by Michael DeLier
In this commentary, Michael DeLier, president of management consulting firm The DeLier Group says the recent GOP debate was poorly handled and it’s time for the candidates to take charge. Reach him at: [email protected].
Among the several things we learned in the last GOP Debate hosted by CNN were these. Foremost, CNN should apologize to the GOP candidates and to its viewers as well. First, the viewers. Because of inconsequential and unnecessary production the debate actually started about 30 minutes late.
It was very obvious that CNN wanted, just like FOX before them, to interject themselves into the election process. We’ll come back to that later, but the networks must come to realize that they are a news medium not an election medium.
The questions were designed to create havoc with the contenders, and they did for a while until the candidates themselves defused the situation, showing why they are candidates for high public office and the media are who they are.
Speaking of that, were you aware that the news pool did not stand during the National Anthem. What’s with that? This was also amazing to me…as was the poorly researched questions by a major television network.
Several times, Jake Tapper posed a question to a candidate, and the candidate’s response was… “I never said that.” Once Tapper even said, “Well, that was according to the Wall Street Journal.” Ed Turner was probably turning over in his grave, and rightly so.
And does anyone know who and why the other two were there? I’m serious. Who, why, what the hell was that all about. ?? The same could be said for Tapper cutting off candidates thoughts before they had a chance to complete them. Who organized this thing??
Everyone knows that CNN leans left and they validated that by directing most of the “gotcha questions” to and about Donald Trump.
What about the viewers who turned in to watch and analyze for themselves what Huckabee, Kachich, and a couple of others had to say about critical issues? And to tell you the truth the need for critical questions to all the candidates just wasn’t there.
Instead, CNN decided to go with what Trump had to say about Fiorina? When the USA is fighting off terrorists, trying to handle the economy, and has social unrest, is that really an important question? I think not.
No, the debate should have been debated by the candidates. The gotcha setup is not working. Stop it. Ask the questions, let the candidates speak and keep the time. If you do that, maybe you will earn respect from the viewers, the word I discussed last week.
Michael De Lier is president of The DeLier Group, a management consulting firm. Reach him at: [email protected].
