasts.

CBS News President Andrew Heyward’s reacted with displeasure to Bush's proposal, The New York Times reported Tuesday.

"I think that it might be in the interest of some of the parties involved to call them debates, but these are basically versions of existing talk shows, and we don't normally air other people's talk shows," Heyward told the Times.

Paul Friedman, the executive vice president of ABC News, echoed Heyward, telling the paper "It's very unlikely we would cover other networks' programs, and that is essentially what they are."

But, apparently convinced that objecting networks would be compelled to air the rival programs, Bush's camp continued to push the plan this week.

The commission's executive director, Janet Brown, said the organization is making an attempt to reconcile the candidates to the original schedule, which calls for three, 90-minute debates at neutral sites to be covered equally by all networks. Bush has only agreed to one of these debates so far.

Brown told The Times, "We continue to believe our proposal is the best one. I believe the campaigns when they say they want to debate in a way that reaches the maximum number of people, and the way to do that is to implement the commission's plan."

While they are reluctant to cover their rivals' shows, it is also apparent that all ABC, CBS, and other networks are not comfortable with going against the commission’s plan. Some broadcast journalists have expressed displeasure at what may be perceived as the networks allowing themselves to be used by Bush’s campaign.

Addressing this, Heyward said Tuesday, "CBS News has no intention of being used by either side to score political points in the debate over debates."

In an appearance on the CBS News Early Show Tuesday, Democratic vice-presidential candidate Joe Lieberman also criticized Bush's debate tactics.

"The presidential commission sets the rules of the debates. For Governor Bush to try and make an end-run around that is just not fair," Lieberman said. "I compare it to a team heading into the Super Bowl saying 'I don't want to play in that city, I only want to play three quarters, I don't like the referees, and I don't want too many people to watch.' You just don't do that."

Bill Wheatley, vice president of NBC News, dismissed the idea that NBC’s role is undermining the commission’s mission in any way. He also volunteered that he believed the NBC appearance would be a service to voters.

Wheatley told the Times, "We believe that our proposal gives the public an opportunity to give these men a chance to dbate a month earlier. Otherwise, the commission debates don't begin until October."

Speaking at a rally before a Labor Day parade in the suburbs of Chicago, Bush taunted Gore for not accepting the offer. "My opponent said he would debate me anyplace, anytime, anywhere," Bush said Monday. "I said fine. Why don't we just show up...and discuss our differences."

"All of a sudden the words 'anytime, anywhere' don't mean anything," he added to cheers from several thousand supporters. "It's time to get some plain-spoken folks in Washington."

Gore, meanwhile, insisted that Bush must first accept the three 90-minute debates proposed by the Commission on Presidential Debates. Gore has accepted those offers, saying they will reach the widest possible viewing audience and that Bush's proposal would not.

"This is not about what is best for George W. Bush or what is best for Al Gore. It's about what's best for the American people," Gore said on NBC's Today program.

"It's become a tradition to get all the networks together and give all of the American people the right to see three 90-minute, prime-time debates," he added.

Few in either party expect Republican Bush's overture - or Democrat Gore's refusal - to be the final word on debates as the campaigns maneuver to arrange terms that best play to the respective strengths of each candidate.

The Commission on Presidential Debates was created to prevent this sort of finagling and ensure that the most voters could view the debates. In the past candidates have rescheduled the dates or changed the format slightly, but none have tried to alter the commission's proposals to this extent.