GOP tells NBC next debate suspended over 'gotcha' questions

[Anomalism]

Thoughts?

GOP tells NBC next debate suspended over 'gotcha' questions - Oct. 30, 2015

The Republican National Committee says it is suspending its February debate with NBC News amid anger over CNBC's handling of this week's debate in Boulder, Colorado. NBC said in a statement it will "work in good faith to resolve this matter."

 

[ToastyOats]

Fine. Next time they'll get asked about what they'd say to God and Ronald Reagan and what's their favorite brand name light beer.

Or would those be too "gotcha"?

 

[j-mac]

Fine. Next time they'll get asked about what they'd say to God and Ronald Reagan and what's their favorite brand name light beer.

Or would those be too "gotcha"?

Oh, so demo's gonna start having debates on FNC? Or debate at all?

 

[mak2]

Gotcha questions wouldn't be so gotcha if they had answers for them.

 

[Μολὼν λαβέ]

Gotcha questions wouldn't be so gotcha if they had answers for them.

Stupid questions/comments deserve no response.

 

[ToastyOats]

Stupid questions/comments deserve no response.

CNBC's Republican Primary Debate was Extremely Substantive | The New Republic

There were a lot of substantive, policy-based questions. Unfortunately crying about the mean ol media isn't a substantive response.

 

[tech30528]

There is no point in the candidates wasting their time with these kinds of questions. We need specifics on economy, foreign affairs, domestic issues, government size and corruption. Not "Hey how is your fantasy football season?" I don't have time to chat with dips hits either. I have staff for that.

 

[Skeptic Bob]

I guess I need to get around to watching this debate. What were some of the more egregious gotcha questions asked?

 

[ToastyOats]

There is no point in the candidates wasting their time with these kinds of questions. We need specifics on economy, foreign affairs, domestic issues, government size and corruption. Not "Hey how is your fantasy football season?" I don't have time to chat with dips hits either. I have staff for that.

Nobody asked Jeb Bush about his Fantasy Football team, he brought it up himself. The question was on whether or not Fantasy Football should be regulated like internet gambling.

 

[jimbo]

Gotcha questions wouldn't be so gotcha if they had answers for them.

Mak, most of what I read and heard were not questions, but political statements along the lines of how often do you beat your wife?

 

[le bouffon]

The GOP candidates would cry wolf if Jeremy Paxman was interviewing them. Being elected to the most important office of the United States requires difficult questions, as it tests their intellect and leadership. Those who cry because they either can't answer them, or just feel lazy to, dub them as gotcha questions.

 

[tech30528]

Nobody asked Jeb Bush about his Fantasy Football team, he brought it up himself. The question was on whether or not Fantasy Football should be regulated like internet gambling.

Right. Do you really think a question about that is appropriate in a 2 hour debate with this many candidates who are trying to get their positions stated? Do you think there may have been some more important topics discussed?

 

[OrphanSlug]

Thoughts?

GOP tells NBC next debate suspended over 'gotcha' questions - Oct. 30, 2015

I am not entirely surprised, but I suspect Democrats will use this development against Republicans.

It was clear that CNBC's moderators and overall handling of the debate was awful. I never thought I would say this (someone mark it down somewhere,) but I damn near completely agree with the RNC Chair on this matter. These debates are supposed to be about tough questions and force the candidates of a given party to debate the issues among them, distance themselves from one another, and offer unique solutions. CNBC decided to make the whole thing a spectacle and engage in the entertainment value of questions designed to intentionally harm the candidates. Some of the information referenced by the CNBC moderators is at least in question if not outright debunked.

And it is more than just the candidates themselves and RNC Chair giving CNBC low marks for how they handled the debate. The reviews are in and the general consensus is CNBC ****ed this all up.

'Shell-shocked' CNBC staffers had long flight home - Oct. 30, 2015

 

[Beaudreaux]

If I want to watch a bunch of folks sitting around talking about many of the questions asked by the CNBC folks, especially the way they were posed, then I'd just sit back and watch a bunch of Honey Boo Boo reruns (although I've never watched one before).

The moderators lost control of the debate early, and even though a number of the questions topics were substantive, the majority were a waste of time due to the asinine way they were posed.

Asking tough questions and holding a politicians feet to the fire is one thing, and Anderson Cooper showed us how that should be done with Lincoln Chafee, but what CNBC did was intentionally disrespectful as shown by their snarky grins and they don't deserve to get another chance.

 

[disneydude]

Thoughts?

GOP tells NBC next debate suspended over 'gotcha' questions - Oct. 30, 2015

LOL.....I guess the GOP just doesn't like answering hard questions. Let FauxNews throw them the softballs.

 

[disneydude]

I guess I need to get around to watching this debate. What were some of the more egregious gotcha questions asked?

It just the GOP whining. A good example to Carly Fiorina....that went something like this: You were fired from HP due to your mismanagement and incompetence. Why would the American people trust you to run the country?

Fair question. But the GOP says its a "Gotcha question" because it told the truth about Fiorina.

 

[Zyphlin]

Gotcha questions wouldn't be so gotcha if they had answers for them.

It's not even completely the questions that are the problem, but the presentation and angle of them.

No one can tell me in any reasonable way that asking a candidate if they're running a "comic book campaign" is a fair, objective, non-partisan, reasonable, professional style of debate question.

No one tuning in that is planning to vote for this primary gives a damn what the opinions, views, or analysis of the moderators are. They are not tuning in for the moderators. The debate is not about them. Their opinion, views, or issues on the candidates opinions or thoughts is irrelevant and has no place in the debate.

 

[le bouffon]

It just the GOP whining. A good example to Carly Fiorina....that went something like this: You were fired from HP due to your mismanagement and incompetence. Why would the American people trust you to run the country?

Fair question. But the GOP says its a "Gotcha question" because it told the truth about Fiorina.

Yep. This was a genuine question, ringing her leadership and integrity to light.

 

[Born Free]

LOL.....I guess the GOP just doesn't like answering hard questions. Let FauxNews throw them the softballs.

I see you got a fuzzy feeling up your leg watching the comedy hour of the CNBC commentators.

 

[Born Free]

The GOP candidates would cry wolf if Jeremy Paxman was interviewing them. Being elected to the most important office of the United States requires difficult questions, as it tests their intellect and leadership. Those who cry because they either can't answer them, or just feel lazy to, dub them as gotcha questions.

GOP debate winners and losers

GOP Winners

CNBC Losers

 

[Skeptic Bob]

It just the GOP whining. A good example to Carly Fiorina....that went something like this: You were fired from HP due to your mismanagement and incompetence. Why would the American people trust you to run the country?

Fair question. But the GOP says its a "Gotcha question" because it told the truth about Fiorina.

Yeah, that isn't a gotcha question. My only problem with that particular one is it has already been asked at a debate. I would prefer they ask them new questions. But yeah, that isn't a gotcha question.

 

[rocket88]

Stupid questions/comments deserve no response.

We don't want the man who may be President to have to answer anything hard like what his position on economic policy is.

 

[rocket88]

Yeah, that isn't a gotcha question. My only problem with that particular one is it has already been asked at a debate. I would prefer they ask them new questions. But yeah, that isn't a gotcha question.

Except that to many on the right, any difficult question asked toward a Republican is a "gotcha" question. Like "Do you like to read?"

 

[Zyphlin]

It just the GOP whining. A good example to Carly Fiorina....that went something like this: You were fired from HP due to your mismanagement and incompetence. Why would the American people trust you to run the country?

Fair question. But the GOP says its a "Gotcha question" because it told the truth about Fiorina.

Except that's not a legitimate way to professional present that question as a NEUTRAL AND UNBIASED moderator, unless the HP board explicitly stated "incompetence" was a reason for her firing. If it did not, this is the debate moderator editorializing and positing his opinion on the matter as if it is a fact, which is ridiculously uncalled for in a debate question. The same question could be asked by saying:

You were fired from HP after the company was performing poorly financially under your leadership. How should that impact the American people's belief that you can successfully run the country?

That question asks the same question, however:

1. It does not editorialize on why she was fired with ambiguous notions but rather a definitive fact, it was doing poorly financially
2. It asks it's question in a non-accusation so way (i.e., one assuming a negative and wanting her to provide a counter) but rather a neutral way that does not imply a predisposed belief either way by the public.

Both are questions that ask the same thing, but one is an unprofessional, editorialized, slanted question and the other is more neutral and factual in tone and content.

That's the difference between a legitimate unbiased debate question that is still hard hitting, and a biased and agenda driven one aimed at setting the narrative from the onset of the question.

The concept is an absolute legitimate one and a question that should be asked in a debate; but it should be asked in a professional, non-editorialized, factual, unbiased fashion.

 

[rocket88]

Oh, so demo's gonna start having debates on FNC? Or debate at all?

Why should they be afraid of "fair and balanced" questions?