Seems bizarre.
Republicans collectively signed a DEMAND LETTER to the networks for the next Republican debates.
Trump goes rogue (doesn’t sign letter) and says he will negotiate a better deal with the networks than all the Republicans combined.
ABC —- WAPO
The letter here
Dear _____:
This letter is on behalf of the 15 Republican Presidential campaigns. We are aware that you are sponsoring a debate on _____ at ______. Below and attached are questions about your debate to which the campaigns would appreciate answers at your earliest convenience, and in any event no later than a month from today.
The answers you provide to these questions are part of a process that each campaign will use to determine whether its candidate will participate in your debate. All the candidates recognize that robust debates are an important part of the primary elections. It is also important that all debates be appropriate platforms for discussing substantive issues and the candidates’ visions for the future.
To achieve this going forward, the campaigns ask that you:
– Answer the questions below within 30 days of receipt by communicating directly with the campaigns. We’ll provide an email list for that distribution.
– No later than a month before your debate (earlier if possible), schedule a conference with all the campaigns participating jointly so that the campaigns may ask questions about the format for your debate, the moderators and your answers to the questions below. The campaigns may request an additional call(s) to discuss specific issues.
– The campaigns’ will use the manner in which your debate(s) are run (and changes you say you will make from your past debates), the quality and fairness of your moderators’ questions, their enforcement of the rules and their ability to achieve parity in distribution and quality of questions and time among the candidates to evaluate whether the candidates wish to participate in your future debates.
– In addition, based on their evaluation of previous debates, the campaigns wish to have in all future debates a minimum 30-second opening statement and a minimum 30-second closing statement for each participant; candidate pre-approval of any graphics and bios you plan to include in your broadcast about each candidate, and that there be no “lightening rounds” because of their frivolousness or “gotcha” nature, or in some cases both.
The campaigns appreciate your participation to achieve what they feel is a great need for more accountability and transparency in their primary debate process. In addition to addressing the above points, please answer the following:
– Where and when will the debate be held?
– What are criteria for inclusion? If you choose to base this on polls, please detail which polls and why each poll’s methodology and sample size is acceptable to you.
– Who is the moderator? Will there be any additional questioners? Are they seated?
– What is the estimated audience for the debate? Will it be disseminated on-line? By radio? Will it be disseminated by other means and do you have any additional partners?
– What format do you envision — podiums, table, other?
– Will there be questions from the audience or social media? How many? How will they be presented to the candidates? Will you acknowledge that you, as the sponsor, take responsibility for all questions asked, even if not asked by your personnel?-* What is your proposed length of the debate?
– Will there be opening and closing statements. How long will they be?
– Will you commit to provide equal time/an equal number of questions of equal quality (substance as opposed to “gotcha” or frivolous) to each candidate?
– How long are the answers and rebuttals? If a candidate is mentioned, will he/she automatically be called on so they can rebut?
– Will there be a gong/buzzer/bell when time is up? How will the moderator enforce the time limits?Will
Will you commit that you will not:
– Ask the candidates to raise their hands to answer a question
– Ask yes/no questions without time to provide a substantive answer
– Have a “lightening round”
– Allow candidate-to-candidate questioning
– Allow props or pledges by the candidates
– Have reaction shots of members of the audience or moderators during debates
– Show an empty podium after a break (describe how far away the bathrooms are)
– Use behind shots of the candidates showing their notes
– Leave microphones on during breaks
– Allow members of the audience to wear political messages (shirts, buttons, signs, etc.). Who enforces?
– What is the size of the audience? Who is receiving tickets in addition to the candidates? Who’s in charge of distributing those tickets and filling the seats?
– What instructions will you provide to the audience about cheering during the debate?
– What are the plans for the lead-in to the debate (Pre-shot video? Announcer to moderator? Director to Moderator?) and how long is it?
– Are you running promo ads before the debate about your moderator(s)?
– What type of microphones (lavs or podium)?
– Can you pledge that the temperature in the hall be kept below 67 degrees?
If there is any additional information you would like to provide the candidates and the campaigns, please do so.
Thank you for your cooperation. Should you have any questions, the campaigns will be pleased to answer them.
Sincerely,
good move
advantage trump
That’s too damn funny and a glaring reflection of incompetence. This as a questionnaire, not a demand letter. Once again Trump makes a brilliant move separating himself from the amateurs.
I’m starting to believe that Trump is ten steps ahead of everybody.
Well done Mr. Trump! Did Cruz personally sign this? I can’t imagine that he would, but maybe he isn’t as shrewd an operator as I give him credit for.
“To achieve this going forward …”
WTF?
Anybody speak English, anymore?
Starting? 🙂 You knew it all along, just couldnt quite believe it…
As far as this letter, Trump is NOT going to hitch his wagon to a bunch of losers. Aint gonna happen.
I read last night it was Fiorina, Jindal, and 2 others who sent that, or something like it, out. Didn’t say anything about Cruz or Trump going along with it.
What the hell kind of letter is that? It’s practically straight out of Mad Libs! Whose campaign actually signed on?
And they spelled lightning round “lightening round” !
I read a breitbart article this morning (can’t find it, of course…*sigh*) in which FIVE of the candidates have refused to sign. A nice big F YOU to the RNC’s lawyer Ginsberg.
Sorry, but this whole thing doesn’t seem right.
I may have seen the same one you’re talking about.
Why would the candidates ask them what they’d do?
TELL the fucks how it will be.
PERIOD.
Mr. Trump – how will you pay down the $20 Trillion debt?
Mr. Carson – how will you pay down the $20 Trillion debt?
Mr. Cruz – how will you pay down the $20 Trillion debt?
Mrs. Fiorina – how will you pay down the $20 Trillion debt?
…
Mr. Trump – how will you get the rat-people out of America?
Mr. Carson – …
Hey Pinko remember when you were all gung ho for Walker and I told you he wouldn’t make it? Walker ain’t in it anymore.
Hey Mr. Pinko, did you see trump on GMA this morning? That was just a “WOW” thing! Reminded me of the Mondale / Reagan age question thing. Trump made Georgie smile and agree. Support Trump without attacking other republican candidates, and you win my support. Deal?
Ted Cruz signed
Cruz signed. Trump, Fiorina, Jindal and 2 others didn’t sign it
Walker was one of my top 3 (Walker, Cruz, Trump). I never said he had a good shot of getting nominated.
Walker couldn’t get anywhere near Trump’s numbers.
What’s your point?
You guys are really misinterpreting my articles and take on Trump, Cruz and the rest. I’m not attacking candidates. I’m not attacking anyone here on iOTW.
I LIKE CRUZ! I think he is one of the BEST CONSERVATIVES OUT THERE! He’s probably a BETTER CONSERVATIVE than Trump. A huge factor in choosing a candidate for me is CONSERVATISM and ELECT-ABILITY. My priority is who is the BEST CONSERVATIVE with the BEST SHOT at taking the White House. It’s a balancing act.
I’ve met Cruz. He’s great but he’s a TYPICAL, SLICK TALKING POLITICIAN! I’m DONE WITH POLITICIANS! Cruz is part of the machine that is the problem. I didn’t say he was the problem. I repeat he’s in the machinery. My opinion, Cruz can not get past the media and Hillary to grab the White House. That’s not a slam on Cruz. That’s a slam on the stupidity of the American VOTER!
Trump is the FUCK YOU GOP vote! Trump will build a wall. He will deport POS. He will fix our economy! TRUMP LOVES AMERICA just as much as CRUZ does! If Trump fails, then I think we’re done and the country is shot to shit.
I say give the NON-POLITICIAN the shot to fix America. FUCK the GOP and unfortunately Cruz is caught up with the GOP.
If Cruz gets the nod – I’m a 1000% behind the guy and will do my best to get him elected.
If Bush gets the nod – I sit it out and let Hillary win.
Now imagine Cruz instead of Trump on Good Morning America. You think he gets the same reaction, support, respect?
Trump OWNS the media and that is more than half the battle.
Maybe you need to hire a consultant on your delivery? Me too I suppose, but never forget, we do have the same plan for the end result. Trump is almost convincing me that he has America’s interest at heart.
He does from me, but the lo-fo’s will never get it.
“but the lo-fo’s will never get it.” EXACTLY MY POINT!! THANK YOU!
You have to realize who votes in this country. They’re not informed political junkies like us.
My choice for Trump is multi-strategic.
He attracts the lo-fo vote with his name-brand recognition.
He promises a wall, deportation.
He’s smart enough to fix the economy,
He has the best and the brightest within his business to negotiate anything (proven already with the networks)
He owns the media because his name brings in $$$ for them.
And he fucks the GOP ESTABLISHMENT!
Etc…, etc…
By February hopefully Conservatives will all get it and be on board or we’ll just end up with Rubio or Bush. 😉
I still prefer Cruz, but Trump is growing on me.
BTW, my local elections went well for me. Both candidates I openly supported won! And I got invited to neither of the victory parties. and I am ok with that!!
In the primaries, some states allow each party to vote in the others primary, correct? SC is one. We could assume that thousands of lofo dems (who only know Trumps name from TV), plus those in the know, will crossover and vote trump in SC, insuring a Trump win. If so, since Trump is pulling more blacks and hispanics than Ted from the D party, it stands to reason that he will win SC. That is also a YUGE advantage for Trump.