Gingrich Says He Will Skip Debates if Audiences Can’t Participate

[apples and oranges]

Mr. Gingrich, a former House speaker, on Tuesday morning threatened not participate in any future debates with audiences that have been instructed to be silent. That was the case on Monday, when Brian Williams of NBC News asked the audience of about 500 people who assembled for a debate in Tampa to hold their applause until the commercial breaks.

In an interview with the morning show “Fox and Friends,” Mr. Gingrich said NBC’s rules amounted to stifling free speech. In what has become a standard line of attack for his anti-establishment campaign, Mr. Gingrich blamed the media for trying to silence a dissenting point of view.

“I wish in retrospect I’d protested when Brian Williams took them out of it because I think it’s wrong,” Mr. Gingrich said. “And I think he took them out of it because the media is terrified that the audience is going to side with the candidates against the media, which is what they’ve done in every debate.”

Link: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/24/gingrich-says-he-will-skip-debates-if-audiences-cant-participate/

Newton didn't do well last night. Maybe he is unsure of himself without audience feedback? Fascinating and good to know!

[democrat_patriot]

1. Fine. Skip the rest of the debates.

100% chance of a loss.

He won't skip the debates. I hope the media (not Fox) calls his bluff.

Or only Democrats are allowed in the audience :&gt

[southernyankeebelle]

2. Big mouth isn't going to sit it out. Oh no because he loves the attention. I hope the continue

this root. We sure don't need this kind of behavior during the general election. It is disguisting.

[leftynyc]

3. Fine - fill the audience with Democrats

and then see how he likes audience participation.

[jberryhill]

11. +1

[tallahasseedem]

30. I would pay a lot (well, as much as I could)

to be there to exercise my "free speech."

[one_voice]

4. Fucking baby...

no one to chew on the red meat he throws, so he's gonna take his nastiness and go home.

He needs the crowds worship to overshadow the fact he's a has been.

[Little Star]

5. Don't let the door hit ya! n/t

[Cognitive_Resonance]

6. His lifeblood is the optics of the angry mob. nt

[apples and oranges]

19. This. Although, I'll admit, I missed seeing the angry mob

Their reactions are very telling.

[99Forever]

7. Oh noes!

Not that empty threat!

Whatever will we do?

[pipi_k]

18. Depressing, isn't it...

I mean, we literally have nothing left to live for...

[Happyhippychick]

8. Newt Gingrich = the Jerry Springer candidate

[Enrique]

9. if he becomes president, is he going to showboat like this constantly?

make demands of the press, make demands of foreign leaders, cancel meetings, make big huge deals out of nothing, all throughout his presidency?

:GodForbid:

[dmr]

35. And done't forget, rationalize the shit out of everything because everyone else is to blame.

I can't stand to hear his voice.

[gkhouston]

44. Count on it. It's an ingrained part of his personality, not just an election-season ploy. n/t

[Spazito]

10. Awwww, poor baby...

Whiny POS.

[Bok_Tukalo]

12. He missed his opportunity to whinge on about the Media last night

Just making up for it.

[mopinko]

13. typical bully. nothing without his crew. nt

[pipi_k]

14. Oh wow...

so how old is he again?

Two? He wants a cookie and a huge "Good boy!!!" each time he makes a poo in the potty instead of in his pants?

[jberryhill]

15. Newt's idea of audience participation....

[itsrobert]

16. I think he has a point

I don't like him, but playing to the audience has been his bread and butter. Did the Romney campaign put NBC up to it?

[rocktivity]

28. But the audience doesn't end with the one in the studio

the whole point of televising the debate is that EVERYONE can be member of the audience. And if the participants can't play upon the reactions of the people outside the studio, I think it's fair that the studio audience should be asked to hold theirs.


rocktivity

[itsrobert]

38. It is fair, but is it also fair to change rules from one debate to another

Or enforce the "rules" differently? Newt was being helped when playing to the crowds. The Romney campaign most likely put their foot down on this.

[Liberal Veteran]

17. If we are talking about Rocky Horror Picture Show type, I'm for it!

That would be epic.

[pipi_k]

21. hahahhaha!!! Some items

I would bring...

Rotting meat...used TP...teenagers' filthy gym socks...moldy bread...squirt guns filled with cat urine...

[Renew Deal]

20. OK, don't show up.

I'm not sure anyone would mind.

[WI_DEM]

22. NBC debate and Brian Williams was pretty boring.

[sinkingfeeling]

23. Please do.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

24. I guess he needs to have a mob or "hate pit"

in order to communicate his "well-reasoned" and "intelligent" thoughts?

[KharmaTrain]

25. Yep...Gnewt Can't Have Debates Like Democrats Do...

I was at one of the 2008 campaign forums. The moderators instructed us not to show any favoritism of one candidate or another...give all the candidates their chance to speak and to remain silent until the debate concluded. What Cadrich wants is a Nuremberg rally...

[snagglepuss]

34. "What Cadrich wants is a Nuremberg rally..."

Spot on

[marmar]

26. Gingrich, Man of the People.

[Arkansas Granny]

27. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I seem to remember that the audience

was asked to remain silent during the Presidential debates in 2008. Isn't that pretty standard?

[NYC Liberal]

29. But not the primary debates.

I have to admit that I like the audience feedback.

[Brother Buzz]

32. Totaly silent audience was the standard back in my day

All the cat calls and inappropriate applauding is alien to my world of civility. It's like the pubs chose to turn the 'debates' into a demented reality show.

[muriel_volestrangler]

31. so he's a self-admitted rabble-rouser

Not what you want in a president.

[mfcorey1]

33. Without the false bravado he is nothing. Don't budge. Debate without him and watch him lose votes.

Tantrum throing misfit.

[Douglas Carpenter]

36. a bully always needs an audiance to play off of

[demtenjeep]

37. whiney, petulant baby

piece of shit scumbag

[Sheepshank]

39. Newtie governs and debates in one liners

his followers listen, think in, and respond to one liners.

His ego is assuaged only by the responses to his one liners.

It's all pretty simply to figure out why he MUST have his needs satisfied by audience feedback.

[EC]

40. Who cares?

The debate was better without the audience and he can't get the momentum he needs from the audience cheering him on. When he's going to be mean or untruthful, he needs the crowd to back him up and when they aren't allowed to be noisy or responsive, he's left on his own without any ignorant backing...so what do you know...he stays quiet. I think he knows when he's being dishonest and without the crowd backing him up, he knows he'll be called out.

[guitar man]

41. The truth revealed

He's not that good. The cheering, slobbering , screaming audience has the same psychological effect as the laugh track on a sitcom, which is meant to make people think a one liner was funnier than it actually was.

Without the audience response making people think he's better at debate than he actually is, his performance falls pretty flat...

[tallahasseedem]

42. That's because he is nothing more than a stand-up comedian.

Well maybe not, they need actual talent.

[Hatchling]

43. Go ahead, Newt.

I double-dog dare ya!

[GeorgeGist]

45. Do onto others ...

as they boo onto you.

[Ganja Ninja]

46. Here's an idea.

Let the audience participate but hold the rest of the debates in Utah. It's about as fair to Newt as it is for Romney to go through debates all across the south.

[barbtries]

47. is this a promise? nt

[morningfog]

48. Call his bluff. Debates are the best thing he has going for himself right now.

[deacon]

49. No he won't. n/t

[Raine]

50. Noot has to be a gladiator in the Roman Circus

he can't function without the screams of "off with their heads"!