This is an odd decision. Apparently the Democrats have scheduled 6 presidential debates. They've given 2 to CNN, 1 to each of the traditional big networks, and 1 to MSNBC. They've left Fox News out.
Dems traditionally don't like Fox News--it is seen by liberals as conservative. That's humorous on a couple levels. Throughout the 80's and 90's (and still today) Republicans complained about 'liberal bias' in the media. But back then they were complaining of total liberal/Democratic dominance--not simply one station being liberal, all stations (and the big papers) being liberal. This was supported by journalist surveys showing 90+% of reporters voted Democratic. Conservatives, however, don't see Fox as conservative, just middle of the road.
On another level, a political level, it is strange too. The Democrats' success taking the White House has been wanting the last few...decades (with only 2 exceptions in 40+ years.) Why exclude the highest rated and most watched news/political-junkie station from airing a debate? Isn't it the very audience Fox has--1. the largest and 2. the not-necessarily liberals--that they want to convince to come over and try the waters? Whomever wins the Dem nomination needs to convince a LOT of non-CNN watchers to vote for her/him if she/he has any hope of doing better than Gore and Kerry.
It seems like you'd want to get your folks to the largest, not the smallest (see MSNBC), audiences. Someone at the DNC should sponsor a debate about these debates. If you are not a majority party, it requires you to convince others to vote with you--that's not going to happen on CNN.
Unfair and Unbalanced, as always,
Thomas More
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