Posted on 08/07/2015 7:46:03 AM PDT by GoneSalt
GOP presidential hopeful Donald Trump and his supporters are crying foul over what they consider to be tough treatment by Fox News and in particular Megyn Kelly at Thursday night's debate. They are calling for a ban on Kelly at future GOP showdowns.
For anyone who watched even the first few minutes of the first 2016 Republican presidential candidate debate Thursday night, it was clear that Fox News was out to sandbag Trump. Taking to social media after the debate, it was clear that "The Donald" was far from pleased with the conservative news network.
When the highly anticipated debate of the crowded field of Republican presidential hopefuls began, the first question, asked by the team of Fox News personalities who acted as the evening's moderators, was clearly aimed at one of the ten contenders on stage.
"Is there anyone on stage, and can I see hands, who is unwilling tonight to pledge your support to the eventual nominee of the Republican Party and pledge to not run an independent campaign against that person," asked Fox News' Bret Baier.
The lone hand that went up was that of frontrunner Donald Trump, who is enjoying a double-digit lead in the polls. Trump's move prompted both cheers and jeers from the audience in Cleveland and gave his challengers their first opportunity to jump on the billionaire former TV reality show star.
"Maybe he runs as an independent," said Sen. Rand Paul, who is trailing Trump by 20 points. "He's already hedging his bets."
"That question -- statement was absolutely aimed at me," Trump said during a phone interview on "Fox and Friends" Friday morning, adding "I didn't think it was appropriate, but that's OK."
The second obvious slam to Trump came from Fox's Megyn Kelly whose question was neither about policy nor politics, but about the thrice married businessman's history of calling women he doesn't like "fat pigs, dogs, slobs, and disgusting animals." Kelly further noted an instance on Trump's reality show "The Apprentice" where he alluded to seeing a female contestant on her knees.
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Yep. Turn a hostile question into a civil if out outright friendly answer.
The questions aren’t going to get any easier. In fact, they’re going to get a whole lot tougher when there is one democrat getting softball lobs and one republican getting major league fastballs at the head.
Oh I missed that! I turned it off in disgust.
“Just sayin’” indeed!!
Do you think Kelly would have allowed him to rephrase it? When Trump responded with the Rosie O’Donnell remark, Kelly had to interject that there were many others. It was a gotcha question to make Trump look bad. Kelly made the Trump manufactured “rape” story the centerpiece of her show a few nights earlier. It fizzled.
They should have just compared the 70th anniversary of Hiroshima with Obama giving Iran a nuke and say, “have at it.”
That would have been the debate to see.
Well that’s the best I’ve heard yet, especially the ask” Who has bankrupted more businesses - Trump or Obana?” Wish Trump had said that!
Moderators are there to help the audience learn more about the candidates so the audience can make informed decisions. The moderators are not there to take on the candidates themselves. There should be probing questions but when the moderators are the ones on offense against one of the participants and in the tank for another, that is beyond the pale. It's something people though Fox was above... until now.
It isn't that people are whining that Trump can't take it. He shouldn't have had to take it directly from the moderators. They clearly took sides and prevented Trump from speaking his own message as they let others do... especially Jeb.
No one likes to see an unfair match with the refs massaging the outcome of the game.
Not only that (ask tough questions from the ones they don’t like) they ask NO or a bare minimum of the candidates they really fear!
This debate had too many ugly moments. It was designed to provoke when it should have been designed to enlighten.
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Thank you. Well said. This country is facing many profoundly serious problems and we need a mature, adult level discussion about them. What should have been an exploration of leadership vision turned into a pathetic food fight. It was really a disappointment and a disservice to the nation.
Please send this to Trump. Excellent advice.
“Blonde Ambition Tour 2015”
did we watch the same debate?
+1
Not only that (ask tough questions from the ones they don’t like) they ask NO or a bare minimum of the candidates they really fear!
Her show is one I DVR daily, although I typically end up using the FF through at 70 to 80 %. Your point is spot on, her typical schtick is 'hard hitting' journalist/popular high school chick, gets soooo old.
"Mr. Trump, now how many times a week do you beat your wife, 6 or 8 times or more?"
Instead of "Mr. Trump, there is an unsubstantiated rumor in the media that you beat your wife. Can you tell us if that rumor is true or false?"
Big difference in the way the question was asked. Trump's response was funny with the Rosie O'Donnell comment but he probably should have phrased his counter attack on Kelly a little differently so as not to look bad himself. Again, his phrasing was a little off but his point about political correctness was spot on.
All in all, I think Kelly was the bigger loser in this exchange because she looked like it was personal and vindictive when she asked her loaded question to begin with. She was not being an objective moderator.
“I don’t think Donald Trump helped his cause last night. I also don’t feel the necessity to feel sorry for “Poor Little Donald” being asked a hard question by “that bad old Megan” he’s a big boy...”
I grew up differently. If you’re out of line, I’ll tell you.
wwwwaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhHHH!!!!!!!!!!
Please stop asking me tough questions...
Trump supporters do not WANT to know the answer.
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Interesting you actually side with the MSM and the despicable conduct by FOX News last night.
A “FReeper” taking the side of the GOPe and the MSM.
You are pathetic!
Before the debate Fox and Kelly understood perfectly that asking such questions would provoke....Kelly even told her co-hosts not to “rescue her” that she’d handle it.
So obviously they knew what they were doing and were willing to take the backlash from voters should it come.
No matter how anyone paints the debate...it was “Political Theater” with the candidates as the Props for Fox’s show.
Debates anymore are about the network ratings more than the candidates. It worked for Fox...outdid all historical ratings for viewership in debates.
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