9/26/16, Debate stage |
Bill Clinton's name hasn't yet been added to the website of the Commission on Presidential Debates as an "Honorary Chairman." Jimmy Carter is currently the only living president listed on the website among "Honorary Chairmen." The Commission has "National Debate Sponsors," but the Commission's website hasn't been updated to include 2016's sponsors, only lists up to 2012. Janet Brown of the Commission confirmed to Daily Mail in Nov. 2015 that Bill Clinton was an Honorary Chairman: "And Brown, the executive director of the commission, told DailyMail.com that the honorary co-chairmen...includes President Clinton."
Debate stage 9/26/16 |
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Following is Nov. 2015 article
Nov. 2, 2015, "Bill Clinton is honorary chairman of Presidential Debate Commission that will decide how Hillary will battle it out on stage," by Nikki Schwab, US political reporter for DailyMail.com
"The Daily Caller is pointing out that Bill Clinton serves as an honorary chairman of the Commission on Presidential Debates, which could create a conflict of interest if his wife Hillary Clinton becomes the Democratic nominee.
The
commission is pushing back suggesting that Clinton's title has no
actual power, but just a hint of influence over the debates could rattle
Republicans, who are already angered over the last primary debate.
The
Commission on Presidential Debates is the body responsible for
sponsoring and producing the general election debates and has four
honorary co-chairmen.
There's Clinton and former President Jimmy Carter who represent the Democrats. On
the Republican side, the honorary chairman are two dead presidents–
Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan – while the two living Republican
presidents, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, dad and brother to
candidate Jeb Bush, are not affiliated.
'The
former presidents are just that, they are honorary co-chairs, they do
not have any involvement in any kinds of decisions the commission makes
either on an operational or a policy basis,' Janet Brown, the executive
director of the Commission on Presidential Debates told DailyMail.com....
This cycle,
the general election debates, three of which are planned along with one
vice presidential debate, will be under even more scrutiny in light of
the problems the Republicans are having with their primary debates.
Last night [Nov. 2015], a lot of issues came to a head as representatives from 12 of the 14 GOP presidential campaigns met in Washington and hashed out a list of demands for the remaining primary debates.
The demands included the temperature of the room – under 68 degrees, please – the location of the bathrooms, and more substantial items like always allowing opening and closing statements and equal questions to the candidates.
Republican
candidates and supporters were upset over last week's CNBC debate,
which wasn't just messy, but conservatives felt made a mockery of the
candidates by asking them 'gotcha'-type questions.
Donald Trump, for example, was asked, ''Is this a comic book version of a presidential campaign?'
Many of the candidates were also critical of a question some were asked about Fantasy Football.
The Republican National Committee responded by suspending its relationship with NBC for a future February GOP debate.
The
campaigns responded by trying to wrestle debate control away from the
RNC and the media sponsors, which was the point of last night's
discussion.
Moving into the general, there will be similar concerns about left-leaning debate moderators....
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