Cuomo: Debates Are Bad for Democracy

[Smarmie Doofus]

So, as Lawrence O'Donnell asked of (the much less demented and idiotic) Anthony Weiner, what is *wrong* with this guy? Are we supposed to laugh at him or what?

From Perdido Street Blog. http://perdidostreetschool.blogspot.com/2014/09/cuomo-debates-are-bad-for-democracy.html


>>>>Cuomo: Debates Are Bad For Democracy

You just can't make this stuff up:

Mr. Cuomo’s primary challengers include Zephyr Teachout, a law professor, whose candidacy has attracted attention of late partly because of the governor’s simultaneous concern about it (he tried to get her removed from the ballot) and refusal to acknowledge it exists (he avoids uttering Ms. Teachout’s name).
...
Mr. Cuomo was asked about his refusal to debate and what message that sent about his “respect for democracy.”

“I don’t think it has anything to do with democracy,” he replied. “I think it has to do with individual campaigns. Sometimes you have debates; sometimes you don’t have debates. It depends on the campaign. It depends on the issues.”

“I’ve been in many debates that I think were a disservice to democracy,” he added. “So anyone who says debates are always a service to democracy hasn’t watched all the debates that I’ve been in.”

But State of Politics points out that Cuomo wanted to force any candidates who opted into public financing of their campaigns to submit to a debate:

Gov. Andrew Cuomo may be refusing to participate in debates this year, but he wanted to make them a requirement for any candidate who opts into the statewide public campaign financing system he proposed in his executive budget this year.

The mandate is clearly stated on P. 53, line 6 of Cuomo’s budget, which reads:

[blkmusclmachine]

1. The DINO doesn't want to talk, but just run off and hide.

[wyldwolf]

2. Andrew Cuomo a dino? Seriously, people need to stop throwing that label around...

... everytime you don't like someone. It shows a certain lack of knowledge.

[adirondacker]

4. For someone that received more Koch Kash than republicans, I question your knowledge of him.

here's a few links to get ya started...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x709962

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017212359

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017206722

Pretty Low bar for a "Democrat" in a blue state, but Wall Street loves the guy.

[wyldwolf]

8. Let me make sure I understand. 'Koch Kash' = DINO.

Is that correct?

[aikoaiko]

3. I can see why he doesn't want to debate publicly.

That was an embarrassing answer.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

5. We shouldn't be discussing this; it's bad for democracy.

[adirondacker]

6. !

[Johonny]

7. I don't see that he is wrong

“I’ve been in many debates that I think were a disservice to democracy,” he added. “So anyone who says debates are always a service to democracy hasn’t watched all the debates that I’ve been in.”

I have to admit I've seen some real crap debates here in the USA. I doubt many people would disagree a lot of debates historically have just plain sucked. Rarely do left wing issues get discussed and almost never from a presumed assumption that the left position is the better one. So yes Debates can do a disservice to democracy. Anyone watch those FOX GOP debates where they try to out Ronald Reagan the next guy and think it was good? More to the point American debates aren't debates at all. They are sound bite delivery systems that do little if no real debating on a subject.

Of course the other reason not to debate is when you are winning hands down and there is no reason to give a the other guy a free chance. Simply ducking the opponent is probably not a service to democracy most times...

[Cha]

9. Yes, Gov Cuomo.. we get it.. you're a chickenshit twisting yourself into a pretzel because

you don't want to debate Zephyr Teachout.. because you would LOSE.

Good Luck ZT! Thanks Smarmie