How The Debate Debacle Could Backfire On Republicans

[kentuck]

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/debate-demands-debacle

<snip>

After widespread frustration with the tough questioning candidates faced in last week’s CNBC debate, a shake-up at the Republican National Committee has been ordered. A draft letter is being circulating with candidates making their own demands of the networks in return for participating in debates. And Donald Trump -- the most volatile element in the entire field -- has defected from his rival candidates to set up his own set of conditions.

The idea of a candidate-controlled debate cycle is not just causing the media concern for its loss of influence. It is prompting new headaches for the already exhausted GOP elites, and some Republicans are worried that too much coddling will harm their party in the long run.

“There is tremendous cultural bias, a tremendous ideological bias that Republican candidates have to face. But that does not mean though that every criticism offered by a Republican candidate in the face of a tough but legitimate question is a legitimate criticism,” Steve Schmidt, who worked on Sen. John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign, told TPM.

“In almost every instance, there’s no such thing as a bad question, there’s only a bad answer,” he said. “Every question -- no matter how biased, how banal, how malevolent -- is an opportunity for a candidate to show an aspect of their character."

....more

[HassleCat]

1. These guys are just no good

When a reporter asks, "Mr. HassleCat, do you favor or oppose reflective collars for orphan field mice?" I don't respond with a bunch of crap about why nobody cares about orphan field mice. I turn the question toward something I want to say, some point I want to make. "Ted, I'm glad you asked me about orphan field mice, because it's an issue very similar to sales tax revenue..." I thought every political candidate at every level knew how to do that. Evidently, among the huge multitude of Republican contenders, only Donald Trump has figured out Debate 101.

[kentuck]

3. If they think the question is "stupid", then...

they should look at it as an opportunity.

[bigbrother05]

2. If they dictate the format and questions, why would anyone outside of Faux viewers watch?

Why would anyone want to tune in for a 2 hour version of 10 simultaneous stump speeches? They want to see the fireworks and gaffes.

[jwirr]

4. Because IMO they would be even more entertaining than now.