Candidate John Edwards says No to Fox News Debate

The News-Sentinel reports

Edwards to skip Fox News debate
MIKE BAKER
Associated Press
RALEIGH, N.C. - Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards on Friday pulled out of a second debate co-hosted by Fox News Channel, saying the cable network has a conservative slant.

The Edwards campaign said it will not attend the Sept. 23 debate hosted by Fox News and the Congressional Black Caucus Institute, but officials added that Edwards will participate in a different debate hosted by the institute and CNN.

"We believe there's just no reason for Democrats to give Fox a platform to advance the right-wing agenda while pretending they're objective," said Jonathan Prince, Edwards' deputy campaign manager.

It's the second time Edwards has decided to skip a debate because of its affiliation with Fox News. Edwards decided in March that he would pass on an Aug. 14 debate in Reno, Nev., co-hosted by Fox News and the Nevada Democratic Party.

The Nevada Democratic Party canceled that debate just days after the Edwards announcement, citing comments by Fox News President Roger Ailes that the party found offensive. Ailes had made a joke comparing the name of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., to that of Osama bin Laden.

Online activists and bloggers have assailed Democratic leaders who have tried to work with Fox News, saying the cable news network is biased.

The Democratic National Committee has sanctioned six debates before the 2008 primary season, but it has snubbed the Congressional Black Caucus Institute debate.

A call by The Associated Press to Fox News was not immediately returned.

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