With the new demands the GOP candidates have put on the table to the networks hosting the upcoming debates, Fox News' Gretchen Carlson was shocked to learn that the role of the RNC was no more than to be gophers, taking ticket requests and doing logistics surrounding a debate.
Ben Ginsberg, the Republican attorney who's become the pro bono debate negotiator for frustrated GOP candidates joined Gretchen Carlson on The Big Story and the more he explained the wider Carlson's eyes became.
Ginsberg: ...the campaigns wanted to be able negotiate with the people ` who are putting on the debates, talk to them directly. The campaigns will now ask for a process where they get to negotiate with the sponsors themselves....
Carlson: Truly that is a complete change of plan. What you're saying is the Republican National Committee, the RNC is out!
Ginsberg: No, not at all The RNC will be running the logistical side, the ticketing, the credentialing, spin rooms green rooms , filing centers that's essential parts of the campaign. The campaigns expressed a desire to continue the partnership that way.
Carlson: You have to admit that's totally different than how it has happened in the past...
I'm sure Ben Carson will be the first to cry if the networks refuse to send in their debate questions before hand. As was said on Twitter, why don't they just demand to submit their own questions.
Should each of the #Republican candidates just write the #debate questions for themselves? #QuestionsTooToughforaPresident Call 888-488-MARK
— Mark Levine (@MarkLevineTalk) November 2, 2015
Digby writes that the Republican party is dead at this time:
I think there's a case to be made that the Republican party has now officially ceased to exist...
John Boehner had to resign in order that the congress avoid total chaos and possibly default on the government's debt during a presidential campaign. The RNC has just been shut out of participation in the presidential campaign. Candidates are in the employ of billionaires (or are billionaires) who are openly bankrolling the campaigns and their Super PACs --- and requiring fealty to their needs in return.
This is no longer a political party. It is just a sales force selling snake oil to the rubes on behalf of the 1%.
I'm sure the networks will acquiesce over some of the candidates demands, but not all and I hope they stand firm against their "gotcha questions and no direct questions between candidate policies" the candidates are trying to ram down their throats. If they acquiesce to these ridiculous demands then we really do not have a free and open press anymore.
Now that the clown car members have told ALL THE MEDIA to play fetch the way they want them to play fetch, what will happen? I'm betting it's fetch! Good doggies.
By the way, I wonder how the contracts between the RNC and the networks are worded? Imagine if they could be sued for breach...
