# Kamala Harris and Donald Trump Debate Controversy **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump, kamala-harris\ **Created:** [August 5, 2024, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-donald-trump-debate-controversy/1005279 "2024-08-05T18:47:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-donald-trump-debate-controversy/1005279/81 "2024-08-05T21:16:49Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > If the Fox debate is after the ABC debate, he doesn’t have to agree, he has to show up. There is PLENTY of time to have a debate after Sept 10. There is no reason to schedule a Fox debate a week prior to the 10th, unless it’s a replacement. Very true, and I am wondering if the Harris campaign strategy should be to say they are willing to do another debate _after_ September 10 - since Trump might want another debate if he loses the one on the 10th! ETA: While I worry that dropping out of this thread may look like capitulation (or fear of losing, or inability to come up with counter-arguments), I’ll just have to take that risk and get a little singed by the burning irony. I’m bored with arguing; no one’s mind will be changed, and I have other things to do. But thanks to all for the spirited discussion; I liked hearing the other points of view. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-donald-trump-debate-controversy/1005279/82 "2024-08-05T21:31:14Z")
“They will treat Trump the same way Trump treats them!” is a very simple solution for you to agree to when you know that there is no possibility for it to happen that way. As far as I’m concerned the only “controversy” referred to in the title is “Why won’t Harris agree to Trump’s demands when it come to a debate, when Trump as already chickened out of the first debate they both agreed on?” If you want to discuss the first real debate that they both agreed upon then we have something to talk about. If not, then we obviously don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-donald-trump-debate-controversy/1005279/83 "2024-08-05T21:33:11Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > Very true, and I am wondering if the Harris campaign strategy should be to say they are willing to do another debate _after_ September 10 - since Trump might want another debate if he loses the one on the 10th! If Trump actually participates in the first debate that was agreed upon by both sides, then Harris should be willing to talk about the possibility of a second debate. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-donald-trump-debate-controversy/1005279/84 "2024-08-05T22:05:36Z")
Why is Fox being the venue, _after all that has gone on at Fox_, not a complete show stopper for you? ---
**Author:** ![Dissonance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Dissonance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dissonance)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-donald-trump-debate-controversy/1005279/85 "2024-08-05T22:31:27Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > > [@Dissonance](#): > > > > Why in god’s name should Harris do something that absurd? > > What’s absurd about keeping a promise, especially one that involves negotiation and compromise? Trump will do September 10 even though he doesn’t like it, Harris will do September 4 even though she doesn’t like it. And if she does her part and Trump backs out (again) from his, that’s pretty good campaign fodder for attacking Trump. Are you serious? What promise? TFG created this Sept 4th debate date out of whole cloth in his own head. Nobody, not even Fox news proposed it. TFG just announced he would do it. There is no promise to be kept, no negotiating to be done. Again, if Harris gives into every random delusion of TFG, I’d question her fitness to hold office. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-donald-trump-debate-controversy/1005279/86 "2024-08-05T22:45:42Z")
> [@Dissonance](#): > > Nobody, not even Fox news proposed it. At this point, there is NO debate on Fox news. I just searched their website, and the only reference to a debate on Fox, other than from DJT, is an article about Vance in which he said > Trump’s offer to debate Vice President Kamala Harris on Fox News in September a “masterstroke.” So until Fox actually proposes a debate, there is no debate. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-donald-trump-debate-controversy/1005279/87 "2024-08-05T22:47:02Z")
I’d just like to point out that Cheato’s proposed date of Sept. 4 is, for me, Garbage Day. Coincidence? 🤔 ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-donald-trump-debate-controversy/1005279/88 "2024-08-05T22:50:41Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > So until Fox actually proposes a debate, there is no debate. But to be fair, if Trump said to Kamala, I’ll debate you at Fox News, and Kamala said she would, do you think Fox News would turn it down? ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-donald-trump-debate-controversy/1005279/89 "2024-08-05T22:53:17Z")
Trump’s strategy: “Either she’ll refuse my ridiculous offer to debate her at Fox News with my own arena of fans and my own cheerleaders as moderators, and I win because I won’t have to debate her, or she’ll agree to it and I’ll outshout her and win. Either way, I won’t have to debate her at ABC, which is all I care about!” ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-donald-trump-debate-controversy/1005279/90 "2024-08-05T22:54:05Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > do you think Fox News would turn it down? Of course they wouldn’t. Neither would any other organization. Hell, if they asked me to host a Zoom meeting with the two of them, I wouldn’t say no. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-donald-trump-debate-controversy/1005279/91 "2024-08-05T22:57:02Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > If they host the Trump rally debate, the fact checking will be non-existent (or will magically cut off). I’m not sure. TRUMP: _“KaMALa —Sleepy Joe’s ‘border czar’ — supports abortion even after birth!”_ HARRIS: _“That’s not true.”_ FACT CHECKER: _“As it happens, Trump is correct!”_ ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-donald-trump-debate-controversy/1005279/92 "2024-08-05T23:05:51Z")
Do you mean like “What if Kamala Harris had brain damage and conceded to Trump’s demands?” ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-donald-trump-debate-controversy/1005279/93 "2024-08-05T23:11:34Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > So until Fox actually proposes a debate, there is no debate. I just checked at [FoxNews.com](http://FoxNews.com), and they seem to [have a plan](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-agrees-debate-kamala-harris-fox-news): > [@](#): > > The moderators of the debate will be Fox News anchors Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum. > > The debate rules will be similar to the rules of the June 27 CNN debate against Biden, who Trump wrote “has been treated horribly by his Party.” But unlike the CNN debate, which did not have an audience, the Fox News debate will have spectators. > > Fox News had invited Trump and Harris to participate in a debate in Pennsylvania on Sept. 17. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-donald-trump-debate-controversy/1005279/94 "2024-08-05T23:14:59Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > I’d just like to point out that Cheato’s proposed date of Sept. 4 is, for me, Garbage Day. > > Coincidence? 🤔 For me as well. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-donald-trump-debate-controversy/1005279/95 "2024-08-05T23:22:01Z")
So Trump is forced to back out a debate with Kamala Harris on September 10 because it is someone different than Biden and he just isn’t ready…but he _is_ ready to debate her on _September 4_, at a new venue, new moderators and new rules? Say what? ---
**Author:** ![Karen\_Lingel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karen_lingel/32/18649_2.png) [@Karen\_Lingel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karen_Lingel)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-donald-trump-debate-controversy/1005279/96 "2024-08-05T23:35:35Z")
OMG, Me too! Something is clearly afoot! ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-donald-trump-debate-controversy/1005279/97 "2024-08-05T23:41:23Z")
I looked up the moderators in Wikipedia (Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum) and they sound pretty normal there. Maybe there will be a trust issue (might they substitute in a far-right provocateur moderator at the last minute?). Trump is such a bad debater that maybe Harris should do it. I won’t think worse of her if she turns it down, not will I if she accepts it. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-donald-trump-debate-controversy/1005279/98 "2024-08-05T23:42:32Z")
At the moment, there’s not anything for her to accept. A 1 AM tweet is not a proposal for a venue and format. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-donald-trump-debate-controversy/1005279/99 "2024-08-05T23:42:35Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > I just checked at [FoxNews.com](http://FoxNews.com), and they seem to [have a plan](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-agrees-debate-kamala-harris-fox-news): Well, maybe. Trump says, in that article, that he has agreed to debate on Fox on September 4. Fox says they have invited Trump and Harris to debate on September 17. Trump also said that the ABC debate has been ‘terminated’. Nothing official from Fox that there’s a debate on 9/4. So it’s still murky. Just like Trump’s brain. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-donald-trump-debate-controversy/1005279/100 "2024-08-05T23:52:12Z")
What’s murky? - Trump just invented the idea of a 9/4 debate on his field with his rules. - Trump is chickening out of the 9/10 debate for bullshit reasons. - Fox might be willing to host a debate 9/17 to which neither candidate has agreed. Harris’ response so far (9/10 or nothing) has been perfect and she should not budge from it. I find it hard to believe anyone here feels differently. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-donald-trump-debate-controversy/1005279.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-donald-trump-debate-controversy/1005279.md?page=6)