Next debate moderator accused of 'gotcha questions'

http://www.gopusa.com ^ | September 7, 2025 | Guardian Web

[NKP_Vet]

So the question of the day is why is a long-time establishment hack, a big time donor to establishment hacks, a Romney-bot, been chosen as a debate moderator for CNN. Hewitt does not work for CNN, has never worked for CNN. If Dana Bash is the other moderator, who does work for CNN, why was this smug Hewitt, who has no use for Trump, indeed saying he didn't have the "temperament" to be president, on the debate stage asking Trump or anyone else questions. I smell a rat and predict this "debate" will be nothing in the world but Trump Ambush Part Two. If I were Trump I would refuse to be part of it as long as hatchet man Huge Hewitt is anywhere near the stage.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

All I’m saying is every single thing the media has tried to do to Donald has backfired.

Maybe they should just do their jobs.

[max americana]

“I think I am the best interviewer on radio in the United States.”

The United States of Gotcha.

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

If I were Trump I would refuse to be part of it as long as hatchet man Huge Hewitt is anywhere near the stage.

Why?

Can Trump refuse to work in the Oval Office as long as Putin stays in Ukraine?

As President, you need to be able to pull up your big boy pants and get the job done. And Trump has. He has gone on hostile shows and held press conferences full of reporters out to get him.

Surviving the attacks of the press show you are ready for the job. Hiding from a hostile press (I'm looking at Hillary), shows you can't stand the heat.

[stanne]

Accused Of?

How about, “I’ll take ‘The Most Ridiculous Trivia No One Could ever Care About While the President Purchases a Nuclear Weapon for our Worst Enemy Ever’ for $2000 Alex?

[Paladin2]

Next Star Chamber inquisitor.....

[SaxxonWoods]

Ignore this. It will have no effect on Trump.

[DesertRhino]

Hewitt, Americans don’t want a president that knows all those sound-alike jibberish camel jockey names. I don’t want someone who wants to get to know them, or wants to talk to them.

I want those bastards to worry about the name of the President for once.

[Paladin2]

Trump needs to position to boycott unless his campaign gets 1/2 of the advertizing $ for the show.

[Pelham]

Before Hewitt was chosen to be the debate moderator he was openly trashing Trump on his radio show. Not in an offhand way, but directly.

Then after Hewitt was selected as moderator he ceased the open criticism and in fact had Trump on as a guest for several days over a two week period. And then of course came the question featuring the obscure names of the leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah.

I’m sure that most of us here at FR know what Hamas and Hezbollah are all about without knowing the names of their leaders. Focusing on a detail was designed to embarrass Trump and Hewitt is simply lying when he pretends it was for any other purpose.

[Paladin2]

Yabba Dabba Doo.....!

Abu al Bin Dirka Dirka

[Paladin2]

Thump Hewitt.

[Eddie01]

Mr. Hewitt, who the president of the Society of Professional Journalists?

Don’t know, ok.

Then tell me what the four tenents of the Journalism Code of Ethics are.

You can’t.

Then you not qualified to call yourself a jounalist by any stretch and sould not be allowed to interview any public figure ever.

We’ll just have to agree to disagree hypocrite.

https://www.spj.org/spjboard.asp
http://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp

[NKP_Vet]

“Why?”

Because the American people need to hear a substative debate and all the candidates on stage need to be heard from, with the chance to answer THE EXACT SAME QUESTION. It is no debate when the same person is asked time and time again or accusations thrown their way, and the other candidates on stage almost go to sleep for being ignored. That was the first debate and that will the second.

[Bobalu]

Trump should relish the chance to go after the debate moderators.

If mistreated in any way or asked foolish questions he should put the moderator on the spot and not let up...crucify the bastard. Bring the whole debate to a screeching halt with 20 million+ viewers hanging on every word. Media types live in terror of the ‘awkward pause’ use that to make them sweat.

The entire electorate that could possibly be persuaded to support him would cheer him on.

[stanne]

Trump should do a Holy Grail King Arthur to the bridge troll, is it an African swallow?

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

We have had Media Q&A since 1964. It’s been over 50 years since we had a “debate” and I find it unlikely to change now.

[stanne]

I’m referring to Hewitt as the medieval bridge troll from here

[Theo]

Ted Cruz has never whined about “gotcha questions.” And he’s received many of them.

Trump is a whiner. Poor Trump. Everyone’s picking on him. Waaa. Pathetic.

We need a real statesman, not a whiner who destroys anyone who annoys him. We need Ted Cruz, not this pathetic bully Trump.

[BigEdLB]

Hewitt has guests on his show who bash Trump, but when they ask him, he protests need for neutrality. Everyone almost except Mark Steyn, who is generally sympathetic to Trump much to Hewitt’s chagrin. Even Hewitt’s old frind Mark Levin was making fun of Hewitt’s who’s who questions calling every terrorist “Yabba dabba doo”, and to some extent defending Trump.