Bernie Sanders’s Campaign Says He Would Sit Out Unsanctioned Debate

[brooklynite]

Source: New York Times

Jeff Weaver, the campaign manager for Senator Bernie Sanders, said on Tuesday evening that Mr. Sanders did not want to participate in an unsanctioned debate next month because he could risk being denied participation in future debates.

The debate would be held Feb. 4 in New Hampshire, five days before the state’s primary. It would be sponsored by MSNBC and The New Hampshire Union Leader, which announced that the “Meet the Press” host Chuck Todd and the MSNBC anchor Rachel Maddow would moderate the debate.

The Democratic National Committee has “said this will be an unsanctioned debate, so we would not want to jeopardize our ability to participate in future debates,” Mr. Weaver said.

He added that if the Democratic National Committee did sanction the debate, the campaign’s stance would be different.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2016/01/26/bernie-sanderss-campaign-says-he-would-sit-out-unsanctioned-debate/?_r=0

---

I've got it! This is another conspiracy! The conservative Union Leader and the corporate NBC ginned up a "debate" to get Bernie to accept, in order to kick him out of the DNC sanctioned debates!

[hrmjustin]

1. But he literally called for more debates!

Debate Senator!

[Uncle Joe]

11. Bernie called for the DNC to SANCTION more debates going back to last June

Zeke J Miller @ZekeJMiller Updated: June 1, 2015 4:50 PM

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is calling on the Democratic Party to increase the number of debates it is approving this election season and for them to begin in the coming weeks, rather than in the fall.

Sanders’ letter to Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz marks the first blow against the Democratic National Committee’s efforts to control the debate process. Last month, the DNC said it would sanction six debates, in what rival campaigns said was an effort to protect the front-runner, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Under the DNC rules, candidates who participate in a debate outside those six would be ineligible to take the stage at the sanctioned debates. The exclusivity clause mirrors that adopted by the Republican National Committee, which has approved as many as 12 debates for its far larger field.

“In recent weeks, as I have traveled around the country, I have been hearing concerns from voters about the need for vigorous candidate debate,” Sanders wrote. “The people of this country are tired of political gossip, personal attacks and ugly 30-second ads. They want the candidates to engage in serious discussion about the very serious issues facing our country today.”

http://time.com/3903978/bernie-sanders-debates/

[hrmjustin]

14. If they all agree to do it the party can't sanction them because they will look like fools if they

do.

This seems too cute by half on Sanders part.

[Uncle Joe]

19. Has Hillary stated that she would participate? Or is she just being "cute by half"?

[hrmjustin]

21. She said she would do it if the others agreed.

Is the DNC going to sanction all three of them? No!

[Uncle Joe]

26. The DNC has stated they will not sanction the New Hampshire debate, and Martin O'Malley is the ONLY

candidate that has accepted, Hillary has stated she will attend if the debate is sanctioned by the DNC.

January 26, 2016, 06:59 pm
DNC throws cold water on unsanctioned New Hampshire debate


The Democratic National Committee says it is unlikely to sanction additional debates before the New Hampshire primary, a decision that could strike a blow to the attempts by MSNBC and the New Hampshire Union Leader to host a debate next week.

"We have no plans to sanction any further debates before the upcoming First in the Nation caucuses and primary, but will reconvene with our campaigns after those two contests to review our schedule," DNC chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz said in a statement.

(snip)

Martin O'Malley is the only candidate who has accepted the invitation so far to the event scheduled to take place on Feb. 4, five days before the New Hampshire primary.

Jennifer Palmieri, Clinton's communications director, signaled that Clinton is open to participating if other candidates agree and the DNC sanctions the debate. She didn't address whether Clinton would still appear if the DNC doesn't sanction the event.

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/dem-primaries/267120-dnc-will-not-sanction-additional-debates

[hrmjustin]

28. Screw the DNC! Time for another debate. Both need to agree.

[Uncle Joe]

30. Who knows perhaps they will both come to an agreement, time will tell but if they do, the last

two sanctioned debates in Wisconsin and Florida are at risk should the DNC not sanction the New Hampshire debate even if all three candidate agree to participate.

After months of grassroots anger directed at the Democratic Party over its debate schedule, the New Hampshire Union Leader and MSNBC plan to defy Democratic leaders and jointly host a debate for Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton and Martin O’Malley in New Hampshire five days before the state’s primary.

But no one knows whether the candidates will show up.

The Democratic National Committee has previously said that it would exclude any candidate or network that participates in an additional, unsanctioned debate from the future sanctioned debates, including a Feb. 11 event in Wisconsin and a March 9 event in Florida. NBC hosted the last Democratic debate on Jan. 17.

http://time.com/4194675/new-hampshire-democratic-debate-hillary-clinton/

Unless the DNC sanctions the New Hampshire debate, I don't believe gaining one debate and losing two to be worth it.

[hrmjustin]

31. If the DNC does not sanction this debate there will be hell to pay.

[Uncle Joe]

34. I hope Schultz does turn around and sanction the New Hampshire debate and I believe she will,

primarily because Bernie is leading by sizable margins in the New Hampshire polls.

Should Hillary win in Iowa there is a smaller chance of this occurring but if Bernie wins in Iowa, Schultz will definitely have her "come to Jesus" moment and sanction the New Hampshire debate.

As of today Iowa is too close to call, so Schultz is biding her time, the only way I see Schultz sanctioning the New Hampshire debate before the Iowa caucus is if Bernie begins leading Hillary dramatically in the Iowa polls.

[Hortensis]

42. Not to mention, for Democrats to stop to attack their own tail,

instead of grouping for battle with the GOP, would be unbelievably stupid.

The GOP's at war with itself and in big, big trouble as a result. The last thing we want to do is copy that!

As for the NH group's plan, they could just switch the format to another. Easy-peasy. The DNC does not allow its candidates to participate in debate format unless sanctioned but does not forbid their participation in other formats.

[Health Wagon]

65. DWS has to sanction it first.

Them's the rules. We already know she won't because she said so.

[Duckhunter935]

53. So she has more conditions than Bernie

Nice to know

[islandmkl]

27. she would 'if'...

by the book....

'had I known'...'upon further information'..."with what I know now'...etc.

[Iliyah]

2. LOL, yep

[Pharaoh]

9. what don't you understand?

Not a sanctioned debate according to DNC and DWS.

Which would disqualify him from any future debates.

Does the DNC now sanction this as an officially sanctioned debate?

Are they now doing this because HRC is getting creamed in the polls in NH?

[rpannier]

20. There are only 2 sanctioned debates left are there not?

If he and O' Malley both went to the 'unsanctioned' debate Clinton would likely follow and the DNC would be up against it

[Pharaoh]

25. yes

but that is not the point.

The issue is they want to have their cake and eat it too.

They need to clarify their position if it has changed.

[liberal N proud]

4. When your down you cry for more debates

You scream for more debates.
You protest for more debates
You call the DNC corrupt because there aren't enough debates.

Get a little lead in a few polls and all of a sudden no more debates?

Hypocrisy isn't just a Republican thing!

[litlbilly]

13. sure sounds like you vote rebublican, and only republican.

[liberal N proud]

16. Where the #&*€ do you get that bulls hit statement?

You obviously missed my username name and the fact that I have been here for a while, a long while.

[litlbilly]

23. I think you meant shit, and, I dont care how long youve been here.

[litlbilly]

24. Ive been here a long time too, I just dont sit around and post all day long.

[farleftlib]

48. Good

you shouldn't

[Health Wagon]

67. I don't have time either

I lurk Democratic Underground for many years as well, only joining to post stuff because I like Bernie.

[Uncle Joe]

17. Bernie stated that he wouldn't participate in non-sanctioned debates going back to last August

before the started leading Hillary in the polls.

Sam Frizell @Sam_Frizell Aug. 25, 2015

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has been hearing it from all sides. A former governor’s top staffer begged him to consider participating in an additional Democratic primary debate. A television outlet reached out repeatedly, eager to sponsor one. Thousands of the Vermont Senators’ fans signed petitions, appealing for more televised contests.

But the surging Democratic presidential candidate has been unmoved. In the midst of ongoing pressure for more Democratic primary debates, it’s increasingly unlikely that Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders will flout the Democratic National Committee’s strict rules that threaten punishment for any candidate who attend more than the six official debates.

Fearful of risking exclusion from a major national debate against Hillary Clinton, or elevating some of his lesser rivals, Sanders’ campaign has said he will not debate unless all the Democratic candidates for president are on the stage.

http://time.com/4010576/bernie-sanders-hillary-clinton-debate-martin-omalley/

[retrowire]

22. Bernie Supporters. The fastest with the facts. God I love you guys.nt

[liberal N proud]

41. Still for months there were cries from Bernard and his followers calling for more debates

Then suddenly, were following the rules?

[Bradical79]

45. Calling for more debates wasn't breaking the rules

Try sticking to the facts, something I recall you calling for awhile back. I would prefer he go against the DNC and force DWS's hand on the matter, but I can't be mad at the guy for sticking to his word.

[liberal N proud]

46. Calling for more debates wasn't breaking the rules but going to them is?

[Bradical79]

51. Yes? It's pretty clear cut

Yes, participating in an unsanctioned debate is breaking the rules set by the DNC which would disqualify him from the remaining sanctioned debates. Not sure why the basic facts of the situation seem to be eluding you when it's been explained in a simple and clear manner multiple times.

[Warren Stupidity]

68. Uh , yes. According to the rules made by DWS

participation in an unsanctioned debate bars a candidate from participation in future sanctioned debates.

Perhaps more rofls will make that not true?

[retrowire]

18. So now you're going to mock him for following the DNC's rules? Wow. nt

[Pharaoh]

29. Lol......

[virtualobserver]

60. simple solution....the DNC....the organization supposedly trying to elect Democrats...

needs to sanction the debate.

Did Bernie create the exclusion rule?.....uh, no.

Did Debbie Wasserman Schultz refuse to sanction this debate?....uh, yes.

Did Hillary push for fewer debates?....uh, yes.

[Wilms]

5. DNC should sanction it.

He's called them out. Instead the response is specious arguments delivered by those who know better.

Seems like that happens a lot.

[Helen Borg]

38. Yes. Only way.

If he goes to an unsanctioned debate the DNC will ban him from future debates. No brainer there.

[GoneFishin]

40. Hillary has the last word on the debate being sanctioned. Her cute act, pretending she is powerless

in deciding whether the debate is sanctioned or not, is a fucking joke. If she wants to debate she will be able to.

This wily slight-of-hand shit is why I could never support her.

[tom_kelly]

6. Are the other two candidates taking part? n/t

[tazkcmo]

64. Doesn't matter.

As with reparations, which I'm for, the only candidate's position that matters is Sen. Sanders' position. O'Malley can commit to any and all debates and events that may be against the rules laid out by the DNC because he has nothing to lose by doing so. Sec. Clinton can give the exact same conditions for participating that Sen. Sanders has given and it's all good because, well, her positions change daily anyway. The hypocrisy is astounding and will only result in highlighting the pettiness of The Clinton Machine.

Please. Shout it from the roof tops HRC supporters. Call Sen Sanders out while pretending your candidate isn't saying the same thing, i.e. "If the others agree and it's sanctioned by our tool the DNC, we'll attend.", and watch Sen. Sanders' donations and poll numbers go up again.

[Gregorian]

7. "what is needed “is a rational, thought-out schedule of debates. Not just ad hoc debates"

So now we know he doesn't shoot from the hip. I think it's the principled approach.

[tomm2thumbs]

8. Little Debbie better hurry up and sanction the MSNBC debate now...

[elmac]

10. Yes, you don't want to piss off the corporatist dems

or they will take their ball and go home.

[litlbilly]

12. No, its because they know Hillary is toast and think more debates now would help her.

[retrowire]

15. So now you're going to mock him for following the DNC's rules? Wow. nt

[highprincipleswork]

32. Like most of what Bernie says and stands for, this makes a lot of sense. I like that.

[Dawson Leery]

33. Bernie buckled.

He wanted more debates, he has one more and he doesn't want it. The same with Trump.

Both of them should just go away.

[Jackilope]

35. What about not sanctioned debates from DNC are you not getting?

He is more of a Democrat than the corporate-owned Clinton machine and some HRC supporters accuse him of not being a "real Democrat". He is following the DNC rules and still, here you are on attack.

[Pharaoh]

37. ^^this^^

[JonLeibowitz]

36. Don't let facts get in the way of a good yarn.

The Democratic National Committee says it is unlikely to sanction additional debates before the New Hampshire primary, a decision that could strike a blow to the attempts by MSNBC and the New Hampshire Union Leader to host a debate next week.

"We have no plans to sanction any further debates before the upcoming First in the Nation caucuses and primary, but will reconvene with our campaigns after those two contests to review our schedule," DNC chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz said in a statement.

"We have consistently worked with our campaigns to ensure a schedule that is robust and that allows them to engage with voters in a variety of ways, whether through debates, forums, town halls, but also leaving them the flexibility to attend county fairs and living room conversations in states like Iowa and New Hampshire where direct voter contact matters so much."

DNC rules stipulate that any candidate who participates in an unsanctioned debate forfeits the opportunity to attend contests sanctioned by the party. A DNC aide told The Hill that the party is not considering lifting that policy.

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/dem-primaries/267120-dnc-will-not-sanction-additional-debates

[bklyncowgirl]

39. I suppose they see a trap here.

If the debate is sanctioned by the DNC and he stiff refuses to participate then he is open for criticism.

Sanders is an Independent and his people are understandably suspicious of the motives of the DNC.

[Vinca]

43. This is a smart tactic by Bernie. The DNC is going to have to sanction that debate to help

Hillary. Bernie is way ahead in New Hampshire so as that vote goes, he's the one with the least to lose. It was their decision to have only a few debates scheduled for the least viewers in order to help Hillary. Amusing. What a backfire.

[oberliner]

44. Maybe it will just be O'Malley and two empty podiums

Then he can finally get his 10 seconds and more.

[baldguy]

47. Sanders' hypocrisy is stunning.

That his holier-than-thou supporters dismiss his hypocrisy is even more so.

[Bradical79]

54. Ok, so are you calling for Bernie to break his word?

and participate in an unsanctioned debate? And can you explain how sticking to your word is hypocritical? I would prefer he break his word and participate with O'Malley thus putting the DNC in a tough spot, but I'm not going to be angry about him doing what he says he was going to do in the first place.

[baldguy]

57. Right, Sanders agreed to the DNC's ground rules - then he declared war on them.

Just because his people got caught with their hands in the cookie jar hacking Clinton's polling data. Why should this be any different?

Again: stunning hypocrisy.

[Bradical79]

61. Lol, nonsense

Agreeing to a set of rules does not mean you can't tell them their rules are garbage or tell the leadership they should hold more debates. Participating under a rule set doesn't mean shutting up. There's no hypocrisy here.

[Freddie Stubbs]

49. Bernie is obviously part to the DNC conspiracy

[leftynyc]

50. This looks bad for Bernie

I know his supporters think he's being really shrewd but this will NOT play well with voters whose votes he'll need to win a general election. So good for him looking good for those who are going to vote for him anyway - because that's all this is. He'll be called a coward afraid of Hillary.

[Tom Rinaldo]

55. Has Hillary said she would debate IF the DNC refuses to sanction it?

From what I remember her comment was she would gladly debate and the candidates should wok with the DNC to get it sanctioned. Which is all well and good except DWS refuses to, and Hillary is the one with influence on her. Seems simple enough. Hillary can call Debbie and make this happen.

[PoliticAverse]

58. Clinton has indicated she wouldn't participate in in unsanctioned debate, and DWS said this debate

won't be sanctioned.

[virtualobserver]

63. Debbie will change her tune, when Hillary calls her at 3 a.m.

[Bradical79]

56. Yes, I can see that

I think it was a mistake saying he wouldn't participate in unsanctioned debates earlier. It stuck him into a position where by participating he opens himself to accusations of being a liar. And by refusing to participate, he faces people making him look weak and hypocritical. Yeah, it's a very dishonest move on the part of some Hillary Clinton backers (like in this thread), but too often lies and manipulation can be pretty effective considering how many people don't pay attention to the details.

[leftynyc]

66. I'm thinking ahead towards the general

This wont look good to the independents who will only start tuning in once the candidates are known.

[Duckhunter935]

52. That is disappointing to say the least

[NurseJackie]

59. I've always said that Bernie and his fans should be THANKING Debbie for the debate schedule!

Considering how his poll numbers dip after each debate, it doesn't surprise me that he's not very enthusiastic about getting back into the ring.

[Tarheel_Dem]

69. ^^^ THIS ^^^

They've changed their tune about "more debates", and I think that's because BS sucks at 'em.

[Tom Rinaldo]

62. How is this different than Hillary's position?

Or from what Bernie has been saying all along? A lot of the same folks who say Sanders is wrong to not defy the DNC sanctions are the same ones who try to attack Sanders for not being a official Democrat.