Last updated on July 17th, 2023 at 06:14 pm
The Republican Party is responding to the successful Democratic debate by crumbling into a chaotic mess as both of the top two GOP candidates, Ben Carson and Donald Trump, are threatening to boycott the next Republican presidential debate.
What was supposed to a routine call to go over the format for the next Republican debate on CNBC turned into a case study in Republican dysfunction when the campaigns immediately started complaining because there was not going to be opening and closing statements. Forget for a moment that CNBC usually doesn’t use opening and closing statements, and consider that to give each of the ten candidates one minute to open and one more minute to close would add 20 minutes to the debate without a single question being asked.
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The phone tantrums from many of the Republican campaigns turned into a real boycott threat after the Trump and Carson campaigns threatened to skip the debate unless candidates got opening and closing statements, and the debate was limited to two hours in length including commercials.
Here is the letter that the Trump and Carson camps sent to CNBC:
Trump and Carson threaten to opt out of CNBC debate by Alexandra Jaffe
The first Democratic primary debate has drawn nearly universal praise for its unity and speed. Republicans responded to the success of their opponents by melting down into a free for all about the debate length and format.
There is a practical reason the top two Republicans want the debate to be limited to two hours. With ten people on stage and a strict time limit, there will be less time for inexperienced candidates to be grilled about policy.
Republicans can’t agree on a new Speaker of the House. The Republican presidential candidates can’t agree to appear on the same debate stage. Compare this level of dysfunction with the Democratic Party.
Democrats are unified and look like they are ready to mobilize for 2016. Republicans are not capable of carrying out the most basic functions of a political party. If Republicans can’t keep their own house in order, how are they going to govern the country?
The answer is that they won’t be able to govern.
Trump and Carson will be on the debate stage, but the Republican habit of not being able to accomplish anything without crisis and drama is one of the main reasons why Republicans are not fit to govern.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
