Posted on 10/30/2015 9:59:44 AM PDT by abb
Mr. Andrew Lack Chairman, NBC News 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, New York 10112
Dear Mr. Lack,
I write to inform you that pending further discussion between the Republican National Committee (RNC) and our presidential campaigns, we are suspending the partnership with NBC News for the Republican primary debate at the University of Houston on February 26, 2016. The RNC’s sole role in the primary debate process is to ensure that our candidates are given a full and fair opportunity to lay out their vision for America’s future. We simply cannot continue with NBC without full consultation with our campaigns.
The CNBC network is one of your media properties, and its handling of the debate was conducted in bad faith. We understand that NBC does not exercise full editorial control over CNBC’s journalistic approach. However, the network is an arm of your organization, and we need to ensure there is not a repeat performance.
CNBC billed the debate as one that would focus on “the key issues that matter to all voters—job growth, taxes, technology, retirement and the health of our national economy.†That was not the case. Before the debate, the candidates were promised an opening question on economic or financial matters. That was not the case. Candidates were promised that speaking time would be carefully monitored to ensure fairness. That was not the case. Questions were inaccurate or downright offensive. The first question directed to one of our candidates asked if he was running a comic book version of a presidential campaign, hardly in the spirit of how the debate was billed.
While debates are meant to include tough questions and contrast candidates’ visions and policies for the future of America, CNBC’s moderators engaged in a series of “gotcha†questions, petty and mean-spirited in tone, and designed to embarrass our candidates. What took place Wednesday night was not an attempt to give the American people a greater understanding of our candidates’ policies and ideas.
I have tremendous respect for the First Amendment and freedom of the press. However, I also expect the media to host a substantive debate on consequential issues important to Americans. CNBC did not.
While we are suspending our partnership with NBC News and its properties, we still fully intend to have a debate on that day, and will ensure that National Review remains part of it.
I will be working with our candidates to discuss how to move forward and will be in touch.
Sincerely,
Reince Priebus Chairman, Republican National Committee
I think finding an appropriate venue to have a debate would be the least of their problems, any number of places could be used. Money is also not an issue as revenue generated would more than pay for the production.
As Trump has aptly shown these debates are a huge draw and I’ll wager multiple networks would be fighting for the opportunity to show such a debate and garner the ad revenue it brings.
This might also be an opportunity for SuperPacs to do some spending...either through paid advertising during the debate or by sponsoring their favorite candidate(s).
The key is to take the process out of the hands of the MSM and give it over to responsible conservative outlets.
I don't know about that, I'm rather enjoying the blow-back against Clinton's network supporters. Maybe it just might wake up some more people to the media bias...
Just read it on Drudge then came over here! Great NEWS!
Reince, Reince, Reince ... you’re suspended!
Covering his *ss!
Is National Review a part of NBC properties?????? Is that why it is mentioned in the letter?
May explain it’s new found liberalism/unipartyism! They certainly smell like NBC.
The libtard CNBC tools asked and said exactly what their producers told them to ask and say, in exactly the manner that they asked and said it. Period.
ME TOO!!!! ME TOO!!!
Only a guess. Maybe National Review was going to be part of the feb debates and Prebious is saying they are still in, but NBC is definitely on thin ice.
Priebus is not surprised at the result.
Instead, he is surprised by the resistance which has coalesced against him.
Great idea. Maybe Hillsdale College would like to host one of them. It would bring their university great publicity.
It's been Trump whos been making non-stop consistant MSM/DC insider ass kicking statements for 4 months now.
Trump has stood DC and MSM on it's head. It's been historic and it's certainly no secret.
What you're attempting say, Cruz finally stood up after the entire election has being primed and set on fire Trump month after month. Yes your boy got some good quips in, I will give ya that.
But unfortunately, clever quips and fast thinking retorts are about all these biased, slanted and manipulated debates are good for. They just reek of corruption.
Are you serious? You are demented if serious. Restae you point so we can see if you can do it twice.
I’ll say something. If it wasn’t for Trump the GOPe would have their way.
Newp...the CRUZ effect!
I sure they (RNC/GOPe) thought the outsiders would be Herman Cained by now. The news that the candidates will meet this weekend to discuss debates - engineered by Trump in another way showing how negotiations work - has probably sent Prebius into an apoplectic shock.
The idea that his statement is a response to CNBC questions is silly. It makes much more sense if it’s a response to the candidates shutting the RNC out of the process.
PRE-cisely!
Ugh... poorly written.
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