Why didn't any major GOP candidates show up for the debate hosted by Tavis...

[mojo]

...Smiley? Let's see you spin this one Simon b: Dems blew off a network...GOP blew off an entire racial group...Bad comparisonSimon b: Dems blew off a network...GOP blew off an entire racial group...Bad comparisondstretch: your answering my question with a question....stop spinning

[nonutritionalvalue]

None of them showed up at my house last week either.They didn't show up for the debate because no one has ever heard of Tavis Smiley. I am just as famous as Tavis Smiley.

[POLARIS]

Who's Tavis Smiley? Never heard of him.Seriously, never heard of him.

[Super Tuesday]

Well Republicans usually get very little of the black vote in a Presidential election, so they may have figured it to be a waste of time, however, for PR purposes, skipping a debate like that seems like a poor idea, it does not look good that you, as a political candidate are simply "giving up" on a voting group, state, etc. Besides, the Republicans should at least try to attract the black vote because they did slightly better with the black vote in 2004 than in 2000, it was about a 3% difference from 2000, with 3% more going to Republicans. This is likely because, in general, black voters are socially conservative and with *** marriage being a big issue in 2004 that swung some black voters to Bush. Bill Maher speculated that this factor may have, in part, swung Ohio for Bush and given him the election. So it is not a good idea for the Republicans to simply cede this vote, whether it helps them or not simply not showing up does not look good to anyone.

[ncrawler1]

Because they don't believe in looking at racial groups as being separate. They believe that the issues that black people face are the same white people face. They also think that looking at people as black before anything else only increases racial tension and racism in America.

[simon b]

Besides that, Black vote (majority) always goes to Democrats.Why? It is totally different question.And I am sure, you know why.And who is Tavis Smiley anyway?And why Democrats refused debating on the FOX?

[Eyes Wide Open]

Why should they? Debates are stupid anyway. Isn't Tavis Smiley the gal that used to be on Clean Sweep on the HGTV channel? If so, what in the world is she doing hosting a debate anyway?

[destrecht]

why don't any dems show up for the fox debate? spin yourself.

[justanotherjoe]

Honestly, i think it was an olive branch offering on her part. They should have showed up.

[Gimp]

Who is Tavis Smiley? I have never heard of the guy and I try to stay somewhat in tune to current events. My guess would be that the debate was not important and would not increase their chances of winning either a primary or general election.