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The Answer to GOP's Overcrowded Debate Field
Real Clear Politics ^ | 05/18/2015 | Bill Scher

Posted on 05/18/2015 10:57:59 AM PDT by GIdget2004

Three months before the first official Republican presidential debate—and with as many as 19 potential GOP candidates—party leaders are struggling to figure out how many can plausibly fit on one stage.

Last week Politico reported a “behind-the-scenes” consensus at the Republican National Committee spring meeting that the first few debates should be capped at 12 candidates. But the confab concluded without any final decisions as to how the culling should occur.

Quantitative measures proposed so far include the candidates’ standing in state and national polls, the number of campaign events and campaign staff members, elective office experience, and fundraising. And while the party would never cop to engaging in affirmative action, some suspect that the formula will be tweaked in ways that ensure gender and racial diversity on the debate stage.

Yet somebody will have to be excluded, and the RNC is already sweating the likely backlash. Last year the RNC triumphantly seized control of the debates to make sure "grassroots conservatives have a greater voice in the presidential primary debate process," unlike in 2012 when “the liberal media interrogated our candidates on issues that were often not a priority to most Americans.” Reports now indicate the party is looking to pawn off final approval of the eligibility criteria onto the partnering media organizations in hopes of deflecting any blame.

The RNC should worry. Any sort of complicated, opaque, bureaucratic formula would not only arouse suspicion, but would also come across as (gasp) liberal. Republican debate rules should be rooted in conservatism: Simple, clear and unflinchingly firm. Reward winners. Don’t coddle losers.

How do you accomplish that? Boil it down to the one objective measure that really matters before the first vote is cast: money. Here’s the only criterion the RNC needs: Only let on stage the top 12 fundraisers.

(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2016election; elections; gop; rnc
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To: tennmountainman
The Dems got that one.
41 posted on 05/18/2015 12:54:12 PM PDT by Beowulf9
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To: Envisioning

Bingo!


42 posted on 05/18/2015 1:01:11 PM PDT by tennmountainman ("Prophet Mountainman" Predicter Of All Things RINO...for a small pittance.)
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To: Beowulf9

Who is going to be the Chinese, Muslim and Gay Candidate?

It appears the GOP nomination is going to be a real freak show.

Why not add a few more freaks to the mix?


43 posted on 05/18/2015 1:04:37 PM PDT by tennmountainman ("Prophet Mountainman" Predicter Of All Things RINO...for a small pittance.)
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To: GIdget2004

Random draw. Divide the candidates into 2 equal groups. The first group is in the first debate and the second group is in the second debate. Just keep on alternating after that.


44 posted on 05/18/2015 1:42:45 PM PDT by mjp ((pro-{God, reality, reason, egoism, individualism, natural rights, limited government, capitalism}))
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To: GIdget2004

Lets see...my solution is this, anyone NOT named Ted Cruz or Scott Walker should NOT debate, then those two can DEBATE Hillary, Bernie, Martin and other Marxists.


45 posted on 05/18/2015 2:00:04 PM PDT by ExCTCitizen (I'm ExCTCitizen and I approve this reply. If it does offend Libs, I'm NOT sorry...)
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To: Blood of Tyrants
I think that they should just divide it into two debates. Let the candidates pick out of a jar which they will be participating in.

It would probably have to be done the same day. Second debate participants would have to be kept in seclusion so that they don't hear the questions.

Okay, it does seem convoluted; but, what else can be done? As you say, 12 is too many.

46 posted on 05/18/2015 2:59:29 PM PDT by LibertarianLiz
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To: Timber Rattler

“I paid for this microphone...” - Ronald Reagan.


47 posted on 05/18/2015 10:16:59 PM PDT by scrabblehack
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