Posted on 10/29/2015 8:55:44 AM PDT by Liz
After a performance by CNBC moderators that Republicans characterized as both biased and inept, a manager for a top GOP campaign says he will try to organize other campaigns to force the Republican National Committee to make "wholesale change" in the debate process.In an interview shortly after the debate, Barry Bennett, manager of the Ben Carson campaign, called the session here in Colorado "unfair to everyone" and said the current debate structure should not remain in place.
"I think the families need to get together here, because these debates as structured by the RNC are not helping the party," Bennett said. "There's not enough time to talk about your plans, there's no presentation. It's just a slugfest. All we do is change moderators. And the trendline is horrific. So I think there needs to be wholesale change here."
Bennett said he will call Donald Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski Thursday to propose a unified call for change. "Corey and I talk regularly, so I will talk to him," Bennett said. "I will call Frank Sadler (Carly Fiorina's campaign manager), I will call those guys and say listen, we can choose our own network and our own format. We don't need to be led around like prize steers. I think at this point, if five or six of us get together, who generate the largest portion of the audience, we can force change," Bennett said.
Bennett noted that the Carson and Trump campaigns forced CNBC to shorten the debate and allow opening and closing statements. If campaigns can compel that kind of change, the reasoning goes, perhaps they can push for a more fundamental reworking of the debate structure.Bennett is particularly unhappy with the length of time given candidates to address issues — he thinks it's way too short — as well as the debate moderators' attempts to spark fights between the candidates. Bennett had not yet spoken with Carson himself about Wednesday night's debate, but said the two have discussed the problem in the past. "He hates the format," Bennett said of Carson.
Even before the debate was over, Republicans took to social media to complain bitterly about CNBC's questions. The feeling was apparently so strong in the debate room that Ted Cruz created the moment of the night when he denounced the moderators: The questions that have been asked so far in this debate illustrate why the American people don't trust the media. This is not a cage match. And, you look at the questions — "Donald Trump, are you a comic-book villain?" "Ben Carson, can you do math?" "John Kasich, will you insult two people over here?" "Marco Rubio, why don't you resign?" "Jeb Bush, why have your numbers fallen?" How about talking about the substantive issues the people care about?
The crowd went crazy. And approval was almost as loud when other candidates, including Trump and Rubio, went after the moderators. At one point, Chris Christie told the CNBC group, "Even in New Jersey what you're doing is called rude."
Barn door...horse?
Yes. They can do it how they like.
Dump the RNC.
Prince Rebus and his gang of jokers are not needed.
Keep trying to kick the football Charlie Brown. Everyone but YOU saw this coming and tuned in, not to wonder if the ball would get kicked, but laugh at the obvious result.
I couldn’t believe that comic book villain comment by one of the moderators against Trump, right there they should have stopped the whole debate. Blatant obvious hardcore bias.
Sadly, the Fox debate can’t be held out as an example.
Great idea.
Each candidate could take control. When a stupid question is directed at them, each candidate could come back with:
“Well, that question is irrelevant and stupid. Let me answer by telling the American people what I would do with ........”. Proceed to speak directly to the people about something they want to accomplish, ignoring the stupid question completely.
Incredibly stupid on the part of the Republican Party to allow their candidates to be ambushed over and over!
These spectacles are not debates, they are forums.
Furthermore, the forum agenda is not driven by issues important to the good of the country. Instead, the questions are posed by self-important "talking heads" who seek air time for their own agendas.
Gentle Ben can’t pull that off. That is why he is asking for help.
This is a really good idea.
Note now how the various campaign bots will come to this thread to trash talk because this idea did not come from THEIR guy’s camp instead of backing up what is a really good idea
Actually, I think biased moderators help well-prepared candidates (Cruz, Trump and Rubio) who attack back. The media is exposed in those moments and people like that overwhelmingly.
you know where I’m from. What does that mean lol. Barn door horse 😊
Before the “debate”(???) Harwood was ousted as a Clinton mole!!!
In a perverse way, what happened last night when the candidates attacked the moderators, turned the event into something relatively useful. Bennett is right, the candidates are not “prize bulls” to be lead up on stage by Rancid Penis and the RNC! Somehow, the RNC needs to be “taken over by real conservatives,” as they are there currently to do the bidding of the GoPee.
Of course....never respond to a loaded question....when you’re being bated.
Where was all of the outrage from the other candidates when Trump took the rage from Meygyn and Wallace?
They have been letting Carson slide by until he hit “front runner” status and he can’t take it.
He should have to walk a mile in Trump’s shoes.
Excellent point...although we do not know what happened behind the scenes.
Rubio was right, the media is Hitlerys own super pac. These bastards are hellbent on seeing that lying crooked b*tch in the White house. Absolute treasonous lowlifes, to hell with the country.
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