Edwards Get's It Right on FOX Debates

The Black Agenda Report has been consistently putting the CBC on blast for failing to live up to the expectations of the general black population. One the latest absurd actions of the CBC has been to contract with FOX (FAKE) NEWS to promote debates of the presidential candidates. That the CBC, through it's institute, would align itself with a program with the likes of Bill O'Reilly and folk like Ann Coulter, is beyond rational belief, though it appears that Earl Ofari Hutchinson can understand:

The deal is less a violation of principle and integrity that critics lambaste it as then just another business deal. The CBC's oft-stated mantra is that in politics there are no permanent friends or enemies, just permanent interests. In inking the deal with Fox, the caucus is merely living up to its mantra. And since that's the way the CBC does business, its interest in Fox and Fox's interest in it makes perfectly good sense.

Well I guess, it's so much for a "different kind of politics" and underscores exactly why folk like Cynthia McKinney have to go. So the question really is, in light on Hutchinson's comment, what are the permanent interests of the CBC Institute, and how does lining with a patently offensive network serve that interest?
Well that question is pretty clear to Edwards, who has dropped from the debate.

”We believe there’s just no reason for Democrats to give Fox a platform to advance the right-wing agenda while pretending they’re objective,” said Jonathan Prince, Edwards’ deputy campaign manager.

Exactly.

Now does this mean that the debate in and of itself cannot be "objective"? No of course not, but the fact is that by holding the debate on the FOX channel, in it's current form, would be signaling tacit approval of it's format. I would hope that the other candidates refuse to participate as well though I'm sure the thought of losing Rupert Murdock money, which is the real "permanent interest" here may be giving them pause.

Now we understand that the CBCI is a non-profit and therefore "a-political" organization, but If I were in the CBC I would be very
concerned with the very public link that this deal has with an organization I would be linked with. In terms of fund raising, is the CBCI of the opinion that they could not raise funds by linking up with any other organization? Perhaps money would have been left on the table, but at least they would have their reputation intact. Right now it's as if the CBC was caught on the street with a ho. You can't be SURE that something is about to go down or went down, but it sure don't look right. Though in this case, the CBCI may be the ho.

At the end of the day for me, Edwards did the right thing.




Update: Apparenly Clinton and Obama read Garvey's Ghost. Okay. Probably not but it both Clinton and Obama have declined to dignify FOX with their presence. This will not provide the CBCI with any political cover for calling off the debate. They will have to answer to the CBC constituents for that dumb move and I cannot wait to read what excuse they will come up with.. well aside from that "broad audience" thing.

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