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CNBC Debate in Boulder--Main Debate Reactions
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
| Chris Christie for President |
|
| CARLY for America |
|
| Huckabee for President |
|
| Kasich for America |
|
| Rand Paul for President |
|
| Marco Rubio for President |
|
| Republican National Committee |
|
| Democratic National Committee |
|
| O'Malley for President |
|
| American Bridge 21st Century | |
| Correct the Record |
|
| Priorities USA Action |
|
| NextGen Climate |
|
| United States Hispanic Chamber
of Commerce |
|
| Evan Nison Consulting (marijuana
industry) |
|
| above from October 28, 2015
/ below from October 29, 2015 |
|
| Richard Viguerie,
ConservativeHQ.com |
|
| CNBC |
|
| see
also RNC letter to NBC News |
What They're Saying About…
“Chris Christie Seizes The
Moment”
“Christie
Having His Best Debate Of The Cycle” By “Speaking The Truth On
Entitlements, Debt & Political Happy Talk”
______________________________
Christie “Comes Out Firing Like A Gunslinger In Opening Answer”
Jon Thompson: “Great line by @ChrisChristie on Dems running for prez: "I see a socialist, isolationist & pessimist, & not sure which is which."
Hugh Hewitt: “Bravo @ChrisChristie describes "a socialist an isolationist and a pessimist" and hits @HillaryClinton”
Chicago Sun Times’ Lynn Sweet: “.@ChrisChristie first to go after @HillaryClinton, @SenSanders”
The Washington Post’s James Hohmann: “Chris Christie was the only candidate to tout ELECTABILITY and the ability to bear Hillary Clinton in answering the first question.”
Fox News’ Fin Gomez: “. @ChrisChristie comes out firing like a gunslinger in opening answer”
Frank Luntz: “Focus Group: Best opening statement ratings go to Chris Christie and Carly Fiorina. #GOPDebate Laughter works.”
Fox News’ Bret Baier: “Although the Christie open about D's and Fiorina defense of her HP time -- pretty strong as well.”
“Christie Speaking The Truth On Entitlements, Debt & Political Happy Talk”
Townhall’s Guy Benson: “Christie speaking the truth on entitlements, debt & political happy talk.”
The Washington Post’s Jennifer Rubin: “Christie telling audience the govt is lying about entitlements. Being the grownup. All these guys outclassing Carson and Trump. By miles.”
The Washington Post’s James Hohmann: “Christie again invokes Hillary in 2nd answer and makes the case that he's the guy with the plan.”
NBC’s Chuck Todd: “Christie has already talked about running against Hillary Clinton twice... Rubio once, everyone else more focused on each other or media”
Philadelphia Inquirer’s Andrew Seidman: “Christie keeping the contrast with Hillary. Not others on the stage.”
Wall Street Journal’s Kimberley Strassel: “Awesome Christie response on entitlements. Washington broke the "social compact" years ago. Critics of reform deliberately overlook that.”
Stuart Rothenberg: “Christie to camera. Very effective.”
National Review’s Jay Nordlinger: “Christie's two elections as governor: not an accident. Very talented, very smart.”
Townhall’s Katie Pavlich: “Christie is right about Social Security. It won't be there for you. It's gone.”
Alex Castellanos: “seems like @GovChristie is only one w a strategy: me vs. @HillaryClinton. not bad.”
Buzzfeed’s Andrew Kaczynski: “Christie has eyes on general election electability, repeatedly contrasts himself with Hillary Clinton.”
“Chris Christie Is By Far The Most Focused On Hillary Clinton -- Bashing Her Rather Than His Republican Rivals”
Hugh Hewitt: “Panelists in such retreat that @ChrisChristie takes control. Way to go governor. Standing up for police”
Jeanine Pirro: “Chris christie in his wheel house when he talks DOJ”
Townhall’s Guy Benson: “Christie answer so good: Directly answered Q, made philosophical point about gov't ineptitude, attacked politicized DOJ.”
CNN’s Eric Bradner: “Chris Christie is by far the most focused on Hillary Clinton -- bashing her rather than his Republican rivals.”
CNBC’s Carol Roth: “Chris Christie is the only one on the stage consistent in directing attacks at Hillary.”
Cook Political Report’s Amy Walter: “Meanwhile, Christie is very good at debating. Answered that Q on drug price gouging v. well. Much better than Carson”
Washington Examiner’s Ashe Schow: “But Christie had great answer about politicizing the DOJ.”
“Christie Having His Best Debate Of The Cycle”
The Weekly Standard’s Bill Kristol: “Best performances of night: Rubio, Cruz, Christie, & Cueto.”
The Washington Post’s James Hohmann: “Christie having a good moment. He might get a little pop out of tonight. The fantasy football line will play really well with conservatives.”
Rabbi Shmuley: “great point by @GovChristie about govt focusing on america's real dangers today rather than distractions”
The Washington Post’s Jennifer Rubin: “great Christie moment who cares!?! about fantsy football. BRAVO”
The Washington Post’s Robert Costa: “Christie having his best debate of the cycle. Getting back into his pre-bridge groove. Tore into gov't reg of fantasy sports.”
The New York Times’ Nicholas Confessore: “I think Christie has had a very steady performance in this debate.”
National Journal’s Josh Kraushaar: “Christie is having a really good debate even tho he hasn't had too much speaking time”
Wall Street Journal’s Reid J. Epstein: “Chris Christie seizes the moment.”
MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough: “Chris Christie is having a very good night.”
Frank Luntz: "Even in New Jersey, that's considered rude!" hits 97. Second highest score of the night. Chris Christie coming on strong.”
Breitbart’s Charlie Spiering: “BOOOM CHRISTIE Torching Bush’s little stunt”
Ari Fleischer: “Touchdown for Christie on fantasy football. Well done.”
Stuart Rothenberg: “Christie. Nice.”
Steven Dennis: Christie on fantasy football regs: "Let people play. Who cares?!"
Yahoo News’ Jon Ward: “big winner point for Christie. sounding like Iverson: "We're talking about practice man"
Townhall’s Guy Benson: “Christie body-slams Harwood.”
The Boston Globe’s Matt Viser: “Even in New Jersey, what you’re doing is called rude,” Christie tells moderator John Harwood in Round 37 of candidates vs. media.”
Fox News’ Ed Henry: “"Let them play!" @ChrisChristie in a strong moment about #priorities”
CNN’s Maeve Reston: “Oh Snap. Chris Christie is getting the better of Ted Cruz by punching even harder at the refs. Not going to let Cruz win that point”
CNN’s Ashley Killough: “Chris Christie is back.”
Yahoo News’ Jon Ward: “reupping my point from earlier about Christie coming in for a second look”
The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza: “Chris Christie has talent. But just not enough time to show it.”
Fox News’ Brit Hume: “Christie to John Harwood: "Do you want to answer or do you want me to answer?" Audience roars.”
Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade: “#gopdebate u know u have talented field when single digiters @GovMikeHuckabee @GovChristie @marcorubio hit homer after homer”
Did you miss Carly Fiorina's debate performance on CNBC tonight?
-
"Wow. @CarlyFiorina freezes panelist with a look. That is actually a presidential skill set." (@HughHewitt)
-
"Carly 1 CNBC 0 #CNBCGOPDebate" (@JamesPindell
) -
"Carly Fiorina gets served a REALLY TOUGH question and KNOCKS IT out of the PARK!! #GOPdebate http://therightscoop.com/
carly-fiorina-gets-served-a- " (@trscoop)really-tough-questio -
"Carly, yes, yes, yes: 'This is how socialism starts. Government creates a problem and then government steps in to solve the problem.'" (@marykissel)
Huckabee for President
Huckabee shapes debate on Social Security and Medicare
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: KASICH DEBATE PERFORMANCE
Forbes: All the Republicans came out to play hard tonight but Senator Marco Rubio and Governor John Kasich clearly won—but for two different reasons.
...
Mr. Kasich came out firing his guns. He stayed focused on his record and it is an impressive one. He was a Congressional leader who actually balanced the federal budget, cut taxes and grew the Ohio economy, led his state to job growth, and is known as an innovator. He got a chance to say it. He came out hard and he won on substance.
Washington Times: WINNERS: Gov. John Kasich: Right from the opening bell, he was an aggressor who assailed the math of the economic plans of frontrunners Mr. Carson and Mr. Trump. He had strong command of policy and was effective in using his record in Ohio to explain why he could be successful as America’s commander-in-chief in balancing the budget and growing the economy.
Politico: John Kasich unloaded on the two GOP presidential polling leaders, Donald Trump and Ben Carson, on Wednesday night, ripping their policies as "fantasy" and warning Republicans against nominating either one.
"Folks, we've got to wake up," the Ohio governor said. He mocked Carson's tax plan as a "10 percent tithe," an analogy Carson has used to sell his flat tax proposal. And he also needled Carson's health plans, which he said amounted to "getting rid of Medicare and Medicaid."
"We cannot elect somebody who doesn’t know how to do the job," he said.
Kasich, a former member of Congress, touted his work in the 1990s to balance the budget in concert with the House GOP leadership and the Clinton administration.
Chicago Sun Times: Kasich set the tone when he came out swinging against Trump and Carson — not by name — in the first question, where the contenders were asked about their biggest weakness.
“Good question, but I want to tell you, my great concern is that we are on the verge, perhaps, of picking someone who cannot do this job.” Later, Kasich tore into Carson’s tax plan — for people to tithe — as a “fantasy.”
Cleveland Plain Dealer: Instead, he warned that "we are on the verge, perhaps, of picking someone who cannot do this job." It was a cutting and well-planned criticism of retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson and real estate billionaire Donald Trump, the front-runners in the GOP nominating race.
...
"We need somebody who can lead. We need somebody who can balance budgets, cut taxes. You know, frankly, I did it in Washington, in Ohio, and I will do it again in Washington, if I'm president, to get this country moving again."
---
Gov. Kasich is running for President to help Americans restore our nation, live in safety and pass on prosperity to those who come after us—and he’s got the experience to help us do it. He was reelected last year by a 30-point margin after working with his fellow Ohioans to turn an $8 billion shortfall into a $2 billion surplus, cut taxes $5 billion and create more than 300,000 new private sector jobs. As chair of the Budget Committee in Congress he led the effort to balance the federal budget for the first time in a generation and served 18 years on the House Armed Services Committee where he helped enact President Reagan's national security agenda. He has also had a successful career as an investment banker, New York Times best-selling author and at FOX News. He and his wife Karen have twin teenage daughters and live in their home outside Columbus. You can learn more about him at www.JohnKasich.com.
###
BOULDER, CO- Sen. Rand Paul tonight proved that he is the only fiscal conservative on the CNBC Republican Primary debate stage. Since taking office, Sen. Paul has implemented common-sense solutions that will solve our nation's fiscal crisis-- solutions like a Balanced Budget Amendment, an Audit the Fed bill, spending cuts, and was named the 'most frugal' legislator by the National Taxpayers Union. Sen. Paul has also introduced a Fair and Flat Tax Plan that would repeal the entire IRS tax code-more than 70,000 pages-and replace it with a low, broad-based tax of 14.5 percent on individuals and businesses.
"Rubio steals the debate show"
| Hey
-
Marco
stole
the
show.
The
moderators
and
even
another candidate came
to the debate ready to attack Marco, but Marco turned the tables and
knocked their ridiculous attacks out of the park. Don't take my word
for it, though, see what others are saying below: |
REUTERS: “Rubio turns the tables on Bush for his missed votes.” “Under fire for missing more votes than any other senator, presidential candidate and Florida senator Marco Rubio blamed liberal media for hyping the issue. CNBC debate moderator Carl Quintanilla presented a Florida newspaper’s position this morning that called for Rubio to resign his Senate seat while seeking the presidency. Rubio called the editorial by the Sun Sentinel, ‘evidence of the bias that exists in the American media today.’ He noted that former Florida Senator Bob Graham and Secretary of State John Kerry missed Senate votes when they were seeking the presidency during the 2004 election, but the media did not call for their resignations. And yet, Rubio’s chief rival for establishment support, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, glommed on.” (Rubio turns the tables on Bush for his missed votes, Reuters, 10/29/15)
WASHINGTON EXAMINER: “Rubio: Mainstream media Dems' 'ultimate super PAC.'” “Sen. Marco Rubio ripped into the mainstream media during the third GOP debate, calling them the ‘ultimate super PAC.’ ‘The Democrats have the ultimate super PAC. they're called the mainstream media,’ Rubio said before ripping them for praising Clinton's performance in front of the House Select Committee on Benghazi last Thursday. ‘Last week, Hillary Clinton went before a committee. She admitted that she sent emails to her family saying, ‘Hey, this attack in Benghazi was caused by al Qaida-like elements,’’ Rubio said. ‘She spent over a week telling the family of those victims and the American people that it was because of a video.’ ‘And yet, the mainstream media is going around saying it was the greatest week in Hillary Clinton's campaign. It was the week she got exposed as a liar,’ Rubio said. ‘But she has her super PAC helping her out — the American mainstream media.’” (Rubio: Mainstream media Dems' 'ultimate super PAC,' The Washington Examiner, 10/28/15)
TWEETS...
Post Politics @postpolitics
Twitter declares Rubio the winner in his dustup with Jeb Bush wapo.st/1MjKkfL
Chuck Todd @chucktodd
If Rubio ends up the nominee, this debate performance will be considered one of, if not THE moment. #nbc2016
Matt Lewis @mattklewis
Rubio's smackdown of Jeb Bush was the moment of the night.
David Chalian @DavidChalian
(1/2) Rubio is the biggest winner of the night. Cruz's rise gets a big jolt from some great moments. Bush is going to be in triage mode.
John Bresnahan @BresPolitico
Rubio, Cruz, Christie winners. Trump & Carson non-factors caught in incorrecr statements. Bush flounders. Kasich-Huckabee-Carly-Paul flat
Jon Ralston @RalstonReports
No idea if either will get bump in the polls, but Rubio and Cruz are clear winners in this debate. Meanwhile, at the Bush family compound...
Chris Cillizza @The Fix
Rubio
Cruz
The rest
Jeb(!)
ICYMI: "Marco Rubio The Clear Winner"
GOP Strategist Steve Schmidt: "In presidential debates, knockouts come on the counterpunch. Marco Rubio knocked Jeb Bush out tonight, flat on his butt. Worst day of the campaign for Jeb Bush since his announcement was tonight. It was a devastating moment. And it showed a political tone deafness, because the crowd had erupted into cheers with Rubio’s defense and even after the cheering, Jeb Bush leaned right in with his chin to Marco Rubio, who was clearly prepared for it. So you had now, in this debate, the first direct combat between Bush, between Rubio. We knew it was coming, we’ve known it's been coming for months. We know they'd face off each other ultimately in Florida and only one of them comes out of that state. You saw that moment tonight, and Marco Rubio, the clear winner."NBC's Chuck Todd: "This is Marco Rubio’s debate. Pure and simple because he’s got the moment, the viral moment that you want to have. He was put in the spotlight early. He was going to be on the defensive early. His main rival, Jeb Bush, decided to go at him. He swung, he missed, and Rubio fired back hard."
TWEETS...
Marc Caputo @MarcACaputo
What you saw tonight was double Rubio-jitsu
1) taking CNBC questions & turning into attack on MSM
2) taking Jeb's criticism & hitting back
Erick Erickson @EWErickson
Dang, Rubio should be in the World Series tonight. He keeps hitting home runs.
Chris Cillizza @TheFix
My Winners and Losers from the 3rd Republican presidential debate. wpo.st/X0aj0
Fundraising email from Terry Sullivan, MarcoRubio.com
Subject: Out of the Park
Dear Sam,
Tonight, Marco reminded all of us why we're so proud to be a part of his campaign. The moderators and even another candidate came to the debate ready to attack Marco, but Marco turned the tables and knocked their ridiculous attacks out of the park.
Don't take my word for it -- see for yourself. Click here to watch this key moment from the debate & then donate $7.
|
Now it's our job to build on Marco's great debate. It's starts with everyone on our team chipping in $7 now. Contribute here: https://marcorubio.com/debate-
Sincerely,
Terry Sullivan
Campaign Manager
Marco Rubio for President
RNC Statement On The CNBC Republican Debate
"One of the great things about our party is that we are able to have a dynamic exchange about which solutions will secure a prosperous future, and I will fight to ensure future debates allow for a more robust exchange. CNBC should be ashamed of how this debate was handled.”
DNC Chair Statement on 3rd GOP Presidential Debate
Washington, D.C. – DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz released the following statement tonight after the conclusion of the third Republican presidential debate:“Tonight the GOP candidates proved what an oxymoron it is to use the phrase, ‘Republican economic debate’.
“There was in fact no substantive debate about ideas to strengthen our economy. Instead, what the American people heard was an unyielding desire to return to the failed policies of the past that preceded an economic disaster with 750,000 job losses a month, foreclosure signs dotting too many streets, and families deciding between paying the bills and accessing health care.
“Nearly twelve hours of GOP debate has produced zero serious ideas to move America forward. Despite repeated questions from the moderators, no candidate in Boulder offered plans to help the middle class. They didn’t discuss ways to ensure moms and dads have access to paid family leave or how to end pay disparities and narrow the income inequality gap, but they did find ways to attack raising the minimum wage, discuss building walls and blame the media for their woes.
“The GOP field’s crocodile tears for the supposed decline of America shouldn’t fool anyone; America is already great and we need to continue the economic progress that began and continues under President Obama in order to create more opportunity for more people. The President was handed the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression and under his leadership, we’ve had 67 months of private-sector job growth resulting in 13 million new jobs. Any one of our Democratic candidates would build on that progress.
“That’s why I’m confident that the more the GOP keeps highlighting their tired, old policies, the more Americans will vote for the Democratic nominee to become the 45th President of the United States.”
_________________
What Twitter is saying about the third GOP debate
After twelve hours of Republican debates it’s crystal clear that the middle class would lose the most under another Republican Administration.It took 40 minutes at the undercard debate and longer on the main stage for Republican candidates to even mention the middle class, and there were zero credible ideas in either to move America forward. No candidate had the courage to discuss raising the minimum wage, offering parents paid family leave, or ending pay disparities—but every candidate discussed plans to give the wealthy tax breaks, add to the deficit, and let college affordability and Social Security fall by the wayside.
Unlike the first Democratic debate, tonight’s Republican show lacked substance and policies that will lift up the middle class. The GOP candidates took the time on stage to reiterate their outdated and out-of-touch policies.
And folks on Twitter agree:
@toritaylor: Rubio opposes min wage increase, equal pay, & extensions of unemployment benefits. No champion of ppl working paycheck2paycheck. #GOPDebate
@donnabrazile: #CNBCGOPDebate defended tax cuts for the wealthy that would explode the deficit or balance the budget on the backs of the middle class.
@donnabrazile: #CNBCGOPDebate avoided any real solutions to help the middle class, they actually propose ideas to make it harder on everyday Americans.
@greenhousenyt: If candidates can't stand the heat from the media's moderators (without attacking them), maybe they should get out of the kitchen.
@MikeGrunwald: Cruz promises 4.9M jobs. The US has already created 12M jobs since 2010.
@EliStokols: This debate is a raging dumpster fire.
@krystalball: Apparently tax plans and the debt ceiling are not "substantive." #gopweaknesses #CNBCGOPDebate
@Simas44: Kind of stunning that there's been no mention of the ACA. Probably because of 17 million covered and a record 90% with insurance.
@mikememoli: .@SenTedCruz keeps talking about how non-substantive this debate is. @carlquintanilla notes he never answered the substantive Q he was asked
@MatthewArco: Just so we're clear, Carson is the 1 who argued being gay is a choice b/c ppl have gay relations in jail & then go straight upon release
@nickconfessore: So far, in this debate, Cruz has offered tequila, pot brownies, and a ride home, and Bush has offered a big wet kiss.
@Citizenship4All: Rubio thinks millions of families are just here & don't want to be citizens:Maybe he should spend more time back in Florida. #CNBCGOPDebate
@SEIU: ICYMI, Carly Fiorina just said there shouldn't be a federal minimum wage. No one objected. #CNBCGOPDebate
@JoshDorner: Again, in summation. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/
Fundraising Email from Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Subject: That was bad, Sam
Sam --
I had chills watching the debate tonight -- and not in a good way. We can't let a single one of them get close to the White House.
So, Sam, if you're as outraged as I am about all the bad policy ideas we heard on the debate stage tonight, then pitch in $3 or whatever you can to make sure that our team has the resources to beat whichever one of these Republicans makes it out on top.
QUICK DONATE: $3
QUICK DONATE: $10
QUICK DONATE: $25
QUICK DONATE: $50
QUICK DONATE: $100
Or donate another amount:
https://my.democrats.org/
We need you in this, Sam. We can't stop this crowd without you.
Debbie
O'Malley for President
STATEMENT: O’Malley on GOP Debate
Baltimore, MD — After the conclusion of the Republican debate, Governor Martin O'Malley issued the following statement:"Today in Boulder, I was proud to join some of the strongest people I've ever had the honor to meet. People like Sandy and Lonnie Phillips who lost their daughter in a mass shooting carried out by a psychopath who was able to obtain thousands of rounds of ammunition without so much as a background check. It was telling tonight in Colorado -- the site of Aurora and Columbine -- that not one person on stage had the backbone to say that one life saved is more important than the National Rifle Association's goal of selling more firearms.
O’Malley For President
American Bridge Statement on Tonight's Debate
American Bridge 21st Century President Jessica Mackler released the following statement on the dumpster fire that was tonight's Republican debate:"This debate was supposed to be focused on the important issue of how to continue growing our economy. For this field of candidates the bar was set low, but somehow tonight they managed not to meet it. According to folks like Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush, America needs to cut earned benefits for our seniors in order to finance massive tax cuts for Wall Street and self-interested billionaires like Charles and David Koch. This 'debate' -- if you can even call it that -- was a childish display that exemplified Republican politicians' backwards economic policies and utter incompetence."
Correct The Record (pro-Clinton super PAC)
CTR STATEMENT:
BOLSHEVIKS, MENSHEVIKS, WARM KISSES, BLIMPS, BUT NOTHING ABOUT THE MIDDLE CLASS?
WE TOLD YOU SO.
Washington, DC – Just as we predicted before it got underway, tonight’s debate was a trainwreck for the Republican Party. Despite two hours of shouting, the 10 Republicans on stage could not come up with one, single new economic proposal to aid middle class and working class families.“After Hillary Clinton, the greatest advocates for progressive economic policies are these ten Republican dead-enders, and that’s why she was the clear winner of tonight’s debate,” said Brad Woodhouse, President of Correct The Record. “If every person in America watched tonight’s debate, there would not be another Republican elected to the White House in my lifetime. Where were the solutions for workers? Where was the promise of progress for middle class families? The Republican Party has nothing to offer the American people but a giant sucking sound, while Hillary Clinton continues to offer a cutting-edge, forward-looking economic agenda.”
Correct The Record is a strategic research and rapid response team designed to defend Hillary Clinton from baseless attacks.
Priorities USA Action (pro-Clinton super PAC)
Priorities USA Statement On Tonight’s GOP Debate
Priorities USA Communications Director Justin Barasky released the following statement following tonight’s GOP debate:“If you needed a better example of just how wrong for us Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush and the rest of the GOP field are how about a debate on the economy that barely mentions the middle class, equal pay for women, or raising the minimum wage? Tonight was nothing more than a bad GOP infomercial with all their greatest hits: tax cuts for the wealthy, gutting Social Security & Medicare, and one insulting comment about women after another. (Looking at you Marco Rubio.) Without question the clear winner of tonight’s debate is Hillary Clinton whose lifelong commitment to fighting for American families and children stands in stark contrast to what we saw from the Republican field.
NextGen Climate
Statement from Tom Steyer on the Republican Presidential Debate
“Unchecked
climate change will devastate our economy. Full stop. The Republican
candidates haven’t presented a plan to address climate change—and so
those candidates still aren't ready
to be president. The next president simply cannot stand by as climate
change hurts our economy, kills jobs, and increases costs for American
families.”
# # #
Evan Nison Consulting
Marijuana industry reacts to GOP debate
Tonight at the Republican Presidential Debate in Boulder, CO, candidates glossed over the one and only marijuana question to be asked in the first state to legalize.
If you cover the debate, here are statements from two marijuana industry leaders that I hope you’ll be able to use:
Kyle Sherman, CEO of Colorado-based Flowhub said, “The GOP debate was in our home state because we’re a swing state, and here we’re proud of our voters for repealing cannabis prohibition. The Republicans should be making this a major part of their platform to earn our votes.
Derek Peterson, CEO of Terra Tech, reacted, “The candidates spent a good portion of the night focused on economic growth, while they were standing in the heart of the fastest growing sector in the country, without acknowledging it. Cannabis legalization is an important factor to voters in Colorado and across the country, and should be a priority for Republicans and Democrats alike."
It is unfortunate that a financial
network such as CNBC would not
urge candidates to have a more meaningful conversation about legal
cannabis, given the banking and tax issues facing the rapidly growing
industry.
--
ConservativeHQ.com
CNBC GOP Debate: Party of Stupid Invites Attacks from Most Biased Media Panel Ever
Last night’s media assault on the Republican candidates for President was conducted by what just might be the most biased media panel to ever conduct a presidential debate. And that’s saying a lot given the history of media bias in the Republican Primary debates and against Republican candidates in the General Election debates.The first ridiculous question was the very first question, “in any job interview, you know this: you get asked, ‘what’s your biggest weakness?’ So in 30 seconds, without telling us that you try too hard or that you’re a perfectionist… what is your biggest weakness and what are you doing to address it?”
And it went downhill from there:
Characterizing Trump as a "comic book version of a presidential campaign."
Belittling Carly Fiorina by repeating "Is that using really small type?" when she said the 70,000 pages of IRS regs could be cut down to three.
Assaulting Carly Fiorina with the completely unrelated comments of one of her supporters.
Characterizing the ideas of Governor Christie and others who have suggested ways to save Social Security as "breaking the social compact."
Attacking Ben Carson for being a homophobe for defending traditional marriage.
Attacking Donald Trump through a question to Governor Mike Huckabee, “When you look at him, do you see someone with the moral authority to unite the country?”
The entire media panel seemed intent on one-upping George Stephanopoulos’ infamous monologue about contraception and the alleged Republican opposition to a woman’s “reproductive rights” that teed-up the Democrats 2012 “war on women” campaign.
The good news is these attacks were by and large not accepted by the candidates and led to several of the best moments of the debate – at least according to my informal applause-o-meter.
When Ted Cruz was hit with a monologue-type question mischaracterizing the outrageous spending bill that just passed the House he took the opportunity to push back:
CRUZ: You know, let me say something at the outset. The questions that have been asked so far in this debate illustrate why the American people don’t trust the media.
(APPLAUSE) This is not a cage match. And, you look at the questions — “Donald Trump, are you a comic-book villain?” “Ben Carson, can you do math?” “John Kasich, will you insult two people over here?” “Marco Rubio, why don’t you resign?” “Jeb Bush, why have your numbers fallen?”
How about talking about the substantive issues the people care about?
(APPLAUSE)
QUINTANILLA: (inaudible) do we get credit (inaudible)?
CRUZ: And Carl — Carl, I’m not finished yet.
CRUZ: The contrast with the Democratic debate, where every fawning question from the media was, “Which of you is more handsome and why?”
(LAUGHTER)
And let me be clear.
(CROSSTALK)
QUINTANILLA: So, this is a question about (inaudible), which you have 30 seconds left to answer, should you choose to do so.
CRUZ: Let me be clear. The men and women on this stage have more ideas, more experience, more common sense than every participant in the Democratic debate. That debate reflected a debate between the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks.
(LAUGHTER)
And nobody watching at home believed that any of the moderators had any intention of voting in a Republican primary. The questions that are being asked shouldn’t be trying to get people to tear into each other. It should be what are your substantive positions…
(CROSSTALK)
QUINTANILLA: OK. (inaudible) I asked you about the debt limit and I got no answer.
(CROSSTALK)
CRUZ: You want me to answer that question? I’m happy to answer the question…
Senator Marco Rubio, the object of several of the most pointed attacks from the media panel also received some of his most vocal audience support when he pushed back against the media inquisitors:
RUBIO: OK. I know the Democrats have the ultimate SuperPac. It’s called the mainstream media who every single day…
(APPLAUSE)
… and I’ll tell you why. Last week, Hillary Clinton went before a committee. She admitted she had sent e-mails to her family saying, “Hey, this attack at Benghazi was caused by Al Qaida-like elements.” She spent over a week telling the families of those victims and the American people that it was because of a video. And yet the mainstream media is going around saying it was the greatest week in Hillary Clinton’s campaign.
It was the week she got exposed as a liar. It was the week that she got exposed as a liar…
(APPLAUSE)
But she has her super PAC helping her out, the American mainstream media.
In my book TAKEOVER I devoted an entire chapter to the outrageous stupidity the Republican Party has displayed in handing over their presidential primary debates to the establishment media.
In “The Party of Stupid Puts the Media in Charge of Their Debates” I said:
If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over while expecting a different result, welcome to the nut house of the establishment media-sponsored Republican presidential debates.
What would you call a political party that hands the power to set the agenda during its presidential primaries to its sworn enemies in the liberal media, then doubles down to give the power to set the agenda in the waning days of the general election to a self-perpetuating “commission” of Washington, DC, progressive insiders?
Some people might call that the national Republican Party—
I call it the Party of Stupid.
In the aftermath of CNBC’s two-hour long attack ad for the Democratic National Committee, Republican national Committee Chairman Reince Priebus complained that CNBC “did a disservice to their network, our candidates, and voters.”
But he was the one that, in spite of years of evidence of the folly of giving that much power to the establishment media, agreed to the “debate.”
Last night’s CNBC Republican Presidential Primary Debate proved that RNC Chairman Reince Priebus and the national GOP leaders who set-up the debate schedule remain the Party of Stupid for allowing a biased liberal media to set the agenda in the Republican Party’s primary election. The good news is that, unlike Priebus and the insiders at the RNC, a few of the Republican presidential candidates understand the danger of this and were prepared to push back.
CNBC Delivers Most Watched Night in Network History
14.0 Million Tuned In For CNBC's Republican Presidential Debate
Post GOP Debate Episode of "The Profit" is the Most Watched Original Series Telecast
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., October 29, 2015— In a hard-hitting debate that changed the course of the Republican primary, CNBC's Republican Presidential Debate averaged 14.0 million total viewers, 3.9 million adults 25-54 and 3.4 million adults 18-49, making it CNBC's most-watched telecast in network history. Moderated by CNBC's Carl Quintanilla, Becky Quick and John Harwood, the debate was held at the Coors Events Center at the University of Colorado Boulder.Last night, CNBC delivered its most-watched night in network history in all key demos.
Following the debate, a new episode of CNBC's hit series "The Profit" averaged 1.9 million total viewers, 820,000 adults 25-54, and 708,000 adults 18-49, making it CNBC's most-watched original series telecast in network history. "The Profit" follows serial entrepreneur and investor Marcus Lemonis, who puts his own money on the line to help save and grow struggling businesses across the country.
In the 6PM ET debate, CNBC averaged 1.6 million total viewers and the network's 7PM ET pre-debate show, "Your Money, Your Vote," averaged 3.3 million total viewers. The 11:30PM ET encore of the Republican Presidential debate averaged 1 million total viewers.
The Republican Presidential Debate averaged 3.5 times as many total viewers and 1.8 times as many adults 25-54 as the previous record holder (2002 Winter Olympics telecast on 2/22).
The Republican Presidential Debate averaged 4.2 times as many total viewers and 3.9 times as many adults 25-54 as the 2011 CNBC Republican Presidential Debate.
About CNBC:
With CNBC in the U.S., CNBC in Asia Pacific, CNBC in Europe, Middle East and Africa, CNBC World and CNBC HD , CNBC is the recognized world leader in business news and provides real-time financial market coverage and business information to approximately 371 million homes worldwide, including more than 100 million households in the United States and Canada. CNBC also provides daily business updates to 400 million households across China. The network's 15 live hours a day of business programming in North America (weekdays from 4:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. ET) is produced at CNBC's global headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., and includes reports from CNBC News bureaus worldwide. CNBC at night features a mix of new reality programming, CNBC's highly successful series produced exclusively for CNBC and a number of distinctive in-house documentaries.
CNBC also has a vast portfolio of digital products which deliver real-time financial market news and information across a variety of platforms. These include CNBC.com, the online destination for global business; CNBC PRO, the premium, integrated desktop/mobile service that provides real-time global market data and live access to CNBC global programming; and a suite of CNBC Mobile products including the CNBC Real-Time iPhone and iPad Apps.
Members of the media can receive more information about CNBC and its programming on the NBC Universal Media Village Web site at http://www.nbcumv.com/mediavillage/networks/cnbc/.
Copyright © 2015 Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action.
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