Posted on 08/10/2015 11:57:58 AM PDT by Hojczyk
The LA Times reported:
As they sorted and re-sorted questions, the unpredictability of real estate tycoon and reality-TV star Donald Trump was never far from their minds.
“I would say the level is about an eight on the concern meter because of the unknown,” Baier said.
Baier even had a “nuclear option” at the ready for Trump if he ignored all protocol.
The script — which Baier didn’t have to use — took a page from Trump’s “Celebrity Apprentice” TV show. It went like this: “Mr. Trump, in your business you have rules. You follow rules. We have rules on this stage. We don’t want to have to escort you to the elevator outside this boardroom.”
“We’re hoping we don’t have to use it,” Baier said later. “[But] we’re locked and loaded.”
For anyone embedded with the news team on debate day, it became clear that it wasn’t just the Republican hopefuls who would be on-stage this night — but also Fox News, widely seen as the network most friendly to conservatives. No one here wanted to appear as if they were pitching softballs.
“You can’t let them have that offramp” was Baier’s rule as they hone each line.
Indeed, when Kelly rehearsed a question for another candidate — delivered in the staccato style that adds to her reputation as a tenacious interrogator — a producer at the table said, “He’ll go berserk.” That’s a compliment for Kelly, who smiled.
For the individual anchors, the debate was also a chance to burnish their reputations. Kelly has emerged as the channel’s prime-time star. Wallace is a seasoned veteran of the Washington beat. Baier has perhaps the most to gain from the expanded national spotlight.
(Excerpt) Read more at thegatewaypundit.com ...
Just make sure you use social media. It reaches a lot more people and can multiply by sharing...
“And they lost viewers.”
How so ? They had a record number of viewers, for the entertainment.
Who the hell is running Foxnews? Heads need to roll over this.
Trump speaks commoner’s American English. He’ll say something, and they just don’t hear it, because they’re so used to it being high-falutin. He’s said so much about trade negotiations, and it has gone over their heads because it’s gone under their elitist screen.
“And to think there are people on this site that totally would be cool with this level of shenanigans because it’s Trump.”
No kidding. Everyone with a failing candidate has Alinsky’s Greatest Hits for bedside reading.
Twenty years ago if a news organization did something this calculated it would have been shamed out of existence.
Then all that John and Jane Q. Public was witness to, the attempted character assassination of Donald trump, is true.
Fox just ate their own young, and their credibility.
just boycott fox’s sponsors and dont donate to the gop
“How so ? They had a record number of viewers, for the entertainment.”
Yeah they did, and they’ll lose viewers as a result of that stunt.
so the FNC team shouldn’t have prepared for the debate? should they have just winged-it from the get-go?
I'd say it backfired. Kelly the media whore went too far and now her reputation is forever stained.
They hung themselves...
so trump should not have to answer difficult questions? should the GOP just do away with the primaries and coronate him?
Actually, Trump acquitted himself quite well in the three way ambush on Thursday night.
Trump doesn’t refuse to answer difficult questions.
But he is not going to be browbeaten by halfwits and media darlings—but I repeat myself.
“Yeah they did, and they’ll lose viewers as a result of that stunt.”
I doubt that. People will be back for more entertainment. Wouldn’t dare miss an episode of the Trump show, or the other entertainment they serve up.
It was ALL terribly disrespectful of the ***Presidential Candidates***** as well as the TV Audiences.
What a defining moment for FOX’s utter failure and great lack of maturity to realize what a Presidential Debate.....treating this like a game when soooo much is at stake in this country.
I just heard that FOX is going to be tripping all overthemselves giving Trumps “NAME” recognition. I just tuned in for the first to Fox and oh my gosh it’s TRUMP TRUMP TRUMP.
Looks like Trump’s MADE A DEAL!
What kind of “rules” did you have, idiots? Everyone gets different questions, time and number of questions?
Someone should have “escorted” the trio “to the elevator” and replaced them immediately.
They allowed an LA Times reporter to be “embedded” with them while prepping for the debate. If that doesn’t show the Fox defenders who Fox believes their friends are, nothing will. They WANTED the world to know they were going after Trump.
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