Time to Reconsider the Conversations With Candidates

By: Erick Erickson (Diary) | October 12th, 2011 at 04:45 AM |

RESIZE: AAA

In light of that tragedy of a debate last night, I want to reiterate this. We’re open to all of the candidates who participated last night doing this: Bachmann, Cain, Gingrich, Huntsman, Paul, Perry, Romney, and Santorum.

You’ll get a better shot at answering better questions in a one on one format.

———————————————–

Dear Candidates:

This letter is written on behalf of Brent Bozell with For America, Ned Ryun with American Majority, Drew Ryun with American Majority Action, and myself.

Combined we give voice to millions of conservative activists across the country and know that most conservatives believe we have not had a chance to have a real vetting of candidates in Campaign 2012 because of the lack of substance in most of the debates.

Consequently, we would like to provide a unique opportunity for the candidates. On the attached page we describe the details of the conversation.

Please note that these would be individual conversations and not all candidates present at the same time. We will work with each candidate’s schedule to provide an evening for each candidate individually.

The conversation will be before an audience coordinated with conservatives in the metro-Atlanta area and the candidates’ own campaigns. It would be broadcast live on WSB radio, the largest talk radio station in the country. It would also be streamed live on the internet with the ability to embed on campaign websites and a television feed would be available without restriction for use by broadcast networks.

Given the desire to do these one on one with the candidates, we will work to accommodate the candidates’ schedules. You may contact me at the address, phone number, and email address above. We hope Congresswoman Bachmann would be willing to sit and discuss her vision for the country in a conversation led by conservatives for conservatives.

I have enclosed a more specific page on what we are offering.

Sincerely yours,

Erick-Woods Erickson

Editor, RedState.com

A Candid Conversation

For Conservatives and By Conservatives

The Presidential candidates are invited to Atlanta, Georgia for a candid conversation hosted by RedState.com, For America, American Majority, and American Majority Action.

Format	Three chairs on stage Brent Bozell on the candidate’s right Erick Erickson on the candidate’s left The candidate in the center The candidate, Brent Bozell, and Erick Erickson would engage in a free form conversation that would be guided by questions submitted by video on the internet from conservative activists around the country and vetted by American Majority and American Majority Action. There will be a live studio audience of conservative voters. Please note this will be an opportunity to discuss and vet the candidate’s record and ideas, not an opportunity to attack the Republican opponents.
Duration	Two hours for a total of 1.5 hours of conversation and several breaks for media format.
Location	Atlanta, GA
Date	We will accommodate the candidates based on their schedule, but insist all conversations be held between October 17, 2011 and December 16, 2011

Tags: Herman Cain, Jon Huntsman, Michele Bachmann, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry, Rick Santorum, Ron Paul

COMMENTS

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circlegranch

in this unique opportunity. I just sent his staff an email saying just that. Perry fans, at www.rickperry.org go to the bottom and hit ‘Contact’ and tell him to be in touch with Erick now and take advantage of a chance to really kickstart things.
celador2

I support the format of one candidate at a time. I think they need a lot of time, thought to avid the soundbite situation in which they find themselves. There are about eight or nine running. So how will you divide the time if they agree to the stand off with two asking questions in a timed discussion?
celador2

I am interested in Rick Perry not the ones who ask the questions.. Perhaps one or two questions that allow Perry to touch on more than one point would be better than a back and forth with Erik and Brent and these audience stars competing for the limelingt might help voters more easily get a read on where Gov Perry stands. We know where the hosts of these debates stand more than the candidates.
Ausonius

The modern presidential “debate” is no such thing: it is closer to a school-yard dissing match.

They are not designed to inform, but to entertain: such is the nature of the Beast of Television. It will stultify anything down to the level of a 10-year old because Television can do nothing else.

A real debate would have ONE issue and TWO candidates, who would have more than 5 minutes to make their cases, and then the same amount of time to make their rebuttals.

I have written earlier: look back to the Lincoln-Douglas debates, held in front of Illinois voters, some illiterate or with 6th Grade educations, and behold how far we have fallen!
ihateliberals

I real debates the people aren’t allowed to just randomly talk about nothing. specific questions are asked a time limit is imposed and the other debaters aren’t permitted to interrupt. All of these debates that are run by the media are jut idiotic in their questions and formats. what we have been seeing on these stages is not as good a the Jerry Springer show. The republicans are following right in the plan the Democrats have and that is to keep the candidates off balance and answering nonsense questions. the moderators might as well be asking “What’s your favorite color?”.

I think one thing has changed since the days of real Presidential debates and that is the lack of a common enemy. we have many enemies now but not one central enemy like we did during the “Cold War”. There is nothing to wrap our patriotism to. The Democrats thrive on being unpatriotic and blaming our woes on not being a socialist government. What we don’t realize now that the many millions of new voters weren’t even born when the Berlin wall was torn down. They have no idea of what patriotism is all about. except for a very short time just after 9/11. The Democrats worked fast to stop that. The thing is whenyou are truly patriotic and a supporter of the constitution you an’t be a liberal. Liberalism flies in the face of patriotism and the constitution. The constitution is actually looked at as an obstructionist document. I guess i strayed fromthe real topic but it ties into why these debates are so useless.
ihateliberals

for the republican candidate selecting process. The Presidential debates is the time to get into the Liberal side of things but most of these alleged debates have been sponsored and/or conducted by a prejudiced moderator. By allowing these non republican sponsors of the party debates relly defeat the purpose. why are we allowing this process to be used toselect such an improtant person for the nominee. Look wht it got us in 2008, McCain. we can’t survive another McCain and tht is right wheree we are headed right now.
wonkish1

Not between a Person and a questioner and then time limited to 1 minute. That is just people taking turns on questions from an interviewer.

Look up the definition of “debating” once and you’ll find a very different answer

The debate last night was the closest thing we’ve had to an actual debate probably since Lincoln Douglas in the 1860s.
lookingforward

If so, do you have any details on date?
JimmyGee

And in general, that pretty much sums up the GOP for the last 2 or 3 decades if not more (in fact I think I am being KIND, it is probably more like 4 or 5 decades….but I digress).
For the life of me, I do not understand why none of the GOP contenders are not tripping over themselves to do a sit-down with solid conservative panel?
I would think that especially Michele Bachmann would be the first-in-line to get her message out? What was I thinking? And of course, Rick Perry, what an opportunity to re-align his message! I could see those two fighting to be the first to be interviewed.
I DON’T GET IT! I guess my in life as a nurse, I don’t have the required intellect to understand politics. I should just stick to the simple stuff like life and death in the wee hours of the morning.
uncmike

has accepted EE’s offer, especially those that are really conservative. It would be a fantastic opportunity to showcase actual ideas and not simply be responding to another “gotcha” question from liberal media figures pimping for Obama. Yes, it seems they prefer to go to one after another of these liberal forums where nothing of substance is really ever revealed. Maybe they like it that way, which is a bad sign in my view. I expect the advice they get from the usual political handlers is to lay low and not say anything much that could hurt the campaign.
JimmyGee

I admit that I have come close to the use of a tin-foil hat, especially when it comes to the GOP establishment.
The biggest concern that I have about the GOP is that they have not learned from McCain and 2008. The GOP establishment need to stop picking “the next guy in line” to be president.
To me, these GOP sanctioned “Debates” (that are anything but a debate) has played right into Mitt’s hands. And the unspoken message from the GOP establishment is that Mitt is “the next guy in line.”
Yet the polls show time-and-time again that American’s don’t want Mitt, just like we didn’t want McCain in 2008.
So tin-foil hat question of the day (TFHQOD): “Is the GOP establishment using/sanctioning these “debates” to play kingmaker for Mitt?
If not, I do not understand why they are even going to the trouble to do the debates. They are counter-productive and a waste of time.
Common_Cents

I’d think you would have received some interest.

The only issue I’d see candidates having is nobody wants to go first. The others could have much time to bone up and tear apart the early candidates.

Secondly, hot button issues crop up on a daily/weekly basis. Like the financial disaster cropping up on McCain. Early candidates may look off message and outdated a week or two later when people are comparing sessions.

My advice is to pick a 2-4 day window where you see a lull in campaign events and pressure candidates to participate. I’d think if you get one or two to commit, the rest would be pressured to follow suit.
Common_Cents

That would solve the disadvantage to early candidates. however still leaves potential problem of early candidates not addressing some issue cropping up after they have recorded theirs.

but it would be much better to NOT stream, but rather record all of the interviews and release them all together.
renl57

So here’s how it will go down:

Softball questions for Perry
Softball questions for Cain
Gotcha questions for Romney (mostly RomneyCare)

If I were Romney, I wouldn’t dream of accepting this “offer.” There’s absolutely no upside for Romney in this–only potential downside. As the front-runner, he should play it safe and protect his lead in the polls.
carolynr

Yes… I am yelling. There is a website called fastnotes to Rick Perry wherein people get to put in suggestions. Most said that Perry should concentrate on his message. The fact that he did not have a plan..I believe was planned just as his presidential announcement was planned. Why share the stage with all the other candidates when you can present it to the public UNINTERRUPTED by the MSM and the other candidates?

I, too, will make the suggestion to Perry that he get in touch with Erick…it will be an excellent opportunity for Perry and I believe that his messages and the spin will be taken out of the conversation.

Now…about my boy Romney. This man is WORSE THAN MC CAIN. The GOP and the MSM have picked this person. Again…he might be full of all good words…but nobody…and I mean nobody from the MSM caught the fact…except the debaters that Romney has no intention of getting rid of Obamacare..just replacing it from his CENTRALLY RUN DC version of it, administered by private insurance companies. I believe Santorum caught him on that one. Notice that his fall back answer was that perhaps the SCOTUS would solve the problem. NO MITT…You be the leader…you solve the problem. Undo the entire legislature. His remarks concerning China were wrong…totally wrong. No…I am not communist…if we put a tariff on Chinese goods…they will do likewise. Who suffers..the poor and the middle class. The reason we can’t compete is UNIONS BENEFITS…So…what do we do…subsidize the industries…(ALL OF THEM) by reducing tax rates. I realize that the USA pays one of the highest corporate taxes in the world…but would someone please tell me how we can be competitive in the world market with way out of control union benefits and salaries? Besides…China holds our debt…and if the interest rates could go up…it’s a game of chicken that Romney does not have the guts to play…besides…the WSJ dissed his entire 59 point plan. Romney reminds me of Daddy Bush with his 1,000 points of light…God help us…more and more layers of government.

If I get Obama again…the USA is going down. If we get Romney, the USA is going down. Romney ran left of Kennedy when running against him. That is what we will get again. Either way…we lose and this time…*&)& the GOP….This is our money…not theirs…I don’t even like the way this was played. Oh…and bringing in Christie…tough talker…but not Conservative. So, here we are, Dejavu all over again, the press telling us we have to have Romney, it’s his turn. We do the same thing over and over again expecting a different result.

Oh…one more thing…these protesters….Who is associated with Wall Street…why, golly gee…it’s Bain Capital…so all those nuts that Soros hired will be out in full force. People…ask yourself this question…Are you sick of big government? If you are..Romney is not your guy.
wonkish1

The network just went ahead and scheduled the thing and surprise, surprise the GOP candidates show up.

I know this seems weird, but none of them actually even asked the GOP candidates.

I don’t know if you could possibly do the same, but just pointed it out if your contemplating other ways to get them to show.
JimmyGee

As much as I don’t like Mitt, he is the best debater. But he would not do well in a Red State sit-down? Really?
Which begs the question, “What are you afraid of?” You answered your own question…Romeny-Care which is, I am sorry to say, the model of OBAMA CARE! And here is the killer issue that anyone that supports Mitt does not want to see the light of day. It has recently been reported that Mitt’s own team actually WENT TO THE OBAMA WHITE HOUSE TO ADVISE OBAMA ON OBAMA CARE! Perry has been getting all the hardball questions so far. Now it is Cain’s turn with his 9-9-9 plan.
Mitt has been able to skillfully sidestep his very own version of Obamacare. So you are confirming you don’t trust him on questions about his past flip-flopping about things like abortion, and sending his own team to help Obama with Obamacare from solid conservatives?

Really?
lineholder

he has at this point. He’d need to appeal to Conservatives to vote for him if he does become the nominee. And yes, there are plenty of Conservatives who do have problems with the approach that he took to healthcare in the state of MA and how this would influence his actions if he is elected President. Plus, even though I wouldn’t just sit out the election, there very well may be people who would because they just don’t find Romney suitable and there’s not much of anything about him that inspires them on a personal level. It would be not only dangerous but extremely foolish as well to make assumptions about their guaranteed support if he wins the nomination. If he wants voters support, he’s going to have to earn their confidence, just like any other candidate in this race.

The longer he puts off addressing this issue, the worse the damage could be for him.
JimmyGee

You won’t vote for Romney because he is too much like Obama? I don’t like Romeny, and I will have to shower for a week after I vote for Romeny if it comes to that.
At least with Romney we will:
1. Reduce regulations
2. Reduce taxes and make them consistent so business will grow again.
3. He will abolish Obamacare.
4. He will bring town the debt.
So you will allow Obama to move the USA into a permanent socialist nation because you don’t like Romeny. Again, I do not like Romney, but he would be a better leader than…whoops, we don’t have a leader right now.
I hope you don’t have an infant that you bathe, cause I hate to see what happens when you don’t like the bathwater! Crazy!
wennejunk

on the things that matter to conservative republicans – what this site is all about.

So, yes, that would un-helpful for him to participate.

Were he conservative, he would fall all over himself (you would think) to get his message out.
kenchely

I think it’s important that the candidate’s interlocutors be able to pin the candidate down for specific answers to specific questions. An open-ended format with little direction from the interlocutors will let the candidate deflect any question he doesn’t really want to answer to a subject on which he wants to orate. He can do that in his stump speeches. These interviews should be more substantive than that.
macphisto96

I doubt Romney would fear doing this, but he also will not be the first one to sign up. When other candidates agree to do so then he would likely also do the same.

He has nothing to fear. I understand the issues surrounding Romney for some (and I will say up front that I will be voting for Romney here in the Florida primary), but I think most will agree he is the most professional and prepared when it comes to debating or answering questions overall. He’s made a few mistakes, but no where near as often as his competitors. Hugh Hewitt provided a reminder on his show tonight about how quickly Romney learns and adapts.

He understands where he stands with many conservatives and Tea Party people, but he also likely believes that Not Obama will trump Not Romney in the general for GOP voters and that he’ll also pick up votes in the primary from other candidates who clearly won’t win.

The real problem is that no one has been able to unite the rest of the party against Romney. If the Tea Party had had a primary then there would be one candidate to coalesce behind. The big problem on that front also is that the best people to lead that movement as Presidential candidates are not yet ready to run, guys like Rubio.

Right now it seems everything hinges on Iowa. If Romney can manage to take the Iowa Caucuses, he will likely get New Hampshire by a wide margin, and then grab Nevada. This may or may not help him in South Carolina, but it will give him help here in Florida.
macphisto96

The reality is that ANY member of the current GOP field would be leaps and bounds above Obama.

I’m a Romney supporter, but I will work for anyone who gets the nomination. I will also work to give Bill Nelson the boot here in Florida, to pick up another GOP Senator.

I will work to win the Presidency for any of the GOP candidates. I will work to take back the Senate and get us to 60. And I will work to increase our majority in the House.

I think Romney will be much better than most do. But if he doesn’t work to reduce our deficit and debt, reduce regulations, and repeal Obamacare then I will gladly work for anyone that wants to try to primary him in 2016.

We duke it out here in the primary, but after it is all done we UNITE to defeat Obama and the Democrats. Let’s not be like the sore loser Republicans from last cycle that wouldn’t endorse the primary winner (Mike Castle), or decided to run as a third party (Murkowski). Let’s not emulate those establishment GOPers who were cry babies and didn’t want to support the winner of the primary.

And I will say that anyone who thinks a future America with Barack Obama at the helm is brighter or just as bright as an American with Mitt Romney at the helm for four year is looney. Romney’s business experience alone means we’ll have far more competent people in cabinet positions, not just a bunch of academics. He’s targeting at least 4% growth per annum to return us to where we were prior to 2008. If he gets there while cutting spending then the rise in revenue from growth will help further trim the deficit. And he’s committed to creating a simpler tax system. If we give him a GOP Congress that is filibuster proof then we can hold it to him.

And we can also work towards getting larger majorities in 2014. If we can get to 60 in 2012 in the Senate, I think we’d have a chance at actually getting a 2/3 majority in 2014 due to the large Democratic pickups of 2006 and 2008. Then we can work on that balanced budget and spending amendment. Remember that Romney is on record saying he’d like to cap spending at a certain percentage of GDP (20% is his number – I’d like it to be more like 15%).
snowshooze

I can’t see how any of them would not jump on the opportunity you are presenting them.
Free exposure, in a relaxed atmosphere so far as competition for air time, a chance to show off the platform…
And I know you would never lead them around by the nose the way the talking heads do.
I can scarcely stand to see the MSM people pose irrelevant questions for the sake of trying to obtain personal brownie points for the ” Gotcha ” stuff, and they cannot even understand the answers they get..they have no idea what they speak of.
Thanks again, and keep up the good work!
You will get them…just keep at it.
Mark
snowshooze

Erick;
If you do any marketing.. you will understand…
But here is a fun thought..
If they aren’t biting on a free show, well…
Offer them the platform to address the electorate for a paltry quarter million dollars for a couple hours of conservative targeted exposure… we accept cash,certified check.. livestock upon approval…

RS

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Time to Reconsider the Conversations With Candidates

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