James Rucker, founder of ColorofChange.org, has learned that CBC Institute board member Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-MI-13) stated today, Wednesday, that a CBC-sponsored Democratic debate "is still in the works with Fox; it just hasn't been announced." This is in addition to the debate already announced with CNN.
From today's CBC press release (thanks, Reef), there will actually be two such debates:
The CBC Institute is also in discussions with the Fox News Channel to broadcast two debates.
The CBC may think it can get away with this if they announce the deal only after it's too late to change course. We must demand that the CBC forswear, now, any attempt to sponsor a debate with Fox News.
The CBC should have learned its lesson already. On September 9, 2003, the CBC sponsored a Democratic debate in Baltimore, Maryland hosted by Fox News. Fox News graphics, as well as a banner over the stage, titled the event as the "Democrat Candidate Presidential Debate," a misuse of "Democrat" so strained in its awkwardness it could only be an intentional epithet. Fox News then summarized the debate with a screed passed off as "news" titled, "Democratic Candidates Offer Grim View of America," featuring such disdainful rhetoric as, "The depiction of the president as the root of all evil began at the top of Tuesday night's debate...." Questions included the accusation that Howard Dean had a racist gun policy by Fox News analyst Juan Williams. There were also multiple interruptions by protesters throughout the debate, leading to four arrests. Fox News then cut away early to give William Bennett the first crack at post-debate spin.
Fox Attacks Black America
Watch this new video from FoxAttacks.com, then visit the Youtube link to rate it up and add it to your favorites, which will, in turn, raise its prominence in the Youtube index. (And check out all the racists in the comments, wow.)
Then, visit ColorofChange.org to tell the CBC Institute and its board members not to make a "deal with the Devil."
** Action: Tell the CBC how you feel. **
And don't let all the opposition come from one web form. Communicate personally (strongly and respectfully):
CBC Institute
227 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E., Suite 201
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 785-3634
Fax: (202) 544-1912
info@cbcinstitute.org
Congressional Black Caucus Foundation
1720 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-263-2800
Fax: 202-775-0773
info@cbcfinc.org
CBC Chair Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick
2264 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-2215
Tel: (202) 225-2261
Fax: (202) 225-5730
Office Hours: Monday-Friday (9:00-5:00pm)
If Kilpatrick is your representative, write to her here.