Posted on 01/27/2016 9:55:03 PM PST by NKP_Vet
FOX News debate anchors knew they would have a record audience tune in to their Republican debate because of Donald Trump.
So, in November, they purposely planned several zingers to get under his skin.
They are shameless.
The anchors didn't even ask a question on the Obama economy, the worst recovery since the Great Depression, until 73 minutes into the debate.
The FOX moderators won over Media Matters, who said, "The Fox News moderators appeared reasonable, effective, and pointed in their questions to the candidates." They must be very proud.
They didn't want to appear conservative - so they unloaded a barrage of personal attacks. The FOX debate hosts even prepared to have Trump escorted from stage. The LA Times reported:
As they sorted and re-sorted questions, the unpredictability of real estate tycoon and reality-TV star Donald Trump was never far from their minds.
"I would say the level is about an eight on the concern meter because of the unknown," Baier said.
Baier even had a "nuclear option" at the ready for Trump if he ignored all protocol.
The script -- which Baier didn't have to use -- took a page from Trump's "Celebrity Apprentice" TV show. It went like this: "Mr. Trump, in your business you have rules. You follow rules. We have rules on this stage. We don't want to have to escort you to the elevator outside this boardroom."
"We're hoping we don't have to use it," Baier said later. "[But] we're locked and loaded."
For anyone embedded with the news team on debate day, it became clear that it wasn't just the Republican hopefuls who would be on-stage this night -- but also Fox News, widely seen as the network most friendly to conservatives. No one here wanted to appear as if they were pitching softballs.
"You can't let them have that offramp" was Baier's rule as they hone each line.
Indeed, when Kelly rehearsed a question for another candidate -- delivered in the staccato style that adds to her reputation as a tenacious interrogator -- a producer at the table said, "He'll go berserk." That's a compliment for Kelly, who smiled.
For the individual anchors, the debate was also a chance to burnish their reputations. Kelly has emerged as the channel's prime-time star. Wallace is a seasoned veteran of the Washington beat. Baier has perhaps the most to gain from the expanded national spotlight.
Read the original LA Times article from just after the first debate in August.
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-ct-fox-baier-debate-20150809-story.html#page=1
See post #21
It doesn’t take any talent to be a jerk.
So you are advocating mass murder as a remedy?
Now thats a healthy response
I remember reading many of the same things verbatim last November.
The best laid plans of ‘rats and lap dancers went FUBAR, so what do they do?
They plan ‘Trump Ambush, Redux’ and hope for better results.
Trump was smart to 86 them. None of them can be trusted to be fair and objective. They are agenda driven scalp-takers.
It was a joke.
Ive found the problem:
“the unpredictability of real estate tycoon and reality-TV star Donald Trump was never far from their minds.”
It was a joke. Sheesh.
no one should watch this debate
Trump ate O’Reilly’s lunch and drank his 17 milkshakes on Fox News Channel just hours ago.
I did read the article at the LA Times by Stephen Battaglio, there was no source for his narrative. Since when are we taking as gospel, gossip from the LA Times.
I have a friend who is good at those kinds of jokes ..he too can deliver them without the humor
“If you read the article you see that the source is the LA Times.”
Uh, well, anyone who has a memory good enough to remember back just a few weeks and who watched that first debate doesn’t need a “source”. I remember vividly the outrage I felt during the debate and the subsequent outrage here at FR about the outrageous, snarky, sneering, nasty, petty attacks launched not just against Trump but most of the other candidates as well, and it wasn’t JUST Kelly; Wallace and Baier were sneering pricks who in my opinion were even worse than Kelly.
Well, then you agree that the article is not “unsourced claptrap”.
no one should watch this debate
Where are we? That is exactly the kind of comment I would expect on a liberal site
You may not trust the author, but those were quotes. That means the article was sourced.
Yep I agree
I think they got this info from the horse’s mouth but its probably sensationalized a bit.
Fox News is riding high through all this...I wish I had stock in the company
Me too.
I won’t be watching
I’m not going to watch the debate. I can watch the reruns if I want. I am more interested in our wounded warrior heroes, and I will watch that.
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