Posted on 12/06/2011 9:06:18 PM PST by Steelfish
GOP Candidates to Trump Debate: You’re Fired Planned debate strikes some as a publicity stunt for the moderator. By Walt Cronkite Updated: December 6, 2011 Donald Trump may have mastered the art of the real-estate deal, but when it comes to debates, he’s still an apprentice. From National Journal:
The celebrity businessman is having difficulty securing commitments from Republican presidential candidates for a Dec. 27 debate that he’s planning to moderate in Des Moines, Iowa.
Mitt Romney became the latest big-name candidate to send his regrets, telling Fox News’ Neil Cavuto that he informed Trump earlier on Tuesday that he would be too busy to appear. Romney noted that he already is planning to participate in two previously scheduled debates in Iowa this month.
"I understand why Governor Romney decided not to do it," Trump told ABC News. He declined to elaborate further.
Other candidates who have declined: Rep. Ron Paul and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman. In an interview on Monday with CNBC’s Larry Kudlow, Huntsman dismissed the Trump debate as a publicity stunt. Running for president "isn't about ratings for Donald Trump; this is about jobs for the American people," Huntsman told Kudlow. Newly minted front-runner Newt Gingrich has announced he will attend the Trump debate, as has former Sen. Rick Santorum.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., remain uncommitted, but on the CBS Early Show on Tuesday Bachmann told Erica Hill and Chris Wragge that she is concerned about Trump's objectivity, because "he said he's already leaning towards a candidate.
(Excerpt) Read more at nationaljournal.com ...
So just show up and answer a question. WTF! They can’t do it!
The candidates who do take part will look silly when Trump comes out and endorses himself for President.
Well, I dont see the Donald turning the country around,
2 days after Christmas.
Har!
They don’t want his questions. He is presenting front and center. They back away. It is obvious.
I think many are missing the point. Trump realizes Obama has diminished his ability to increase his wealth. The prior debates have had maybe 1 million people watching, which is a grand total of .3% (or so) of our population. That would get any network pilot cancelled immediately. The question is, can we tolerate a debate moderated by a guy that cares as much about his hair as the candidates.
The way I look at it is Trump will hopefully deliver viewers that would not otherwise watch. The format will be suspect and all about Donald, but certainly not a CNN/MSNBC hostile environment.
Put Newt in a real environment, and like past debates, he will likely be the only one who will directly answer questions without discounting them while promoting his platform.
The Donald is in it for himself. He wants the $$, and will support the candidate that can create the economic environment most likely to make that happen.
Did Romney bail because the Donald jsut met with Newt?
It makes absolutely no sense to me that these candidates would participate in multiple debates broadcast and moderated by the enemy SRM, who’s sole purpose is to do as much damage to them as possible, yet they will not appear in a debate moderated by Trump!
Next we’ll have P-Diddy and 50 cents wanting to moderate Republican debates. Enough said. Boycott the Trump “debate”. It’s all about Trump not the issues.
The Donald is asking the questions. The Cowards RUN AWAY!
Exactly. That is what this circus is all about.
Yo! vote or die! LoL
A debate moderated by Trump is not as disgusting as a debate moderated by slimescum leftist MSM spokesholes.
It’s not a circus. Just answer his questions. Why is that so damn difficult for FReepers to understand.
That’s what I think, onyx
If you think your pick is screwed answering Trumps questions then you are right.
When did Trump become an expert on the American Political scene?
Oh, that’s right, when he started flirting with being POTUS himself.
Will he ask the candidates about the BC issue?
Maybe, it is possible that they are just wussing out. It is especially believable with Huntsman and Romney. Still, Trump is out for Trump. I would be fine avoiding CNN and MSNBC and having Republican debates be moderated by the Tea Party, conservative think tanks, etc. But not Trump. Just no. Donald the clown is a realityTV guy who will do and say nearly anything to pump up the Trump brand. No Republican should participate in a debate moderated by someone who is threatening to run a 3rd party bid against them.
LOL! You said it much better than I did!
Exactly. Those are phony and lame excuses. Personally, I think they're afraid to go to the debate. Maybe they're afraid Trump will press for REAL answers to questions rather than 'answers' which aren't answers to questions, at least not without a follow-up.
Perry is uncommitted.
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