However, it is a shame that more than 90% of African-Americans vote blindly for Democrats for President. It's a shame for 90% of any race, gender or other group to vote so blindly. Heck, Hitler could probably run on the Dem ticket and still get 90% of the African-American vote.

I have to applaud your naivete on this issue. The reason that Minority voters vote Democrat on these issues is because Republicans do so well to ignore minority rights. The reason the Republican candidates skipped the debate is because they did not want to isolate the South, their main source of electoral votes. The reason we vote the way we do is because of the issues, not bipartisonism.

Go Ron Paul

Second, why should a Republican waste any time on a group that typically votes against them by 90%? No conservative would waste time campaigning in Nancy Pelosi's socialist district, and no liberal would waste time campaigning in a district that consists of hard-working Americans who believe in the Constitution. Invite a Republican to a gathering of black conservatives and he'll gladly show up, but don't criticize an unarmed man for failing to appear in an arena full of hungry lions.

Welfare- What the government has used as slavery for most African Americans? Most Blacks fear getting a job because they are afraid they will lose their check.

Economics- We can't keep money in our pockets if the Dems want to impose new taxes for their high spending programs that keep us enslaved and addicted to government. Capital gains tax could work in our benefit, but them Dems want to raise the rate. Estate tax, the way true wealth is transferred from generation to generation; lets go ahead and raise that too.

Education- The educational system is there. Whether it is broke or adequate, why is it that we can't take advantage of it. Government doesn't need more money for education, we have to utilize the system that is in place.

Jobs- Jobs are created not by government but private citizens who run corporations. If we continue to hit private citizens and corporations with higher taxes, they cut at profits which is directly related to shareholder wealth (Average citizen owns Exxon stock). If you hit my profits, I have less incentive to hire more people or give raises. So Dems are cutting at the potential job growth in all communities.

Republicans are doing more for minority communities than Democrats have ever done. If Democrats were doing so much for minority communities then minorities would have something to show for it. Republicans didn't destroy minority prosperity, it was never there. Dems didn't create it even though they claim Clinton did. Please

Tavis Smiley did!

Tavis Smiley occasionally appears on Tom Joyner's morning show! Tavis Smiley and Tom Joyner don't even look alike.

emphasis needs to be put going forward to get your rights.

Who do you think won the All American Presidential forum debate at Baltimore's Morgan State University?

--> http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=604

"Gimme a break, debates shouldn't be about speeches tailored to one portion of the population."

This was a FORUM, giving the candidates visibility in the community and allowing them to talk about issues important to that segment. I am not a Union Auto Worker, Natl Rifle Assoc. member, Vietnam Veteran, or woman who regularly watches Oprah; yet all of these "portions" have at some time provided similar medium for GOP candidates (including GW Bush) – much to the joy of Republican constituents. So are saying that, if similar budding constituents surface in the black community with the hopes of giving exposure to their Republican hopefuls, they should just kiss off? Think about it: these people would not have gone through the trouble a year in advance were they not actually persuaded by Republicans and seeking meaningful discourse!

Contrary to your statement, politics on most levels IS about addressing special segments of society. Because, no matter how much of a "melting pot" we are, we will always have factions, segments, beltways, etc as a fusion of heterogeneous people.

None of the people that were absent should get the nomination.

The only one that makes any sense is Ron Paul and Rudy the missing Rudy just laughs at him.

I am sure of one thing if Ron Paul was President we would not be 50 trillion in debt and people like us would have extra money and we would not be in a War.

Must take after his majesty G.W...monkey see, monkey do

But this was an opportunity to show you care about other people beside your own race.

As President, you can't hide from those you don't like or prefer NOT to deal with.

However, it is a shame that more than 90% of African-Americans vote blindly for Democrats for President. It's a shame for 90% of any race, gender or other group to vote so blindly. Heck, Hitler could probably run on the Dem ticket and still get 90% of the African-American vote.

CNN chooses to do NO articles on the MAJOR revelation that came from the Democratic debates in New Hampshire (Hillary and other Democratic presidential candidates refuse to commit to removing troops from Iraq in the next 4 years). Hillary and other Democratic candidates have been running on the issue of Iraq and how they will bring the troops home and then they say to a nationally-televised audience that they don't know when the troops will come home.

Yet CNN decides to focus on the fact that Republican candidates decide to focus on fundraising activities rather than attend a PBS debate geared towards a segment of the voting population that votes Democratic over 90% of the time.

CNN couldn't have an agenda here could they?

91% of African Americans vote Democratic EVERY election regardless of whether or not a few Republican candidates sit out a debate that no one watches.

While I don't think it was the smartest political move by these candidates, I think people are making WAY too big of a deal out of this.

I know that Democratic supporters and members of the liberal media are going to jump all over it but at the end of the day I don't think the Republican candidates will suffer much for it.

As everyone who has any clue of what is going on right now knows, this is a time when presidential candidates are trying to secure the votes of the people who represent their traditional voting base. Since 91% of African-Americans vote Democrat regardless of who is running, they don't exactly represent a segment of the voting population the Republicans are going to go after with vigor.

As usual, some will make this out to be a racist move on the part of the Republican candidates but let's face it, those are the same people that actually believe OJ didn't kill Nicole Brown and Ronald Goldman. Some people just don't get it.

Democrats refusing to debate on Fox is a bigger issue seeing as how they want to represent all American people so they should be willing to debate on all the major networks. Not just the ones that won't throw them any curve balls...

First, stop assuming that Black people are one homogenous group of people who all agree and blindly follow only Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton. There are numerous Black Leaders (Cornell West, Dr. Dyson, Tavis Smiley, Ben Gordan, Kenneth Chenault, Shirley Franklin, Collin. Powell, Condeleza Rice, Barack Obama,) and many others who do not all always agree and provide different perspectives. Yet, they are all still leaders in the own rite and many Black people agree AND disagree with many of them. Furthermore, we (Black people) do not all just blindly follow 2 people or any group for that matter. We are intelligent, discerning, and capable enough to make an informed decision on whom and what we support, and are not just blind sheep taking orders from 2 people or a political party.

Second, the mere fact that there was a debate to discuss ISSUES shows that Black people are informed about the “issues that face them.” In addition, we are SO informed that we are attempting to get the plans and perspectives of those who will potentially be the next leader of our country to decide rather or not to vote for them. The fact that there is a presidential debate to DISSCUSS such issues means that it’s important to Black people and that we DO CARE enough to at least hear their plans to address said issues.

Lastly, if Black people were ONLY going to blindly vote Democrat, why even bother planning a Republican Debate to discuss their plan to address the issues? And why make such a big deal of it when the top 4 candidates have “scheduling conflicts!” I can understand 1 or 2 candidates having scheduling conflicts-but all 4 of the top candidates? Maybe Black people are not intelligent enough to get the implication of this act!

God Bless America, and especially bless those who think like you.

People really should take a look at Ron Paul. Unless he's got all of us fooled, he has gotten my attention. The others seem fake and self-serving.

Yes – I believe it is important for Republicans to reach out and bridge the gap where "perceived" gaps exist. But in ALL honesty – what did the no-shows REALLY risk? Losing the African American vote in the upcoming election?? Would showing up at Travis Smiley's Debate suddenly convert the 90%+ (democratic voting African American) to vote Republican?

The more annoying part of the evening watching the debate were the 50 supporters of Ron Paul that pursued their "planned over-enthusiasm". Ron Paul said how we have no reason to help stop genocide in Darfur – and his supporters scream wildly.

PUHlease!

YES, THEY DID. THEY SAID, "THEY DID NOT WANT TO APPEAR ON "FIXED NEWS" Channel.

The sad issue here is this party gave minorities their rights. DEMs did not want to do it because they they wanted to keep the south. They have lost the south and GOP has lost the blacks?

This is ironic.

By your argument, I would say who cares about religious voters because they have been brainwashed to vote for the Republican party, even though the Republican party does nothing to further their lives. The Republicans are all talk and no action when it comes to religious issues and yet all religious voters go for them.

I COULD claim that was a good reason to not care about those voters but see that is the difference between a Republican and a Democrat. We believe in inclusiveness while you are OK with shutting out groups of people in this country.

Minorities have the same rights as the majority.

That's all that need to be said.

There's no need for a 'debate' about such.

James

Matt Lauer said it best this morning on the Today Show. Any of these guys, Rudy, Mitt, Thompson or McCain could have stolen the spotlight if they had unexpectedly shown up at the debate and said all Americans are more important than any campaign fundraisers. Can you imagine the headlines it would have created? That was a huge missed opportunity.

Instead, we get public responses from someone like Rudy saying that this is the end of the third quarter fundraisers as the reason to miss the debate. It shows you where the priorities are.

I commend Ron Paul and the other candidates for fulfilling their responsibilities to represent the interests of all Americans fairly. If Republicans were smart, they would elect Ron Paul as their candidate. He is a true constitutionalist and the only Republican I would consider in a general election. We'll see.

Compromise, compromise, compromise. It's the only way to survive a marriage and the only effective way to run a government.

Men and women who manage to maintain their marriages – they understand that compromise doesn't mean you compromise your own values. I am not encouraged to vote for people who don't have what it takes to stay married. Do they think running the United States is going to be any easier?

If candidates don't take the time to listen to people they don't agree with, then it's pretty clear that they have no intention of trying to work together to find common ground.

Why can't we put the candidates on an island, film them and then let the nation vote them off one at a time? Would be cheaper, a lot more entertaining, and over in 39 days!

This is a primary, not a debate. These people are mainly speaking to their REGISTERED PARTY MEMBERS. The room wasn't even full there are so few registered minority Republicans. Scheduling conflicts means "I had something else come up that was more important" which is entirely true. Who cares which was offerred to them first, if they had something better to do they ought to do it.

Minority issues are issues for Congress, not the President.

TX

Repubs have messed up with black people, and now they are playing tug of war with hispanics. I hope blacks and hispanics for a voting block, there would be not more "scheduling conflicts"

Posted By bukky, Baltimore, MD : September 28, 2007 9:38 am

BUKKY,,

WHat a name????Anyway you just dont get it, it has nothing to do with the Republicans it has to do with BLACK VOTERS that either dont get they are getting taken advantage of by Democrats or they simply dont care and do whatever their pathetic leaders tell them to do(Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson). The Black vote is not educated about the issues that face them and simply do not care who is up for election they are going to vote Democrat. This has gone on for the last 50yrs and I am sure the Democrats will try to trick the Black Vote for the next 50yrs.