JOHN EDWARDS - THE DEBATE OVER THE DEBATE

The decision by Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards to pull out of a Nevada debate in August that will be co-hosted by Fox News was denounced Thursday by Fox News Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes. Without mentioning Edwards by name, Ailes said at a dinner in Washington where he received an award from the Radio and Television News Directors' Foundation: "Any candidate for high office from either party who believes he can blacklist any news organization is making a terrible mistake." He criticized candidates who make appearances only at venues where they are likely to receive favorable treatment. But Eli Pariser, executive director of the liberal MoveOn.org website, issued a statement saying, "Fox is part of the right-wing smear machine and should not be treated like a legitimate news outlet."

09/03/2007