Update: Republican Debate Demands, There's Already a Defector

On Saturday I wrote about the Republican candidates' unhappiness with last Wednesday's debate and their plan to change the way future debates are organized and moderators vetted.

Update:  

Well, those poor beleaguered conservatives met on Sunday and wrote up some demands for (most) networks to follow going forward. Fox was given a pass because, well, they're cool and already well-trained.

Robert Costa of The Washington Post managed to get a copy of the letter that resulted from the Republican candidate confab.

Dear _____:

This letter is on behalf of the 15 Republican Presidential campaigns. We are aware that you are sponsoring a debate on _____ at ______. Below and attached are questions about your debate to which the campaigns would appreciate answers at your earliest convenience, and in any event no later than a month from today.

The answers you provide to these questions are part of a process that each campaign will use to determine whether its candidate will participate in your debate.

I guess that means that, if they think it looks too hard they'll stay home and pout.  Then their campaign spokespersons can prepare a press release about how the media is a liberally biased, unfair meany-pants.

Information required before the candidates will consider participating in a debate:

1. Where and when will the debate be held?
2. What are the criteria for inclusion?  If you choose to base this on polls, please detail which polls and why each poll's methodology and sample size is acceptable to you.
3. Who is the moderator?  Will there be any additional questioners?  Are they seated?
4. What is the estimated audience for the debate? 
5. What format do you envision--podiums, table, other?
6. What instructions will you provide to the audience about cheering during the debate?
7. Will there be questions from the audience or social media? ...Will you acknowledge that you, as the sponsor, take responsibility for all questions asked, even if not asked by your personnel?

#7 would seem to be written in order to protect the candidates from having to answer a question about anything a voter may actually want to know. "Asking about a candidate's stand on the issues is so unfair!"  

Why not just write all the questions out in advance so the candidates staffs can write a pretty speech that the candidate can then read off a monitor?  What part of "debate" do these people not understand?!

Things the candidates want the networks to avoid:

1. No "candidate-to-candidate questions."
2. No "lightening (sic) round."
3. No "reaction shots of the audience or moderators."
4. No shots of the empty stage "after a break."
5. No "behind shots of candidates showing their notes."

Is #4 supposed to make us believe they stand there for the whole two (never three!) hours so we think: "Wow! They're tough!"  

And #5?  What, are they worried an opponent has someone monitoring the video in order to steal their brilliant ideas?  They're Republicans--all their ideas are the same, all copied from the RNC Talking Points Memo of the Day!  Summary:  Obama is bad.

Things the candidates require:

1. "A minimum of a 30-second opening and...closing statement for each participant."
2. "Candidate pre-approval of any graphics and bio" material to be displayed.
3. No later than one month before the debate, a conference must be scheduled with "all the campaigns participating jointly... The campaigns may request an additional call(s) to discuss specific issues." 

#3 Apparently this is so the campaigns can ask questions about the networks' answers to the questions they've already answered in writing--with the open-ended possibility that they could be called upon to do this several times.

According to what I've read, no candidate has actually signed the letter.  However, according to Washington Post reporters Dave Weigel and Robert Costa, one candidate has already decided to bail on the joint Republican effort:

"Donald Trump and his advisers have decided to work directly with television executives and take a lead role in negotiating the format and content of primary debates...according to Republicans familiar with their plans.  Trump will reject a joint letter to television network hosts regarding upcoming primary debates drafted Sunday at a private gathering of operatives from at least 11 presidential campaigns, the Republicans said."

I can't help but hear that song from the Broadway show Billy Elliot, "Solidarity Forever," slowly winding down into silence.