Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

Has a presidential candidate ever given up free national television time?

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread		 This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion: Presidential (Through Nov 2009) Donate to DU
 
draft_mario_cuomo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 07:15 PM
Original message
Has a presidential candidate ever given up free national television time?
Skipping a debate is doing exactly that. We are told one candidate would rather talk to 300 people in New Hampshire than millions of voters in all 50 states via free television time during a debate. Has any candidate in history ever done this? Did it work? I am sure 300 votes in NH trump 2 million television viewers, especially since no one in the early states watches debates anyway.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
Superman Returns Donating Member (804 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 07:17 PM
Response to Original message
1. again and again....
What the hell has Obama ever done to you to warrant this hate?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
draft_mario_cuomo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 07:19 PM
Response to Reply #1
2. Has anyone ever done this?
Edited on Mon Aug-20-07 07:20 PM by draft_mario_cuomo
I remember Alan Keyes going on a hunger strike when he was excluded from a debate. Perhaps he could have won if he focused on speaking to 200 people in SC. :sarcasm:

Hate? This is a political discussion forum. Obama is in the political news regarding this. Frankly, the official reason presented by the Obama campaign is nothing short of ludicrous. That is what the OP is about. I can't believe so many intelligent people are buying it hook, line, and sinker.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
William769 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 07:19 PM
Response to Original message
3. He knows debating is one of his weaknesses
So he's going to refrain from the debates. Actually its a lose lose situation for him.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
draft_mario_cuomo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 07:22 PM
Response to Reply #3
4. No, you are wrong. He is giving up a chance to speak to millions of voters...
...so he can talk to 300 people in New Hampshire and 150 people in Nevada. See, that is the way to win. I don't know why the other fools even bother with debates when they can connect with small groups of voters instead of wasting their time talking to millions on television. Besides, they can always purchase national television time. Why take advantage of free TV time when you can spend money to buy it?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Superman Returns Donating Member (804 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 07:27 PM
Response to Reply #4
6. maybe
Edited on Mon Aug-20-07 07:28 PM by Superman Returns
maybe just maybe he feels that in small states like Iowa and N.H he can have more of an impact on voters and speak in depth on issues rather than these weekly debates in which candidates can really only get a few platitudes in. How many debates have there been already? And guess what. People are hardly watching them. Obama will do eight more and that's fine.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
William769 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 07:28 PM
Response to Reply #3
7. So you think he's a good debater?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Hippo_Tron Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 07:27 PM
Response to Original message
5. Well Hillary, Edwards, and Obama all passed on the Faux news debate
And that would've been free TV time.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
BeyondGeography Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 07:33 PM
Response to Reply #5
8. And someone said "no" to Larry King once!
What an absurd thread...
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
draft_mario_cuomo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 08:59 PM
Response to Reply #5
11. They did that to win votes with the base, not run away from debating nt
Edited on Mon Aug-20-07 09:00 PM by draft_mario_cuomo
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Hippo_Tron Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 10:38 PM
Response to Reply #11
14. Okay, but that's not the premise of your thread
Your premise is that it's absurd that any candidate would give up free national air time.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
illinoisprogressive Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 07:41 PM
Response to Original message
9. still feeling like obama stole Edwards due huh, DMC?? Still bitter?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
illinoisprogressive Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 07:42 PM
Response to Reply #9
10. What happens if those debates get canceled due to lack of interest without Obama! lol
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
rufus dog Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 09:45 PM
Response to Original message
12. we will see how it works out.
Have there ever been so many debates before?

The talk on the street is people aren't watching, they feel like there are too many debates. So his position isn't exactly radical.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
ecstatic Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 09:51 PM
Response to Original message
13. Actually, he might gain a lot more ground by doing the small group events
Viewers watching a debate from home usually have a whole bunch of things going on in the background. The debate is almost pointless and maybe one or two interesting points are made, and thats it. Obama has the opportunity to connect with about 500 people--he is at his strongest in that setting. Guess what? Everyone who leaves will be so inspired that they tell everyone they know to vote Obama.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
killbotfactory Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-21-07 02:18 AM
Response to Original message
15. Go back to whatever hell spawn opposition research team you came from
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) 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 Tue Apr 30th 2024, 08:58 AM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion: Presidential (Through Nov 2009) Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators

Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC