“Debate-about-Debates” – Media Cycles and Local News - Clinton wins Round 1
The mediated “debate-about-debates” launched by Hillary’s invitation to four debates on Super Tuesday (see “Empty Chair”) was fairly short lived, in one sense.
Before the dust had even settled from the Tuesday's voting the Obama campaign accepted two debates (By early Thursday) (Houston Chronicle ). This is one way, too often overlooked, to stem debate challenges from becoming the story itself; just accept a reasonable number and move on.
The interpretive frame regarding who is “hiding from the people” has not exactly stopped, however. Even as it appeared that Obama’s swift move might truncate the story, the spin continues.
When Obama accepted two debates, the Clinton camp responded in a manner aimed at keeping alive pressure on Obama to accept even more. "We are glad he finally accepted a debate with us, and we look forward to many more debates with him in the future," Adrienne Elrod, a spokeswoman for the Clinton campaign, said in a statement.”
Localized Spin
In addition to the national spotlight the “debate-about-debates” has a local angle that is alive and well, playing out in state media outlets, serving as a Clinton skirmish advantage. The campaign used non-acceptance for venues other than Ohio and Texas to get local headlines critical of Obama.
Read more below on the Maine, Ohio, and Chesapeake narratives.
: Debate about debates, Clinton, Obama, Local coverage, media narratives, spin
Maine: A Case Study in Making Political Hay
The example of Maine is instructive of how the “debate about debates” often works politically.
TPM ElectionCentral reported Thursday afternoon
“in an unusual move, Hillary is inviting Barack Obama to appear with her side by side at a town hall meeting in Maine this weekend, when both are scheduled to be campaigning in the state.
In a statement sent to local reporters in Maine that someone forwarded our way, Hillary said: “With both of us in the state – I would like to invite him to join me for a joint town hall Saturday morning in Orono, ME, so that the people of Maine have a clear idea of the differences between us."
Obama declined the debate Thursday late afternoon saying “The Obama campaign turns down Hillary's invitation to join her at a Maine town hall meeting this weekend, issuing this statement:
“Senator Clinton and Senator Obama have debated 18 times already, and they will debate again. But that schedule will not be dictated by the Clinton campaign. There are a lot of people looking forward to seeing Senator Obama in Bangor on Saturday, and we’ll be keeping that commitment.”
Almost immediately the local headline on Maine was “
Obama Turns Down Clinton's Debate Offer.” The frame for understanding their respective appearances was suggested.
Similar headlines appeared regarding the Ohio MSNBC debate questioning Obama’s willingness to debate. The media, prompted by local taking advantage of local press to gain from the “debate-about-debates” even as the time frame from offerer the Ohio debate until accepted was short indeed. A few points were scored with the local angle of a state snubbed.
Of course the jury is still out on round 2 (and more rounds). Maybe the transparence of such political posturing can be made the interpretive frame. Not likely however, as the news cycles do not allow campaign issued statements to catch up with reality (or rationality for that matter).
Clinton Wants Out of Her Debate
And the further irony now is that Clinton is threatening to pull out of the very debates they strong armed with media cooperation to hold, miffed over a slight involving daughter Chelsea making calls to super delegates. Victimage trumps.
In Wolfson’s words,“I can’t envision a scenario in which we would engage in debates on that network.”
The cycles continues according to TIME: “In a Friday press conference call, Obama campaign reaffirms its participation in a Feb. 26 MSNBC debate.” MSNBC working with Clinton camp to keep them on board. MSNBC had David Shuster apologize twice on air and suspended him for a unspecified period.
For their part, the Clinton campaign asked that CNN carry the debate. Is more going on here than meets the eye?
Chesapeake Primary
Despite Obama’s accepting two more debates the pressure to bring him to more forums continues full throttle, seeming to have more do with changing the elections calculus than informing voters. Clinton has accepted a Monday interview on ABC7/POLITICO Candidate Forum. Obama declined. In media outlets the spin is “educate the voters.”
“We’re disappointed that Senator Obama would deny the voters of Washington, Maryland and Virginia an opportunity to see the candidates’ debate side by side before they head to the polls on Tuesday,” said Clinton campaign spokesman Mo Elleithee. “Senator Clinton is happy that she will have the opportunity to participate in this forum regardless. The voters deserve no less.”
How will the “debate-about-debates” end? Obviously it is difficult to predict, but it does appear in the initial skirmishes that the winner is the one calling for the debate. They take the high ground, kowtow to local sensitivities, and change the news focus. At what point is this manipulation seen as simply “political?” Likely never, that is the game being played.
