You're right, writing off the audience of the most popular cable news network doesn't sound like such a smart idea to me. But I think the more important issue here is how they are promoting the balkanization of America. If Democrats refuse to appear on Fox, why should Republicans appear on CNN? Now, instead of shouting at each other across a table, they won't even be on the same channel.

Nick Kasoff
The Thug Report

I doubt that they would be so cavalier in a general election debate. Who are they really writing off in a primary debate on FOX? Sure, any long term exposure should be good, but why reward Fox for their slanted coverage? I hear a lot of blather about MSM but while the MSM's coverage is left-leaning, it is also a lot more scattershot than FOX.

Is it writing off half the country to bar Republicans voters from participating in Democratic primaries? So why include Republican media in the process?

Joe wrote,

"So why include Republican media in the process?"

Joe, will you stand with me and call for all journalists in the print/tv mediums to reveal their personal political affiliation, so that we'll all know what their 'slant' is ?

It is the typical arrogance of politicians in general. they have evolved into an elite class (in thier own minds) and unfortunalety many voters buy into that.

Charles,

I see no evidence Fox is any more slanted to the right than other media outlets are slanted to the left. I don't think Fox has had a scandal similar to Dan Rather's fake TANG story.

I don't see anything similar to ABC's recent characterization of the Swift Boat veterans as a "smear" organization in straight news reporting.

Or PBS's Now, which was the brainchild of former Johnson speechwriter Bill Moyers. A show to the left of... well, pretty much anything in American political life (outside crackpots like Chomsky).

Perhaps I missed something?