DNC has limited debate schedule

To the editor:

Republicans will hold two presidential debates before the Democrats first debate in mid October. The Republican National Committee will hold six debates before the Iowa caucuses and eight before the South Carolina primary. The Democratic National Committee will hold only four debates before the Iowa caucuses and no additional debates before South Carolina.

South Carolina Republicans should not have twice as many opportunities to watch their candidates debate as South Carolina Democrats.

Holding only four debates before the first four primaries/caucuses would be bad enough, but it appears the DNC has intentionally scheduled three of those four debates to garner the lowest possible audience. The GOP debates are scheduled on Tuesdays and Wednesday evenings; however, only the first DNC debate is scheduled on a weeknight when conflicts are less likely. The DNC's second debate is in Iowa. I was going to try and get a ticket to the Des Moines debate but that debate is scheduled for 7 p.m. Nov. 14 when Iowa plays Minnesota under the lights at Kinnick. I will be in Iowa City cheering on the Hawkeyes. The third DNC debate is the Saturday before Christmas, when holiday shopping occupies most people's schedule. The fourth debate is Jan. 17 and will compete against the NFL playoffs.

The DNC's limited debate schedule, and the timing of the second through fourth debates is simply wrong and should anger any Democrat with a sense of fundamental fairness regardless of whether they have committed to a candidate.

Sara Riley

Cedar Rapids