Why Exactly Has Obama Refused to Debate Hillary in NC?

by D. Cupples |   A North Carolina democrat wants real answers about why the Clinton-Obama debate (scheduled for April 27)  has been canceled.  Obama refused the invitation to debate some time after last week's debate on ABC. 

Party officials cite two very different reasons for canceling the debate: 1) time constraints, and 2) party unity.  The North Carolina democrat wrote a letter to a party official, asking for clarification.

Some people wonder whether Obama is simply afraid of facing tough questions (and facing Hillary) in another debate before North Carolina's May 6 primary.  Below is the text of the NC democrat's letter -- originally printed at No Quarter.

Dear Jerimee Richir, [the NC Democratic Party's Online Communications Director]

I am writing in order to seek justification for the various claims you make in the press release you issued yesterday regarding the debate scheduled for April 27, 2008 in Raleigh.

According to your press release, the debate was cancelled as a result of “time constraints and logistical issues associated with such a large, national event.” To which time constraints are you referring, and what specific logistical problems proved to be insurmountable?

I ask these questions, as the North Carolina Democratic Party had already secured a location, a network sponsor and a time slot. I quote the Charlotte Observer:

“The debate would be held at Raleigh’s RBC Center, home to N.C. State basketball and Carolina Hurricanes hockey. Meek said it has helped energize the state’s Democrats, with requests for tickets running 500 per hour at peak times in recent days.”

“Meek said the state Democratic Party and the CBS network chose April 27 because the debate would follow ‘60 Minutes,’ putting it in a coveted timeslot.”

Were there specific problems with the venue, or did you encounter problems with CBS?

I await your response to these questions.

I also desire substantiation for the following claim:

“[T]here were [sic] also growing concerns about what another debate would do to party unity.”

Who articulated such concerns? Which elected officials or party operatives cited these concerns? According the Charlotte Observer, the Chairman of the NC Democratic Party, Jeffrey Meek, did not have such concerns on April 17, 2008. I quote:

“North Carolina has never hosted a debate for its Democratic presidential primary,” said N.C. Democratic chairman Jerry Meek. He said Friday that he’s still confident Obama will accept the invitation.

“‘North Carolina is the 10th most populous state in the country,’ Meek said. ‘This is a great opportunity for North Carolinians to hear directly from the candidates about issues directly related to North Carolina.’”

Governor Easley also desired a debate in NC. I quote:

“Gov. Mike Easley is urging Barack Obama to agree to a debate in North Carolina“

“In a letter dated Tuesday, Easley wrote to Obama that a debate with Democratic rival Hillary Clinton would energize and motivate N.C. voters ahead of the May 6 primary.”

Did other elected officials in NC articulate concerns about party unity. And if so, who? Or did a specific campaign, namely the Obama campaign, cite these concerns? I ask, as the Charlotte Observer reports the following:

“Obama made clear that both scheduling and strategy will determine his participation“

“He had previously agreed to an N.C. debate April 19. Clinton did not agree. The Pennsylvania primary is three days later.”

“Clinton has agreed to an April 27 debate. Her N.C. director, Ace Smith, said, ‘It looks like their intention is to stop debating.’”

Are the logistical problems you cite ones created by the Obama campaign? And why does your press release conflict with the news reports of David Ingram of the Charlotte Observer, who noted in three different articles that the Clinton campaign agreed to a debate in NC on April 27, 2008?

References:

• “Easley urges Obama to debate in N.C.,” April 16, 2008
• “Obama hedges on debate in Raleigh,” April 12, 2008
• “Democrats abandon effort for N.C. debate,” April 22, 2008

Lastly, why are the rationalizations for the cancellation of the debate you provide in your letter similar to those issued by the Obama campaign? You write,

“Senators Clinton and Obama have offered additional opportunities to be seen and heard across the state in the coming weeks and months.”

This is essentially a paraphrase of the following statement of Obama cited in a Charlotte Observer article:

“‘I will tell you, after the 21st debate — all of which have been nationally televised, and so North Carolinians have had ample opportunity to watch these debates — I don’t know that they are ending up being more informative than the kinds of town hall meetings that we’ve scheduled,’ Obama said.”

And when, exactly, did Senator Clinton claim town halls and rallies will serve as substitutes for a substantive debate about the concerns of NC Democrats? Please provide a quotation from an official press release of valid news source.

I thank you for responding to my letter. And I also want to thank you for your advocacy for Obama at BlueNC.com. I read the site regularly, and I know you write under the name “Jerimee”.

I hope your support for Obama as evinced by your comments at BlueNC did not inflect the various claims you make in the press release you issued to North Carolina Democrats yesterday.

Sincerely,

Anon
Registered Democrat
North Carolina

Again, thanks to No Quarter for posting the letter. 

Frankly, I suspect that if the debate actually happens, moderator Katie Couric would be careful to stick to real issues -- given that ABC's debate moderators were heavily slammed for focusing on too many non-substantive issues.

I hope that Obama will accept the challenge and show up to the debate on April 27.

Comments

[Adam]

In the interest of completeness - Obama offered to debate Hillary last Saturday in North Carolina. Hillary declined, for similar scheduling/logistical reasons. The talk of Obama being afraid of debating Hillary, when they've had an enormous number of televised debates, is a little silly. Obama's people were willing to debate in NC when they thought there was still a point, but now they don't think it has any value to them to have another debate.

Obviously both campaigns are simply acting out of self-interest. The Obama camp feels, and I think rightfully so, that there is very little left to cover at these debates besides a re-hashing of various attacks. Since the finish line is in sight for them, they are far more interested in debating John McCain, and don't see the point in engaging in hand-to-hand combat with Hillary. (Wow, that's a heck of a mixed metaphor.)

[D. Cupples]

Adam,

Yes, Obama offered to debate in NC before the PA primary. Hmmm.

I see your point about hand-to-hand combat.

On the other hand, the public still hasn't really had an opportunity to hear about how Obama's campaign-finance-related claims measure up to reality.

I really want the public to assess that one for itself -- that and see a real comparison between the candidates' out-of-Iraq plans, economic plans, and healthcare plans.

Those 4 issues alone could take up 2 hours, if the candidates are allowed to answer in depth.