“If NR represents the “Republican establishment,†why did the RNC throw them out of the next debate because of their opposition to Trump?”
Pay no attention to the may behind the curtain! It’s hard to imagine a more convoluted and dishonest bunch as those who “think they run the GOP!”
Assuming your question was sincere, the RNC had to withdraw the invitation for National Review participation in the next debate because NR had, in effect, staked a position regarding the candidates.
Every moderator or questioner has opinions. We are all human. But a moderator who attempts to be fair has to keep those opinions to himself. The NR special issue public dumping on Trump crossed the line. No way could a NR moderator be considered impartial after that.
Moreover, I doubt that NR represents the “Republican establishment.” Not even sure what that is. One could argue that whichever candidate prevails in this primary season has won the right to call himself establishment, considering the effort and support one must earn in order to win a nomination.