Posted on 10/15/2015 10:12:12 AM PDT by conservativejoy
A nearly 90-minute conference call between CNBC and representatives of Republican presidential candidates on Wednesday turned heated over a CNBC decision regarding the next GOP primary debate.
Many of the Republicans complained about a CNBC plan to drop opening and closing statements to allow more time for questions from moderators at the event, scheduled for Oct. 28 at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
The plan was included in a memo the network distributed prior to a conference call that claimed the campaigns had already agreed to the format change, Politico reported.
Eliminating opening and closing statements would allow a more “free flowing discussion, lively candidate interaction, fair treatment of all candidates,” the memo stated, according to Politico.
But during the call, it was clear the campaigns weren’t going along.
The first to object was Ed Brookover, a campaign strategist on the Ben Carson campaign. Two sources on the call told Politico that Brookover threatened to take his concerns public.
Other campaign staffers chimed in, including representatives from Rand Paul, Jeb Bush, John Kasich, and Chris Christie.
A top Mike Huckabee aide, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, argued that doing away with the traditional statements would further marginalize lower-tier candidates.
Michael Glassner, a top aide to front-runner Donald Trump, expressed his agreement with those complaining.
Republican National Committee officials who were on the call to said they would take up the matter with CNBC, Politico reported.
In an email to Politico, Sean Spicer, an RNC spokesman, wrote: “The entire purpose of the calls is to provide a two way street of information and feedback. As was stated we are taking their feedback and will follow up.”
I think the GOP needs to bypass the enemy and do the debates themselves. Put it on live streaming/C-Span, and offer the feed to the networks. Its disgusting having to work with the enemy.
If you don’t have 4% now get out morons.
I think CNBC only has dollar signs in their eyes drooling over the amount of money it can charge for commercial air time if they lengthen the amount of time their effing moderator(s) can foment trouble and dissention.
Youtube it and take the MSM out of the loop, that would frost them.
There, fixed it!
Donald....show us how that deal thing works.
I am not buying the theory that the Republican candidates would rather utilize their time making opening and closing statements as opposed to answering and actually debating real questions.
I am sure Drudge could host a web debate, stream it everywhere, and get Levin , Hannity and Rush to be moderators.
Why keep putting cash into the pockets of the enemy
I long for the days when there were no debates.
It’s show biz now,and not needed,especially with the internet.
.
“I think the GOP needs to bypass the enemy and do the debates themselves. Put it on live streaming/C-Span, and offer the feed to the networks.”
CSPAN? That would cause viewership to drop from 20,000,000 people to 375 people.
I think Rinse Fleabait ought to get Trump involved. The Donald will put the hammer down, and CNBC will behave better.
A republican appearing on ANY NBC outlet should immediately assume they are dealing WITH AN ENEMY.
I think the opening and closing statements are a waste. They will say the same thing they have the last two times. More questions is the right way to go. Heck they spend most time yelling at each other anyway and issues never get discussed so what’s the big deal.
Well, what the hell? There'll be a gaggle of 11 or 12 standing on that stage. At least scrap the opening statements. We already have an idea who these people are.
That assumes that CNBC is the enemy of the GOPe.
I wonder....
No what it dos is allow the leftist media moderators to control the debate.
Amen, Brutha!
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