Biden balks at Trumpless town hall debate

[brooklynite]

Source: Axios

After President Trump announced he would not participate in a virtual debate next week, Joe Biden's campaign released a statement Thursday that the former vice president would instead "find an appropriate place to take questions from voters directly."

The state of play: The Commission on Presidential Debates announced the town hall would be entirely virtual "for the health and safety of all involved" as Trump continues to recover from coronavirus.

What they're saying: "Joe Biden was prepared to accept the CPD's proposal for a virtual town hall, but the president has refused, as Donald Trump clearly does not want to face questions from the voters about his failures on COVID and the economy," said Kate Bedingfield, Biden's deputy campaign manager.

"As a result, Joe Biden will find an appropriate place to take questions from voters directly on October 15th, as he has done on several occasions in recent weeks."


Read more: https://www.axios.com/biden-trump-town-hall-debate-participation-3b383612-6fa7-4e6c-b47a-aaba07865371.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=organic&utm_content=1100

[elleng]

1. ((This is a developing story))

2020 Election Live Updates: Next Debate in Jeopardy After Virus-Stricken Trump Rejects Virtual Face-off and Biden Camp Calls for Delay
The Commission on Presidential Debates had announced that the Oct. 15 debate would be held remotely “in order to protect the health and safety of all involved.” At her debate with Vice President Mike Pence, Senator Kamala Harris called the White House’s response to the coronavirus “the greatest failure of any presidential administration.”

RIGHT NOWBiden campaign says next week’s debate should be pushed back after Trump refuses to appear virtually.


https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/10/08/us/harris-pence-trump-biden

[The Magistrate]

2. Probably The Better Move, Sir

Any appearance by Mr. Biden will be an 'empty chair' affair at this point. There will be shimmering there the ghost of a gold commode wherever Mr. Biden takes the stage alone....

[jayfish]

7. Disagree.

Logistically, why would you look for another venue when everything is already in place to do the exact thing you are looking to accomplish? ... including prime-time media coverage?

[mahina]

9. I am with you on this. Biden should've taken the air time

It would’ve been a really great opportunity to get him s message heard

It would’ve driven wussolini bananas too

[Yeehah]

3. The Commission on Presidential Debates is a bunch of dumbasses

They allowed phony news organization Fox "News" to participate? What a joke!

If Joes does his own town hall and snubs the asshole CPD, it wouldn't bother me a bit.

[brooklynite]

6. You mean by allowing Chris Wallace to moderate?

He's been a perfectly responsible interviewer (remember his 1 on 1 with Trump) and nobody else could have handled Trump better.

[Yeehah]

8. Fox "News" is a right-wing propaganda outlet, not a legitimate news organization

Only legitimate news organizations that abide by journalistic standards should be allowed to participate. That includes Fox "News" fake reporter Chris Wallace.

[brooklynite]

10. Perhaps you should take that up with the Commisson...

[Yeehah]

12. I already sent the commission my remarks.

Hope it helps!

[napi21]

4. Go for it Joe. Let chicken T whine with jealousy in his infected WH! n/t

[Tom Rinaldo]

5. Biden is the one who agreed to a remote debate. And he's the one now calling for an alternate date

when it can safely be assumed that Trump is no longer shedding virus, since Trump refused to be isolated. Biden has the high ground here. Trump can hold a dangerous rally next week and Biden can hold a safe Town Hall. Trump is the one who needs a game changing debate right now, not Biden. Yet Trump is the one who killed it.

[lagomorph777]

11. CNN's crawls 1:30PM Eastern: "Biden campaign: 'Trump's erratic behavior isn't an excuse to delay...

It's extremely confusing.

Bottom line, Trump won't debate unless he can infect Biden with COVID, because that is the only possible outcome that would benefit Trump. The debate itself would add another 5 points to Biden.

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

13. Joe could get Alec Baldwin to stand in for Trump,

in his SNL character.

The ratings would be through the roof, and Joe's uninterrupted message of empathy, stability, and unity, could be put on display for everyone to see, and be done with humor.

Wild horses couldn't drag me away from watching that.