Fox News invites Harris, Trump to Sept. 17 debate in Pennsylvania

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Politico

07/24/2024 03:30 PM EDT


Fox News has invited newly minted presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump to a Sept. 17 debate.

The network sent out invitations to both campaigns on Wednesday to participate in the debate. It is tentatively scheduled to take place just a week after a proposed debate on Sept. 10 from ABC News, which both President Joe Biden and Trump committed to participating in before the incumbent bowed out of the race. Fox News is proposing to hold the debate in Pennsylvania, but left the door open to discussions with each campaign about the date, format, location, and whether or not there is an audience.

The invitation comes after Trump pushed for the conservative network to host a debate during a conference call with reporters on Tuesday afternoon, though he committed to debating Harris regardless of the host network. The Harris and Trump campaigns did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the invitation.

The letters sent to the Harris and Trump campaigns were penned by Fox News Media President Jay Wallace and Vice President of Politics Jessica Loker. The network described its invitation as an amendment of its proposal for a debate during the 2024 campaign and suggested that hosts Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum would be the “best choices” to moderate.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2024/07/24/fox-news-debate-harris-trump-00170958

[Think. Again.]

1. That's nice, but wouldn't it be best to elimnate the commercial media aspect from this?

Edit to add:

PBS, C-SPAN, heck even the Voice of America has been doing quality video work lately.

I'm sure the Federal Election Commission can figure it out.

[jimfields33]

40. Didn't we just have one on cnn?

I think commercial entities have done debates for decades. It definitely used to be unaffiliated groups that did the debates before then.

[Think. Again.]

42. Yeah, we've been making quite a few mistakes for decades, hopefully we'll start to correct that.

[jimfields33]

43. I saw a snippet of the Reagan Mondale debate

with the woman’s league of voters. I thought it was very good. Perhaps having the group do the debates again would improve the entire process.

[Think. Again.]

44. That's one idea...

...but I think having the FEC take authority over it would be more appropriate (that is, if the FEC is still doing it's job correctly).

[jimfields33]

47. That definitely would work if as you said they did it correctly.

[Rhiannon12866]

76. The League of Women Voters held the debate when I worked on my former congressman's campaign

They did a good job.

[orthoclad]

64. The League Of Women Voters

used to conduct debates until recently.

Yes, non-profit sponsors would be better.

[Fiendish Thingy]

2. Go for it, and up the ante

Same rules as last debate, and accept only on the condition that Trump agree to a debate on MSNBC in October moderated by Rachel and Lawrence.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

14. She should not accept until after officially nominated & maybe after the Convention.

Keep tRump stewing.

Maybe state that she will "almost certainly" accept but only later. Keep magas fuming.

[jaxexpat]

78. "Fuming MAGA's". Great name for a habanero sauce......or......skewered meat on a stick......or an epoxy paint color.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

81. Not anything I would eat. Better applied as a paint colour name. . . . . nt

[jaxexpat]

89. Just as Trumpists are learning, not everything one swallows is digestible.

[Bengus81]

86. Great name for a Trump rock group. They could cover such hits as "I'm a LOSER" and "Nowhere man" for starters

[ArkansasDemocrat1]

105. Locomotive Breath is appropriate these days

In the shuffling madness
Of the locomotive breath
Runs the all-time loser
Headlong to his death
Oh, he feels the piston scraping
Steam breaking on his brow
Old Charlie stole the handle
And the train it won't stop
Oh no way to slow down
He sees his children jumping off
At the stations one by one
His woman and his best friend
In bed and having fun
Oh, he's crawling down the corridor
On his hands and knees
Old Charlie stole the handle
And the train it won't stop going
No way to slow down
Hey
He hears the silence howling
Catches angels as they fall
And the all-time winner
Has got him by the balls
Oh, he picks up Gideons bible
Open at page one
I think God he stole the handle
And the train it won't stop going
No way to slow down
No way to slow down
No way to slow down

[gab13by13]

17. The first debate will happen

and TSF will get sick for the 2nd debate.

[Fiendish Thingy]

27. Lemme guess: "Ear spurs"? Nt

[Bernardo de La Paz]

30. DUzy!

[Fiendish Thingy]

32. "The doctors say these are ear spurs the likes of which they've never seen before"

“The most incredible ear spurs”

Which would probably be a true statement.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

34. They had tears in their eyes! . . . . nt

[Fiendish Thingy]

35. "Sir, we cannot permit you to debate with such massive ear spurs"

“You might mishear a question about the economy as one about sharks”

[33taw]

62. Maybe do MSNBC first

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

87. Only non-felons may participate.

Felons have to sit in the Cone of Silence from "Get Smart."

[pwb]

3. Is fox a network now? Or do they just wish.

I thought it was just cable.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

12. So is CNN: Cable News Network. Just cable. At the least a network of reporters and hosts and satellite trucks. . . nt

[pwb]

25. Yes

They are not regulated like the networks. ABC, CBS, and NBC. The B is for broadcasting, Shit is not as crazy there
MSNBC is cable but uses the letter B like CNN use the letter N . It is confusing, yes. .

[jaxexpat]

80. They're a network like that sticky lone strand of yuck stuck to your face on a forest path is a web.

Our candidate should neither participate nor show support in any way for Fox news. They've brought only lies and hate since their inception. Why participate at all if they are involved?

Seriously, why give them the time of day? I'm pretty sure it would be an easy case to make that they are criminally involved in a conspiracy to undermine the legitimacy of the US government. We need to get this "fomenting insurrection" thing ironed out soon or we'll be haunted by it for decades. People are beginning to actually swallow the idea that Jan 6 was a legitimate function of governance. If Trump wins don't be surprised if it's declared a new national holiday.

[Traurigkeit]

4. That would be - Sorry but No.

[msongs]

5. yeah moderated by bannon and stephen miller

[bucolic_frolic]

6. Tell FOX to shove it.

Where it hurts the most.

[DoBW]

77. Fck Fox

[anciano]

7. NO!

[CanonRay]

8. Just say no to Faux News

[DENVERPOPS]

71. Agreed

Fox has been proven to be un-reliable for exhibiting Bias in everything they do..........

Microphone cut off, penalty for talking over your time or during the other's talking

No stalking around the stage like he did with Hillary

No audience to clap, boo, scream, yell etc......

[DownriverDem]

9. Then

go with the mic's off again. Also if trump just bloviates and not answer the questions, his mic should be turned off. Then he should be given another chance to answer the question. If he doesn't, then they should move on to Harris. trump should not be allowed to attack and lie ignoring the questions like last time.

[consider_this]

11. Ha HA - as if ever on fux

[indigoth]

10. Fox News isn't trustworthy.

If it were me, that would be a hard, very hard, no.

[chouchou]

107. Amen. I was thinking the same reality.

Not sure how but, from their past, I suspect Fox News would somehow "bend" the debate toward Trump.

[AverageOldGuy]

13. She should accept . . .

. . . and go in with guns blazing, tear the goddam place apart. Metaphorically, of course.

[gab13by13]

18. Pretty sure TSF will get the questions ahead of time.

[onetexan]

45. No they will select the questions & MAGAt audience

It should be PBS, or a public network like nbc or abc. No CNN either (Faux News wanabe).

[orthoclad]

66. Choosing the ground is

half the battle. Look at Gettysburg.

Don't let the obvious opposition choose the ground.

[aggiesal]

15. Hell N0, this would be a complete setup. Who's going to trust Fox? ...

Debate should only be from neutral organizations.

[onetexan]

46. Yeap they would ambush her for sure.

[Deuxcents]

16. There already was a second debate scheduled n agreed to but now TSF wants to take control.

Decline the invite.the felon doesn’t run the show unless we let him.

[orthoclad]

68. Don't let the enemy choose the ground!

She's not obliged to agree to Biden's commitment.

This is Dodge City poker with guns under the table and aces up the sleeve, not contract bridge.

Maybe League Of Women Voters running it in California?

[gab13by13]

19. TSF really wants to win Pa.

I live there and the Magat campaign ads are non stop.

Magats already have anti-Kamala ads running.

[Dan]

20. Same advice I would have given Biden....

Do not debate a liar, whatever your answer he will have another lie already ready. When talking with a liar you are entering their reality.

[kacekwl]

21. Fox is not a serious news outlet.

Not like the others are much better but Fox, really ?

[C_U_L8R]

22. Every network should extend an invite

That will dampen Faux's pathetic ploy.

[Mysterian]

23. In other news, Lucy invites Charlie Brown to kick the football

I hope the Harris campaign tells Fox "News" (proven liars) to fuck off.

[The Grand Illuminist]

24. Here is the deal.

Do the Fox News deal, IF Trump agrees to a debate moderated by the great journalist Amy Goodman.

[Augiedog]

29. That Goodman debate would ....must...come first

[The Grand Illuminist]

48. Either/Or, my friend.

Either/or.

[red dog 1]

53. Cadet Bone Spurs would never agree to that...I'm sure he hates Amy Goodman.

[The Grand Illuminist]

67. Tit for tat.

If he wants Fox News so bad, then he should accept a Goodman moderated debate.

[everyonematters]

26. No don't do it.

The questions will be all southern border, inflation, why didn't you warn us about Biden and nothing concerning Trump's character. The only way I would do it, is if it was with no moderators. Just let the candidates go two or three minutes at a time and shut off the mic on the one who isn't talking. Maybe they could compromise and use News Nation after agreeing on the moderators.

[Augiedog]

28. Fox News is not a legitimate news source...just ignore them...I have since like forever....am way better off.😁

[Owens]

31. Make Demands

And make the demands public. If they don't agree to her demands, politely say "no". DO NOT trust Fox

[Initech]

33. It's a trap! Don't take the bait!

Tell Fox News where they can go shove it!

[Raven123]

36. No discussion until they agree she is the legitimate nominee

[Blue Owl]

37. Kamala should just say "I don't debate convicted criminals... I only PROSECUTE them!"

[Justice matters.]

61. +1000

And add: "I don't watch hosts who want to take us backward to a time women who pay taxes today would no longer have the right to vote and be submissive to a government telling them they don't have the right to do what they want with their own body and what their Doctor recommends they should do."

[JJ101]

38. Invite him

To town halls on college campuses. Make sure one is a HBCU. Emphasize the future because we are not going back.

[mzmolly]

39. I'd agree to another debate, but not with Fox. This is a way

for Trump to weasel out of the fair debate with ABC IMHO.

[Prairie_Seagull]

41. As I recall fox has called itself an "entertainment" company in court.

While debates can be entertaining. This is clearly not the purpose. Lets inform the citizenry somewhere else.

I would add a no to Lester Holt at ABC

[TBF]

97. McDougal v. Fox News Network, LLC -

is the case many discuss. It was a defamation case over something Tucker said on his show. Fox asserted that "Mr. Carlson cannot be understood to have been stating facts" - which I think is what folks interpreted as Fox admitting that not everything on its shows is factual, as one would expect on a "news" network.

Maybe there are other cases out there, but this one was discussed a lot and I think that's where the assertion comes from.

[TwilightZone]

98. It originated with a fictitious article written in 2013.

It's morphed over time into various similar claims.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/fox-news-entertainment-switch/

[TBF]

100. It does not - but it was the only case I could think of that was even in that arena.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/fox-news-entertainment-switch/

Above one of our members gives the snopes view. Beyond the info re Fox, it is interesting to note that none of the cable news stations are regulated. From Snopes: "While the FCC licenses and regulates over-the-air broadcasts, it has no authority over cable news channels."

[TwilightZone]

95. That was a hoax.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/fox-news-entertainment-switch/

There was also a case in the UK that was about impartiality (and not entertainment). It only involved a couple of Fox shows and not the network, as a whole. That's covered in the article above, as well.

[Upthevibe]

49. ABSOLUTELY NOT!

NO! Not on Fox News!!!!!!!!!!

[Auggie]

50. No. It's a trap.

[markodochartaigh]

51. She should do at least a couple of rounds of

"Prosecutors don't debate convicted felons", although it is probably best to do the debate.

[roscoeroscoe]

52. As Admiral Akbar would say

IT'S A TRAP!

[kimbutgar]

54. You can bet they will give the convicted felon questions beforehand and cut off Kamala and never the orange

Monster. I don’t trust fox one bit. Don’t do it Kamala!

[red dog 1]

55. My first response would be no, she shouldn't accept; but upon reflection,

I think Kamala should agree to it with no audience.

(She would destroy Stinky in any debate, even if it were on Faux News)

[azureblue]

56. I say go for it - IF

and only if the Sept. 10 debate date is kept.
and if fact checkers will respond in real time in a crawler.
and if Fox cuts the microphones after minutes of response to questions.
and one mod is from Fox, the other from PBS.
"Fair and Balanced"

[PhilosopherKing]

57. Interesting date

The 18th is when the judge in NY hands down his sentencing for Trump.

[Playingmantis]

58. Why accept when

Fox is nothing but a propaganda machine for the GOP?

Certainly dont give FOX the ratings boost until or unless more favorable outlets are also given a chance..

[Jack-o-Lantern]

59. Recently the orange pile of shit stated...

...he would debate Kamala ONLY On FOX News, and he would set the rules.

[CCExile]

60. I think she should clearly explain that she will

only deal with legitimate news organizations, thus no Fox News, OAN...

[sanduca]

63. If I was Kamala, I would say...

Thanks but no thanks!

[orthoclad]

65. The League Of Women Voters should

do debates again.
Profit networks have blown it over and over.

It would be appropriate for Harris to ask for that.

[Galraedia]

69. No. Do it on NBC, CBS, or ABC where there will be a larger audience. F**k Fox 'news'

They're not a real news network, just a propaganda arm of the republican party.

[Talitha]

70. She should drag her feet on a reply just like Dump does - "I'll let you know in two weeks"

[Vestigial_Sister]

72. Isn't this...

the day before donnie's sentencing from Merchan?

[cstanleytech]

73. Harris should tell Trump she'll agree providing Trump agrees to attend one hosted by MSNBC first.

[oldsoftie]

83. Schedule them both; he's said he wants to debate her as much as possible.

[cstanleytech]

92. Yup and the MSNBC should be first with Rachel Maddow as the moderator.

[NowsTheTime]

74. We'll isn't that special....they didn't waste any time...so predictable....just say no to propaganda station

[FlyingPiggy]

75. NO! NO NO NO! Lets face it, it's not going to be a debate. They will silence KH and not make 🍊answer anything

There’s no point to it. She’s riding high. We are looong past ideas, policies, and ideology. This is about zingers, lies, & propaganda.

[oldsoftie]

94. Not if they agree to the same rules.

And thats the ONLY way they should do it. NO audience & muted mics.
Maybe enclose trump in a glass cubicle

[FlyingPiggy]

96. If there is one thing these people have proven time and time again, it is they have ZERO ethics

They lie, cheat, &steal. Their word doesn’t mean shit. This is not politics as usual.

I am going to make a very unpopular statement: ideas, policies, data, facts…none of it matters to republicans. I have listened to groups of republicans talk and what they value are one line zingers, insults, and pettiness. They thrive on blood. They absolutely do not care if you are competent or not. They do not care about decorum nor do they care about the law.

The old days where we can debate ideas are over. There is no debate when the other side is rabid. You can’t debate rabid.

[no_hypocrisy]

79. Here, pull my finger

Kamala Harris' mike much much softer than Trump's.

Cameras on Trump when Harris is speaking

All sorts of shenanigans.

[Mike Nelson]

82. With that Brian guy questioning?

... then, FOX can label their podiums "White" and "Colored" - just so they know where they stand with FOX "News"

[oldsoftie]

84. Same rules as last debate & Bret Baier as moderator.

Maybe Martha McCallum with him. Or Cavuto. But no one else.

[Oopsie Daisy]

85. Hell, no! Anywhere except Fox. By their OWN ADMISSION they are an "entertainment" channel, not a news channel.

They have only one agenda: to help Donald Trump. It will be nothing but "gotcha" questions for Harris and softball questions for Trump.

[Biglinda 52]

88. Why Bother?

He doesn't debate. Why should she waste her time?

She's be better off at a campaign stop. Don't they have one on ABC in September? He'll go up there and do his schitck, act like an aged gorilla and we waste 90 minutes. No one said at the first debate"you didn't answer the question". No one will with one at Fox. Debates are really a waste of time.

He lies, doesn't accept accountability. And yet if she refuses he'll call her a chicken, but hey why should she waste her time with this POS.

[mucholderthandirt]

90. Debates are so last century.

In this modern age, with television, social media, vast Internet sites, what's the point? If people aren't paying attention, letting Trump yell at her/over her on FOX isn't going to help. Our media is so fucking against us, going into the enemy camp is a losing idea. Our "liberal" media, like MSNBC can't be trusted, much less FOX.

Get stuff out on Tik Tok, that's how you'll win over the young people. Go where they are. It's not at home watching network TV, or even cable. They stream stuff on their phones, for gods' sakes.

[BumRushDaShow]

91. 👆👆👆 THIS

[BoRaGard]

101. Fox is not legitimate

I'd have nothing to do with them.

[Tweedy]

102. Fox entertainment (not news by fox's legal admission)

Lost the right to any debate when it defamed election workers and civil servants in the last election. Lies need consequences not rewards.

[BlueKota]

103. Hope she says no

They will try to twist and distort her every answer. Their only fans are racists, and misogynists(which include women who hate themselves). Nothing to be gained by it as nobody who watches that shit has a brain left to be saved.

[sprinkleeninow]

104. N.O. spells no. nt

[Ursus Rex]

106. Let CSpan handle it, others broadcasting t, in New Orleans.

Bring back League of Women Voters as managers. Otherwise, it’ll be a horrific display of the worst in politics.

[BumRushDaShow]

108. Agree but with an asterisk

CSPAN has always had their "Road to the White House" series and I think they probably deferred to The Commission on Presidential Debates, which has been sponsoring and setting up the venues for these debates for the past 36 years.

TCPD had this year's debates already pre-planned and scheduled, and that whole thing was completely rejected by the candidates, as some news orgs jumped in, and hijacked the process.

* But at this point, IMHO, the whole idea of a "debate" is now meaningless because they were an artifact of a time before any type of electronic broadcast (radio, film, television, internet) was available and you either had to go to witness one "in person" or read about it in a newspaper or magazine.

Nowadays, we have 24/7 coverage of the candidates and their positions, so it's not like there will be anything "new" to be gained. That leaves these events as nothing more than a "talent show" that elevates "style" over any type of "substance", because even "real-time fact-checking" is not enough once the lies are out there.