Fox News changes plans for GOP forum

[brooklynite]

Source: Politico

The Fox News Republican presidential forum on August 6 -- also known as the mid-day consolation event for GOP candidates who fail to make the channel's primetime debate -- is being moved to 5 p.m. and shortened to one hour, the On Media blog has learned.

Fox News, the sponsor of the inaugural Republican primary debate in Cleveland, Ohio, has limited inclusion to candidates who finish in the top 10 in an average of national polls. In June, it announced that the remaining candidates would participate in a 90-minute forum at 1 p.m., eight-hours before the main event.

The move to 5 p.m. will give the second-tier candidates a far greater audience than they would have had at mid-day -- the channel's 5 p.m. ratings are nearly double the daytime average -- and will allow Fox News to transition directly from the forum into its pre-debate coverage.

The decision to shorten the forum to one hour will be less celebrated by candidates who already feel spurned by the network's cap. However, the forum is likely to include about half as many participants as the primetime debate, providing each candidate with roughly equal time.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2015/07/fox-news-changes-plans-for-gop-forum-210900.html?hp=r3_4

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. Well, that's actually more fair,

but I have to admit, I preferred it when they were 'playing kingmaker' by simply planning to screw over half the field, including some of the more dangerous in a general candidates. I wanted Kasich's campaign strangled in the cradle, among others.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

2. Still, seeing that egomaniac Christie Creme exiled to the D-Squad will be sweet

and no matter how these guys fare in the forum, it's all going to be completely forgotten once the Donald Trump Comedy Show goes on air that night

I think this change means someone FOX likes isn't making the cut. Likely Fiorina, who they've been pushing as "the next big thing" in GOP politics and a veep contender

BTW, being called "the next big thing" in the Republican Party and the supposed key to breaking up demographic groups is the kiss of death.

See also: JC Watts, Christie Todd Whitman, Susan Molinari, etc

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

3. Next time around, they'll probably be more careful

to choose metrics based on the candidates they want to be in the main show. National polling will be a 'component' but not the only thing that decides who gets in and who doesn't.

[Chemisse]

9. It could be fun if they try to contort themselves in order to get Trump out of the main forum.

Perhaps they can look at a downward trend in the polls following the McCain comments, and then 'project' it to a low enough point so as to make him ineligible.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

11. Oh, they wouldn't dare exclude him

or all hell breaks loose with the racists and the crazies

[Hortensis]

15. More fair maybe, but more problematic for the "winners" in the main debate?

After all, the "consolation" event could end up shaping what comes immediately after as the debaters have to figure out quick how to respond to any especially resonating statements. They and their staffs have lost several hours....

[dembotoz]

4. Fox has a nightmare with this

[joshdawg]

6. fox IS a nightmare.

Always has been and always will be.

[Renew Deal]

7. I agree

Their manipulation makes it worse.

[Sunlei]

5. republican fox picks the losers = second-tier

[truthisfreedom]

8. Minor league clowns are warmup band.

[left-of-center2012]

10. I'm ready for the GOP debate

[MissMillie]

12. I can certainly see why they shortened it.

There isn't anything new for anything to say...

"Obama bad."

"Hillary bad."

"I'm more conservative then all the other candidates."


Hell, I think they can get this done is about 15 minutes.

[maindawg]

14. They are terrified by what they might say

This could turn into a real right wing pissing match. Who can be the meanest hate filled a hole while smiling and acting like aw shucks folk?
Who is the best used car salesman ? Who do I trust to get some wars going ? Who will promise to start wars? Who will promise to restore the confederate heritage?
The reason republicans are unelectable is because they have to say such dumb stuff. So they want to limit the amount of stuff that gets said by anyone. Ideally they would prefer to never say anything.
Fox probably sends them all a script and its all fake.

[LiberalLovinLug]

17. Yes they are

I think a tipping point was reached when the Don came out with his latest McCain blast. I think they really want to steer him into the second tier along with the other more embarrassing baffoons.

[Hortensis]

13. Really wondering what more thoughtful cons think about Fox/Murdoch making this cut for them?

I'd be so furious I'd cut Fox off completely, but I don't have the authoritarian streak/(excessive) respect for powerful people that characterizes so many conservatives. Do they care? Could Fox come to rue this as a big mistake?

[tularetom]

16. Who are they gonna get to moderate the kid's table debate - Brian Kilmeade?

Might be a hoot.