NV County Chairs and Executive Board Members Support Fox News Debate

A bunch of Democratic County Chairs and State Party Executive Board members have released a statement in support of the planned Fox News Debate:

Executive Board Members and County Chairs Support August Debate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Liz Foley Chairwoman Clark County Democratic Party
702-737-8683

March 8,

We, the undersigned, appreciate the efforts State Democratic Party Chairman Tom Collins has made to address concerns regarding the August presidential debate in Reno, NV. We believe the latest proposal is reasonable and addresses most of the concerns raised by MOVEON and others.

Not all of us originally supported the idea of working with FOX, but many of us did because we know that a significant number of Nevadans - including Democrats - watch the network, and we want to use the opportunity of our early caucus to reach out to those viewers.

We all want to work together to unify our party, move forward and address the pressing issues that all Nevadans and Americans grapple with each and every day. Ultimately, that's the reason why we are all Democrats and why we care so passionately about the Nevada caucus.

We look forward to the August debate, when the Democratic presidential candidates will have the opportunity to reach out to voters in Northern Nevada and throughout the West as we focus on Western issues.

We pledge to do everything we can to ensure this debate is a success.

Sincerely,

Chris Wicker, Washoe County Democratic Chairman

Liz Foley, Clark County Democratic Chairwoman|

Cindy Trigg, Douglas County Democratic Co-Chairwoman

Lance Whitney, chair, Elko Democratic Party

Kristian Forland, vice chair, Elko Democratic Party

Ron Hibble, Lincoln County Democratic Chairman

Teresa Williams, Chair, Lyon County Democratic Central Committee

Loyal Watkins, Nye County Democratic Chairman

Teresa Benitez Thompson, First Vice Chair

Bud Orange, 2nd Vice Chairman and Douglas County Democratic Chairman

A’shanti Fayshel Gholar, Secretary

Tom Carns, Clark At-large Executive Board member

Greg Esposito, Clark At-large Executive Board member

Bonnie Jacobs, Clark At-large Executive Board member

Steve Fernlund, Clark At-large Executive Board member

Jack Mallory, Clark At-large Executive Board member

Anita Hara, Washoe County At-large Executive Board member

Mathew J. Dickson, Washoe County At-Large Executive Board Member/Treasurer Washoe County Democratic Party

Jo Ann Orange, Rural At-large Executive Board member

Ed Goodrich, Washoe County At-large Executive Board member

While several rural county chairs and those of the two largest counties (Clark and Washoe) have signed this statement, it's interesting who hasn't signed it and is therefore not supporting the debate. Two people I notice absent from this list would be Executive Board member Michael Zahara and the chair of the Carson City Democratic Party which has of course passed a resolution against the debate.

As to the substance of their argument:

Not all of us originally supported the idea of working with FOX, but many of us did because we know that a significant number of Nevadans - including Democrats - watch the network, and we want to use the opportunity of our early caucus to reach out to those viewers.

This reasoning doesn't make any sense. Does anyone honestly believe that those watching Fox News are only getting their "news" from Fox? That these voters are not interested in local news and are therefore not watching local stations? I don't presume anyone would. So this reasoning doesn't stand it's ground. If you want to reach voters in Nevada, why not air the debate on a local station?