Compare Newt Gingrich's response on the first question of the South Carolina GOP debate to Mitt Romney's later response on his taxes.
Darleen Click notes that Mitt Romney's defensiveness on taxes hurts him as a candidate... They are both flawed candidates, (and this is not an endorsement) but at least Newt can throw a punch. Mitt Romney better start learning quick.
Rush Limbaugh, Jeff Goldstein, Mark Levin and others have noted that the media carrying water for the Democrats and is actively trying to hurt any GOP candidate that it perceives is a threat to Barack Obama. We see time and time again that questions and language are phrased intentionally to do maximum harm to the candidates. Frank Luntz notes how language is used is critical in politics, since (sadly) 80% of decision making is emotional and 20% is intellect. Ironically, Barack Obama is now complaining that it is the media's fault he is being perceived as aloof. No, Mr. President, that just shows even with the mainstream media helping you their powers only go so far. When the general election comes, the media will be very harsh to the GOP nominee (whoever prevails) and will go out of its way to help the Obama Administration. They are setting up the attacks now.
Which raises a question, why does the GOP allow ABC, CNN, MSNBC, etc. to moderate its own primary debates? Now arguably Newt Gingrich turned that bias to his advantage last night, but is this a way for the GOP to select its own candidates? Shouldn't the GOP select its own questioners for debates, get GOP donors to fund the cost of running them, and then offer the debates to media outlets to run? I am not suggesting GOP candidates should be completely sheltered from leftists asking questions, but wouldn't these primary debates be better if moderator panels included people like Thomas Sowell, Mark Levin, and Rush Limbaugh? Back in 2007, both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama refused to debate on Fox. They did not seem to suffer from it.
Prior Posts: Question late breaking news in a political debate
ABC sits on damaging interview with Newt Gingrich's ex-wife
Update: Krauthammer says the GOP Candidates are on a suicide march
Back in 2007, both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama refused to debate on Fox. They did not seem to suffer from it.
ReplyDeleteExcellent point. It seems these days that playing fair leads to harm. Choosing your venue is the accepted norm.
EBL, I followed a link to you from Instapundit regarding Andrew Sullivan's criticism of that famous unemployment/stimulus graph. As far as I can tell, Sullivan's argument is based on bogus stats. I wanted to send you an email laying out the numbers, but you don't seem to have posted contact info here. If you're interested in the data, email me at scrutineer@gmail.com.
ReplyDeleteSorry for the threadjack.
@EBL: I'd be wary of "Scrutineer's" spelling of his own name.
ReplyDeleteThat could just be me. People I don't trust have been accusing me of lack of trust lately.
On the other hand, I may just be infected by all the lunacy going around.
ReplyDelete