"I think that this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge that has ever been gathered at the White House, with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone." John F. Kennedy, April 29, 1963, White House dinner honoring American Nobel Prize winners.
August 5, 2015
By: Linda Case Gibbons
They were an impressive group: Five governors, three senators, a successful businessman and a pediatric neurosurgeon.
They were men who had made something of themselves and were deserving of respect.
All had reached the point in their lives that few men do. They were running for the highest office in the land. For president.
Eager to tell American voters what they had to offer, they came and stood on a stage, ready for tough, sensible questions.
But the channel featuring the Republican "Debate" didn't play it that way. Educating the voting public was not on their agenda.
Instead that cable outlet peppered the esteemed assemblage with "gotcha" questions. It delivered ratings, but fell far short of "Fair and Balanced."
What voters got was just another reality show.
The "moderators" joshed among themselves, preened and giggled while leaving the candidates on stage cooling their heels. Then the gleesome threesome moved in for the kill, delivering impertinent questions with a triumphant gleam in their eyes.
The word unprofessional doesn't even begin to cover it.
Over the next few days, the moderators appeared on show after show to defend their tactics, while at the same time maintaining that they had nothing to defend.
They emphasized that they "were just doing our job," and that it had taken "months" of preparation to come up with the questions they asked.
Months? And that's the best they could come up with?
The word unprofessional couldn't even begin to cover it.
The spin is supposed to stop there, at FOX News, at least that's what we've been told. That's where you can get the real news, unedited and unbiased, or you could until recently.
However, as soon as Donald Trump appeared on the scene, FOX underwent a surprising transformation, from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde.
Even Bret Baier's favorite guy, the well-respected Charles Krauthammer, appeared to lose his logical approach, snapping like a small dog at Trump's heels in a most un-Krauthammer manner.
It was soon apparent. This was no debate, but an assault, with a decided bent toward establishing the Republican establishment.
With ten exceptional candidates before them, FOX and its chosen representatives decided to poke the candidates with a stick rather than present them to America as the bright, accomplished men they were.
It is not that anyone of us wanted soft questions. That's Obama's territory. Viewers wanted intelligent, incisive questions. But that was not to be. And there was two hours of it.
It was reminiscent of the hatchet job done by CNN's Candy Crowley, during the 2012 presidential debate, as she interjected herself into the debate and fact-corrected Mitt Romney.
"Yes, indeedy," Candy told the former Massachusetts governor, hell bent on setting him straight. "The president did in fact call the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi an 'act of terror.'"
It was reminiscent, too, of ABC's Martha Raddatz' role, after she wined and dined the Obamas at her wedding, yet still went on to moderate the 2012 vice presidential debate, insulted that anyone would think there was a conflict of interest just 'cause her hubby went to law school with the president.
Both of those journalists had a dog in the race.
But FOX stooping so low? I felt as if I had just learned there was no Santa Claus.
It was clear. The fix was in. The Republicans "wants who they wants," and no interlopers need apply. Rush Limbaugh came out and called it. So did Michael Savage and most conservatives were on their page.
Breitbart's Alex Marlow put it best.
"We saw what last night's debate was, which was a great debate. It was a great debate between FOX News anchors and Donald Trump...But for the most part, we saw that FOX is on a mission: they're trying to take out Donald Trump.
"FOX is positioning themselves as a centrist network, as an establishment Republican network. They're not interested in Donald Trump and his supporters. His supporters are grassroots conservatives and that's why he does so well."
It's a night best forgotten. But there were still some glorious moments from several glorious men.
Who will win? Polls aren't ever going to tell you that.
All we know is that the guy who wouldn't do it the politically correct way, was the one who paved the way for a guy, or gal, who won't do it the politically correct way, either.
Won't that be great?
Hold the line, America.