Four empty podiums
One of the empty podiums on stage Thursday night in Baltimore.
BALTIMORE, Maryland (CNN) - There were ten podiums on the stage, but only six candidates showed up.
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson, and Sen. John McCain of Arizona, all said they had scheduling conflicts and skipped Thursday night's PBS All American Presidential Forum on minority issues. The Republican candidates who participated in the debate blasted their rivals for their absence.
"Frankly, I'm embarrassed," former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee said. "I'm embarrassed for our party and I'm embarrassed for those who did not come, because there's long been a divide in this country, and it doesn't get better when we don't show up."
Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kansas, said it hurts the Republican Party when candidates choose not to participate in debates.
"I want to say just at the outset, I apologize for the candidates that aren't here," Brownback said. "I think this is a disgrace that they're not here."
But moderator Tom Joyner made jokes, at their expense.
"And let me take a moment right here and now to say hello to those of you viewing from home," Joyner said. "Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Senator John McCain. Governor Mitt Romney. And Senator Fred Thompson. Well, you know, I had to call them out."
Related: Not up for debate
Related: Commentary: Why is the GOP scared of black voters?
- CNN Associate Producer Lauren Kornreich
From CNN Politics
- Pressure builds on Biden to act on guns in wake of Colorado mass shooting March 23, 2021 12:16 pm
- Sidney Powell argues in new court filing that no reasonable people would believe her election fraud claims March 23, 2021 12:15 pm
- Postmaster General set to announce 10-year plan including longer mail delivery times and cuts to post office hours March 23, 2021 12:02 pm
- Progressive group launches $3.2 million advertising buy to push federal voting law March 23, 2021 11:01 am
- US and allies announce sanctions against Chinese officials for 'serious human rights abuses' against Uyghurs March 23, 2021 10:32 am
- Analysis: Trump's army takes aim at 2022 touting his election lies March 23, 2021 05:01 am
Could someone who follows the campaigns of the 4 missing candidates tell us what they were doing during the debate? I.e. why the scheduling conflict?
here we go again ! what's with criticizing people for scheduling conflicts- what is this almost-obssession that we have to take roll call every time someone announces they're holding a debate?
was there a blog about Democrats refusing to debate on the rival station?
"Scheduling conflicts"? I believe this was announced and planned well over a year ago. Looks like a head start on knee jerk duplicity and lying to me on the part of those four.
It seems clear that the absent candidates have demonstrated a lack of respect and a willingness to understand minority issues. This is a set back for the Republican Party.
so is the lack of attendance and respect for fox news' debate by Hillary Obama, etc. a setback for the Democratic party?
This debate is a waste of time. I saw the debate at Howard University and it was all people agreeing with each other, nothing of substance was said. To be honest, why should they waste their time pandering to a crowd of people who aren't going to vote for them? The idea of the debate is stupid to begin with.
As a black Republican I am ashamed that they did not feel the need to show -up, although I do not care for either one of the leading four. Ultimately they will regret it. I do respect and praise Governor Mike Hucakbee along with the others for putting forth that effort.
Yet another case in which Mike Huckabee demonstrates how he deserves the nomination!
Yes. This would be definately seen as a set back. Its seems like some candidates don't go where they perceive they will be attacked.
However, let see how this plays out since Democrats dissed the Values Voters debate. So, let see how much coverage the Republican story gets vs the Democrats story
I agree with Frank; if these so called lead candidates know anything, it should be that skipping a debate is not in theor political favor.
Its also a lack of respect for the PBS audience...which is an intelligent group of potential voters...but that's okay because they probably won't vote for anyone in this group anyways...except maybe Ron Paul.
In other huge presidential news, here is unexpected news out of California: The GOP groups have STOPPED THEIR EFFORT to divide the state's electoral votes!
ALL minorities, including women, should vote against those in any level of government who reject any segment of American society. Shameful.
The Republican Bigot party, saluting that Confederate flag and Drivin' Miss Daisy.
They hate anyone not white, rich and male.
Giuliani, McCain, Thompson, Romney: the crap of the crop.
"so is the lack of attendance and respect for fox news' debate by Hillary Obama, etc. a setback for the Democratic party?"
No one need respect Fox News. They respect no one else, except psycho far-right religious loonies like Romney and useless dopes like McCain.They're liars, fascists trying to start wars. Luckily, they save a LITTLE bit of face by humoring us with the biggest buffoon in political TV, Bill O'Reilly.
Ronnie, it must be tough to watch the Repubs self-destruct, but if you don't "get it" about FOUR major candidates with "scheduling conflicts," then you're either naive or a bigot yourself.
I think if people took the time to look into these candidates you'd see a huge difference in the polls. On the Rep side, Giuliani, Romney and Thompson are near the top. The only viable one of those three is Romney, having recent experience as Gov of Mass. Thompson and Rudy simply have name recognition, and actor on a popular TV show and "America's Mayor" banking on 9-11 and his frequent appearances on Hannity et. al.
When you start breaking these guys down and looking at their stance on the issues, some of the 'lower tier' candidates rise to the top and actually resonate with the majority of people. Same holds true on the Dem side, Hillary is the FrontRunner, but if you pay attention, the others would make far better presidents. She's propped up by her husband's rep and name recognition. She has been carefully packaged and answers everything with a sound bite. There is no doubt she is a shrewd politician and has done some homework with regards to formulaic answers for the generic, stock questions that are usually bandied about. But I see no originality in anything she does and she is totally reactionary. We need a pro-active president, not a puppet.
Happy Friday,
So I guess if the four frontrunners are wrong, the other GOP candidates will suddenly pick up a lot of minority support. yeah, right!
The four frontrunners know that 90% of blacks will vote for a yellow dog for democrat before ever voting Republican, and that blacks vote lock step with the democrats no questions asked.
None of the top tier appear at ANY debate when it is the last week of the quarter. That is when all the most intensive fundraising happens with guest appearances, etc. When they said they had scheduling conflicts, that was truthful.
If this forum was held early on in any quarter, and no one showed up, then the racial victim card might be plausible.
They turn down lots of debate invites, not just this one.
Hey Mark, Shreveport LA...I am white and would vote for a yellow dog for president before ever voting Republican...so what's your point?
Read through the blogs...as the liberals start to play off each other...then as they say their "guesses" as to why the 4 didn't show up...it becomes less of the "guess" and more of a solid fact – then it will be part of the rhetoric machine....and Hillary will now release a statement of the "racist Republicans" and the reason they didn't show up...was that they hated minorities....yet...all this started (like all the liberal rhetoric) as just a guess....Democrats -you need to be alittle introspective...and not so angry – read alittle more than the DNC website...
It should be noted that the room where this event was held was only about 2/3rds filled. It was not well-attended. The candidates who didn't show up were smart to spend their time elsewhere.
here we go again ! what's with criticizing people for scheduling conflicts- what is this almost-obssession that we have to take roll call every time someone announces they're holding a debate?
was there a blog about Democrats refusing to debate on the rival station?
Posted By ronnie – knoxville
How can it be scheduling conflict when the debate was anounced back in 2006. Are you serious..
And yes there was a blog about the whole Fox fiasco. It pointed out how FOX wanted to control EVERYTHING about the debate. Fox caused created an issue so they can have something to report. Typical
The most important issues in 2008 are not confined to "special interest" groups but are _American_ issues. Pandering by candidates to such groups, especially when the groups will overwhelmingly oppose the candidates and the "debate" will have a marginal audience, is not a good thing.
So I guess if the four frontrunners are wrong, the other GOP candidates will suddenly pick up a lot of minority support. yeah, right!
The four frontrunners know that 90% of blacks will vote for a yellow dog for democrat before ever voting Republican, and that blacks vote lock step with the democrats no questions asked.
Posted By Mark, Shreveport,
Black people will vote for people that consitantly show up and APPEAL to them. The republicans DO NOT appeal to black voters. They have nothing to offer the black community AND once they get into office they consistantly ignore the entire race.
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"
So they skipped PBS, what a surprise. Everyone knows that the only people that watch PBS are people who are intellectually curious-which is the opposite target demographic for political candidates. You won't catch them skipping the other networks' debates-where they can play their dog-and-pony act to millions of drooling, ignorant consuming American morons-you know, the other 95% of America.