# Next debate suspended over 'gotcha' questions per RNC **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 30, 2015, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-debate-suspended-over-gotcha-questions-per-rnc/736213 "2015-10-30T23:11:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-debate-suspended-over-gotcha-questions-per-rnc/736213/21 "2015-10-31T06:23:24Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > And what do you think they actually want? Do you have any evidence? What do they want? They want to not have to get up on camera and give substantive answers to questions from people who aren’t in their pockets. I mean, duh. The evidence is their actual behavior. I mean, you know what you _don’t_ do, if you want to discuss important issues? You don’t “suspend” your television appearances. But that’s exactly what the Republicans are doing, and from their point of view, if they can do it while showing their cretinous supporters how they’re being bullied by the Lamestream Media, hey, so much the better. It’s sooooooo important to the Republicans that everyone hear their soooooooo important issues, that they’re going to cut back on their tv exposure. Right. Pull the other one. No matter what the debate questions were, there was nothing stopping the candidates from launching into whatever substantive discussion of whatever important issue they wanted. I mean, no one ever answers the questions anyway. So if the candidates had something meaningful to say, they were free to speak up. They don’t want to speak up. Not on camera. Not where people might ask follow up questions. It’s not like any of them have actual substantive plans that amount to anything. Their math is dodgy. Their science is laughable. Foreign relations. Economic growth. Immigration. They got nothing but scare tactics and fourth grade logic. You think there was any question that CNBC could ask that would have elicited a substantive answer from these losers? It is to laugh. You think if someone had asked Trump how he planned to get Mexico to pay for our wall, he would have had an honest answer? Of course not. He _is_ a cartoon character and pointing that out is the right thing to do (CNBC will cave of course. None of today’s journalists are worth a damn.) You think Ted Cruz has some important plan for solving the debt limit problem that he’s just dying to tell us about? But now he can’t, because the meanie moderator was rude to Ben Carson and John Kasich so he’s forced to use his time on that? Bullshit. That’s all this is: Bullshit, from a guy who doesn’t have anything important to say, for the benefit of idiots who enjoy feeling victimized. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-debate-suspended-over-gotcha-questions-per-rnc/736213/22 "2015-10-31T13:05:31Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > As I see it, they were in a legitimately adversarial relationship with the candidates – that’s why it’s called a “debate”, it’s not really a debate among the candidates, but between the candidates and the panel of questioners. Emphasis added. Really? I’ve never heard anyone claim that before. Could be I’m just out of touch with the process-- what do the rest of you folks think? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-debate-suspended-over-gotcha-questions-per-rnc/736213/23 "2015-10-31T13:13:07Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > Another RNC fail here. The RNC’s job is to get their candidates elected. Not seeing how this is a fail, especially since (as noted) the moderators were “roundly criticized” inside and outside of GOP circles. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-debate-suspended-over-gotcha-questions-per-rnc/736213/24 "2015-10-31T13:55:37Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > The RNC’s job is to get their candidates elected. Not seeing how this is a fail, especially since (as noted) the moderators were “roundly criticized” inside and outside of GOP circles. You had me until the “not seeing this a fail” for the RNC. IMHO what did happen was that with so many candidates, that demonstrates also how fractured the Republicans are too IMO, the limited time, and unwillingness to limit the main debate to less candidates (also a result of the lack of good management by the RNC) also caused the train wreck. The result was that Carson and Bush were heavily damaged by the encounter; that tells me that what the RNC is doing now is… damage control indeed. Of course I can see that the narrative that “the moderators get the whole blame” propaganda seems to be effective with many; however what I see is this: the item of the moderators being bad **does not exclude** the item that several Republicans ended up looking like the clowns they are. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-debate-suspended-over-gotcha-questions-per-rnc/736213/25 "2015-10-31T13:59:31Z")
A lot of this vitriol is directed at the Republican politicians and in a few cases all Republicans (cretinous supporters). So do any of you think that if the roles were switched that the Democrat Party wouldn’t be doing the _exact same thing_? It’s the nature of being a politician in general. ---
**Author:** ![davida03801](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@davida03801](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davida03801)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-debate-suspended-over-gotcha-questions-per-rnc/736213/26 "2015-10-31T14:07:10Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > **GOP tells NBC next debate suspended over ‘gotcha’ questions** > > It seems the Republicans want softballs pitched at them from the moderators during the debates. You mean like the Democrats expect, and get ? ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-debate-suspended-over-gotcha-questions-per-rnc/736213/27 "2015-10-31T14:22:53Z")
> [@davida03801](#): > > You mean like the Democrats expect, and get ? Indeed, like this softball lobbed toward Clinton to kick off the Democratic debate: > [@](#): > > Secretary Clinton, I want to start with you. Plenty of politicians evolve on issues, but even some Democrats believe you change your positions based on political expediency. > > You were against same-sex marriage. Now you’re for it. You defended President Obama’s immigration policies. Now you say they’re too harsh. You supported his trade deal dozen of times. You even called it the “gold standard”. Now, suddenly, last week, you’re against it. > > **Will you say anything to get elected?** When will the libby lib lamestream media stop kissing her ass? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-debate-suspended-over-gotcha-questions-per-rnc/736213/28 "2015-10-31T14:30:53Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > And what do you think they actually want? Do you have any evidence? Well, yes. It’s in their statement. They say they want tough questions, but then argue that asking tough questions is acting in bad faith. A gotcha question is merely a tough question for a particular candidate. And it’s vital that any candidate face the issues that could trap them and cause them problems, because that’s exactly what’s going to happen in the future. Instead of whining about tough questions, they should be coming up with answers to those questions. If the RNC is so worried, they can even help the candidates handle it. But shutting down debates? That just makes you look like your candidates can’t take the heat. And if they can’t take the heat now, how can they take it when they are president? ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-debate-suspended-over-gotcha-questions-per-rnc/736213/29 "2015-10-31T14:44:09Z")
If a debate moderator asked Sanders if his campaign was a joke would that be a fair question? If a moderator asked Hillary if she had collosaly bad judgment or if she was simply stupid would that be fair? The complaint can be leveled independent of the candidate positions. In other words - even if the candidates are imbeciles certain questions can be rude and inappropriate. That’s what the complaint to is. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-debate-suspended-over-gotcha-questions-per-rnc/736213/30 "2015-10-31T14:47:01Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > If a debate moderator asked Sanders if his campaign was a joke would that be a fair question? If a moderator asked Hillary if she had collosaly bad judgment or if she was simply stupid would that be fair? The complaint can be leveled independent of the candidate positions. > > In other words - even if the candidates are imbeciles certain questions can be rude and inappropriate. That’s what the complaint to is. Even if the question is unfair or rude, adults answer and don’t whine about it like spoiled children. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-debate-suspended-over-gotcha-questions-per-rnc/736213/31 "2015-10-31T14:59:24Z")
Has anyone seen a debate yet? I haven’t. Neither the questions or answers for either party in any venue have been worth spit. This controversy is more tinsel to distract from the utter lack of substance in this election cycle. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-debate-suspended-over-gotcha-questions-per-rnc/736213/32 "2015-10-31T14:59:50Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > You had me until the “not seeing this a fail” for the RNC. > > IMHO what did happen was that with so many candidates, that demonstrates also how fractured the Republicans are too IMO, the limited time, and unwillingness to limit the main debate to less candidates (also a result of the lack of good management by the RNC) also caused the train wreck. The result was that Carson and Bush were heavily damaged by the encounter; that tells me that what the RNC is doing now is… damage control indeed. > > Of course I can see that the narrative that “the moderators get the whole blame” propaganda seems to be effective with many; however what I see is this: the item of the moderators being bad **does not exclude** the item that several Republicans ended up looking like the clowns they are. I don’t think you need to assume that the moderators get the whole blame in order to try and prevent another train wreck like that last debate. Frankly, the Republican clown car is going to produce some level of train wreck no matter what, but the RNC certainly should be trying to minimize it. Again, isn’t it the RNC’s role to do damage control? We can argue about how best to do that, but it’s still that body’s role. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-debate-suspended-over-gotcha-questions-per-rnc/736213/33 "2015-10-31T15:03:38Z")
The Dems should hold their next debate on Fox just to show that they’re willing to take what the Republicans couldn’t. And, for the record. Donald Trump is NOT a comic book villain. He’s more of a James Bond movie kind of villain. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-debate-suspended-over-gotcha-questions-per-rnc/736213/34 "2015-10-31T15:06:12Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > The Dems should hold their next debate on Fox just to show that they’re willing to take what the Republicans couldn’t. > > And, for the record. Donald Trump is NOT a comic book villain. He’s more of a James Bond movie kind of villain. Where’s his self-destruct mechanism? ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-debate-suspended-over-gotcha-questions-per-rnc/736213/35 "2015-10-31T15:14:35Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > If a debate moderator asked Sanders if his campaign was a joke would that be a fair question? If a moderator asked Hillary if she had collosaly bad judgment or if she was simply stupid would that be fair? The complaint can be leveled independent of the candidate positions. > > In other words - even if the candidates are imbeciles certain questions can be rude and inappropriate. That’s what the complaint to is. **Fair?** These people are running for the highest office in the land - the hardest job in the world and you expect **fair?** Will Putin be fair? Will China be fair? When did the republican party turn into such whiny little children? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-debate-suspended-over-gotcha-questions-per-rnc/736213/36 "2015-10-31T15:18:19Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > If a debate moderator asked Sanders if his campaign was a joke would that be a fair question? If a moderator asked Hillary if she had collosaly bad judgment or if she was simply stupid would that be fair? The complaint can be leveled independent of the candidate positions. > > In other words - even if the candidates are imbeciles certain questions can be rude and inappropriate. That’s what the complaint to is. Why don’t you take a good , hard look at your Republican candidates today, and compare them intellectually and politically to the list of candidates that were running a couple of elections ago. What happened here was that CNBC refused to pretend that the clown car was a luxury limousine. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-debate-suspended-over-gotcha-questions-per-rnc/736213/37 "2015-10-31T15:37:29Z")
> [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > **Fair?** These people are running for the highest office in the land - the hardest job in the world and you expect **fair?** > Will Putin be fair? Will China be fair? > > … Seriously, they can’t handle 90 minutes of an occasional tough question yet they want us to believe they are capable of standing at the helm of this country in situations far more stressful and demanding? You want to be my president, you better prove you can hit anything they can pitch. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-debate-suspended-over-gotcha-questions-per-rnc/736213/38 "2015-10-31T15:44:53Z")
They can stop crying like babies-[The next debate is being run by FOX and The Wall Street Journal.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_presidential_debates,_2016#November_10.2C_2015_.E2.80.93_Milwaukee.2C_Wisconsin) > [@](#): > > The fourth debate will be held on November 10, 2015, at the Milwaukee Theatre in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, airing on the Fox Business Network and sponsored by The Wall Street Journal. This debate will focus on jobs, taxes, and the general health of the U.S. economy, as well as on domestic and international policy issues. Neil Cavuto and Maria Bartiromo will be the moderators along with Gerard Baker, editor-in-chief of the Wall Street Journal.[ ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-debate-suspended-over-gotcha-questions-per-rnc/736213/39 "2015-10-31T16:29:17Z")
> [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > **Fair?** These people are running for the highest office in the land - the hardest job in the world and you expect **fair?** > Will Putin be fair? Will China be fair? > > When did the republican party turn into such whiny little children? They’ve always been whiny little children, whenever they think they can get away with it. Also, your analogy isn’t very good. Putin doesn’t debate American presidents in front of a live TV audience. A better analogy would be a presidential Press Conference, and we know how those things go. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-debate-suspended-over-gotcha-questions-per-rnc/736213/40 "2015-10-31T16:47:04Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Why don’t you take a good , hard look at your Republican candidates today, and compare them intellectually and politically to the list of candidates that were running a couple of elections ago. What happened here was that CNBC refused to pretend that the clown car was a luxury limousine. I’m not talking about the actual candidates. If CNBC didn’t think the candidates worthy then they shouldn’t invite them. There is no requirement that either there be debates, or that the candidates participate. > [@running\_coach](#): > > Even if the question is unfair or rude, adults answer and don’t whine about it like spoiled children. No, adults don’t dignify the question. Seriously - if a person asked Clinton if she had a lapse in judgement because she’s such a bitch you would expect her to treat that as a serious question? This whole line of thought that how are they going to handle Putin is idiotic. If Putin acted like an asshole and said, _“Hey President Clinton - go fuck yourself!”_ I’d hope she tells him to screw off and not engage. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-debate-suspended-over-gotcha-questions-per-rnc/736213.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-debate-suspended-over-gotcha-questions-per-rnc/736213.md?page=3)