Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Donald Trump’s Sideshow Debate (Self-respecting Republicans should avoid it)
National Review ^ | 12/05/2011 | The Editors

Posted on 12/05/2011 6:41:37 AM PST by SeekAndFind

In announcing that their candidate would not attend the Newsmax debate set to be moderated by Donald Trump later this month in Iowa, the Ron Paul campaign wrote, “The selection of a reality television personality to host a presidential debate that voters nationwide will be watching is beneath the office of the Presidency and flies in the face of that office’s history and dignity.”

We could not have put it any better than the Paul campaign, but it is bizarre that such a response was necessary in the first place. The statement goes on to assert, again quite rightly, that Trump’s participation “will distract from questions and answers concerning important issues” and “contribute to an unwanted circus-like atmosphere.” Paul deserves credit for declining to step into the clown car — as does Jon Huntsman.

But Michele Bachmann, Rick Santorum, and Newt Gingrich can, at least in this instance, be said to lack the good sense of Paul and Huntsman, as the three have RSVPed in the affirmative. The first two responses are perhaps understandable, if unfortunate, political moves — Bachmann is an avowed Trump fan, and Santorum’s poll numbers make it difficult for him to be selective. Gingrich’s decision is something worse. Sure, we see the angle: Gingrich excels in debates and he knows it, and in light of his threat to Romney in Iowa, his participation all but dares the yet-uncommitted Mitt to irk the pro-Trump rump of GOP voters by refusing. As a serious contender running a campaign with maximal pride in its own seriousness, Gingrich lowers himself by association with this consummately unserious man. Romney should refuse to follow suit.

We had hoped that after the brief and frivolous publicity stunt Trump branded as exploration of a presidential run, there would be no further occasion to rehearse the many ways in which his sometime association with the Republican party hurts the conservative cause. So we’ll keep it brief: Trump is a tax-hike-supporting, missile-defense-opposing, universal-health-care-advocating, eminent-domain abusing, Schumer-Weiner-Rangel-Reid-donating, long-time-pro-choice economic protectionist who in 2008 called George W. Bush “evil” and lauded president-elect Barack Obama as a potentially “great president” who would “lead by consensus.”

The Trump debate is a sideshow, and those who would be the Republican nominee for the presidency of the United States are, one and all, better than it. The nominating process must be about which candidate can lead the country back to fiscal and economic reality, not about which candidate can best truckle with a reality-TV star.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: debate; donaldtrump; trump
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-68 next last
To: reefdiver

Well, no question. . .Trump will ask more challenging questions than heretofore ‘Media wonks’ have or will, for that matter.


21 posted on 12/05/2011 6:53:07 AM PST by cricket (/get the 'Occupier' out of our White House!/ Newt can make it happen. . .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: reefdiver

Well, no question. . .Trump will ask more challenging questions than heretofore ‘Media wonks’ have or will, for that matter.


22 posted on 12/05/2011 6:53:11 AM PST by cricket (/get the 'Occupier' out of our White House!/ Newt can make it happen. . .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind
Donald Trump’s Sideshow Debate (Self-respecting Republicans should avoid it)

Because having the Obama lovers at CNN run the debate is so much better. /s

23 posted on 12/05/2011 6:54:09 AM PST by dfwgator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

I want to see a debate moderated by Walter E. Williams.


24 posted on 12/05/2011 6:54:11 AM PST by bmwcyle (I am ready to serve Jesus on Earth because the GOP failed again)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GoCards

I don’t think it is a bad idea. It might get a lot of viewers out of pure curiosity.

Tokyo said nobody will watch it because it is right after Christmas.

Heck, a lot of people will be off that week with nothing better to do than tune in.


25 posted on 12/05/2011 6:55:39 AM PST by dforest
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: CAluvdubya

It has to be somewhere. I quickly came here hoping it was already on but I will start searching for it cause it is must see TV. lol Chucky was stunned to silence


26 posted on 12/05/2011 6:56:41 AM PST by GoCards (I am a Hobbit)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

I’m betting the Trump debate gets the highest ratings of any debate.


27 posted on 12/05/2011 6:56:54 AM PST by CaptainK (...please make it stop. Shake a can of pennies at it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Globalist Rino snobs.

Fire the whole lot of them.

I’d vote for Trump. Heck yes. And I’ll be watching his debate.

Rove is scum. Cost the GOP the Senate, and assisted pushing Palin out of the race, imo.

Dirtbag Rinos.


28 posted on 12/05/2011 6:58:33 AM PST by Cringing Negativism Network ("FREE TRADERS": Self-loathing Americans)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind
The White House releases this to the State-Run-Media, and is not happy when the Debate is beyond State-Run control. Typical smear/attack promotional publications and State-Run-Media comments will be used just as has been done with any Conservative opposition that is gaining traction with non-indoctrinated Americans.

This is how "we control the horizontal.....we control the vertical....."

29 posted on 12/05/2011 6:59:22 AM PST by traditional1 ("Don't gotsta worry 'bout no mo'gage, don't gotsta worry 'bout no gas; Obama gonna take care o' me!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cricket

You can say that again.

And again.

And again.

;-)


30 posted on 12/05/2011 7:00:52 AM PST by rightwingintelligentsia (Be careful of believing something just because you want it to be true.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Ron Paul is absolutely right.

However, Trump would make a very good questioner/moderator/interviewer of obama.


31 posted on 12/05/2011 7:00:52 AM PST by CGalen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Self respecting Republicans and self respecting conservatives are becoming worlds apart. This is the only debate I’ve wanted to watch so far. Keep sending me appeals for donations NR, go ahead and waste your time.


32 posted on 12/05/2011 7:01:08 AM PST by kreitzer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: indylindy

This is why the GOP is ridiculous and beyond hope. They fall to their knees and lick the toes of the MSM networks’ debates even though they get treated like garbage yet when Donald Trump hosts a debate they spit in his face. If the GOP contenders boycotted the MSM debates it would be a lot better for conservatism.


33 posted on 12/05/2011 7:01:14 AM PST by bigdirty
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind
What makes any of the so called MSM news readers more qualified than Trump to proctor a debate? They are all self promoters but at least Trump is willing to ask some really hard questions and is as relentless as bulldog hanging onto a bone.He has real world experience in business - they have none.
34 posted on 12/05/2011 7:02:32 AM PST by Apercu ("Obama is graffiti on the wall of American History")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Trump is bombastic, egotistical, self-promoting and without any fear (he has everything to gain and nothing to lose). He isn’t afraid to say un-PC things and call a rose a rose.

He may not make sense as a candidate, but really, what’s not to like?


35 posted on 12/05/2011 7:02:58 AM PST by freedumb2003 (Spoiler Alert! The secret to Terra Nova: THEY ARE ALL DEAD!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

People who spend their lives sucking at the teat of the MSM have lots to fear from people who don’t like the beltway rules.
It’s about time that America started putting the news ahead of the newscasters. Parasites like Rove and Obama know if they loose their elitist grip they will find the American people hard to govern.


36 posted on 12/05/2011 7:03:32 AM PST by Steamburg (The contents of your wallet is the only language Politicians understand.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Why trust Trump to be fair? He sure backed down quickly after that phony birth certificate came out. Who did that benefit more if not the democrats? Trump should not be trusted.


37 posted on 12/05/2011 7:04:27 AM PST by Designer (Nit-pickin' and chagrinin')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bigdirty

The upcoming FOX debate will be one of the worst. They always are. FOX can be worse in these debates than the other guys.

it will be about making Romney look good.


38 posted on 12/05/2011 7:04:51 AM PST by dforest
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

The little weenies at National Review don’t like The Donald because he favors tariffs. The myth of free trade, biggest scam going. The Nips, Koreans and Chinese laugh at those nations stupid enough to buy into it


39 posted on 12/05/2011 7:05:29 AM PST by dennisw (I heard the old man laughing What good is a used up world and how could it be worth having-Sting)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Like Anderson Cooper or Charlie Rose are any worse?

}:-)4


40 posted on 12/05/2011 7:07:05 AM PST by Moose4 ("Oderint dum metuant" -- "Let them hate, as long as they fear." (Lucius Accius, c. 130 BC))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-68 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson