Trump team seeks 4th debate with Biden, cites voting by mail

[left-of-center2012]

President Donald Trump’s campaign is requesting a fourth debate with his presumptive Democratic rival, citing an expected surge in mail and absentee voting this fall because of the coronavirus, expressed concern that some ballots — especially those by elderly voters most at risk to the virus — could be cast before the first debate. Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani made the request Thursday in a call with Frank Fahrenkopf, the co-chair of the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates.

“We want fair debates,” Parscale said. “We want them sooner and we want a bigger schedule. We also don’t want them up against football games competing for viewers. As many Americans as possible need to see the stark differences between the accomplishments and leadership of President Trump and the failed record and sleepiness of Joe Biden.” The Trump team also suggested that each campaign have a role in selecting the debate moderators, and potentially vetoing some journalists identified to serve in that role.

Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden’s campaign said it wasn’t looking for another debate and instead plans to participate in those scheduled by the commission. “We are not going to ride the roller coaster of the ever-changing Trump campaign position on debates, nor are we going to be distracted by his demands,” Biden deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield said in a statement.

“We will make this simple,” Bedingfield continued. “Like every other Democratic and Republican candidate since 1992, we will show up for the debates set by the Commission on Presidential Debates, at the places they have selected, on the dates they have selected, with the formats and moderators they designate -- so long as Donald Trump does the same, and does not intimidate the Commission into changes from past practices.”

The first of three presidential debates is scheduled for Sept. 29 at the University of Notre Dame.

https://apnews.com/2225b321aaea3e6f69416d58189f930f

[Dan]

1. The Biden team should not agree to any debates with Trump

Unless there is an automated fact checker - viewable to both the TV audience and in the background for the attendees.

[The Magistrate]

2. An Excellent Idea, Sir

Reality does, after all, have a decided liberal bias....

[Cha]

17. Oh that it could be so!

[Jarqui]

18. +1

How can you debate a chronic liar and win?

Almost impossible.

[Rstrstx]

3. What football games?

Are they trying to get OAN to moderate the last debate?

[walkingman]

4. I wouldn't debate the SOB - let him cry, let him whine, let him lose.

[tinrobot]

5. The losing candidate is always the one who needs to debate

This request is very telling.

[Music Man]

6. Most definitely.

Do you remember when McCain wanted 10 "Lincoln-Douglas style" debates with Obama?

As a debate/rhetoric buff, I don't mind the idea of lots of debating among our political figures, but when it's clearly political leveraging, as in this case, it's so stupid.

[SoonerPride]

7. Nah. We're good dawg. See ya in September. Good luck.

Give them
Nothing

[pamdb]

8. debates

I don't care if they debate at all. My mind is made up-Joe Biden all the way.
Of course I would have voted, as a lot of democrats would, for any candidate that captured the nomination.

[donco]

9. Debate only

with flip-flops on the feet… in other words no elevator shoes.

[LiberalFighter]

12. Hmm make Biden look taller than Trump.

[dhill926]

10. "failed record and sleepiness of Joe Biden."

do they REALLY want to go there? They're stupider than I thought....(well, no, not really)

[LiberalFighter]

11. I would refuse to deal with Parscale.

[StevieM]

13. Actually, Bob Dole behaved disgracefully in 1996.

When it came to the debates, and in many other ways as well.

[madinmaryland]

15. Dole was the old school jackoff Republican. He at least did not dodge the draft and

instead served his country.

[StevieM]

19. That doesn't excuse his contempt for democracy. (eom)

[fleur-de-lisa]

14. Translation: Fuck off, Bunker Boy.

[rufus dog]

16. Was fine with it until....

As many Americans as possible need to see the stark differences between the accomplishments and leadership of President Trump and the failed record and sleepiness of Joe Biden.”

At that point the response should be, Fuck off Bitch Brad and an extra Fuck off you your Bunker Bitch boss.

[StarfishSaver]

20. Trump's not going to debate Biden

He'll find some excuse to get out of it.

[albacore]

21. I was reading thru this thread....

..wondering if everybody thinks trump is going to debate.
I'm glad you posted about that.

I cannot believe his handlers/caregivers/keepers would let him debate. There's an almost-certain chance that he will decompensate right there on stage.
The man talks in word salad and cannot follow any lines of thought, and he even slurs words.

He's deteriorated a lot since 2016.

I'm betting you are right. He'll weasel out of debating just like he's weaseled out of everything he's supposed to do.

[StarfishSaver]

22. Yep. I was just thinking the same thing about his deterioration

He barely made it through the debates in 2016. Now, he'd be a complete wreck.

No way do I think he'll debate.

[Gothmog]

23. Here is the response of the Biden campaign

Link to tweet