CNN Debate: No Johnson, No Roemer, But We Invited Rudy and Palin!

SLATE ^ | 9-1-11 | David Weigel

[tcrlaf]

In a statement, CNN announces its line-up for the September 12 Tea Party Express co-sponsored debate in Tampa: Gov. Rick Perry, Rep. Michele Bachmann, Gov. Mitt Romney, Rep. Ron Paul, Newt Gingrich, Herman Cain, Rick Santorum, and Jon Huntsman.

The network adds that Rudy Giuliani and Sarah Palin were invited: "Giuliani declined the debate invitation, while a Palin representative has yet to respond to it."

[Obadiah]

CNN???

What was Keith Olbermann not available?

Can’t wait for all the attempted gotcha questions from Anderson Cooper, such as creationism v. evolution, submitting to your spouse, etc. from the perspective of the hard left.

[Longbow1969]

Thad McCotter is a serious, grass roots candidate, who is best able to articulate the conservative message. He has great media savvy

McCotter is a union tool who voted for Card Check. This means he supported taking the right to a secret union ballot away from the American people. That vote alone was so toxic it will be a decade or more before he can recover from it.

And if he has such "great media savvy", he'd know how to leverage it to gain at least a little bit of traction. As is, his support is so tiny it doesn't even register in most polls.

McCotter is a complete non factor.

[ex-snook]

Starting now, like American Idol, throw low one off every debate. Tough sh’t for those who don’t get into the ring.

[GlockLady]

Sarah [by being herself] has the respect of Peter Hamby at CNN and since the Iowa fair is winning respect from Don Lemons and more. It would be a good strategy for her to participate in their debate. It would help tremendously if she can win over some in the MSM who are disillusioned by BHO. She has a chance to turn that around to her advantage. She got a bad rap by the McCain campaign’s handling of her during 2008. Since, she has been under an exclusive contract with FOX which has prevented her from appearing on other networks. Sarah has never, in her life, shied away from the enemy - she shines when contronting it.

[going hot]

Why on earth would they invite non-candidates like Guiliani and Palin?

Ratings.

Only reason for anything and everything they broadcast.

They probably think that if Sarah Palin showed up, as either a spectator in the stands, or a participant (should she announce prior to that time), that a few people on this planet might tune in that otherwise would not.

Of course, not seeing any value in having Sarah on the show, I could see why some would question the producer's wisdom in thinking that.

[ilgipper]

Both Palin and Rudy poll around 9-10% on recent polls, so this makes perfect sense. Roemer and Johnson....have they surpassed .01%?

[cumbo78]

Here’s the Catch 22. Thad McCotter announced his attentions on July 2. He has a true grass roots camapaign that, for now, is relying mostly on the social media and campaign appearances in Iowa and New Hampshire to get out his message. He, more than the other candidates, needs the debate to get out his message. If you don’t allow him to participate, you are allowing only candidates who have bought media accesss to participate. Are you comfortable with the message the existing candidates are bringing to the table or would you like to hear from others? I, for one, thinks this country is in no position to turn away any ideas on how to turn this all around.

[GlockLady]

Poll numbers.

[Reagan69]

I’ll be there ! In my backyard.

[Reagan69]

I’ll be there ! In my backyard.

[GlockLady]

Bachmann was a non-candidate who participated in the first debate.

[cumbo78]

McCotter has said that his card check vote was a mistake. If he’s such a union tool, why do his white papers on immigration call for the prosecution of all unions who employ illegals on their job sites, or hide them in their membership? Any other candidate being that blunt? How come there was a big union protest outside his Michigan headquarters, complaining about McCotter’s plan to reduce the federal workforce by 20%?

I suggest that you check his website and read his stances and his PLANS on how to deal with the issues that this Nation faces. As a grass roots candidate, McCotter needs access to the debate to get traction. Participation should NOT be limited to those who have paid their way into publicity. Are you really comfortable with the MEDIA selecting the participants?

[Pan_Yan]

Invite 'em all. Each candidate get one question and 5 minutes to answer. I get to write the questions. Suggestions welcome. Shock collars will be utilized for going off topic, avoiding the question or obfuscating.

Michele Bachmann
Haley Barbour
John Bolton
Herman Cain
Mitch Daniels
Newt Gingrich
Rudy Giuliani
Mike Huckabee
Jon Huntsman Jr.
Gary Johnson
Fred Karger
Thad McCotter
Roy Moore
Sarah Palin
Ron Paul
Tim Pawlenty
George Pataki
James "Rick" Perry
Buddy Roemer
Willard "Mitt" Romney
Rick Santorum
Donald Trump

The blue is for those officially in the race. The red is for those I will never vote for.

[Raider Sam]

Have you ever worked with David Osborne?

[Longbow1969]

Thad McCotter announced his attentions on July 2.

Yes, to a largely uninterested nation.

Perry even more recently announced his intentions, and he is now leading the Republican field. If Palin announces this month, she will have plenty of support showing up in the polls to warrant a debate invite. The same thing is true of people like Rudy and Christie - if they announced they'd have support you could clearly see immediately.

Are you comfortable with the message the existing candidates are bringing to the table or would you like to hear from others?

How about me? I'd have little to no support, but if I announced tomorrow should I get a debate invite? How about my neighbor, he is a good conservative and dreams of being President one day, should he get a debate invite? He's got a lot of really swell ideas.

Sorry, the problem is McCotter is a complete non factor. He does not generate much if any excitement on his own, and can not round up the money to get the word out on his behalf. If he was really so "media savvy" as you claim, he'd be doing much better than he is because the press would want him on as much as they could get him. Truth is, no one really wants interviews with him because he is NOT media savvy and NOT particularly charismatic.

His vote FOR Card Check kills any chance he might have had anytime soon anyway. One of the big fights of our time is against the public employee union corruption and money laundering operation. No one that voted to strip Americans of their right to a secret union ballot can wage that fight on our behalf.

[cumbo78]

That’s what we want; more charismatic candidate empty suits. If you ran, you’re right, they wouldn’t let you in the debate. That’s because you’re not a 5 term Congressman and published author who came in third in a New Hampshire straw Poll, ahead of Bachmann, Cain, Santorum, Gingrich, Johnson, Karger, etc. Its a matter of access, and if you’re happy with the media selecting your Presidential candidates, so be it.

[presently no screen name]

Yes, I did. And because it is so bizarre that CNN would invite non candidates to debate actual candidates, I asked for clarification to see if maybe I was missing something.

Yes, you are! Like I said - read the article and you said you did! It's not about candidates but who ranked on polls during a certain period.

[Ole Okie]

McCotter has said that his card check vote was a mistake.

Don't know McCotter but how could a thinking individual make that huge a mistake?

[rwrcpa1]

Question for all: “What does the 10th amendment mean to you?”

[Pollster1]

The network adds that Rudy Giuliani and Sarah Palin were invited: "Giuliani declined the debate invitation, while a Palin representative has yet to respond to it."

I hope the delay is because Palin wants to respond after she announces on Saturday in Iowa. I recognize that she may wait longer, but I hope she has decided that it's time.