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Of particular concern to O’Malley is the DNC’s exclusivity requirement, which would punish candidates and debate sponsors who participate in unsanctioned debates by barring them for participating in remaining official events. The DNC’s goal was the limit the unwieldy sprawl of the last Democratic primary in 2008, when the number of debates mushroomed to about two dozen.
But O’Malley’s attorney says that exclusivity clause is “legally unenforceable.”
“Under Federal Election Commission rules, the format and structure of each debate must be controlled exclusively by the debate sponsor, not by any party or candidate committee,” Sandler wrote in the memo.
Just minutes after announcing that it will only sanction six contests and that candidates who appear in any debate outside of those six will be barred from attending a sanctioned debate, Lis Smith, a spokeswoman for likely Democratic contender former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley criticized the small number of debates and the exclusivity requirement.
But an aide to one Democratic 2016 aspirant said they were taken aback by the exclusivity clause. “In the discussions that the DNC had with potential 2016 candidates, they explicitly said there would be no exclusivity clause and it was a shock to see that they included one in their press release today,” the aide said. “It was all an elaborate game where everything was worked out in advance with the Clinton people,” the aide alleged.
originally posted by: Phoenix
Be strikingly funny if Sanders, O'malley and potentially Biden did an unsanctioned debate, leaving Clinton to debate herself at DNC debates.
I'm not on this side of the aisle but seems DNC is doing its best to limit HC exposure.
originally posted by: beezzer
a reply to: Benevolent Heretic
But I've the impression that politicians, all politicians are unwilling to openly talk to the public.
Whatever happened to open townhall-style meetings?
originally posted by: Phoenix
Be strikingly funny if Sanders, O'malley and potentially Biden did an unsanctioned debate, leaving Clinton to debate herself at DNC debates.
I'm not on this side of the aisle but seems DNC is doing its best to limit HC exposure.
originally posted by: Benevolent Heretic
LOL! I didn't think of that! I think it's a great idea! But she has a lot of support because she's the one everyone knows. It may backfire and just be free publicity for her to have a televised rally, reaching millions of people.
originally posted by: Metallicus
This is such an important election. I have no idea who I am voting FOR. I only know people that I won't be voting for (Bush, Clinton etc).
These scripted debates aren't helping much.