Trump: I'll debate Bernie for $10 million

[brooklynite]

Politico:

Donald Trump on Thursday said he would "love" to debate Bernie Sanders and raise $10 million to $15 million in the process, even if the Democratic challenger is not well positioned to be his general election foe.

"He's a dream," the presumptive Republican nominee told reporters ahead of an energy-focused speech in Bismarck, North Dakota, when asked about his previous comments in which he appeared to accept Sanders' offer to debate one-one-one ahead of the June 7 California primary.

Then Trump laid out what the arrangement might look like: "What we'll do is raise maybe for, maybe women's health issues or something, if we can raise $10 million or $15 million for charity, which would be a very appropriate amount. I understand the television business very well."

The event would "get high ratings" and "should be in a big arena somewhere," Trump said.

It still won't happen, but Bernie's fans had better start chipping in just in case.

[msongs]

1. trump better get the $$ in cash, upfront lol nt

[NWCorona]

8. Unlike Hillary. Bernie pays his bills

[GreatGazoo]

17. Yes. You saw this?

http://vetsforbernie.org/2016/03/chief-says-bernie-first-ever-to-pay/

[NWCorona]

20. Yup but that not even the only story about Bernie paying on time.

[TheBlackAdder]

9. You'd like him to get it over the charity, after stiffing vets for months? Typical response.

[cali]

19. Hilly darling is the moocher.

[oldandhappy]

2. This is on the networks. They will rake it in if it happens.

[geek tragedy]

3. that's the cost of 20-30 trips to Rome nt

[TheBlackAdder]

10. Or several dozen predator drone missles fired at families.

[msongs]

25. good thing bernie votes to pay for those drones year after year nt

[hrmjustin]

13. Great to see you.

[geek tragedy]

14. .

Finally having nice weather here in BK

[hrmjustin]

15. I know.

[Agnosticsherbet]

4. So will he debate or was it just a joke. Trump has a problem with messaging.

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/may/26/california-debate-bernie-sanders-donald-trump

[geek tragedy]

5. he's gaslighting and trolling. nt

[brooklynite]

6. I think he'll keep dangling the string as long as the cat keeps batting at it.

[GreatGazoo]

18. it makes Hillary look bad so Trump will keep it alive a bit longer

the "women's health" charity is clearer aimed at Hillary

[riderinthestorm]

21. Yup, this only hurts Hillary whose reneged promise is the basis for Trump v Bernie nt

[riderinthestorm]

11. Trump realized how much of a chicken he looked like by trying to back out

[Eric J in MN]

7. They could raise that.

Create a Trump-Sanders charity account which people can donate unlimited amounts to with the understanding that if it reaches $10 million there will be a debate.

Wouldn't be corrupting because of ambiguity of whether donors were supporting Sanders, Trump, the charity, or just wanted to watch the debate.

[thesquanderer]

12. It would come out of the network's advertising profits, not Bernie's pockets.

As you said:

if we can raise $10 million or $15 million for charity, which would be a very appropriate amount. I understand the television business very well."

He's not asking Bernie to come up with the money. He's talking about using the debate to raise an appropriate amount of money for charity, using a figure he came up with from his understanding of the television business. Obviously Sanders is not in the TV business and is not making any money on the debate. Fox or whoever makes a lot of money on the debate through selling commercials, and Trump says that if a good chunk of that money goes to charity instead of into the network's pockets, he'll do it.

I think it's going to happen. I think some network will agree to this, and Trump will do it... and he comes out looking good for insisting the money go to charity besides.

[postatomic]

16. "maybe women's health issues or something"

He says that like he's thinking about what to have for lunch. Trump has no intention of "debating" Bernie. Didn't he pull that same fucking shit with Obama?

All these debate threads, like it's ever going to happen.

[SoCalMusicLover]

22. Perhaps You Should Give It Time

It's been less than 18 hours since this whole idea was even raised during the Jimmy Kimmel taping. At this point there is more than enough time to organize something for late next week.

Once the networks and advertising sponsors stop falling over each other trying to land this debate for $10M to charity, we'll know more. I can't imagine they're going to let this opportunity slip away, and once they agree, Trump won't be able to back out.

[postatomic]

24. "Trump won't be able to back out"

You obviously are not aware of what this pile of slimy-sleazy-orange goo does. He plays people. His goal is only to have his name in the news. With Bernie supporters falling all over this it just puts this Disgusting Fuck high up the 'trending' list.

[GreatGazoo]

23. Just wait until we get the Pope to host it!

heads will explode

[postatomic]

26. Okay. I laughed at that.

[Zambero]

27. How much would Trump skim for that one?

Should be good for a couple million, since he skimmed a cool million from the veteran's fundraiser a while back. But no worries as he'd be in the clear with proven projection techniques. All Trump has to do is utter "Crooked, Crooked Hillary" several times daily and he's automatically immunized from any shady transgressions on his part.

[Bleacher Creature]

28. The "women's health" gimmick isn't a coincidence.

It would be less a debate, and more a competition to see who can better attack the first woman nominated by a major party for the Presidency.

Sanders should be ashamed of himself.

[SoCalMusicLover]

30. Give Me A Break

Bernie is not going to stand there and attack Hillary. Whether Trump does or not, is his business. He is going to be doing that for the next 5 months anyways.

Normally a debate involves only the people on the stage. When Trump was not present during one of the repub debates, they did not spend their time talking about him.

Hillary had her chance to debate Bernie, but she is comfortable with her lead.

[imagine2015]

29. Like 10 million for Planned Parenthood for example. That would be cool!

But have someone else handle the money. Don't let Trump anywhere near it!