Presidential Debates
By Staff Reports
At least seven of the eight the Democratic Presidential Candidates will participate for the first time in a forum that will speak to a Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender (LGBT) television audience. The Visible Vote 08: A Presidential Forum in Hollywood, Calif., will air live 6 p.m. PT/9: p.m. EDT on Aug. 9 on LOGO television. Just like the most recent debates, audience participation is being sought. Black AIDS Institute wants to be sure we keep the issue of HIV/AIDS in the African American community before the candidates. What AIDS question would you like to ask the presidential candidates or what comment would you like delivered to the presidential candidates? During the June 28 Democratic Presidential Debate hosted by Tavis Smiley, the candidates were asked to outline their plan to stop and to protect young, African Americans HIV/AIDS. Send your question today Aug. 1 to Candidates expected to appear include: New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich, Connecticut Sen. Christopher Dodd, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel. The forum will be moderated by commentator and journalist Margaret Carlson, with questioning from a panel to include Joe Solmonese, president, Human Rights Foundation, , Washington Post writer Jonathan Capehart and singer Melissa Etheridge. The candidates will be interviewed sequentially over the course of approximately two hours, each discussing issues of importance to the LGBT community.