RNC Defends Their Handling Of Debate Process
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Sean Spicer, Communications Director for the Republican National Committee, attempted to quell criticism they have received following last week's presidential debate on CNBC in which many of the participants complained about the tone of the questions. Earlier this week, the RNC suspended its relationship with NBC News and is attempting to coordinate a list of demands that each network airing a debate must follow moving forward.
Spicer, talking with Dom Giordano on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT, accused CNBC of not living up to their end of an agreement.
"CNBC has put on these debates for years. No one has complained. I think they've done a good job in the past. They told and promised our candidates, and us, that they would have a debate called, 'Your Money, Your Vote,' focused on financial matters, the stuff that they talk about every morning on Squawk Box. You watch CNBC right now, they're not talking political agenda and left/right. They're talking about financial matters, taxes, the stock market, healthcare reform, all that. That's what everyone expected. That's what they told us they were going to do and, frankly, they didn't."
He attempted to clarify that demands from the candidates pertain to how the debates are conducted and not how long they get to answer questions or the size of their dressing rooms.
"This is where the mainstream media is definitely misleading a lot of folks, trying to make a mockery of what our candidates are asking for. The format is, and always should be, forefront for the candidates. This is about them. The debates are about the candidates. Not the RNC. They're not about the mainstream media. They are about the candidates and their ability to express themselves, their vision, and their solutions for America. What the media is trying to make a mockery of right now, saying the candidates care about this and that and they're telling us we have to have this. What the candidates, first and foremost, are asking is saying there are a bunch of questions that we want definite answers to."
Spicer also defended the RNC against criticism that they have mismanaged the debate process from the beginning and would not be in this situation with better planning.
"In the past, we set out the beginning of this process from an RNC perspective to do three things. One: control the calendar. We did that. Two: spread out the debates into more states. We did that. Three: add a conservative element for the first time in the history of either party having an ideological element to a debate. Hugh Hewitt was on stage. Rick Santelli was on stage. CNBC would not have put Rick Santelli on that panel had it not been for us."