Finally, Democrats are voting with their feet. There is no reason to legitimize Fox "News". No Democrat should appear on that network, any more than one would expect a Republican to appear on "Democracy Now".

"Pressure groups are forcing candidates to conclude that the best strategy for journalists is divide and conquer, to only appear on those networks and venues that give them favorable coverage," Ailes said, adding that any candidate "who cannot answer direct, simple, even tough questions from any journalist runs a real risk of losing the voters."

Anyone who has listened carefully to FOX news understands the "so-called" reporters have an agenda to ask questions of the "Have you stopped beating your wife" ilk. The "Gotcha" mentality is clear.

For real news without the BS, try PBS.

Smart move for both Edwards and Obama. Any candidate who appears at a Fox News debate will have one strike against them from this voter. I don't know why any Democrat would want to assist in the perpetration of the total fraud that is Fox News.

"Any candidate for high office from either party who believes he can blacklist any news organization is making a terrible mistake about journalists," Ailes said at a Radio and Television News Directors Foundation dinner in Washington last month."

What does that have to do with Fox which is neither a news organization or has any journalists on staff?

Obama and Edwards, way to go guys! Ailes, you can use the time Faux News would have allotted to the Nevada debates for a debate between O'Rielly and Imus. That would be yet another Faux News television event that none of us would watch!

Way to go Barack! There is no need to justify this Fox organization as a news network or as anything that should be taken seriously. I only hope to see more of this in the future from any politician more concerned with the good government CAN do and the level of discourse we CAN have, than with getting their face and message out there regardless of the venue. Cheers!

Now if only the other candidates would boycott FOX also, we would all be better off and learn about the issues rather than the FOX agenda.

Bill O'really's job must be hanging by a thread.

What is the Congressional Black Caucus? Is there a Congressional White Caucus?

I long for the days of a liberal media bias....

Good! It's about time that people stop treating Fox like a real news outlet.

What is wrong with the above story? Oh, yeah, the parts where Fox's Ailes keeps referring to his network's on-air personalities as "journalists."

That is the whole reason for this boycott. And I heartily approve.

Happy to find your sight.

My preference for President and
Vice Pres would be Edwards & Obama!
Smart men for a nice change.

When will Hil boycott Fox? Or will she pull another one of her attempts to pander to Republicans just like her Iraq vote?

My predictions is that she will appear on Fox because she will do anything to get elected.

Hillary????

This is ridiculous. You act as if Fox News is the only news channel with an agenda. Right, and CNN doesn't have a leftist agenda. All media stations are biased, but most of them are towards the left which is why everyone here is attacking Fox rather than CNN or ABC. It's hard to believe that Americans can be as stupid as you are acting. Who cares what a news channels' bias is, if you can't answer their questions, don't run for the presidency. Your going to get alot of tough, biased questions from the press when (and if) you get into the office, so deal with it now and show the American people your not afraid to take on people or entities of opposite beliefs. My goodness, be a man.

It seems to me that Barack Obama's feud with Faux is only begining to heat up. Imagine Obama as president. Would he shut Faux out of the White House??? Should he and can he???

Who cares if it is a news organization or not (I believe it is as much as any of the other cable news stuff but it doesn't matter)? It is a venue that speaks to millions of Americans who may never hear the Democratic (and Senator Obama's) views otherwise. I thought Obama and the Democrats want to speak to all of us and be uniters? Guess not. I guess anyone who watches Fox News is worthless scum who is not worth considering? Oh well Democrats show their true stripes. They really don't care about us red staters. We are just a bunch of stupid hillbillies who can't possibly filter information or integrate news from a variety of different sources with a variety of different biases. I guess people like me, who watch Fox News, read the Economist, the National Review AND the Guardian, the Independent, various liberal blogs, etc. aren't worth speaking to. You folks will never be uniters because you have contempt for the beliefs of a large number of Americans and aren't afraid to show it. Even though you don't really even know what my beliefs are. And I am sure you have never watched Fox for more than 2 minutes so how you can have a personal opinion is beyond me. You just parrot what you hear without any personal experience or knowledge.

I totally agree wih Barack Obama and John Edwards and believe they are setting a course that all Democratic candidates should follow. Anyone who believes FOX News is a legitimate news organization is as uninformed or misinformed as anyone can be.

We have had enough of an "ersatz" news organization that supports the likes of the current president and his regime who fail to hear or accept the will of the majority of Americans.

"Pressure groups are forcing candidates to conclude that the best strategy for journalists is divide and conquer, to only appear on those networks and venues that give them favorable coverage," Ailes said"

I would just like to understand how a person from that network can make a statement like that. Have we not all seen Cheney and Bush and others from this administration run to FOX and ONLY FOX when they wanted the "word" to go out? It's standard procedure for God's sake!
So for FOX to now cry foul when the shoe is on the other foot is truly an ironic twist.

DONT FORGET FOX NEWS IS THE #1 NEWS STATION KNOWN FACT.I'M A INDEPENDENT I WATCH CNN CBS ABC BUT I PERFER FOX. I FIND THEY HAVE A BETTER WAY OF TELLING IT LIKE IT IS.

I respect Obama and Edwards more for showing they will take stand and call a Faux a Faux.I tune um out and tune in PBS.

Fox "News" is a joke. There is no news on FOX, just conservative garbage and lies all the time.

Way to go guys! Now encourage the rest in refusing to legitimize Fox. In no way shape or form does it broadcast "news" nor does it employ "journalists".
Keep it up and you win points with me!

Any similarity between Faux News and a legitimate, objective news organization is purely coincidental. Well done, Senator Obama.

All this goes to show is Obama like the Edwards are scared they can't answer the tough questions. Everyone questions Fox's right wing agenda, but what about the Far left CNN or the others (NBC,ABC,CBS) those channels are so far left I can't see how they keep on the road.

That's the way to go, Mr. Obama!

Let them hold the Republican Debates. Here is the major question on Iraq:

Q: How is our success in Iraq impacting your campaigns?

McCain: I support the troops and Gen. Petraus. And that's straight talk.
Romney: No, I support the troops and Gen. Petraus, and I've offered my trusty rifle to the cause

Giulliani: Yeah, I support the troops and was the Mayor on 9/11. Who's Petraus? Is he one of Bernie K's guys?

Tancredo: I support the troops, but I wonder who this Petraus character is, is he a foreigner? Sounds like.

Fred Thompson: I support the troops. That General Petraus reminds me of a story.....

Foxnews is the best there is, and it's shame they won't come onto a "REAL" network!

“But in that same address, Ailes joked about the similarity of Obama's name with that of terrorist leader Osama bin Laden, saying, "It's true that Barack Obama is on the move. I don't know if it's true President Bush called [Pakistan President Pervez] Musharraf and said, 'Why can't we catch this guy?' "

This statement by the head of FIX “news” says it all. They are slime merchants plain and simple. The closest they get to news is when the do the weather. Thank you Obama for sticking to your values. And shame on the Congressional Black Caucus for agreeing to do this debate with the merchants of slime and propaganda.

Awesome! Every non-conservatvie person should boycott FOX "news". Let it turn into a channel for nut jobs only......like the relgious network. This will give Rush, O'Rielly and Hannity something to rant about for a day. Then they can go back to talikng about how terrible it would be if Bill Clinton got back into the White House and had an affair again!!

"What is the Congressional Black Caucus? Is there a Congressional White Caucus?"

yes, that would be the other 493 congresspersons as compared to the 42 in the CBC.

I have to admit that I am disappointed by this decision. I have voted Republican all my life and feel as though this upcoming election would likely find me voting Democrat for the first time ever. Despite Fox's right-leaning stance, this will be a missed opportunity to reach out to those who are teetered to the right and welcome them to the left. Unfortunately, it will have to be another Democratic candidate to do that now. I really like what I see and hear from Obama, but am disappointed tremendously in his judgement on this one. Even though I'm fed up with Republicans in General, you wouldn't find them boycotting a debate hosted by CBS. Best of luck to the campaign!

It's always funny when someone from Fox calls themselves a news agency but that ok I can call myself a pirate that doesn't make it true

What a bunch of cry babies! We are to expect these men to stand up to real threats??

Please.

I'm disappointed that Obama will not attend fox cosponsored debate. Obama has gotten pretty good press on Fox ( I watch all outlets). As a relatively unknown BUT very promising candidate who seems to have good instincts I would hate to have him fall into a right/left rut!

That's unfortunate. The fact that it is sponsored by Fox News would be an even greater incentive to attend, in my opinion. Just as Bill Clinton successfully slammed Fox News and the consrvative propaganda campaign in his interview, Obama and Edwards could've potentially changed a lot of the negative opinion surrounding them by participating.

I would like to see the candidates speak of their platforms against one another soon. Some things I would like to be debated would be education, the Iraq war plan and mostly what the candidates would do to support the UN Millennium Development Goals to end poverty. According to the Borgen Project, just $19 billion a year would ease starvation and malnutrition, yet we hardly contribute to end starvation, choosing instead to fund a $340 billion (and rising) war campaign. In addition, $12 billion a year would provide education for every child on earth. Educational access is so important, here in the US too. I guess I'll have to wait for the next debate!

So if Fox News is right leaning...what do you call CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, and NPR? "Fair and Balanced"...I think not

Debate? What debate? The Democrats are so in-bred in their politics that all they can resort to is liberal one-upmanship.

The Democrats have no chance of winning the election unless they get moderate voters - and this just ensures that they won't.

This is music to my ears! I pray that all dem candidates avoid Faux News like the plague that it is!!! They are a worthless bunch of wanna be journalists! DEMS/LIBS, stop legitimizing these freaks on the NO NEWS channel!

Bravo to every candidate who opts out of lending Fox any credibility. Other than PBS, I can't say I'm impressed by any of our mainstream new outlets, but Fox isn't even in the ballgame. It may stroke the egos and fears of the most jingoistic and hateful (or fearful) among us, but it ain't news. Just the RNC propaganda arm, with Ailes leading the march.

Any politician that is trying to become the president and is afraid to debate on Fox News will never be strong enough to confront our country's enemies

"Edwards had previously pulled out of a Fox debate planned by the Nevada Democratic Party, which ultimately -- under pressure from liberal groups such as MoveOn.org, and liberal "netroots" internet activists -- dropped Fox News Channel as a sponsor."

Oh, please! This is a Republican talking point. The Democrats pulled out because the attack dogs at Fox kept smearing them! To give credence to the "Moveon controls the Dems" bromide is to be no better than Fox.

"Faux" News still won't learn but I agree with the approach

Edwards rejection of the Faux News sponsored debate was instantaneous. Glad to see BO finally got around to doing the right thing, too. Those with principles instinctively know what's right to do and do it. Those less gifted take more time. Meanwhile, where's Calculating Clinton on this?

Let me get this straight. It's ok for CBS, ABC, NBC, MSNBC & CNN to all have liberal biases but it's not ok for Fox to have a conservative bias. I don't understand why the media is allowed to have any bias but they do so DEMS, show some courage and show up.

Despite DEM fear tactics, I am a moderate that finds FOX news interesting and a bit refreshing from all the doom and gloom of the other "enlightened" networks.

I am so glad that after John Edwards now also Barack Obama decided not to participate in the primary debate on Fox. Fox "News" is a propaganda channel for the GOP and should not be regarded as a regular bypartisan news outlet.

What a joke! Obama and Edwards have all the cash and coverage they presently want. Both these guys will be talking to FOX 'journalists' as soon as it suits their political need (and it certainly will once the general election draws near...). It's all about timing the exposure and the spin.

It's about time this country finally started to stand up, to the twisted and half baked stories, Fox News has been airing for the last 10 yrs. Edwards and Obama are willing to lose a few votes, than compromise what they believe in. WTG guys!!!

The Democratic candidates aren't snubbing Fox they're snubbing everyone who watches Fox (apparently that's quite a few people).

If you don't like Fox news then don't watch it. I don't necessarily agree with the manner in which they report everything but it's no different than any other news outlet, including this one.

Grow up!

Hooray, hooray. It is about time the Dems took a stance aginst the sham news shows.
Fair and balanced my tookus,Fox does not deserve to remain on the air.

It's about time our country started to stand up to the twisted and half baked stories that Fox News has been airing these last 10 yrs. Obama and Edwards are willing to lose a few votes in order to stand up for what they believe in. Where is Hillary's stand?

Now if we can get ALL the democratic candidates to refuse Fox, this will send a powerful message to the American people that democrats are not going to be pushed around by conservative journalists asking irrelevant questions on all the critical issues that abound in the world today. Hooray for their courage!

Fox news is a complete JOKE. No sane person watches those neocon hack artists.

Oh please, It's a democratic debate. All they are doing is playing to the fringe element of their party...just look at he posts.

Was he afraid Harold Ford Jr. was going to ask a tough question?

It's sponsored by the CBC.

All you people hate the fact that at least one station isn't liberal.

I've read both the story and the comments. You guys have missed the boat. A debate doesn't promote the people asking the questions, it's about the answers given. If you ever wanted a chance to influence some conservatives, broadcast your platform on Fox. What's gained by having a debate in front of your friends where questions are asked by your friends? Nothing.

Thats the democrat way to run and not fight. If the democratic nominees can't stand up to a news organization that may not agree with their agenda, then how do we expect a democratic president to stand up to terrorists. Oh thats right there are no terrorists just plain old mom and dads who blow up their own kids. Democrats are just appearing cowardly as usual.

Fox has coasted on stirring up conservative rage for too long. This network has helped the neo-cons tear the nation apart. It's time to get back to real, unbiased news.

In the same way that porn stars find it impossible to make the jump to a mainstream film career after they’ve gone all the way on the XXX screen, I'll bet a lot of Fox "journalists" will find the ceiling of their post-Fox careers very low. It will serve them right.

Ditto for any candidate who bets their image on exposure via Fox. Republican, Democrat or Independent — Lie down with Fox, wake up with fleas.

Oh my, They arn't bending over backwards to be liberal! Get over it, Ya, CBS,CNN are Fair to Republicans, and msnbc too! What a joke! Those are FAR LEFT WING CHANELS!

Thank God for these two. Will Clinton have the guts to follow suit? It would be a real star to her character and would actually make me consider voting for her again.

I'm sure the voters will get much more out of a spoonfed debate from the DNC. LOL Of course, that's why they're democrats in the first place. RUUUUNNNNN. It's getting too hot and uncomfortable!!

Hey georgembush, yes, there is a white caucus. It's called... CONGRESS

If these politicians are afraid to talk with Britt Hume but praise Pelosi for talking with the Syrian Terrorist President, they don't have the intelligence or strength to be a president.

Bravo, Obama and Edwards! The curtain of 'fair and balanced' is continually being pulled back inch by inch to reveal the media manipulation perpetrated by Fox.

So if Fox is so right wing, what is ABC, NBC, and CBS? Why would any republican go on any of these networks, they are obviously pushing a left wing agenda some would say. In the end it works both ways, every network has some sort of agenda and position.

Typical liberal politicians hiding behind a false veil of the media. Everyone knows the mainstream media has a huge liberal bias, then , when the shoe is on the other foot, they all go home crying.

No need to insult Edwards or Obama, as their weak-minded actions speak for themselves.

obama & edwards are simply cowards that won't appear in what they consider a hostile environment. says a great deal on how they would handle criticism if elected.

Fox News it NOT a legitimate news source but rather a distortion of the news. Even their slogan is a distortion of the truth, "Fair and Balanced". If people are going to make their decision on our next President based on Fox News our democracy is over. All politicians should boycott Fox News.

It's really to bad that most of you people stick to one channel and expect to get the total story. If you watch more than one news channel you would probably be aware of what is going on around you rather than the liberal blathering that is going to cost you money in tax increases!

This is a win-win: First, candidates who take action to back up their words; second, pulling back the curtain to expose the sham of a "news" network that Fox pretends to be.

Wise strategy. We must ensure a Democrat wins the presidency next time around. We cannot afford to have any of the Democratic candidates made to look foolish in the event they decide not to answer a specific question or choose to sidestep an issue. It is best they be with CNN. That network has been friendlier to us in the past. Go Barack!

I just feel better that fact based journalism is rewarded and we quite this charade of Fox News being normal journalism -- it is propoganda pure and simple. Worse yet it is aimed at hurting the viewers that watch it. Let them watch McCain etc on Fox. Thanks Obama and Edwards

All of the above posts are from people/groups that obviously encourage partisan participation by the so-called "fair" news organizations of today. Maybe the Repub candidates should boycott CNN, ABC, CBS and all other "news" oultets that have a political agenda contrary to their political beliefs. I do not condone these types of actions and in fact believe that this is yet another confirmation that our news today is run by left/right-wing partisan groups. There is no such thing as "fair and unbiased" news today (left or right wing)!

Way to go John Edwards! Set the pace and the STANDARD!!!

I don't consider Foxnews to be bias towards any party but if canidates from the democratic party felt that way, it seems that they would want to express their views on such a channel. Unless they have nothing to bring to such a debate that would make all listen and not just some, the biased view.

This is NOT a smart move to make. For someone who is undecided as to which candidate to support at this time, the decision by Mr. Obama and Mr. Edwards only makes me say they are NOT the candidates to vote for.
What are you afraid of, Mr. Obama? That a conservative will ask you a question you don't have an answer for?
I am sorry to confess this only supports the theory, "Where the going gets tough, the Democrats won't go!"

Member of the Congressional Black Caucus. I'm getting tired of committees or organizations that are based of skin color. I don't know how this is not considered racist in itself.

Democrat’s fixation with FOX News proves the point that the rest of the mainstream media has a left leaning bias. I rarely hear complaints from Dems about ABC, CBS, NBC or CNN. FOX News continues to expand their viewership because they cover the whole story rather than just cherry picking the points that favors liberal views. Dems love free speech as long as those speaking believe as they do.

Democrats will watch ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN with all the liberal slant that goes with those networks. Rebublicans will watch Fox and the conservative slant that goes with it's network. So whats the problem? I'm Sure Fox will take those ratings and run.

In my opinion Barack's protest of Fox News was a bad move. Democrats are so often referred to as wimps. I think it is a stereotype and not always true, but this further legitimizes that argument. To me there is nothing like going to the opponent’s house and taking an away game. It worked for Bill Clinton.

Good ! About time a stand was taken.

It's seems to me that Obama and Edwards are afraid to answer tough questions that the voters want to hear on their postions. I think these two are looking for a free pass and not the new president that I am looking for....

I dont think its good idea to boycott Fox. Stand up and be the canidate that can face any advisary. Show us what your made of. Because there are going to be alot harder challenges than a "bias news chanel."

There are many old timers in the former Soviet Union who would identify Fox as a "state run" propangada machine. If you listen to Fox you are misinformed. Frankly, I would question one's intelligence if they rely on the Fox network for information. Notice I can't bring myself to type "Fox N--ws." Because it's not.

This is a case of the "race to the left" that is inevitble in the democratic primary season. MoveOn.org has paid for the party... its theirs... and the candidates are following the Soros marching orders.

Fox News may not be as "Fair" and "Balanced" as they advertise to be - BUT NEITHER IS CNN.

For real reporting my recommendation is - Jim, Gwen, and Margaret over at PBS!

"Bill O'really's job must be hanging by a thread.
What is the Congressional Black Caucus? Is there a Congressional White Caucus?"

Yeah, practically the rest of the congress.

Thankfully the tide may be turning against Faux News!! From 1974-1998 I reported for abc,nbc,cbs,cnn,pbs,and telemundo among others. NONE of us had an agenda. The fact that Roger Ailing was once a Bush partisan or Clinton or anybody, automatically precludes him from being in the news business. We all fell short of the mark of "objectivity" but we sought, we fought, we struggled to allow our viewers to decide the facts...if, Faux news wants to pretend to be a news organization...much as Colbert does, that is fine. More power to them. But if they want to be a RIGHTWING ADVOCACY CHANNEL..then no one owes them the consideration of a courtesy visit.
The Edward R. Murrow Express

Its ok to speak with Syria and Iran but not debate on Fox?? Are we fearless or fearful? The democrats are consistently inconsistent.

I am not sure if I am following. What is the difference between CNN and FOX? Both have their 30 minutes of news every day and then hours of opinion. A debate does not have much to do with the news organization’ opinion, or does it?

Being devils advocate here, but, if you're 100% true to your position, why should you boycott any outlet? What would the opinion if a Republican nominee boycotted CNN which is very liberal? I say buck up and be a man, or woman, which ever the case may be and participate. Who knows, they could win over a Republican vote and the vice versa could happen. Isn't that what debate is about?

liberals...liberals...liberals...hide in your little boycott world and don't expose yourself to anything other than democratic biased journalism.