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CNN Busted Attempting “Pre-Scripted Ambush” of Donald Trump During Live Town Hall Event
Conservativetreehouse ^ | Feb. 19, 2016

Posted on 02/19/2016 8:23:10 PM PST by Rennes Templar

CNN advertised their two night candidate Town Hall event series as an informal opportunity for ordinary South Carolinians to ask the republican presidential candidates’ questions.

However, when it came to the frontrunner, Donald Trump’s segment, there was nothing ordinary about at least one of the questioners, and absolutely nothing “random” about the combined intent. [all research citations below]

By all impressions and appearances, CNN intentionally staged a confrontation with Donald Trump – evidenced by Mr. Cooper having an exact quote pre-arranged, and ready for use, at a very specific moment.

Watch as Anderson Cooper calls upon Dr. Oran Smith, President and CEO of the Palmetto Family Council. Incredulously Cooper tries to play off the introduction of the questioner as an ordinary citizen who “had not yet made up his mind“.

Pay attention to the exchange, and pay specific attention to how “at the ready” Cooper was with the quote. They had this set-up as an ambush.

So what is the motive here? What is the connection between CNN and the ‘non-random’ participant, Dr Oran Smith from the Palmetto Family Council ?

Dr. Oran Smith is the head of The Palmetto Family Council and CEO of Palmetto Public Square Palmetto Family Council Facebook and Instagram

Do you remember the recent faith and freedom conference at the controversial Bob Jones University? Well, THAT’s Oran Smith’s group. Which included special attendances by candidates Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush and Ben Carson:

Bob Jones University has been controversial for their historical positions including racism and bigotry – it is always a very tenuous political position to affiliate with the staunchly religious promotions of the group.

HISTORY The evangelical university in Greenville has become toxic–and not just for Bush. Democrats have pounced on the episode as their latest political club against GOP candidates, pressing their rivals to denounce the school’s ban on interracial dating and its anti-Catholic teachings.

Dr. Oran Smith is anything but an “ordinary south Carolinian voter, who has yet to make up his mind“. It is absurd in the extreme to contemplate such a proposition. It’s a complete line of ridiculous propaganda even beyond the scope of CNN’s customary narrative advancement.

So what do you think the objective of Oran Smith was during that questioning of candidate Donald Trump?

A reasonably minded person would conclude that Dr. Smith held some intent and disposition prior to taking the microphone. Additionally, there had to be some pre-scripted planning going on with CNN if both Smith (with the question) and Anderson Cooper (with the needed debate quotation) were so in sync with each other, no?

Now, you might find it all just circumstantial, until you recognize in the previous five candidate sessions there was nothing even remotely similar that took place. There were certainly no preparatory notes or quotes at the ready for Anderson Cooper to use in reference to random “ordinary citizen” audience questions.

No, after looking at the entire construct, a reasonably minded person would have to admit there was both a strategy and an intent in play, that was reserved exclusively for Mr. Trump and was absent with the five previous candidates.

Further evidence of intent is reflected in the way CNN quickly promoted the confrontation via social media. You can see CNN fully anticipated this being a moment of usefulness.

Fortunately, as you can tell from the video above, despite the earnest -and transparent- efforts of both Dr. Oran Smith and CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, candidate Donald Trump deftly and articulately avoided their unified ambush.

I doubt you could ever find another candidate capable of navigating his/her way through the gauntlet of organized media opposition as Donald Trump.

He possesses a skillset that will become even more valuable when the primary enemy is Hillary and the media assisted Clinton Machine. Hence, the increasingly obvious reasoning why they hate the thought of facing him one-on-one.

Well done Mr. Trump, well done indeed.


TOPICS: Extended News; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Florida; US: New York; US: Ohio; US: South Carolina; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: andersoncooper; bencarson; bobjonesuniversity; christianslol; cnn; demagogicparty; dirtytricks; florida; jebbush; johnkasich; marcorubio; memebuilding; newyork; ohio; oransmith; palmettofamilycouncl; partisanmediashill; partisanmediashills; southcarolina; tedcruz; texas; trump
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To: Outlaw76
They do not have to play the things that stoke his supporters fire even now. They just want DT to damage every conservative so badly that conservatism itself is seen as fringe craziness for many many years.

They are not conservatives...They're just Republicans...

41 posted on 02/19/2016 10:11:17 PM PST by Iscool (Trump will Triumph)
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To: P-Marlowe

Cooper was ready to quote back the most controversial thing said by Trump in the previous debate, and that proves a “conspiracy”?

Talk about grasping at straws.


42 posted on 02/19/2016 10:27:11 PM PST by BigBobber
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To: Abbeville Conservative; Abby4116; abigkahuna; adc; Aleya2Fairlie; AllAmericanGirl44; Amntn; ...

Ping!

This list provides two daily round-ups of Trump-related titles on FR,
to cut the clutter and simplify finding your area of interest.
If you are a Trump opponent, you won't be happy here.

To be added to or dropped from this ping list,
post your request on the thread below or freepmail to Albion Wilde.

* * *

Selected Trump articles on FR, with links, from 4:00 PM to 11:59 PM EST, 2/19/16:
Free Republic 2016 Caucus Open Discussion Thread XXXII
Free Republic Caucus 2016 02/20
Ted Cruz Says Donald Trump's Immigration Policy Amounts to 'Amnesty'
CNN Busted Attempting "Pre-Scripted Ambush" of Donald Trump During Live Town Hall Event
COINCIDENCE? Ford Cancels U.S. Plant Move To Mexico After Trump Declares...
Cruz challenges Trump's 'make America great again' slogan
2016 Primary Forecasts Chance of winning South Carolina [538 - Trump 77%]
Voter-Outreach Campaigns in South Carolina May Decide Race
Wall Street Journal calls on Trump to release tax returns
7News Primary Poll Results ( SC: Trump 44%, Rubio 22%, Cruz 15%)
Hmmm: Two new South Carolina polls have Trump under 30%
What is a Crossover Trump Supporter?
Trump Leads Rubio by 6 Points on Eve of South Carolina Primary - 31-25%
Early voting topples Tarrant County turnout records (Texas)
The Real Donald Trump [Dana Loessch hit piece]
BUSTED: The Real Dana Loesch: A Hypocrite and A Fraud Lying About Andrew Breitbart [2015]
The Republican Party Is Deciding On Rubio [538]
Marcomentum? New poll shows Rubio within three points of Trump [Fox5 Atlanta]
Final SC House GOP Poll: Trump 34 Cruz 19 Rubio 18 Bush 12 Kasich 8
Did Trump Walk Back on "Bush Lied"?
Ted Cruz Closes Gap on Donald Trump in South Carolina, New Poll Says
Clemson University Poll (Trump 28, Cruz 19, Rubio 15)
Pro-Ted Cruz robocall blasting Trump and Gov. Haley on Confederate flag


43 posted on 02/19/2016 11:04:25 PM PST by Albion Wilde (Who can actually defeat the Democrats in 2016? -- the most important thing about all candidates.)
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To: LibFreeUSA; Albion Wilde

Did the same with candy Crowley and FR went ballistic. You’d think there would be people here who remember that.


44 posted on 02/19/2016 11:35:51 PM PST by xzins (Have YOU Donated to the Freep-a-Thon? https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: tbw2

Tinfoil time. It’s like the NWO has been quietly moving people into key places. /tinfoil

Unfortunately, it kinda firs.


45 posted on 02/19/2016 11:37:42 PM PST by SaveFerris (Be a blessing to a stranger today for some have entertained angels unaware)
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To: P-Marlowe

Be explained be wants a mandate for preexisting conditions insurance to remain. So, there you have it


46 posted on 02/19/2016 11:39:55 PM PST by xzins (Have YOU Donated to the Freep-a-Thon? https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: xzins
He explained he wants a mandate for preexisting conditions insurance to remain. So, there you have it

The Pre-existing mandate cannot work unless you have the individual mandate. Otherwise it is not insurance.

IOW if you are for the insurance companies being mandated to sell everyone a policy at a set price regardless of pre-existing conditions, that will not work unless everyone is required to buy insurance even if they don't want it.

It is simple economics. The insurance companies get a huge pool of healthy young people who are forced to buy insurance in order to pay out for all the people they are forced to cover under the pre-existing coverage mandate.

If you are for one, then you are for the other.

Donald Trump just spoke out of his knee jerk liberal big government mouth without thinking about how it was going to play in Peoria.

When he saw the fallout, he sent his sycophants and disciples into the media to try to pretend he didn't mean what he said.

He said it. He meant it. Deal with it.

47 posted on 02/19/2016 11:49:53 PM PST by P-Marlowe (Tagline pending.)
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To: P-Marlowe

As I understand it there are a number for mandates plural in that law. So he is in favor of that one. And it is one that can be disconnected from the others. In fact preexisting conditions requirements were part of every republican alternative plan I ever heard of.


48 posted on 02/19/2016 11:54:22 PM PST by xzins (Have YOU Donated to the Freep-a-Thon? https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: xzins

They set up special pools for insurance at a state level so that, for example, little kids with terribly expensive cancer treatment, continue treatment even if their parents for some reason must change jobs.


49 posted on 02/19/2016 11:58:46 PM PST by xzins (Have YOU Donated to the Freep-a-Thon? https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: P-Marlowe

They set up special pools for insurance at a state level so that, for example, little kids with terribly expensive cancer treatment, continue treatment even if their parents for some reason must change jobs.


50 posted on 02/20/2016 12:00:56 AM PST by xzins (Have YOU Donated to the Freep-a-Thon? https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: xzins
And it is one that can be disconnected from the others. In fact preexisting conditions requirements were part of every republican alternative plan I ever heard of.

It won't work unless there are government subsidies for the insurance companies (I suspect that is the GOPe solution) or everyone in the country is required to pay for health insurance whether they need it or not.

If Trump meant the pre-existing coverage only mandate without the individual mandate, then how is he proposing to pay for it? Higher premiums for everyone (which would mean a lot of heathy people who now have insurance would drop out of the plans until they get some expensive disease)?

Taxpayer subsidies for the insurance companies to help them pay for the people they are forced to cover?

Or just force everyone to buy insurance or pay a fine which would be used to offset the costs and subsidize the insurance companies.

Unless there is a mandate for everyone to have insurance now, then there is simply no way for a pre-existing mandate to work.

If you disagree, then tell me how it would work without one or more of the solutions I have put forth.

Are you really for a federal government "mandate" or are you just defending Trump?

51 posted on 02/20/2016 12:04:40 AM PST by P-Marlowe (Tagline pending.)
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To: P-Marlowe

The preexisting pools take the same money that everyone else pays and then the government throws in the difference. If they don’t exist expect to see a lot of immediate death.


52 posted on 02/20/2016 12:09:22 AM PST by xzins (Have YOU Donated to the Freep-a-Thon? https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: xzins
They set up special pools for insurance at a state level so that, for example, little kids with terribly expensive cancer treatment, continue treatment even if their parents for some reason must change jobs.

I believe most if not all states already have that and the government pays for it, not the insurance companies.

That is neither insurance or a "mandate", that is Government funded Charity.

Trump said he likes THE MANDATE. He didn't say he likes one of the mandates. We all know what THE MANDATE is. It is the individual mandate. That is the term everyone here on Free Republic used when talking about the individual mandate before Trump used it yesterday. Now it suddenly has a whole new meaning that if you search this forum, you will not find a single post since obamacare was instituted that referred to the requirement of insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions as THE MANDATE. If you can find one, then I will say I was wrong.

53 posted on 02/20/2016 12:10:16 AM PST by P-Marlowe (Tagline pending.)
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To: P-Marlowe

He came back quickly to clarify he meant the preexisting mandate. As I said, there wasn’t a Republican alternative plan on record that didn’t include it.


54 posted on 02/20/2016 12:14:06 AM PST by xzins (Have YOU Donated to the Freep-a-Thon? https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: xzins

Why don’t we just institute single payer and get it over with?

A pre-existing mandate without the individual mandate to go with it will bankrupt every insurance company until only the government will be available to pay medical bills.
It is simple economics.

If the pre-existing mandate is forced on the insurance companies without government subsidies or the individual mandate, insurance policy costs will become so high that nobody will buy it until they get some horrible disease and the insurance companies will go bankrupt (one of Trump’s favorite tools) and we will end up with Single payer government health care.

After all, we don’t want people dying in the streets, right?


55 posted on 02/20/2016 12:19:15 AM PST by P-Marlowe (Tagline pending.)
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To: P-Marlowe

There were a number of mandates within Obamacare. Preexisting is one of them. I could go to the law, I suppose, and run a search for it.

But it also makes sense that Trump would pull this out. He’s an employer and negotiates health plans probably every year. Preexisting would be an issue for transitioning employees.

Trump might be many things to a lot of people but he treated his employees well. That tells me an awful lot.


56 posted on 02/20/2016 12:20:27 AM PST by xzins (Have YOU Donated to the Freep-a-Thon? https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: xzins
As I said, there wasn't a Republican alternative plan on record that didn't include it.

Did they have a plan to PAY FOR IT?

Pie in the sky.

57 posted on 02/20/2016 12:20:37 AM PST by P-Marlowe (Tagline pending.)
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To: xzins
Preexisting would be an issue for transitioning employees.

The insurance companies have all bought into accepting pre-existing conditions as long as the employee had health insurance before changing jobs or carriers.

That has been the law for decades. The cost of that is already factored into the policies. What the "MANDATE" would do is to force insurance companies to insure people who have never had insurance before and then, when they need a heart transplant, they go get a policy to pay for it.

That won't work unless everyone is forced to buy insurance NOW.

58 posted on 02/20/2016 12:24:45 AM PST by P-Marlowe (Tagline pending.)
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To: P-Marlowe

The preexisting mandate was part of every republican plan known to man. As I said, the individual pays his amount and the government then makes up the difference. And yes it is reflected in your taxes. But no , it doesn’t affect the cost of normal plans because the normal plan only gets it’s normal cost in the account books.

Every republican alternative provided this because they knew that the alternative was death. Wouldn’t look good on the record OR they understood it was dire. Which was it do you think?


59 posted on 02/20/2016 12:28:18 AM PST by xzins (Have YOU Donated to the Freep-a-Thon? https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: xzins

Why don’t we just institute Single payer? That way everyone is covered, everyone pays nothing because the taxpayers pick up the bills, and nobody dies in the street (they all die in the hospital waiting rooms).

How about we just repeal obamacare? The system worked pretty damn well before and policies were a lot cheaper.


60 posted on 02/20/2016 12:30:57 AM PST by P-Marlowe (Tagline pending.)
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