To: Interested Parties

From: Colin Reed, Executive Director, America Rising PAC

Date: Wednesday, September 23, 2015
RE: The Clinton Campaigns Clear Anti-Debate Agenda

The bare-bones primary debate schedule set by the Democratic National Committee (DNC) has turned from intra-party
procedural fight to full-blown grassroots rebellion in recent days, with activists in New Hampshire drowning out DNC Chair
Debbie Wasserman Schultzs speech to their state convention on Saturday with calls for more debates.
The Republican presidential candidates have already participated in two highly-watched primetime debates. Both featured
a robust exchange of ideas about the important issues facing our country, setting records for the most-watched debates in
U.S. history.
During the 2008 Democratic primary, there were over twenty debates between Secretary Clinton and then-Senator Barack
Obama. Yet when the DNC announced the 2016 primary debate schedule, it included just six, three of which are on
weekends and two of which are after voting has already begun in key early states.
Leading Democrats not affiliated with Clinton appear to be united in their call for more debates, with both the Party
establishment and grassroots in lockstep. Those who have spoken out in favor of debates include:

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi

Two DNC Vice Chairs

Bernie Sanders

Martin OMalley

MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski

Leading Iowa Democrats

New Hampshire Democrats

Grassroots Democrats Across The Country

Getting lost in the backlash directed at the DNC and Wasserman Schultz is the obvious fact that the debate schedule is the
direct result of the Clinton campaigns maneuvering.

Consider the evidence that Clintons campaign is the driving force preventing more debates:
1.

The Clinton campaign initially pushed for just four debates. Last spring, when negotiations between the DNC and
the Dem campaigns over the debate schedule got underway in earnest, the Clinton camps preference was to have only
four debates, one in each of the early contest states of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina, according
to a senior Democrat with knowledge of those conversations. (Greg Sargent, How Democrats got bogged down in a
messy dispute over debates, Washington Post, 9/21/15)

2.

The Clinton campaign is retaining plausible deniability by claiming deference to the DNC and refusing to weigh
in on the debate issue, claiming campaigns have no control over the process. When asked about the schedule,
the Clinton campaign has repeatedly said it is not up to them -- that it is controlled by the Democratic National
Committee. DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz has continually said the issue is closed. (Lisa Mascaro & Evan
Halper, Nancy Pelosi joins the growing calls for more Democratic presidential debates, LA Times, 9/28/15)

3.

In 2008 when she was facing Barack Obama in the Democratic primary, Clinton did not defer to the DNC and
frequently called for more debates. But in 2008, it was Clinton who was voicing those concerns, accusing then-Sen.
Barack Obama of ducking debates and avoiding tough questions. Calling out Obama for refusing to agree to a debate
in Wisconsin, a 2008 Clinton ad stated that maybe he prefers to give speeches than to have to answer questions.
(FLASHBACK: Hillarys 2008 Ad Called Out Obama for Refusing to Debate, FOX News Insider, 9/2/15)

4.

Wasserman Schultz, who has consistently toed the Clinton campaigns line that the DNC is in charge, was
Clintons campaign co-chairman in 2008: It doesnt take a cynic to believe that the DNC has the Clinton campaigns
best interests in mind. Front-runners almost always prefer to minimize the number of debates and their viewers, and the
DNC chairwoman, Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, was co-chair of Clintons 2008 presidential campaign.
(The Missing Democratic Debates, Bloomberg View, 9/22/15)

5.

The only prominent Democrats defending the DNC are Clinton surrogates. Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe a close
Hillary Clinton ally and former Democratic National Committee chairman pushed back on Saturday against calls for
Democrats to add more debates to their primary schedule...The governor is a longtime friend of Bill and Hillarys, having
chaired his 1996 presidential campaign and her own 2008 bid. (Gabriel Debenedetti, McAuliffe: 6 debates are enough
for Democrats, Politico, 9/19/15)

6.

Other Clinton backers have mimicked her silence, even when it puts them at odds with their constituents.
Interviewed by WMUR political director Josh McElveen, [New Hampshire Governor and Clinton supporter Maggie]
Hassan said the Democratic National Committee needs to listen very, very closely to the campaigns. She did not
elaborate. (John DiStaso, Republican chair calls on Hassan, top state Democrats to take a stand on presidential
debates, WMUR, 9/22/15)

Given that her campaign actively pushed for fewer debates and that the only Democrats who appear satisfied with the current
debate schedule are those aligned with her campaign, Secretary Clintons claim to simply be a passive observer of the DNCs
machinations just doesnt pass the smell test.
The reality is this: there is one person who could immediately create more Democratic primary debates, and that is Secretary
Clinton. Her refusal to do so speaks volumes, and tells you everything you need to know about her true opinion on the matter.