Martin O'Malley Whines That Six Debates Are Not Enough

(This photo of Democratic candidate Martin O'Malley is from his Facebook page.)

Martin O'Malley has been in the presidential race for a few weeks now, but he's been unable to garner any support beyond low single-digits. In other words, either no one knows he's running, or more likely, no one cares. And frankly, I don't know where he's going to find any support. Clinton and Sanders are splitting the liberal vote, and Clinton seems to have a lock on the moderate and conservative votes (with a few conservative votes going to Jim Webb).

O'Malley knows he is currently dead in the water (and likely to stay that way), so he's decided to stir up some controversy by accusing the Democratic leadership of "rigging" the election for Clinton -- and his "proof" of that is the fact that only six Democratic debates have been scheduled. Here is some of what he had to say to the DNC at their summer meeting in Minneapolis:

"We need debate! What are we afraid of?"

"While the Republicans put their backwards ideas forward before an audience of more than 20 million Americans. We put our forward-thinking ideas on the backburner...and try to hide them from the airwaves."

"How does this help us tell the story of the last eight years of Democratic progress? How does this promote our Democratic ideas for making wages and household incomes go up again and not down? How does this help us make our case to the people? One debate in Iowa. That’s it? One debate in New Hampshire. That's all we can afford?"

"Is this how the Democratic Party selects its nominee?"

"Will we let the circus run unchallenged on every channel, as we cower in the shadows under a decree of silence in the ranks? Or will we demand equal time to showcase our ideas, our solutions to the nation's problems, and our leadership for the better America we carry in hearts?"

I say that's a load of crap (that stuff that comes out of the south end of a north-bound bull). Having six debates is not "a decree of silence" -- and whether his few supporters (or the supporters of Bernie Sanders) want to admit it or not, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) is neutral in the nominating race and have NOT rigged the race to favor anyone.

I realize that O'Malley is just trying to stir up some controversy so he can get someone -- anyone -- to pay attention to his campaign. But his charge is absurd. He will be allowed to debate on an equal footing with all the Democratic candidates, and if he can't drum up enough support to be competitive in six debates it will be his own fault.

I don't have a problem with holding six debates, but personally I doubt that even that many are needed. I doubt that anyone who can't decide which candidate they want to support after three debates is unlikely to be able to do so after six debates, or ten debates, or even thirty debates. Democrats are not stupid, and I imagine they will watch the first two or three debates in large numbers. But after that, most of those watching will be there just to cheer on a candidate they have already decided to support.

Sic debates are plenty -- and anyone who can't convince Democrats of his/her candidacy after six debates should realize that it is not the process that is at fault -- it is their own campaign.