GOP campaigns craft letter to networks with debate format changes

Working in unison to seize control of the debate process, top aides to the Republican candidates are hammering out final details of a letter they’ll send to the television networks scheduled to host the remaining GOP primary debates. The letter outlines a series of demands — touching on everything from how the moderators discuss bathroom breaks to the camera angles and graphics — and marks candidates’ most serious effort to wrest control of the debate process from the Republican National Committee, just days before the next debate, hosted by Fox Business Network on Nov. 10.

As I'm sure many of you know, this topic is interesting in a variety of different ways and goes well beyond the GOP candidate's anger over the last debate.

The core issue is the debates and how they are structured. I can understand a need to ensure a level playing field and a specific set of rules to guide the debate, but if you read the draft that was released, which can be found on Politico, their demands go well beyond making sure everyone has a chance to participate.

The candidates also have some director’s notes, too: The letter makes specific demands about the cameras angles, shots, and graphics in the televised debates. The letter asks networks to vow not to show reaction shots of the audience or moderators, describe how far the bathrooms are (or show an empty podium after a break), or use shots of candidates’ notes. The campaigns also want to pre-approve the graphics and bios used in the broadcasts.

But if that wasn't enough, it's possible that if the game is not designed to be played by their rules, they may take their ball and go home.

If the networks don’t agree to the campaigns’ demands, Bennett said some of the more popular campaigns would consider boycotting.

“A couple of us are the ones that are generating the ratings for these debates — if we don’t come that’s a big bargaining chip,” he said.

Let's put this in to it's entire context.

The candidate's feel that they were somehow wronged by the network in the last debate. To combat that, the campaigns join together, minus the Fiorina campaign, and compose an initial draft of DEMANDS that must be adhered to or they face the possibility of certain high-profile candidates not participating in the debate. Some of those demands go as far as to dictate graphics, logos, viewer reactions and even what the audience members wear.

The candidates are also not getting along with the GOP. While it appears that the GOP is trying to down-play the current rift over the debate issue, it has to be noted that the rift does, in fact, exist.

Is it just me, or has this issue been blown out of proportion and it has caused the candidates to go well beyond asking for a cool debate hall or equal coverage? They actually want to dictate the debate-host network's presentation of the debate and silence the political free-speech of the people in attendance. Add to the mix the tension between the candidates and the GOP and this entire issue becomes a circus act in and of itself.

It's my opinion that these demands do not exemplify the principles of a free media and freedom of speech. They are the knee-jerk product of a more extreme "conservative" ideology that has grown out of the Tea Party movement, and a need to control as much as they can to ensure a more proper "propagandizing" of the voting public.

Unacceptable, if you ask me.

Source

So, basically the entire thing is going to be scripted like reality TV, and the GOP is setting all the ground rules to make sure it all goes smoothly?

Sounds to me like the senior leadership inside the GOP knows who they want already and is making sure the right camera angles, graphics, bios used to support their candidate of choice.

It'll be painfully obvious to those paying attention who the GOP wants to nominate after this next "debate". Just look for the person who is given the best bio, the most favorable camera angles...

I'm willing to bet they're also demanding certain questions taken off the table, and other questions are forcibly added. It was reality TV before anyway -- this just pretty much rubs the fact in your face.

a reply to: MystikMushroom

So, basically the entire thing is going to be scripted like reality TV

That appears to be an apt description. They are trying to make the debates, and therefore the candidates, look as good as the debates we see in movies or tv shows. Pure propaganda at it's finest.

and the GOP is setting all the ground rules to make sure it all goes smoothly

The GOP or the candidates? I get the impression the candidates are not happy with the GOP and are taking this in to their own hands.

a reply to: introvert

Unacceptable to you perhaps.

Media bias is unacceptable to many others as well. It's their campaign, they may go overboard in some points, yet, free of the clutches of both the media and the iron-fisted control of the national party???

Damn!

We may even get some serious debate and subjects addressed with all the shackles off that we'd never hear otherwise.

Let's see the results, then criticize.....

a reply to: nwtrucker

Media bias is unacceptable to many others as well.

Many have an unreasonable definition of media bias. Some would consider asking tough questions and holding people to account for their words/actions a media bias. It seems that is exactly what the candidates think as it was part of the terms included in the draft.

That's not indicative of media bias. It's an attempt to rig the game so they look like better players.

It's their campaign

But it's not their media outlet, nor is it their audience. They are trying to control both.

Let's see the results, then criticize.....

If these demands are followed by the hosting network, we already know what the results will be. A bunch of confirmation bias and lies that will not be questioned.

All i can do is laugh. Then yawn. Then laugh again.

This is a weird kind of censorship or something. If they don't like the format or a question, opt out.

Oh, and cn we please pass some laws limiting the length of campaigns in this country?

a reply to: introvert

Sorry, but this seems to me nothing but left spin.

The move reduces the comfort zone of the media camp being left supporting. Media ratings for trust is even below Congress's , if I recall correctly.

We shall see....methinks he doth protest too much

They don’t have anything to say worthwhile save Trump once in a while!

None of the GOP candidates has a clue or plan on how to raise the condition of the middleclass. They don’t have even a conception that the middleclass wages have been stagnant for 30, 40 years.

All they say they'll do is lower taxes on the rich so they’ll make more jobs for the little man.

Only Trump even speaks about it the middleclass lower wages and jobs leaving

All the others want to do is cut, cut, and cut entitlements for the poor and taxes for the rich.

They all support these crooked trade deals and not building infrastructure to get more jobs.

None of them support stopping the outsourcing of jobs save Trump.

They have NOTHING to say


In fact all of them support everything that coddles the elite class

originally posted by: nwtrucker
a reply to: introvert

Sorry, but this seems to me nothing but left spin.

Hilarious. Yes, the "left" is forcing them into making childish demands and control what the public sees and hears. Yeah, um, okay. What's next? Lifelines? Phone a friend? Ask the audience? Switch the question?

a reply to: introvert

So, the candidates debates will be the latest (and most UNREAL) reality show? LOL! This is hilarious! This election has gone off the rails, and we still have a year to go!

Okay. Cancelling debates. Someone else can televise them.

Let's give exclusive rights for airing debates to a Comedy network. Then the process will get the respect it deserves.

I wonder if all the candidates are going to be allowed to submit their own riders...those lists of what they "require" before they'll agree to go on stage/participate.

Maybe Trump will ask for a bowl full of only GREEN M&M's. . .

I'm actually surprised the GOP just doesn't create their own media network, "GOP World News" or something, financed and paid for by the Republican party.

"Straight from the source, right to your ears! No 'gotcha' journalism here! We only report what we want, and only show you what we want!"

originally posted by: MystikMushroom

I'm actually surprised the GOP just doesn't create their own media network, "GOP World News" or something, financed and paid for by the Republican party.

Um they already have one. It's called FoxNews.

a reply to: ~Lucidity

Nah, it's not actually OWNED by the GOP, and they sometimes have anchors that say/ask things to make Republicans look bad. Look at what happened to that woman from the first debate...

I'm serious...create a news network on TV that only broadcasts "official and approved" GOP segments. They'd make a killing.

The GOP does not want to waste their TV time on debates answering questions like "Why do Republicans hate minorities?" "Why do you hate women?" "Why do you hate the old, infirm, and gay marriage?" Most media outlets being leftist leaning institutions these slanted debate questions do harm to the GOP brand I suppose.

a reply to: machineintelligence

Well its not just the questions...apparently they want the place to be exactly 67 degrees too. The level of control they're trying to exert her is pretty impressive.

originally posted by: MystikMushroom
a reply to: ~Lucidity

Nah, it's not actually OWNED by the GOP...

I imagine the it is.

And what happened to her was just Trump. That hardly counts.

Well the GOP has no viable candidates.

Except for paul (who i do like) who doesnt seem be getting noticed the rest are a bunch of loons and a Bush.

So anything to make them look good.

To be fair the demcrats dont seem to offer much either except a hard core socialist or a Clinton......

I think Canada ought to build a wall.....

I wish the debates included a chess tournament, a talent competition, and a swimsuit competition. Then I'd watch.

originally posted by: VictorVonDoom
I wish the debates included a chess tournament, a talent competition, and a swimsuit competition. Then I'd watch.

To be honnest you would do better makeing it a hunger games tournament.

At least you get 23 dead politicians at the end of it!