RNC Threatens Pullout from Presidential Debates

BUCK: You see this breaking news, Clay? I thought this was interesting as we talk about how the media has failed the people in covid, but they’ve failed more broadly — and for much longer — than that in national politics to just be honest about who they are. To pretend that journalism is a profession of just fact and un-bias? It’s all a lie. It’s propaganda. This just broke last hour.

“The Republican National Committee said Thursday in a letter to the Commission on Presidential Debates that it is prepared to ‘prohibit future Republican nominees from participating in CPD-sponsored debates’ unless the commission makes a number of significant changes…” Essentially the RNC is saying, “We’re not gonna offer up Republican candidates.” They’re gonna have to say they’re not gonna take part in ABC, CNN.

It is crazy. It is insane for Republicans to think — and look what’s happened in recent years. Look at what Candy Crowley did to Mitt Romney at CNN. Look at what goes on with Stephanopoulos, that guy Harwood who’s at CNN, CNBC before. These people are rabid partisans who hate Republicans, and then they act as if they’re gonna get a fair shake in the debates? I think this is a big step forward. I like this.

CLAY: I think it’s intriguing. The bigger question it raises, too, is how combative are both the Democrat and the Republican potential nomination contests going to be? If Trump runs — and I think we both presume that he will — will there be other Republicans running against him on the Republican side, is the number-one question.

The number-one question on the Democratic side is going to be, will Joe Biden attempt to run again at 82 years old? And if so, what sort of challenges, if any…? By the way the answer to the question we asked yesterday, “Who was the last president to run for reelection and not make it out of the primary?” Chester A. Arthur, I believe, was the answer.