The American Spectator : Governor Asterisk

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Governor Asterisk

By Robert Stacy McCain on 9.12.11 @ 6:08AM

Jon Huntsman doesn't belong in the GOP debates.

TAMPA -- CNN's Wolf Blitzer should begin the Republican presidential debate tonight by asking Jon Huntsman a simple question: "Why are you here?"

The former Utah governor's campaign has no obvious political rationale and is barely a statistical blip in national polls. Since he officially announced his 2012 presidential bid in June, Huntsman has only once (in early August) polled as high as 4 percent. Five of the six most recent national surveys show Huntsman's support among Republican voters at a mere 1 percent -- less than the margin of error. Despite the effective non-existence of his support, however, Huntsman will be among the eight candidates on stage tonight (8 p.m. ET) for the debate at the Florida State Fairgrounds sponsored by the Tea Party Express.

Of course, Blitzer would never question the legitimacy of Huntsman's candidacy for the simple reason that CNN anchor is a leading member of Huntsman's most important constituency, the media.

In announcing Huntsman's inclusion two weeks ago, CNN said that debate participants "needed to achieve a minimum 2 percent threshold in an average of national primary polls," a threshold that Huntsman is now below. Even CNN's own most recent poll, taken in late August, shows Huntsman at 1 percent, the same level of support Huntsman registered in the most recent polls by Gallup, the Washington Post, and Fox News. And those anemic numbers were registered after Huntsman's first debate appearance Aug. 11 in the Iowa GOP debate. This is why I've started referring to Huntsman as "Governor Asterisk," denoting his status as an irrelevant footnote to the GOP 2012 campaign.

The inclusion of Huntsman in nationally televised debates is an irritant to other minor Republican presidential candidates, especially those excluded from the debates. For example, some polls have shown former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson leading Huntsman. But Johnson has been left out of the debates and complained last week to Politico columnist Ben Smith: "I'm going to guess that Huntsman has outspent me 15 to 1, maybe 20 to 1. How is it that even from an aberration standpoint that I can be ahead of him?… I think based on what I've done politically and what I've done in my life that I should have a seat at the table."

What Johnson has not done, however, is to join the Obama administration. That is Huntsman's indisputable claim to distinction among the current GOP field. With fulsome praise, President Obama appointed Huntsman ambassador to China in May 2009. That was three months after Huntsman shocked Republicans in Utah -- one of the most conservative states in the Union -- by endorsing a gay-rights group's agenda that included civil unions for same-sex couples. As if to put an exclamation point on his liberalism, Huntsman is also aligned with Al Gore on the global-warming issue, a point he made clear last week. During a debate at the Reagan Library, Huntsman chided Texas Gov. Rick Perry for having made "comments that fly in the face of what 98 out of 100 climate scientists have said."

It's therefore hardly a mystery why the liberal media love Huntsman, an Obama-endorsed Republican who promotes key elements of Obama's agenda. The real mystery is why Republicans allow their presidential selection process to be manipulated in this manner by their worst enemies. Last week's Reagan Library debate was a classic example of such manipulation, as moderators Brian Williams of NBC News and John Harris of the Politico devoted much of the event to extended arguments between Perry and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. This had the effect of demoting the other GOP candidates -- including Rep. Michele Bachmann, winner of last month's Iowa straw poll -- to bit players in the Perry-Romney Show.

When that debate ended, the campaign of Atlanta businessman Herman Cain sent out a press release noting that Cain was asked only five questions, for a total of less than six minutes of speaking time in a debate that lasted an hour and 45 minutes. Huntsman got more questions and more camera time, and if he did nothing else other than waste TV debate time, Huntsman's impact on the 2012 campaign might be as negligible as his poll numbers. But Huntsman is less significant as a candidate than he is as a symptom of how -- despite the vaunted equalizing effects of conservative talk radio and Fox News -- the liberal media continue to shape public discourse, even within the Republican Party.

So don't expect Wolf Blitzer to question the legitimacy of Huntsman's place on the debate stage tonight. But perhaps some other Republicans should.

About the Author

Robert Stacy McCain is co-author (with Lynn Vincent) of Donkey Cons: Sex, Crime, and Corruption in the Democratic Party (Nelson Current). He blogs at The Other McCain.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (81) | Leave a comment

Mike D.| 9.12.11 @ 7:13AM

Another "I can work accross the isle, bring us together, middle of the road, stick my finger in the air, RINO liberal statist". Uhhh, no thanks, nothing to see here folks move along.

Jack in Wi.| 9.12.11 @ 9:32AM

We all know why minor candidates like Santorum, Huntsman, and even Cain and Gingrich are included. Because then real discussion between the 4 front runners Perry, Romney, Bachman and Ron Paul can't take place. The real anger by felt the huge committed group of ron Paul supporters is how they have tried to exclude Ron from any discussin of the issues he has made his own foreign policy, economic policy, monetary policy, and smaller constitutional government.

Ron Paul is tied with Obama in several major polls. A huge majority of American's agree with Ron on auditing the FED, ending the wars now, bringing the troops home now, ending all foreign aid, and smaller Constitutional government. Yet tonight an Israeli citizen, Wolf Blitzer, will decide who should be asked and a question and what that question should be.

Conservative Bob| 9.12.11 @ 10:21AM

Jack you Paul supporters labored long and hard to scrub off the anti semetic label attached to your candidate and his followers, as seen here a week or 2 back responding to an article on the subject.

What then is the purpose of the 'Israeli citizen' remark as it relates to Blitzer.

Are you saying Israel has sway over what Blitzer says and does?

Why include the reference?

The left wants to pick who run against Obama as they have had a hand in picking our candidate for some time. They seek to damage strong candidates and shield their own and it shows in these trained seal acts they mistakenly call debates.

Mike D.| 9.12.11 @ 11:56AM

Why include the reference?

Bob, heres some quotes from Jack about his feelings for jews from an article last week. See with Jack theres a Jew lurking under every bush, behind every tree and if there is a Jew involved Jack will make sure everybody knows.

"Whatever good indivigual Jews have done in the world pails in comparission to the bad of the last 200 years. Atheism, communism, Socialism, Nuclear Weapons, expansionist Zionism, and nuclear blackmail. It is time to really be a Light to World and the whole Middle East. Make Israel Palistine a place of tolerance, peace, justice, prosperity. equality, religious dialoge and understanding. That can only happen in a united Israel Palistine"
Jack from Wisconsin

"the personification of the devil as the symbol of all evil assumes the living shape of the Jew"
Adolph Hitler, Mein Kampf

"Israel with all it's nuclear weapons, crazed leadership, the Samson option, the Masada complex and its control of most of our government is a terrible black cloud on the world. I don't see any light coming through that darkness"
Jack from Wisconsin

"If we consider how greatly he has sinned against the masses in the course of the centuries, how he has squeezed and sucked the blood again and again; if furthermore, we consider how the people gradually learned to hate him for this, and ended up by regarding his existence as nothing but punishment of Heaven for the other peoples, we can understand how hard this shift must be for the Jew"

Mike D.| 9.12.11 @ 11:58AM

That last quote was from Adolph Hitler, Mein Kampf. Cased Closed.

RCV| 9.12.11 @ 6:34PM

You also forgot to include Jack's express admiration for the Jew-hater, Father Coughlin.

Mike D.| 9.13.11 @ 7:55AM

Yeah, go figure.

Jack in Wi.| 9.13.11 @ 12:03AM

So a call for peace, justice, religious tolerance, prosperity, integration, full human rights, civil rights, and equality before the law in Israel Palistine makes me another Hitler. You are one crazy Zionist. I believe in the universal brotherhood of all mankind. I don't believe in any chosen or superior people.

Mike D.| 9.13.11 @ 7:54AM

Yeah right jack, as long as Isreal lays down its weapons and ceases to become the "darkness" of the world. ZOG nutjob. Sad that Paul has lunatics like you following him aound, it doesn't help his cause.

Jack in Wi.| 9.13.11 @ 12:15AM

Blitzer is an Israeli citizen and a former AIPAC man. He is also a big liberal. I will say however that he ran a pretty professional debate tonight that was generally fair. It is still a good question why an Israeli citizen is deciding who gets to answer what question at the American Presidential debate?

Mike D.| 9.13.11 @ 7:51AM

Drop the Isreali citizen crap. Idiot. Man you conspiracy nutjubs just don't let go do you. Proven wrong and still the BIG conspiracy.

Mick Hawk| 9.12.11 @ 1:19PM

You Paulbots are so full of crap. Rube Paul is not a frontrunner. He's a blip on the radar just like last time around.

JimBob7| 9.12.11 @ 6:26PM

Rue Paul is running for office? Only in America!

Jack in Wi.| 9.13.11 @ 12:11AM

Ron is tied with Obama in several national polls and has been for months. He is in third place among Republicans in the latest CNN poll. He also polls much better among Democratss and Independents then any other Republican. Without those votes no Republican can be elected.

Drunken Sailor| 9.12.11 @ 2:55PM

There's always a conspiracy isn't there Jack?

Mike D.| 9.12.11 @ 3:25PM

Wolf Blitzer is not an Isreali Citizen. Robert I. Friedman who wrote a scathing review of Blitzers book on the Pollard spy case acused Blitzer of being an Isreali citizen in his review and later apologized. "I apologize for bestowing Israeli citizenship on Mr. Blitzer"

Jack in Wi.| 9.13.11 @ 12:18AM

He is a dual citizen and you damn well know it. There are many Israeli's who carry an American passport and visa versa. Show me the document where Blitzer has ever renounced his Israeli birthrite and citizenship.

Mike D.| 9.13.11 @ 7:48AM

Heres a document chief, you want one you got one. New York Times book review, a rebuttal to Friedman by Blitzer which Includes Friedmans apology for accusing AND Blitzer publically stating he is not an Isreali Citizen:
http://www.nybooks.com/article.....y-of-lies/

Go back to the nazi U-tube BS where you get your facts from. Blitzer is going to lie about something so easuly proven right nitwit?

Mike D.| 9.13.11 @ 8:16AM

Yeah, Jack, Blitzer is going to make a statement in the NYT, so easily proven wrong and lie about it right? Of course Friedman who is a research author is going to make a public written apology about something he could easily again prove correct is wrong as well. AHHH, but their both Jews, yeah they are both in on it too.

Oldefarte| 9.12.11 @ 4:49PM

Wow shazam Israelie citizen Wolf? Damn Jack, guess you're out of the anti-Semetism closet completely now huh??????????

Oldefarte| 9.12.11 @ 4:51PM

'Paul" sounds possibly Jewish, ya think maybe?????

Alan Brooks| 9.12.11 @ 6:38PM

"Yet tonight an Israeli citizen, Wolf Blitzer, will decide who should be asked and a question and what that question should be."

Jack is alluding to ZOG.

Alan Brooks| 9.12.11 @ 6:36PM

Huntsman can bring a piano to the debate so he can play Bye Bye Birdie.

R Martin| 9.12.11 @ 7:13AM

"...the liberal media continue to shape public discourse, even within the Republican Party."

Duh. The Tea Paty Express is hosting a debate among Republican presidential candidates and Wolf Blitzer is moderating?

Mike D.| 9.12.11 @ 7:36AM

"...the liberal media continue to shape public discourse, even within the Republican Party."

That needs to end. Letting these schills "moderate" anything is a sham.

VBMax| 9.12.11 @ 7:49AM

There must be a better way to showcase the candidates' views. These so-called debates are nothing but sound bites generated by gotcha questions.

Deborah D| 9.12.11 @ 8:06AM

No wonder the liberal media like him -- he's just as sanctimonious and unlikable as they are.

Michael Tomlinson| 9.12.11 @ 8:16AM

Huntsman is the John McCain of 2012 the problem is the Democrat MSM has been able to burnish his image as long and as hard as they did the original McCain.

Michael Tomlinson| 9.12.11 @ 8:19AM

Pardon, "hasn't been able to burnish his image as long . . . as they did the original McCain."

Anthony| 9.12.11 @ 10:46AM

Good point Michael, except the MSM stepped into a pile of dog dodo with Huntsman.
Gov. Palin has more executive experience than Huntsman, yet the MSM go gaga over him and scorn Sarah.
The leftist bias in action. That's a good thing for us to keep reminding America about.

Doctor Right| 9.12.11 @ 8:19AM

Huntsman is still working for his "boss". His job is to use liberal-left talking points to criticize the other candidates, thus lending the appearance of legitimacy to liberal claims that Republicans are bigoted, dumb, uncaring, religious maniacs.

His entry into this race is bizarre, indeed. Outsideof Utah, hardly anyone ever heard of him. There has never been a "Draft John" movement, and his Conservative cress are questionable. He can't win, and he brings nothing to the table as a potential VP candidate, either, since Utah is reliably Republican.

So what's he up to? He's this election's "media friendly" Republican, the one that we Conservative should like if we weren't such dumb, gun-totin' Bible clingers. He's a ruse.

Michael Tomlinson| 9.12.11 @ 8:48AM

Rick Perry will bury him and Tim Pawlenty's boy Romney, because he speaks truth to power on Social Security, manmade global warming, jobs, trade and the military.

Deborah D| 9.12.11 @ 11:30AM

Doctor Right -- I've been wondering the same thing. I've often wondered if he was planning a third-party run of some type just to steal votes from the Republican, but if he ran as an independent, I think he'd steal votes from Obama. So, really, I have no idea what this guy is up to.

Oldefarte| 9.12.11 @ 4:57PM

Hey, I'm not laughing. After all, they camoflaged Obama in 2008 as a oridanry, average American intellectual and got him elected. They could have trojun-horsed Powell into the Republican race, but his cat got out of the bag after he [for some reason?????????] endorsed Obama over McCain!!!!!!

RCV| 9.12.11 @ 6:35PM

With Colin Powell, you might have had a Republican most Americans could get behind. With the current crew, that's unlikely.

Michael Tomlinson| 9.13.11 @ 2:39AM

Colin Powell is a joke and supporter of Obama. He wouldn't get diddly from GOP voters. Grow up and get in the 21st century. Colin Powell is old news.

Oldefarte| 9.13.11 @ 2:14PM

Thank you MT for saving me the required effort to say that which you just did so perfectly!!!!

Casey Abell| 9.12.11 @ 8:58AM

What's the big deal? Huntsman will be gone after the first couple primaries, if not before. Until then conservative pundits can use him to jab the media for liberal bias...like McCain just did.

Dick Nome| 9.12.11 @ 8:59AM

Huntsman is the kind of spineless weenie the 'moderates' like to profess they support. Even the 'moderates' don't like this Oborg RINO. He's like our Senator Bob (with one 'o') Casey in that if you are in a room with him, you swear you are alone.

Burt| 9.12.11 @ 9:07AM

Huntsman is the Axelrod DNC's and Soros media's Trojan Horse. The Soros - Bufffet puppet can not win without a third party candidate and Huntsman is their planted option.
The Obama / Leftico drones gawe away the strategy at the last debate .
Huntsman was praised for being the radical left's definition of " normal " .
Look for a Charlie Crist third party move by the Chicago thug's Manchurian candidate !

Oldefarte| 9.12.11 @ 4:58PM

Exactamundo! Where's Ross Perot when they need him????????

Old Guy| 9.12.11 @ 9:08AM

I spent 4 years on the debate team in high school and did some public speaking in my 40-year business career. To call these farcical shows "debates" is a miserable abuse of the word!

SpiralArchitect| 9.12.11 @ 12:38PM

Yes. Strictly Q & A sessions with low level and mostly off topic questions.

National debates with 60 & 30 response times?

...about as serious as Huntsman as a viable POTUS candidate.

John Navratil| 9.12.11 @ 9:08AM

The author makes a good point. If everyone who is a declared candidate isn't included, why have more than three? The chance of even the third ranked of actually winning the nomination approaches zero.

The real reason is that the competing points of view not only affect the voters they, by altering the political debate, form the issues and affect the other candidates. Gingrich, Cain, Santorum, et al are people whose views add to the discussion. Consider the "excitement" of having a "debate" between just Romney and Perry.

I personally, would be happier if Gary Johnson were added. His views are much more conservative and substantial than Huntsman's.

Peppermint Tea| 9.12.11 @ 9:16AM

This article is spot on. Utah was getting tired of Jon-Jon's climate change and gay embrace when he took off for China. His only constituency is the MS Media. In Utah now, more support a Romney candidacy, and hopefully that will move right to a Paul or Bachman candidancy.

Bo| 9.12.11 @ 9:34AM

It is really unfair that Gov. Gary Johnson has been left out of these debates. As the author has pointed out, he's polling as well as Hunstsman. Both are former Governors. Maybe Johnson should seek a ambassadorship to Nauru?

Old Soldier| 9.12.11 @ 11:23AM

Me too. He's a libertarian republican with executive experience - which is why nobody wants him there.

Ron Paul certainly don't want him there because Johnson makes him look redundant and silly.

The rest of the candidates don't want him there because he can effectively destroy their positions. The media doesn't want to hear his logical answers either.

Anthony| 9.12.11 @ 9:35AM

Huntsman's 1% is higher than that leftist buttboy cum "journalist", CNN's Wolf Blitzer's creds as moderator.
Why the HELL do the Rs continue to allow themselves to be fodder for the leftist, Obozo press, that do not ask ligitimate questions, but rather, seeks to embarass.
If the disgraceful way Blitzer conducted the Cheney book review is any indication, these folks had best be ready to zing Biltizer and embarass the hell out of him and others.
Enough of taking this crap from the left!!!!

P.Smith| 9.12.11 @ 10:12AM

Like most of the folks here that read American Spectator, I’m very aware of what is going on nationally in a political sense, but to tell the truth I don’t think I’ve ever heard of John Huntsman before he was appointed ambassador of China. When I first heard that Obama had nominated a republican governor to be the Chinese ambassador, my very first thought was that if Obama is nominating this guy he must be a serious RINO Loser. From what I have seen and heard of this clown so far, my initial thoughts about him were right on with one slight exception. I now define him now as a Serious Backstabbing RINO Loser, since he eventually could possibly run against the guy who made him sort of nationally known by appointing him to be the ambassador to China.

martin j smith| 9.12.11 @ 10:22AM

Let me state this categorically: A HUNTSMAN of this or any type who is pushed as the Republican nominee will END PERMANENTLY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

Matthew Quigley| 9.12.11 @ 10:22AM

Huntsman is more proof of why the GOP is called "The Stupid Party"...if the RNC actually had a brain and wanted to WIN elections, they'd kick out 'rat stalking horses like Huntsman, McCain, Graham, Snowe, Collins, Lugar, et. al., and put some DISCIPLINE into the nominal conservatives!

Reagan showed us how to win, but the crowd of eastern, country club, blue blood PUTZES at the RNC hated (and still hate) Reagan and thus, they cream their jeans over LOSERS like Romney and Huntsman, and try to get the rest of us to think that a Texas moderate is an actual Conservative! GAD, HOW I HATE THE RNC!!!

loulou| 9.12.11 @ 10:41AM

Don't send money to the RNC. Or the NRSC or the NRCC. Why funnel money through RINO middlemen? I give directly to the candidate of my choice.

fmm| 9.12.11 @ 11:39AM

Another good choice is to give to the Senate Conservatives Fund, started by DeMint. Monies go to candidates identified as constitutionally conservative, and can be directed to the fund or directly to the candidates effort.

scott| 9.12.11 @ 10:36AM

The author points out how the liberal media loves Huntsman, yet notes that the majority of the questions asked were to Romney and Perry. To show how excessive the love they have for Huntsman he points out Herman Cain was asked less questions than Huntsman. I have a question for the author -- are you retarded?

Seriously, that is a stupid argument.

I didn't know Huntmans before this, but now I see he has the best economic record out of all the candidates. He makes sense. But gasp, he was an ambassador in the Obama administration. Oh no, God forbid, that makes him a fascist marxist socialist insert frightening buzzword here.

The reason the Republican party is dying is because we have been taken over by mental midgets and morons. Hopefully Romney will get the nomination, but if the current state of the party is any indication, the crook Perry will get it.

Newsflash you morons: Perry is surrounded by gay rumors and he was a former Democrat!!! Why isn't that generating outrage?

I too, wish Johnson were in the debates but dream on -- he wants to legalize drugs and he doesn't give a hoot about persecuting gays. Think that would pass muster among the Republican Taliban? Har har...

fmm| 9.12.11 @ 11:34AM

Reagan was also a Democrat once. As thinking people mature, they often switch from Dem to GOP.

scott| 9.12.11 @ 2:11PM

Yeah I'd like to see Reagan get the nomination today. He'd be ripped apart as not being conservative enough or not "on our team," a favorite phrase it seems for people who think politics is a football game...

Drunken Sailor| 9.12.11 @ 3:05PM

Let me see if I understand you.

You bash Perry (the current Republican favorite)with rumors of him being gay and being a former Democrat as being bad, then in the next breath say the Republicans don't like Johnson because he doesn't care about gays? Please explain your theory of them not liking Johnson because he won't persecute gays but liking Perry because he might be.

Anthony| 9.12.11 @ 10:41AM

Huntsman is a non factor that we don't need to get upset about. He's already toast. The establishment can't make this pig's ear into a silk purse.
It's the damn MSM that we need to really be concerned about. Didn't the Ds refuse to debate on FOX, if so, why the hell don't the Rs tell the MSM to get bent and choose objective journalists, or is that an oxymoron???

Sean| 9.12.11 @ 10:44AM

If we are going by polls they should cut out Santorum also.

martin j smith| 9.12.11 @ 10:45AM

The point is not really Huntsman, I think the point will be ROMNEY--a HUNTSMAN IN SHEEP WOOL-- aka a RINO. I think that the Republican and allied media and others need monitoring as to how they push especially ROMNEY. I AM NOW A RICK PERRY SUPPORTER. I have had it !!!!!!!!!!!!!

fmm| 9.12.11 @ 11:31AM

It is beyond understanding why these GOP hopefuls even participate in these so-called debates. The dictionary definition of debate is:
1. a discussion, as of a public question in an assembly, involving opposing viewpoints
2. a formal contest in which the affirmative and negative sides of a proposition are advocated by opposing speakers.
These TV sessions are certainly NOT debates. Additionally, they focus on negatives which is detrimental to the candidates. Enough!

Petronius| 9.12.11 @ 11:51AM

Huntsman is a DNC plant. The crossover primary vote is all his along with the mushy moderates who care more about being accepted than being Free.

martin j smith| 9.12.11 @ 11:59AM

Huntsman could well be a DNC plant but what of Romney ? He is beginning to sound who he really is when his attack on Perry is the virtual same attack as the DNC.

Whitney| 9.12.11 @ 12:07PM

Personally, I hope Huntsman gains some steam! He walks that fine line in between being conservative and libertarian and I think that would market really well in the general campaign. His record as governor and his recent tax and jobs plans reassure me he should be our guy!

Mick Hawk| 9.12.11 @ 12:12PM

I see Huntweenie likes the same blue ties BO likes to wear. Co-incidence. Nahh! He's a loser.

Willis| 9.12.11 @ 12:57PM

Our guy? One wonders which team you play for.

Mike Hawk| 9.12.11 @ 7:58PM

Huntsweenie is like Capt. McQueeg, he doesn't just reach out to the Libs, he sits on their bench in their uniforms and cheers for the opposing team. Then he tries to tell us he is one of us. (Conservative Republicans that is)

VBMax| 9.12.11 @ 1:30PM

Huntsman's a global warming advocate...that should mean instant disqualification.

Old Soldier| 9.12.11 @ 2:42PM

He is no Libertarian. He walks a fine line between Rino and outright Democrat.

Fionnagh| 9.12.11 @ 12:54PM

Had McCotter been in the first two debates instead of Huntsman, McCotter would now be a household name. McCotter was also polling at one percent.

Old Soldier| 9.12.11 @ 2:43PM

If there was a debate between McCotter and Johnson, I would watch it. More logic and brainpower in that room than all the candidates invited to the official debates.

JimBob39| 9.12.11 @ 3:49PM

I agree with Fionnagh and Old Soldier. McCotter appeared at the Heritage Foundation today discussing his Save Social Security Act legislation that he is introducing in the House today. The bill along with analysis by the Social Security Administration is available on his website, McCotter2012.com. He is presenting ideas while the "debaters" are presenting sound bites.

Adjoran| 9.12.11 @ 2:25PM

Just like the GOP's failure to adapt to the realities of new media and the internet, they continue to use an old model for the nomination process. CNN isn't going to help pay for primaries or the convention, why do they and other old media get to dictate who is allowed onstage at our debates?

More importantly, why are they allowed to pick panelists? It isn't as if Brit Hume and Rush Limbaugh were allowed to question Hillary and Obama at the Democratic debates in the last cycle.

Dump the media and the single-digit candidates, supply our own questioners if there must be a panel, and allow media to cover it or not cover it - but NEVER to control it.

Oldefarte| 9.12.11 @ 5:07PM

Maybe they should simply just include the top 4/5 candidates in these debates? Also, I'd prefer all debates' formats to just ask a question and then require each candidate to answer same [which would allow the viewer to compare candidates easily], instead of asking different candidates different questions!!!!!!!

Interested Conservative| 9.12.11 @ 5:46PM

RSM is spot on, but didn't add another effect of the MSM's bias - it's overlooking the secondary contest, essentially that of being an acceptable alternative.

Huntsman clearly doesn't belong, and Santorum probably doesn't either, but his Iowa showing bought him some time. Bachmann is fading in the presence of Perry, and probably isn't an alternative otherwise.

Everyone seems to see Rep. Paul's limits, which leaves us with Newt and Herman - they're the ones playing for time, particularly since the seem to be consistently hovering at 4-8% in the polls.

If either Gov. falters, look for one or both of them to begin to rise.

Don't look for CNN to notice any of this.

dw| 9.12.11 @ 6:47PM

Do not understand how messnbc and the communist news network are hosting republican debates....the former at the Reagan library and the latter in conjunction with the tea party. The people responsible for those networks hate conservatism and commonly refer to the tea party as tea baggers. I realize that the RNCs rational revolves around the misconcieved concepts that by appearing in these settings will "help to broaden the reach for those who may not ordinarly vote republican" or the "we will rise above partisan bickering" but maybe the republicans just do not understand what happens when they give up control in picking their nominee.
Of course Huntsman should be out of the race but of course democrats would love to run this rino against obozo and use the most under handed tactics available to make that happen.

There will probably be a sign saying "Welcome to the Tea Baggers Debate"

CopyKatnj| 9.12.11 @ 7:44PM

I always thought of Jon Huntsman as a spoiler for any Republican candidate. I have not rational for that opinion, yet I am not able to shake that opinion off.

POST American| 9.13.11 @ 4:44AM

---------------------FINAL WORD----------------------

"Though certainly nothing new, understand
that now, in 2011, with a FULL spectrum police
state LONG in place, and now just consolidating,
virtually EVERY candidate put out there
has been compromised; is under some kind
of black mail control. That's why they NEVER
do what you want. That';s WHY the media
NEVER takes up the subject. They're OWNED.
ALLL of them."

----------NOW, look at that face in the photo.

---------------------YOU DECIDE------------------------

Scott Crowley| 9.13.11 @ 9:00AM

Why do I get the idea that when the debates are over Huntsman will endorse Obama?

burt| 9.13.11 @ 10:55PM

Huntsman is the DNC plant.
He worked for a Chicago machine - Soros - Buffet puppet!
No republican could work for a America hating Marxist.
The marxist can not win unless there is a third party troll like Ross Perot.