Forget Trump. Hillary Clinton should debate Bernie Sanders

[cali]

I don't particularly care but I suspect the decision to break her commitment to debate Bernie in California, will backfire.

To some voters, the prospect of Democratic insurgent Bernie Sanders debating Republican nominee Donald Trump in an “arena somewhere” in California would be a dream come true.

To others, it would be the stuff of unseemly political nightmares.

We’re not sure where Hillary Clinton falls on that spectrum, but one thing is clear: No one would even be talking about a #SandersTrumpDebate (or #TrumpSandersDebate, depending on your political persuasion) if the Democratic front-runner had kept her promise to California.

It was back in February when Clinton vowed to hold one last debate here in May. Sanders kept his end of the bargain, but Clinton, now the leader in terms of pledged delegates, had other thoughts.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/editorials/article80416047.html#storylink=cpy

[George II]

1. Clinton has already debated Sanders several times, and participated in some Town Halls with him....

...too. Nothing left to be accomplished.

Sanders is running out of money and is simply looking for some free exposure.

And the only people who say that she "promised" to debate again are the Sanders campaign and his supporters.

[ljm2002]

3. It's that old "keeping one's word" thing...

...which apparently is not something that Hillary takes seriously.

[George II]

9. But in this case there is no "word" to keep. Speaking of which, Jane and Bernie Sanders...

....have both promised on LIVE TELEVISION to release their tax returns on several dates - first April 18, then April 29, now a month later still no returns.

What were you saying about "keeping one's word"?

[ljm2002]

25. They do need to release their tax returns. n/t

[cali]

27. Bullshit. There is rock solid proof that she made that commitment.

Pitiful deflection and an outright falsehood. Congratulations.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

33. It was a scheduled debate

[cali]

11. That may all be true, but your last and spurious claim.

But you miss the point. How do Californians feel about her breaking her word on this.

She absolutely committed to a debate there. She sure as Fuck did not promise it only to Bernie and his supporters.

She broke her word. Unbelievable that you are denying something for which there is concrete proof.

[George II]

19. I didn't say she promised it only to Bernie and his supporters. I said she NEVER promised it...

....and you missed MY point. I said that the only people who seem to recall that and keep bringing it up are the Sanders campaign and his supporters.

So, when did she make this "promise". She didn't break her word, there was no word to break.

[msongs]

34. oh dear your forgot to provide any "concrete proof". oh well

[cali]

37. Nope. It's in the op, dear.

[kboun]

20. To Debate, Or NOT To Debate...

That is the question. My take on it, why bother. It will serve neither candidate well. After the last debate, I came away with the feeling that no one won, unless you count the GOP. Both sides attacked each other. Both sides took blows and both sides landed punches. After the NY debate, Sanders lost by more than what the polls predicted. So it did not help his cause. The actual debate was viewed as a win for Sanders, if you are a Sanders' supporter and a win, if you are one of Clinton's supporters. The Talking Heads called the debate a draw. Another debate will just be more of the same with one certain drawback. It will cause an even greater divide within our party. This is NOT a call for Sanders to drop out. Finish the primary and let everyone vote. Then we can unite at the convention.

[seabeyond]

2. Forget Sanders. He doesn't rate.

[B Calm]

12. and neither do the voters.

[cali]

13. And neither do Californians. High handed and dismissive tends to turn off voters

[George II]

24. Sanders didn't debate her in Kansas, I guess he's dismissive to Kansans, and....

...he didn't debate her in Mississippi, I guess he's dismissive to Mississippians. Need I go on?

[cali]

30. He wasn't asked to and he didn't make a commitment to.

She made a commitment to debate him in May in California in exchange for him debating her in New Hampshire. Period.

[itsrobert]

4. Why not, let's just have debates until he finally wins one.

Face it, Sanders is toast. He lost. Ready for Hillary?

[Fumesucker]

5. Forget California, California doesn't rate

The South is the real bellwether of America and the South has spoken.

[floppyboo]

10. I'm feeling for the south right now

Hillary is going to have to suck up to male voters to overcome Trump and win the swing states. She can't win without them. I'm not thinking she's going to be campaigning much in the deep red south for the GE. Hopefully she will remember all her promises if elected, but remembering promises doesn't seem to be a strong suit. (no Columbian deal - one of her 08 promises, and quickly broken)

[George II]

26. How about all the other states that haven't had debates (like about 40 of them) Sanders didn't....

...agree to debates in ANY of them. Why not?

[cali]

31. He wasn't asked. Duh.

[floppyboo]

60. How has this got anything to do with what I wrote? maybe you meant to reply to the OP?

[polly7]

6. Yes, she agreed to. But apparently the people in California aren't important enough

to hear the differences between the two, as opposed to her stance against Obama.

Full video:

"In a Wednesday afternoon statement, Sanders campaign manager Jeff Weaver said the Vermont senator has accepted an invitation from Fox News to debate "with the understanding that we can reach mutual agreement on the debate moderators, the format and other details.”

Weaver said both campaigns in January agreed to hold a debate in May in California, adding that the Clinton campaign has “balked at keeping that pledge.”

“More than half way through the month of May, we hope Secretary Clinton will soon make good on her campaign’s commitment and agree to a time and pace for a debate,” Weaver said in the statement.

“There are issues of enormous importance facing the people of California and our nation and the people of our largest state deserve to hear the Democratic candidates [sic] opinions."

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/280405-sanders-pushes-clinton-for-debate-in-california

(bbm)

But ........ she evolves.

[George II]

14. You guys still digging up those 8 year old videos to "prove" that she "promised" to debate in CA?

Which she never did.

[polly7]

18. Don't have to dig up anything ....... it's all over the place since she backed out

of the agreed to May debate.

She says right in the video she just can't understand the negativity towards her going all the way to the convention and that each vote should be worked for, every citizen afforded the opportunity to hear debates between the candidates running. Right up until the convention.

How many debates were held in 2008 vs. what the DNC allowed Sanders to participate in? Talk about a joke ... do you think people are stupid?

[George II]

21. I know it's all over the place, and it's being used to justify some mythical story about a "promise"

here in 2016.

[polly7]

23. Derp. nt.

[Arkansas Granny]

7. She has nothing to gain from another debate, and, frankly, neither does Bernie.

This is just another attempt by Bernie to discredit Hillary. It's not working.

[B Calm]

15. Damn right! She's got the GE in the bag!

[cali]

16. Yes, yes. Bernie wrote the editorial. She broke her word. How very hilly.

Lie, break your word, rinse and repeat.

[BootinUp]

8. Somebody compared it to 2008 quite rightly I believe nt

[dubyadiprecession]

17. What is left to debate, that hasn't already been debated??

Besides that, the nomination process is really over. So why even bother.

[polly7]

22. Issues important to California or that those there may not have had access to hearing yet maybe?

[pengu]

29. How about poverty?

Did the word poverty enter even a single question yet? I know climate change got a token appearance, but it could use more coverage too.

There's lots of stuff to debate, if the front runner stuck to her word.

[Jester Messiah]

28. She's as much a coward as Trump. n/t

[jwirr]

47. This is exactly it. We are not going to see much of her for

some while as she is not going to answer any questions about the IG report. Or for that matter anything more about the FBI investigation.

[Metric System]

32. I don't remember all this hand wringing when Obama said no more debates in 2008, even though

Hillary was much closer in the delegate count than Sanders is now.

[ljm2002]

35. So you are blaming Bernie's supporters...

...for the fact that, back in 2008, Hillary's supporters couldn't be bothered to press her case for more debates with Obama?

That's some pretzel logic, right there.

[rock]

36. Once Bernie became irrelevant

Clinton had no reason to debate him. Trump remains (inexplicably) relevant.

[cali]

38. You mean except for giving her word.

Why is it so unsurprising that her fans have no problem with that?

[rock]

39. Exactly

Bernie became so irrelevant that he couldn't even muster enough pressure to make her keep her word to him, (because he's irrelevant).

[polly7]

40. People with integrity don't have to be made to keep their word. nt.

[rock]

41. I don't think that applies

When Bernie become irrelevant the promise obviously died with his candidacy.

[polly7]

42. Of course it applies. Or are the people of California just not worthy of her precious time?? nt.

[rock]

45. To waste their time on a (once-again) irrelevant candidate

Did you watch the Trump/Sanders debate?

[polly7]

46. Not even worth a reply, actually, or the time you took to type it, though I do feel bad you

spent so much time thinking it up ....... that must have been tiring. Have a little nap.

[rock]

52. polly7 you wound me to the quick!

You're always worth a reply (i'm not being snarky).

[slipslidingaway]

43. Clinton breaks a California promise

http://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/Clinton-breaks-a-California-promise-7945454.php

"Hillary Clinton’s refusal to keep a promise to debate Sen. Bernie Sanders in California was obviously based on her assumption that the nomination is hers and that there is no need to risk further exposure in an uncontrolled setting.

If her premise were true, it might make sense from a purely strategic standpoint, even if it would represent a flat-out retreat from a pledge she made in February to participate in a California debate in May. The Clinton campaign no doubt figured that whatever flak she might encounter for the broken promise would be preferable to the potential of a gaffe or awkward debate moment that might go viral.

However, a Public Policy Institute of California poll released late Wednesday suggested that state voters do not necessarily agree that the Democratic primary is a settled issue..."

[barrow-wight]

44. I think Sanders should debate Martha Stewart for charity.

I'd watch for at least an hour of arguing about the best window treatments and how to solve the never-ending issue of smells in the garbage disposal.

[Warren DeMontague]

50. Half a lemon will clear that right up.

I think you guys know something about lemons, huh

[barrow-wight]

54. Save it for the debate!

I am looking forward to knowing what Sanders thinks about getting water stains off of wood!

[Warren DeMontague]

55. Some stains are easier to cover up than others.

Some can be removed with a simple cloth wipe, some cannot.

[barrow-wight]

56. Is that why the Sanders never had children?

[Warren DeMontague]

58. I suspect there's a classless cheap shot in there somewhere, but it isnt well crafted

If you were better at your job, we wouldnt need to wonder!

[barrow-wight]

59. Whatever do you mean?

I was just following your metaphorical line. And isn't it a sign of being better at my job that I'm actually able to make you wonder? Where would the fun be if we all just put it right out there?

[PufPuf23]

48. As a Democratic voter in California, I was looking forward to the Clinton-Sanders debate.

I do think late debates are useful, even if there is a presumptive nominee, in working out party platform and bringing voters up to date.

I may be in a minority but seems to me that a Sanders-Trump debate would very much be to the benefit of the Democratic party and Hillary Clinton.

Sanders is focused and stubborn enough and IMO of mind to steer the debate away from Hillary Clinton as a subject.

Sanders and Clinton share outlooks on many issues because they are both Democrats and to the left of Trump and the GOP.

Unlike Hillary Clinton, Trump has claimed that he would be a POTUS for the workers and against the trade partnerships.

Sanders is also for the workers and against the trade partnerships and in debate Trump will fare poorly on this issue.

Sanders in debate with Trump may well better hold Democratic ground and Trump at his worst and reveal Trump's weaknesses.

The Democratic party and Hillary Clinton (or Sanders or a replacement Democratic nominee for Clinton) will get a preview of Trump at debate in the general POTUS campaign without Clinton or establishment Democratic party being prematurely exposed.

Hillary Clinton's failure to live up to her word to debate Sanders in California is typical and really no big deal.

[greymattermom]

49. Forget trump

Read at first as Forest Trump. Good nickname don't you think?

[beachbumbob]

51. No reason...she has won...

[FarPoint]

53. Bernie is no longer relevant nor is he a viable candidate....

This debate request or should I say demand...it is just a desperate effort by the Sanders Campaign to feel he still had game...He does not...but it was a valiant effort.

[JudyM]

57. Bernie should go with a message: "She made a promise and backed out. Think she's going to stand

by her other promises this election season?"