Martin O’Malley blasted the Democratic National Committee and chairwoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz Sunday on CBS’s “Capital Download” for limiting the number of debates, insisting, “This is a cruddy way to run a party.”
O’Malley further said, “Not a single member was of the DNC was asked if they thought it was a good idea to have only one debate this year in Iowa, that we only one in New Hampshire and that it be scheduled the Saturday before Christmas when as few people will watch it as possible.”
Susan Page: Do you think there’s any sign on the part of the DNC to schedule more debates as you’ve asked?
Martin O’Malley: I hope so. The chair of the DNC, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz seems to have her heels dug in hard on this, but the membership of the DNC thinks it’s political party malpractice for us not to be answering the Republican debate, so hopefully they’ll prevail on her. Our first debate is scheduled for October 13th in Nevada, and I’m looking forward to it. I think the party would be well served by having more debates, not fewer, and I think it’s pretty appalling, frankly for the Democratic Party to be controlled in such an undemocratic way. Not a single member was of the DNC was asked if they thought it was a good idea to have only one debate this year in Iowa, that we only one in New Hampshire and that it be scheduled the Saturday before Christmas when as few people will watch it as possible. This is a cruddy way to run a party, and I’ve said that very clearly, and now it’s up to party leaders to do something about it if they agree.