Posted on 12/05/2011 6:41:37 AM PST by SeekAndFind
In announcing that their candidate would not attend the Newsmax debate set to be moderated by Donald Trump later this month in Iowa, the Ron Paul campaign wrote, “The selection of a reality television personality to host a presidential debate that voters nationwide will be watching is beneath the office of the Presidency and flies in the face of that office’s history and dignity.”
We could not have put it any better than the Paul campaign, but it is bizarre that such a response was necessary in the first place. The statement goes on to assert, again quite rightly, that Trump’s participation “will distract from questions and answers concerning important issues” and “contribute to an unwanted circus-like atmosphere.” Paul deserves credit for declining to step into the clown car — as does Jon Huntsman.
But Michele Bachmann, Rick Santorum, and Newt Gingrich can, at least in this instance, be said to lack the good sense of Paul and Huntsman, as the three have RSVPed in the affirmative. The first two responses are perhaps understandable, if unfortunate, political moves — Bachmann is an avowed Trump fan, and Santorum’s poll numbers make it difficult for him to be selective. Gingrich’s decision is something worse. Sure, we see the angle: Gingrich excels in debates and he knows it, and in light of his threat to Romney in Iowa, his participation all but dares the yet-uncommitted Mitt to irk the pro-Trump rump of GOP voters by refusing. As a serious contender running a campaign with maximal pride in its own seriousness, Gingrich lowers himself by association with this consummately unserious man. Romney should refuse to follow suit.
We had hoped that after the brief and frivolous publicity stunt Trump branded as exploration of a presidential run, there would be no further occasion to rehearse the many ways in which his sometime association with the Republican party hurts the conservative cause. So we’ll keep it brief: Trump is a tax-hike-supporting, missile-defense-opposing, universal-health-care-advocating, eminent-domain abusing, Schumer-Weiner-Rangel-Reid-donating, long-time-pro-choice economic protectionist who in 2008 called George W. Bush “evil” and lauded president-elect Barack Obama as a potentially “great president” who would “lead by consensus.”
The Trump debate is a sideshow, and those who would be the Republican nominee for the presidency of the United States are, one and all, better than it. The nominating process must be about which candidate can lead the country back to fiscal and economic reality, not about which candidate can best truckle with a reality-TV star.
Tokyo Rove came out this morning and said he hated this idea.
I guess I will really tune in now.
How could a Trump m moderated debate possibly be any worse then what we have seen by the ultra biased LSM?
How could a Trump moderated debate possibly be any worse then what we have seen by the ultra biased LSM?
The stupid thing was participating in a debate on MSNBC.
Get a life already. "The Donald" will probably ask question we "Cons" are interested in knowing the Candidates' views on, thus no wonder y'all are in high dudgeon.
F'N HYPOCRITES!
Did anyone see Trump on with Chuck Todd this morning. Absolutely outstanding. I cracked up on the floor. He went after Rove big time and MSNBC. lolololol
Exactly. This debate is likely to serve the candidates and the voters much better than the farcical debates so far by NBC, Fox, MSNBC and CNN.
Must have been after Tokyo said that all the candidates should decline Trump’s debate. ROTFL
I think EVERYONE should participate and EVERYONE should watch it. The only ones who think otherwise are supports of the administration.
Donald is likely to ask REAL questions and point out bs when it is proffered.
Sure was... Chucky Todd played the tape with Rove saying the RNC needs to step in and stop the farce. lol! Trump said Rove is an idiot and he is why we are here today.
Nailed it!
I believe Donald Trump is an American Citizen and has the right to produce a free speech forum and/or the right to pay for a platform.
Give the people what they deserve - an exchange of ideas.
just what I was wondering
I wish I’d seen it! Trump taking on Rove is worth watching. You know there will be a You Tube somewhere, sometime!
I'll definitely tune in, now.
Well, no question. . .Trump will ask more challenging questions than heretofore ‘Media wonks’ have or will, for that matter.
Well, no question. . .Trump will ask more challenging questions than heretofore ‘Media wonks’ have or will, for that matter.
Well, no question. . .Trump will ask more challenging questions than heretofore ‘Media wonks’ have or will, for that matter.
Well, no question. . .Trump will ask more challenging questions than heretofore ‘Media wonks’ have or will, for that matter.
Well, no question. . .Trump will ask more challenging questions than heretofore ‘Media wonks’ have or will, for that matter.
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