Biden is correct for a refreshing change. FOX has 4Xs the viewing audience of the other news channels. Dem candidates are cowards to avoid the debate. Hillary's moral judgement in question:
Biden scolds Dems for skipping debates
BEVERLEY WANG,(AP)6/2/2007
CONCORD, N.H. - Joe Biden on Friday questioned how his Democratic presidential rivals could skip a debate involving the Congressional Black Caucus.
The Delaware senator, who will participate in a New Hampshire debate on Sunday, is one of two candidates signed onto a fall debate on Fox News and the sole person who has agreed to an Iraq-only debate next week.
In a telephone interview Friday, Biden called out fellow Democrats for bowing out of the Sept. 23 Detroit debate co-sponsored by Fox News Channel and the political education and leadership institute of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Democratic candidates have been under pressure to shun the debate from liberal groups who say Fox is biased against Democrats. Biden said Fox's role in the debate doesn't matter.
"I agreed to go because my friends in the Black Caucus said this is a very important debate to be able to determine the difference among us on matters relating to the African-American community," Biden said.
Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich is the only other candidate who has agreed to the Fox debate.
John Edwards and Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama are not attending. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd said this week that they will not participate.
Earlier this year, Biden was criticized by some black leaders when he described Obama as "articulate" and "clean."
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton is getting some financial help from a controversial benefactor.
Vinod Gupta, chief executive of the data company, InfoUSA Inc., is helping throw a high-dollar fundraiser Thursday night in lower Manhattan, according to a copy of the invitation obtained by The Associated Press.
A lawsuit by company shareholders accuses Gupta of excessively spending millions of dollars, including $900,000 worth of travel on the Clintons. InfoUSA has paid former President Clinton, also scheduled to appear at the fundraiser, more than $2 million in consulting services.
Sen. Clinton told the AP on Wednesday that she followed Senate rules when she accepted rides on Gupta's jet. The campaign said they had no other comment on Gupta's involvement in the fundraiser.
The New York Times first reported on its Web site Friday that Gupta would serve as "vice chair" of the event, which means he has committed to raise $50,000 from ticket sales. |
