PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney says he will not participate in a debate being hosted this month by real estate mogul and TV personality Donald Trump.

Romney told Fox News on Tuesday that he called Trump and told him he would not attend.

Several prominent Republicans have urged candidates to skip the Trump debate. They predict it will be a media circus and a distraction from important issues.

I hope Ron Paul started a trend the rest will soon follow!

That should go in someone's political ad!! Awesome.

Originally posted by David9176
reply to post by seabag

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I hope Ron Paul started a trend the rest will soon follow!

Jon Hunstman started the trend and was the first to bow out officially....not Ron Paul.

“The Ron Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign Committee rejects the selection of Donald Trump as moderator for the Republican presidential debate to be held on December 27th in Iowa.
“We have conferred with our Iowa campaign chairman Drew Ivers and vice-chairmen David Fischer and A.J. Spiker who are all RPI State Central Committee Members, and they concur with this decision.
“The selection of a reality television personality to host a presidential debate that voters nationwide will be watching is beneath the office of the Presidency and flies in the face of that office’s history and dignity. Mr. Trump’s participation as moderator will distract from questions and answers concerning important issues such as the national economy, crushing federal government debt, the role of the federal government, foreign policy, and the like. To be sure, Mr. Trump’s participation will contribute to an unwanted circus-like atmosphere.
“Mr. Trump’s selection is also wildly inappropriate because of his record of toying with the serious decision of whether to compete for our nation’s highest office, a decision he appeared to make frivolously. The short-lived elevation of Mr. Trump’s stature as a candidate put him on the radar of many organizations and we recall that last spring he was invited to keynote the Republican Party of Iowa’s annual Reagan Dinner, yet at the last minute he left RPI holding the bag by canceling. In turn, RPI canceled its biggest fundraising gala of the year and suffered embarrassment and in addition RPI was required to engage in refunding measures. Our candidate will not even consider participating in the late-December debate until Mr. Trump publicly apologizes to Iowa party leaders and rectifies in full the situation.
“Therefore our candidate Ron Paul, the champion of the Constitution, has advised he will not attend.”

I have been deeply flattered that so many people have asked me to run for President.

First, when I was considering a Republican bid, and I led in national polls.

Since then, some have even suggested I run as a third party candidate.

Let me be clear: I do not want to run as a third party candidate.

My priority, my number one priority, is to defeat Barack Obama in 2012.

I want to support and endorse the Republican candidate for president.

Right now, Republicans are going through an important process to pick that candidate.

Almost every major candidate has come to my office, met privately with me and has sought my endorsement.

I have told them what I have said publicly. I will support the Republican candidate best able to defeat Barack Obama and the one who shares the values of most Americans: a strong belief in the free enterprise system and an unwavering commitment to a strong America.

To this end, I have agreed to moderate The Newsmax ION Television 2012 Presidential Debate. Millions of Americans will tune in. This will give me and America a fantastic opportunity to vet these candidates.

Also, I have just written a new book – “Time to Get Tough!” which reveals how we can defeat Barack Obama and save America.

My sole priority is to accomplish this mission.

Originally posted by seabag
reply to post by gladtobehere

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I hope Ron Paul started a trend the rest will soon follow! Romney dropping out is another step in the right direction. Trump is a clown! Nobody should show up for this BS unless they replace the clown as moderator.