Mitch Perry
“Chair Wasserman Schultz not only made the decision to limit debate among our candidates, she scheduled the debates during weekends and holidays when television viewership is known to be low,” said DPCF President Susan Smith said in a prepared statement. “What was she thinking?”
“By refusing to give Democratic candidates an equitable debate stage with Republicans, she is allowing the normalization of extreme rhetoric that is filled with hatred and lies. Positive and inspiring Democratic voices are not being heard,” Smith said. “Much like we saw in 2009 when Democrats failed to answer right-wing falsehoods about the president’s healthcare plan, the vacuum is being filled with the Republican narrative.”
The calls for more Democratic presidential debates have been coming far and wide during the past month or so after the DNC scheduled only six official debates. That’s actually not that many fewer than the party has scheduled in the past, but the difference this year is that the party will penalize candidateswho participate in any additional debates.
During the 2007-2008 Democratic presidential election cycle, the candidates engaged in more than 25 such debates.
Meanwhile, Democrats are growing frustrated that Fox News and CNN have generated record ratings for televising the first two GOP presidential debates this past summer.
DNC Committeeman and Florida Democratic Party Vice Chairman Alan Clendenin has also been outspoken in criticizing Wasserman Schultz as he calls for more Democratic debates.
Clendenin told Florida Politics this month that, “Quite frankly the sentiments I’ve expressed are shared by the vast majority of folks in our party, and believe our party is stronger when we have dialogue and we have discussions.
“I think debates are important. I think that getting those out it helps educate the voters, makes them aware of the election, the positive messaging, the positive policies that are party stands for. It’s a ridiculous amount of earned media, and to walk away from that I find that to be negligent, and I think it’s counterproductive.”
