- Pre-Primary Period « Debates and
Forums « Press Releases on New
York Debate
CNN
April 4, 2016
CNN TO HOST DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY DEBATE IN BROOKLYN
ON THURSDAY,
APRIL 14
PRIMETIME EVENT MODERATED BY CNN’S WOLF BLITZER LIVE FROM THE BROOKLYN NAVY YARD
CNN announced today that the network will host a primetime presidential primary debate with the two Democratic candidates on Thursday, April 14, live from the Duggal Greenhouse at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Wolf Blitzer will moderate the debate, and the network will partner with Time Warner Cable News NY1.Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders have both confirmed their attendance at the debate. The candidates will take questions from Blitzer, along with CNN Chief Political Correspondent Dana Bash and NY1 “Inside City Hall” Host and CNN Political Commentator Errol Louis.
The debate will take place six days before the highly anticipated New York State primary contest on Tuesday, April 19.
This will serve as the seventh presidential debate that CNN has hosted with both Democratic and Republican candidates during this election cycle.
The debate will air live from 9-11pm ET and on CNN, CNN International and CNN en Espanol, and will be live-streamed online and across mobile devices via CNNgo.
About CNN Worldwide
CNN Worldwide is a portfolio of two dozen news and information services across cable, satellite, radio, wireless devices and the Internet in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. Domestically, CNN reaches more individuals on television, the web and mobile devices than any other cable TV news organization in the United States. Internationally, CNN is the most widely distributed news channel reaching more than 300 million households abroad; and CNN Digital is a top network for online news, mobile news and social media. Additionally, CNN Newsource is the world’s most extensively utilized news service partnering with hundreds of local and international news organizations around the world. CNN is a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company.
CONTACT:
Lauren Pratapas
Washington, D.C.
Bernie 2016
April 4, 2016
Contact: Michael Briggs
Sanders Accepts Invitation to New York Debate
“Sen. Sanders has accepted another invitation to debate Hillary Clinton in New York. We are glad that she finally has agreed,” said Michael Briggs, Sanders’ spokesman. “Sanders all along has pressed for a debate on television in prime time so the greatest number of New Yorkers and Americans may listen to the candidates and decide for themselves who has the best ideas about how to reform our rigged economy and the corrupt campaign finance system. It's great for the people of New York that there will be a debate in Brooklyn, something that the Clinton campaign has long opposed.
“Fortunately, we were able to move a major New York City rally scheduled for April 14 to the night before. We hope the debate will be worth the inconvenience for thousands of New Yorkers who were planning to attend our rally on Thursday but will have to change their schedules to accommodate Secretary Clinton’s jam-packed, high-dollar, coast-to-coast schedule of fundraisers all over the country.”
CNN invited Sanders and Clinton to the debate ahead of New York’s April 19 Democratic Party primary election.
Sanders previously accepted NBC’s invitation to a prime-time debate next Sunday but that date conflicted with Clinton’s heavy schedule of high-dollar fundraisers, including one on that date in Virginia.
Both the Sanders and Clinton campaigns agreed last January to hold an additional debate in April and another in May.
Sanders was in Wisconsin on Monday appearing at rallies in Milwaukee, Green Bay and Janesville ahead of Tuesday's primary.
Democratic National Committee
April 4, 2016
DNC Chair Statement on New York #DemDebate
WASHINGTON - DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz issued the following statement:
“With our campaigns in agreement, the Democratic National Committee has sanctioned a primetime debate for the evening of Thursday April 14th to be hosted by CNN and NY1 in New York. The debate meets the framework previously agreed to by both campaigns on timing, and allows our network partners enough time to build a venue and audience that will best showcase our candidates and their vision to keep America moving forward. Every time our candidates take the stage they show the temperament and judgment the American people expect in a President and Commander in Chief. While the Republican primary has sunk deeper and deeper into chaos, the Democratic primary continues to show democracy at its best and we look forward to seeing our candidates debate next week.”
###
Ed. - There was a lot of back and
forth
between the campaigns before this debate was announced...
Bernie 2016
March 27, 2016
Contact: Michael Briggs
March 27, 2016
Contact: Michael Briggs
Sanders Challenges Clinton to Debate in New York
BURLINGTON,
Vt. – U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders on Sunday challenged Hillary
Clinton to debate him in New York before the state’s April 19 primary
election.
“I would hope very much that as we go into New York state, Secretary Clinton’s home state, that we will have a debate – New York City or Upstate, wherever – on the important issues facing New York and, in fact, the country,” Sanders told Chuck Todd in an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Fresh off sweeping victories on Saturday in Washington, Alaska and Hawaii, Sanders was looking ahead to upcoming primaries in Wisconsin and New York
He told The Associated Press it was “really absurd” that Clinton so far has refused to agree to a debate with him in her home state.
Jeff Weaver, Sanders’ campaign manager, wrote a letter on Sunday to Clinton’s campaign manager, Robby Mook, underscoring the senator’s call for a New York debate.
“New York will play a critical role in determining the Democratic nominee. However, your campaign has consistently chosen to deny the people of New York the opportunity to see Senator Sanders and Secretary Clinton debate in the Empire State,” Weaver wrote to Mook.
“It is difficult to understand your motivation,” Weaver added “Can you please explain why New York should not host the April debate? Is the Secretary concerned about debating before the people who twice elected her to the U.S. Senate? Perhaps there is some tactical advantage you are seeking by avoiding a debate in New York but I would remind you that Sen. Sanders agreed to debate the secretary in New Hampshire when he was well ahead in the polls.”
“I would hope very much that as we go into New York state, Secretary Clinton’s home state, that we will have a debate – New York City or Upstate, wherever – on the important issues facing New York and, in fact, the country,” Sanders told Chuck Todd in an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Fresh off sweeping victories on Saturday in Washington, Alaska and Hawaii, Sanders was looking ahead to upcoming primaries in Wisconsin and New York
He told The Associated Press it was “really absurd” that Clinton so far has refused to agree to a debate with him in her home state.
Jeff Weaver, Sanders’ campaign manager, wrote a letter on Sunday to Clinton’s campaign manager, Robby Mook, underscoring the senator’s call for a New York debate.
“New York will play a critical role in determining the Democratic nominee. However, your campaign has consistently chosen to deny the people of New York the opportunity to see Senator Sanders and Secretary Clinton debate in the Empire State,” Weaver wrote to Mook.
“It is difficult to understand your motivation,” Weaver added “Can you please explain why New York should not host the April debate? Is the Secretary concerned about debating before the people who twice elected her to the U.S. Senate? Perhaps there is some tactical advantage you are seeking by avoiding a debate in New York but I would remind you that Sen. Sanders agreed to debate the secretary in New Hampshire when he was well ahead in the polls.”
To watch Sanders on Meet the Press, click here.
To read Jeff Weaver’s letter, click here.
Bernie
2016
March 29, 2016 Email to Supporters
March 29, 2016 Email to Supporters
Can you sign our letter to the Clinton campaign?
We sent a letter to Hillary Clinton's
campaign over the weekend asking
for a debate in New York before its battleground primary on April
19.
Add your name to our letter to say you want to see Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders debate in New York.
You can read the full letter to Clinton Campaign Manager Robby Mook here:
Dear Robby,
I am writing to you about the remaining, agreed-upon Democratic primary season debates in April and May of this year. As you know, Secretary Clinton agreed to three additional debates – one in March, one in April, one in May – in return for our campaign agreeing to the late-scheduled debate in New Hampshire prior to that state’s primary.
At Senator Sanders’ request, the March debate was held in Michigan. As I understand it, there was previously agreement reached by our representatives for the May debate to be held in California. I trust that commitment remains on your part.
However, there has not been agreement on the April debate in terms of date or location. Our campaign continues to believe that the people of New York deserve to have the debate held in their state, and that it should be held prior to the New York primary.
Given the outcome of electoral contests since March 15th it is clearer than ever that New York will play a critical role in determining the Democratic nominee. However, your campaign has consistently chosen to deny the people of New York the opportunity to see Senator Sanders and Secretary Clinton debate in the Empire State.
It is difficult to understand your motivation. I have received calls from numerous news companies seeking to sponsor a New York debate so I know the media interest would be high. Can you please explain why New York should not host the April debate? Is the Secretary concerned about debating before the people who twice elected her to the U.S. Senate?
Perhaps there is some tactical advantage you are seeking by avoiding a debate in New York but I would remind you that Senator Sanders agreed to debate the Secretary in New Hampshire when he was well ahead in the polls.
I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience so we can schedule the New York debate in April.
Regards,
Jeff Weaver
Add your name to say you want to see Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders debate in New York before the April 19 battleground primary.
Add your name to our letter to say you want to see Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders debate in New York.
You can read the full letter to Clinton Campaign Manager Robby Mook here:
Dear Robby,
I am writing to you about the remaining, agreed-upon Democratic primary season debates in April and May of this year. As you know, Secretary Clinton agreed to three additional debates – one in March, one in April, one in May – in return for our campaign agreeing to the late-scheduled debate in New Hampshire prior to that state’s primary.
At Senator Sanders’ request, the March debate was held in Michigan. As I understand it, there was previously agreement reached by our representatives for the May debate to be held in California. I trust that commitment remains on your part.
However, there has not been agreement on the April debate in terms of date or location. Our campaign continues to believe that the people of New York deserve to have the debate held in their state, and that it should be held prior to the New York primary.
Given the outcome of electoral contests since March 15th it is clearer than ever that New York will play a critical role in determining the Democratic nominee. However, your campaign has consistently chosen to deny the people of New York the opportunity to see Senator Sanders and Secretary Clinton debate in the Empire State.
It is difficult to understand your motivation. I have received calls from numerous news companies seeking to sponsor a New York debate so I know the media interest would be high. Can you please explain why New York should not host the April debate? Is the Secretary concerned about debating before the people who twice elected her to the U.S. Senate?
Perhaps there is some tactical advantage you are seeking by avoiding a debate in New York but I would remind you that Senator Sanders agreed to debate the Secretary in New Hampshire when he was well ahead in the polls.
I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience so we can schedule the New York debate in April.
Regards,
Jeff Weaver
Add your name to say you want to see Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders debate in New York before the April 19 battleground primary.
Bernie
2016
March 29, 2016
Contact: Michael Briggs
Sanders
Welcomes Clinton Agreement on New York Debate
March 29, 2016
Contact: Michael Briggs
Sanders
Welcomes Clinton Agreement on New York Debate
MILWAUKEE – U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders on
Tuesday welcomed Hillary
Clinton’s agreement to debate him in New York before the state’s April
19 primary election.
“Let’s do it,” Sanders said on CNN.
After her campaign opposed a New York debate for over a month, Clinton told reporters at a campaign stop in La Crosse, Wisconsin, that she was open to the idea of debating Sanders in Brooklyn.
The Sanders campaign hailed the development as a victory for Democratic voters everywhere and for New York voters in particular.
The Clinton campaign's earlier position was that the April debate agreed upon by both campaigns should be held after the New York primary. In recent days, one Clinton operative suggested the debate might not happen at all if Sanders did not change his "tone."
The Sanders campaign has consistently pushed for a debate in New York to be held prior to the April 19 primary election.
“Let’s do it,” Sanders said on CNN.
After her campaign opposed a New York debate for over a month, Clinton told reporters at a campaign stop in La Crosse, Wisconsin, that she was open to the idea of debating Sanders in Brooklyn.
The Sanders campaign hailed the development as a victory for Democratic voters everywhere and for New York voters in particular.
The Clinton campaign's earlier position was that the April debate agreed upon by both campaigns should be held after the New York primary. In recent days, one Clinton operative suggested the debate might not happen at all if Sanders did not change his "tone."
The Sanders campaign has consistently pushed for a debate in New York to be held prior to the April 19 primary election.
###
Hillary
for
America
April 2, 2016
“The Sanders campaign needs to stop with the games.
“Over the course of the last week, we have offered three specific dates for a debate in New York, all of which the Sanders campaign rejected. We offered Monday, April 4 at 7:30 pm. We were told that the Sanders campaign rejected this date because they wanted the debate to be held after the Wisconsin primary and would make themselves available on any date between Wisconsin and New York. We then offered the night of April 14th and that was rejected by Sanders. While we preferred to do an evening debate on the 14th, we then agreed to a debate on Good Morning America on April 15, understanding that the Sanders campaign had already agreed to this forum. That, too, was rejected.
“Both offers for the night of April 14 and the morning of April 15 still remain. The Sanders campaign needs to stop using the New York primary as a playground for political games and negative attacks against Hillary Clinton. The voters of New York deserve better. Senator Sanders and his team should stop the delays and accept a debate on April 14 or the morning of April 15th.”
Bernie 2016
April 2, 2016
Contact: Michael Briggs
“We are very pleased that Secretary Clinton finally has accepted our request for a debate about the needs of New York and America. Unfortunately, the dates and venues she has proposed don’t make a whole lot of sense. The idea that they want a debate in New York on a night of the NCAA finals -- with Syracuse in the tournament no less -- is ludicrous. We have proposed other dates which they have rejected. We hope we can reach agreement in the near future. The people of New York and America deserve to see and hear a debate on the important issues facing the state and country.”
Bernie 2016
April 3, 2016 at 3:44 p.m.
Contact: Michael Briggs
Bernie 2016
April 3, 2016 at 4:18 p.m.
Contact: Michael Briggs
WAUSAU, Wis. – Bernie Sanders’
campaign spokesman Michael Briggs issued the following statement on
Sunday on a debate in New York:
“Sen. Sanders has accepted an invitation from NBC News for a Sunday night prime-time debate on April 10. We hope the Clinton campaign also accepts. The April 10 debate date is one of four dates that the Sanders campaign had proposed for a debate with Secretary Clinton before the New York primary election. He is available on April 10, 11, 12 or 13. He looks forward to a debate on any of those days.
“The Clinton campaign disingenuously announced that it had agreed to a debate on another day when it knew very well that Sen. Sanders already had locked in a park permit for a major rally in New York City. Let’s get serious. Let’s get on with debating the candidates’ stands on serious issues affecting New York and the United States.”###
De Blasio's tweet prompted this follow up from the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT), a non-partisan ethics watchdog group:
April 2, 2016
Statement from Hillary for America National Press Secretary Brian Fallon
Brian Fallon released the following statement in response to Senator Sanders refusal to accept a debate date:“The Sanders campaign needs to stop with the games.
“Over the course of the last week, we have offered three specific dates for a debate in New York, all of which the Sanders campaign rejected. We offered Monday, April 4 at 7:30 pm. We were told that the Sanders campaign rejected this date because they wanted the debate to be held after the Wisconsin primary and would make themselves available on any date between Wisconsin and New York. We then offered the night of April 14th and that was rejected by Sanders. While we preferred to do an evening debate on the 14th, we then agreed to a debate on Good Morning America on April 15, understanding that the Sanders campaign had already agreed to this forum. That, too, was rejected.
“Both offers for the night of April 14 and the morning of April 15 still remain. The Sanders campaign needs to stop using the New York primary as a playground for political games and negative attacks against Hillary Clinton. The voters of New York deserve better. Senator Sanders and his team should stop the delays and accept a debate on April 14 or the morning of April 15th.”
Bernie 2016
April 2, 2016
Contact: Michael Briggs
Sanders Campaign Statement on New York Debate
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – Bernie Sanders’ spokesman Michael Briggs issued the following statement on Saturday on a debate in New York with Hillary Clinton:“We are very pleased that Secretary Clinton finally has accepted our request for a debate about the needs of New York and America. Unfortunately, the dates and venues she has proposed don’t make a whole lot of sense. The idea that they want a debate in New York on a night of the NCAA finals -- with Syracuse in the tournament no less -- is ludicrous. We have proposed other dates which they have rejected. We hope we can reach agreement in the near future. The people of New York and America deserve to see and hear a debate on the important issues facing the state and country.”
Bernie 2016
April 3, 2016 at 3:44 p.m.
Contact: Michael Briggs
Sanders Looks forward to New York Debate
WAUSAU, Wis. – Bernie Sanders’ campaign spokesman Michael
Briggs issued the following statement on Sunday on a debate in New York:
“The Clinton campaign should stop playing games. Sen. Sanders has
proposed debates on four days before the New York primary election. He
is available on April 10, 11, 12 or 13. He looks forward to a debate on
any of those days. Does she really have fundraisers on each of those
nights?
“The Clinton campaign disingenuously announced that it had agreed to a
debate on a day when it knew very well that Sen. Sanders already had
locked in park permits for a major rally in New York City. Let’s get
serious. Let’s stop the silly political games. Let’s get on with
debating the candidates’ stands on serious issues affecting New York
and the United States.”
Bernie 2016
April 3, 2016 at 4:18 p.m.
Contact: Michael Briggs
Sanders Looks forward to New York Debate
“Sen. Sanders has accepted an invitation from NBC News for a Sunday night prime-time debate on April 10. We hope the Clinton campaign also accepts. The April 10 debate date is one of four dates that the Sanders campaign had proposed for a debate with Secretary Clinton before the New York primary election. He is available on April 10, 11, 12 or 13. He looks forward to a debate on any of those days.
“The Clinton campaign disingenuously announced that it had agreed to a debate on another day when it knew very well that Sen. Sanders already had locked in a park permit for a major rally in New York City. Let’s get serious. Let’s get on with debating the candidates’ stands on serious issues affecting New York and the United States.”
Hillary for America
April 3, 2016
@brianefallon
Hillary for America
April 4, 2016
@brianefallon
Brian Fallon Retweeted Bill de Blasio
April 3, 2016
We are at the point that if we agreed to a debate in Williamsburg, they'd say Bushwick. If we said Gowanus, they'd demand Park Slope.
Hillary for America
April 4, 2016
Brian Fallon Retweeted Bill de Blasio
On CNN, @taddevine said
Apr 14 was only day they could secure their undisclosed rally location.
Problem solved!
Bill de Blasio (@BilldeBlasio)
Let's make @NY1 4/14 BKLYN debate happen. @BernieSanders: I'll help you secure any permit you need to ensure your NYC rally can happen too.
Let's make @NY1 4/14 BKLYN debate happen. @BernieSanders: I'll help you secure any permit you need to ensure your NYC rally can happen too.
De Blasio's tweet prompted this follow up from the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT), a non-partisan ethics watchdog group:
Statement by
Matthew G. Whitaker, former U.S. Attorney and Executive Director of the
Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT), in response to
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio using his office to influence the outcome
of a political campaign:
“It is not only
unethical, but an apparent violation of conflict of interest laws for
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to use the Office of the Mayor
to advance the interests of his preferred candidate in the Democratic
presidential primary race. Using the Mayor’s office in this
manner is a misuse of City resources and implies City endorsement of
partisan politics. Moreover, it is unethical and outrageous that
Mayor de Blasio would use the City function of issuing or
not-issuing a permit to strong-arm a political candidate. Mayor
de Blasio was elected to serve all the people of New York and we
demand he immediately clarify for the citizens of New York that he is
not using the resources of City Hall to traffic in political favors and
will never do so.”
Copyright © 2016 Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in
Action.
All rights reserved.