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
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They skipped the forum for obvious reasons: they're the main 4 candidates, and minority issues are an extremely sensitive issue right now. These 4 are afraid of saying the wrong things....given their poor performance so far. Rudy is only good talking about 9/11, Mitt's campaign people are cokeheads, John can only talk about the war in Iraq, and Fred, HE'S AN ACTOR!! So, this makes sense not to talk about something they know nothing about!
It was a bad move for those (4) to be absent, everyone is watching their every move.
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.
I think the reason the republican candidates didn't show up is because most of the black or minority population doesn't vote at all. If minorities want to make a statement, go register and vote for a Democrat. If a person doesn't vote, he has no right to criticize.
You are wrong to assume that Black voters ”do whatever their pathetic leaders tell them to do (Al Sharpton and Jesse Jacskon). The Black vote is not educated about the issues that face them….”
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.
All African americans should teach these 4 candidates a lesson. No support to these republicans who do not care for african americans.
Please, everyone, give Mike Huckabee a hard, long, look. Give him a 'real' listen. He is the only candidate on both sides of the divide the truly cares about the USA (Red,White, and Blue) in every fiber of his body. He is the 'real deal'. A man we all wouldn't mid calling 'Dad'. A man to be fully 'trusted'. A VERY RARE MAN and one America can not afford to be without.
It is quite revealing that these erstwhile gentlemen found it reasonable to skip an event hosted by a community that often feels neglected by the party these men represent. Romney and Thompson I get but Giuliani? Given his recent gaffes he can hardly hope to gain by skipping this event. Republicans react with such umbrage when they are accused of being racist (see Tucker Carlson's mock outrage yesterday), and most aren't, but what are these communities to think when the four leading republicans (one of whom may be the next president) treat them with such scant courtesy.
Omg they didn't show up to a debate limited to only a portion of a population.... Gimme a break, debates shouldn't be about speeches tailored to one portion of the population. Speeches that more often than not don't honestly reflect what the candidates priority are insulting to say the least.
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...
Ah, news flash:
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.
I am utterly shocked that CNN has chosen to do multiple articles on this non-story.
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?
It's obvious to me that it wasn't a snub on the debate hosts. With the top 4 Rep. candidates not being able to make it proves that. Look, people from all over schedule these debates all the time, sometimes more than one a week. The valid candidates can't go to ALL of them.
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.
The mere fact those candidates vehemently claim they are "for" the people and are concern about issues that affect them, well regardless the race, it would have been in their best interest to "hear" these people out. Just because I'm a democrat, doesn't mean that I haven't voted for a republican. I look at the issues and which candidate has proven that he/she can get the job done.
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.
rest assured if the Dems had pulled off a trick like this, the headlines would be: Democrats avoided issues.
The Republican Party has abandoned the minority communities of America. They have a horrible, indefensible record through this administration and few Republicans have found the guts to repudiate President Bush in public. They are trapped in a losing box of their own making.
I watched the entire debate, if you want to call it that. It was really just a question and answer session. No one truly debated anything.
I am compelled to clear one thing up that was stated several times by the candidates. President Eisenhauer was NOT supportive of desegregation. He had to send troups to Little Rock because he HAD to uphold the courts decision. He had no choice, BUT personally, he opposed the ruling. This is a part of public record that can even be found in the archives of his presidential library.
There, the record is straight. I can sleep now.
Blantant LIES...how can ALL 4 have "scheduling conflicts"?
Must take after his majesty G.W...monkey see, monkey do
I think it is horrible that the 4 candidates did not show up. It says that they don't know how to prioritze and really don't care about the voters. They are racing to get as much money is as they can, so we can use our hard earned dollars to match what they raise.
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.
Bob from Long Beach,
"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.
Ron Paul won this debate on many levels. He is starting to gather a pretty strong base and can no longer be ignored. God bless Ron Paul.
Good job, Chris from Florida. Utilizing a gay slur to get your point across. Way to sound intelligent!
At least now we know which candidates have the stones to at least try to face an issue and which a naked cowards.
Make your voice count, shame on them. Always ask yourself who owns the Lobby system, and where more
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?
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Uh, hello Ron Paul was also in attendance. Once again you have left him out. SHAME ON YOU!!!!
Did anyone note that Tom Joyner did not host the debate as the article states?
Tavis Smiley did!
Tavis Smiley occasionally appears on Tom Joyner's morning show! Tavis Smiley and Tom Joyner don't even look alike.
How can we say that Republicans have forgotten the minority issues and communities of today?
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