Hillary avoids Fox News-Bernie Sanders ambush.

[RandySF]

Detroit (CNN)Hillary Clinton will not debate Bernie Sanders in California, her top campaign spokeswoman said Monday.

Declining to participate in the Fox News debate -- which Sanders had agreed to -- is another clear sign that Clinton and her top aides are fully focused on the general election against Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee.

"As we have said previously, we plan to compete hard in the remaining primary states, particularly California, while turning our attention to the threat a Donald Trump presidency poses," Jennifer Palmieri, Clinton's spokeswoman, said. "We believe that Hillary Clinton's time is best spent campaigning and meeting directly with voters across California and preparing for a general election campaign that will ensure the White House remains in Democratic hands."

Clinton's campaign is currently fighting a two-front war against both Trump, who has all but locked up the nomination, and Sanders, who has pledged to campaign until the last vote is counted in June.

Clinton and her top aides are ready to no longer focus on Sanders and have signaled for the weeks that they are turning their focus to Trump whether the Vermont senator is around or not.


http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/23/politics/hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders-fox-debate-california/

[hrmjustin]

1. Good!

[TheBlackAdder]

41. Like the GOPers, she can cowar in a cloistered world, while Obama and SBS face FOX News head on.

[SFnomad]

2. Smart move on the soon to be presumptive Democratic nominee's part n/t

[fun n serious]

3. This is the best possible move she can make.

"Clinton and her top aides are ready to no longer focus on Sanders and have signaled for the weeks that they are turning their focus to Trump whether the Vermont senator is around or not."

[John Poet]

23. I thought keeping her word would be the 'best possible move'....

since she agreed to a California debate months ago.

But you say that breaking her word is her 'best possible move'.

It's great to know how Hillary people think.


I guess it's alright, since keeping her word never seemed to be one of Hillary's strong suits anyway.

[fun n serious]

26. He didn't keep his.

Endorcements mean nothing these days anyway.. Time to let him threaten whatever face a few days of riots in Philly and move on. It may be BETTER than an endorcement to let the people see how he behaves and what his REVOLUTION is really about.

[Demsrule86]

31. you thought wrong

Bernie has behaved horribly attacking her...he does not deserve another debate...he is out of money...too bad.

[John Poet]

42. 'Deserve'?! Ok, Hillary doesn't 'deserve' to be the Democratic nominee

because she's a warmongering neoconservative.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

4. Bernie can debate Ted Cruz, the GOP runner up.

[NurseJackie]

5. Excellent move...

... always looking ahead, planning ahead, and many steps ahead.

[tazkcmo]

6. If it's good enough for Hillary

"...turning their focus to Trump whether the Vermont senator is around or not."

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=5020581&page=1

It's a dramatic end to one of the longest, most closely fought primary races in recent history, and one that is unbelievable to many of Clinton's most ardent supporters.

"I don't think that it has completely set in yet," said Karen Defilippi, 25, a Clinton supporter who quit her job at a university in Washington last August to work for Clinton's campaign in Iowa and other primary states.

Defilippi, who is now out of a job, defended Clinton's decision to wait until Wednesday to acknowledge Obama's victory.

"It was just a little too soon for people," said Defilippi. "Her supporters are strong supporters, and I don't think they were ready to accept it."

Then it's good enough for Bernie. The main difference to me is I accept Sec Clinton will be the nominee. Not a surprise. Don't like it, but not surprised. We go to the convention to fight for progressive change. This is just the beginning.

[Demsrule86]

32. Three days after the last primary she conceded and endorsed...then worked to elect Obama.

She is a good person and a liberal...the thought of any GOP getting in is an anathema to any liberal so she worked her tail off to elect Obama; we shall see what sort of person Bernie Sanders is...not looking particularly good now. The delegate math is the math...Bernie has lost by way more and by all measures...and now needs to wind down...it is over.

[madaboutharry]

7. Bernie has made himself a fly at a picnic.

Hillary needs to ignore him as much as possible and not enable his temper tantrum.

[oldandhappy]

13. oh oh oh funny

Actually you have not seen clinton's temper! You have a treat in store!

[AtomicKitten]

8. Hillary made a deal to get what she wanted - a debate in Michigan

- and now is reneging on her part of the bargain.

This reinforces that she is a liar, has no integrity, and cannot be trusted.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

16. They know. They don't care. Look at them.

And never forget.

[Demsrule86]

33. Too bad

Bernie said he would not attack Clinton ...it would be a campaign of ideas...big whopper that. And if he wanted a debate and not an joint attack, he would not have chosen Fox.

[RufusTFirefly]

9. Haha. Good for her! By the way...

... was "Fox News - Bernie Sanders ambush" the official name of the event? If so, it might create problems for character-limited Tweeters. How about just "Democracy" instead? Saves characters.

[floppyboo]

10. This smells bad

Declining to participate in the Fox News debate -- which Sanders had agreed to -- is another clear sign that Clinton and her top aides are fully focused on the general election against Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee.

Ya, doh. And Sanders just keeps attacking Hillary instead of focusing on democratic issues. Ya, sure.

This is such a stinky stupid talking point. I can't believe they believe anyone believes it!

[Scootaloo]

11. "Ambush"? You mean the debate she agreed to months ago?

I can get why she'd walk out of them, this late in the season... I think she should honor her agreements, but if she doesn't, well, I can get why. But to call what she agreed to months ago an "ambush" is really fucking dumb.

Hillary Clinton is not a victim. Stop trying to cast her as one.

[Raster]

12. Patriotism is the last refuge for a scoundrel...

...victim is the last refuge for a Clinton.

[oldandhappy]

15. ouch

truth

[John Poet]

24. and 'scoundrel' is the 'first resort' !

[slipslidingaway]

19. +100 nt

[Demsrule86]

34. It is a Fox ambush

Who knows if they had picked a better network or even a town hall setting with no fox news people , it might have worked. But Bernie picked fox...and that signaled what this was ...an ambush. Good for you Hillary.

[oldandhappy]

14. More time for Bernie -- yippee!!

[anotherproletariat]

21. Is FOX just going to interview him alone? I hope so, because it would tell us so much.

If they are overly nice to him and only ask softball questions, then we will know that the repubs really want to run against him because they know he will be easy to beat.

And, if they are hard on him and decide to dig up his past, we could see actual attacks that might hurt him in the remaining primaries...such as his sexual fantasy writings, his atheism, visits to communist countries, the huge tax increases required by his campaign promises and his other liberal views that won't go over well with middle America.

Either way, it's a win/win.

[slipslidingaway]

17. Clinton will say anything when she wants something and throw people under the bus when convenient ..

for her, so is there any reason to trust her?

Maybe a million and half new registered voters in Ca. and she goes back on her word to hold this debate?

[Demsrule86]

35. Anyone with a brain and interest in the primary

knows who these candidates are...and Bernie by his own words on Sunday has shown he can not be trusted and he picked Fox too.

[frylock]

18. ..

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

20. The "tough", "strong", candidate got cold feet.

[Demsrule86]

37. No She has a brain

Let Bernie pay for his publicity with his dwindling funds.

[John Poet]

22. COWARDLY, Flip-Floppin' LYIN' Hillary.

So when she agreed to a California debate months ago,
it was a LIE.


WAY TO GO, HILLARY CLINTON NIXON!!!

[Fumesucker]

25. Hillary plays to her strong suit.. Dishonesty

[Lil Missy]

27. good decision, and Sanders needs to get over his late life crisis already

[highprincipleswork]

28. When Hillary was fully desperate to debate before the Vermont primary, Bernie accommodated her, but

the negotiations to put that into place included more guaranteed debates, with one in California.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/on-media/2016/02/bernie-sanders-hillary-clinton-debates-michigan-california-218691
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/may/19/hillary-clinton-ducking-final-debate-with-bernie-s/

Now Hillary is reneging on her deal.

Do you like it when people in your life go back on their deals? Do you trust them? Do you invest in them?

I don't.

For all you Californians out there, you realize of course that Hillary does not consider you vote important. She says it is already over, and for all she is concerned your vote doesn't count. Also not important enough to live up to her agreement to debate here, which would have proven very interesting.

Once more, she is looking to simply skate by.

I hope that Californians take action, and there is still plenty of time - to canvas, phonebank, convince your friends and family and neighbors, and get out to vote yourself and give Bernie the California victory that would be so, so sweet and that could be the numbers that change everything!!!!!

[hollysmom]

29. another unbiased news report using the word AMBUSH associated with Sanders

Must be nice to have all these reporters make their choice obvious

OH wait how I feel doesn't matter. Clinton said so, my vote doesn't count since I have not voted yet, as far as she is concerned - it's over and nothing else matters.

[Vattel]

30. She has no honor.

[whistler162]

36. She's doing that bad in California!

[Demsrule86]

38. No she is doing that well

He is losing California...thus, he wants a debate...and he has very little money.

[Yurovsky]

39. She's trying hard to be unpopular...

And she's succeeding. Keep this up and she'll get crushed by Trump, someone Bernie would beat by 10-15%...

[beachbum bob]

40. no reason for hillary to debate sanders....he has LOST

and to go on foxnews??? Why would any democratic candidate go on the propaganda channel?

[Bluenorthwest]

44. Candidate Obama went on Fox News 4-27-08 Transcript: Barack Obama on 'FOX News Sunday'

CHRIS WALLACE, HOST: I'm Chris Wallace, and this is "FOX News Sunday."

Barack Obama — his candidacy changed the Democratic race for president as he moved from contender to frontrunner. But recently, he suffered a series of big defeats.

Now Obama sits down for an exclusive interview. We'll ask him questions he's never faced before about his campaign and what he would do as president, only on "Fox News Sunday."
http://www.foxnews.com/story/2008/04/28/transcript-barack-obama-on-fox-news-sunday.html


So you have issues with Obama. Noted.

[Bluenorthwest]

43. Hillary avoided Oregon entirely this cycle. Then she lost to Bernie by 12 points.

She was confident, there was polling that was spread all over DU claiming she was going to win by 15 points.
New Poll Out of Oregon; Hillary up 15, 48-33
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1107134181

The result was the opposite of the ultra certain predictions......

[EndElectoral]

45. HRC spinmasters off again excusing another failed HRC promise

[jzodda]

46. Good Move!

Why elevate Sanders when its over. Time to focus on Trump and unifying the party. Debating Sanders would accomplish nothing at this point.

[bullwinkle428]

47. As a Bernie supporter, I totally recognize how much improved Hillary's

debate performances have been in 2016. This is a complete missed opportunity on the part of her campaign, well beyond "finishing off Bernie" for the Democratic nomination.

[karynnj]

48. I assume you were equally irate that poor Obama was fighting a two front war for 3 months

after McCain clinched the Republican nomination on March 4. Yes, I know that year was closer, but that means you can make the case that fewer Democrats were not already for the nominee then than now.

I think that HRC should propose a non Fox alternative and keep her commitment to doing a debate in May. After all, she agreed to the three debates when SHE needed a debate before New Hampshire. Just to show good faith she should do it. Remember that one of her weaknesses is that many do not consider her trustworthy or honest. Even if you content that is unfair, can you see how reneging on a promise when it no longer helps you is something she should avoid at all costs?

The fact is that she will almost certainly become the de facto nominee when the California results are known. Until then, she really should treat the process (and California) with the respect that it deserves. This should not be hard when she KNOWS that she is almost certain to win - why are the Clinton people pulling every official and the grandparents out to say that it is already over.

I get that they feel that Trump has the advantage that the Republicans are coming together behind him. However that will happen on the Democratic side as well -- and it likely might be a stronger wave if she patiently endures the end of the primaries. Two weeks of being gracious really could help win over more people than pulling in all the powers that be to suggest that it is wrong for Sanders to even contest the remaining primaries.