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U.S. Elections

Unconventional Trump-Biden debate receives partisan criticism

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In a departure from tradition, a general election debate between former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden is slated for June 27, marking the earliest occurrence of such an event in history. However, the unconventional nature of the debate has sparked partisan reactions and drawn attention to the evolving dynamics of political discourse.

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Breaking away from the norm, the Commission on Presidential Debates, which typically organizes such events, has been sidelined.

Instead, Biden issued a challenge to Trump on social media, which Trump accepted. The former president has asked Biden to commit to one-on-one debates before, previously saying “Anytime. Any place.” 

Biden released a set of conditions and CNN sent the invitation. Both candidates accepted.

Here are the requirements set out by Biden’s campaign:

  • There are to be no crowds, just the candidates and moderators in the room.
  • Biden offered four venues, CNN, ABC, CBS or Telemundo.
  • Microphones will be muted once a candidate’s time to answer questions runs out.
  • No third-party candidates will be allowed to participate, meaning Robert. F Kennedy will not be taking the stage.

The first presidential debate will be hosted by CNN and moderated by CNN journalists Jake Tapper and Dana Bash.

The choice of venue and moderators has elicited partisan reactions from the media. Right-leaning news outlets like Fox News labeled CNN as “friendly territory” for Biden.

Fox News: “SEAN HANNITY: Biden will be debating in friendly territory.”

Fox News: “CNN’s Jake Tapper, who called Trump’s presidency a ‘nightmare,’ tapped to moderate presidential debate.”

More left-leaning outlets, including The Daily Beast and HuffPost, expressed concern over the perceived bias of the selected moderators.

The Daily Beast: “Fox News Is Already Throwing a Hissy Fit Over Next Month’s CNN Debate.”

HuffPost: “Fox News Hosts Go Into Meltdown Mode Over Biden-Trump Debate Deal.”

The partisan divide extends to political leaders. Republicans view the debate rules as lenient for Biden, while Democrats see them as necessary to control Trump.

“It’s rigged so heavily in Joe Biden’s favor, but everything always is,” said Lara Trump, the co-chair of the Republican National Committee.

“I myself would never recommend going on stage with Donald Trump, but the president has decided that’s what he wants to do,” Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said. “I think the format he is suggesting is a good one.”

Despite the partisan differences surrounding the debate, there is bipartisan consensus that Americans will tune in to witness the candidates engage in dialogue, albeit with varying levels of anticipation.

The debate, though contentious in its lead-up, signifies a pivotal moment in the electoral process, underscoring the importance of robust political discourse in a democratic society.

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[KARAH RUCKER]

EARLIER THIS WEEK – IT WAS UNCLEAR IF WE WERE GOING TO SEE DONALD TRUMP AND PRESIDENT BIDEN DEBATE AHEAD OF THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.

NOW – WE HAVE A DEBATE ON THE BOOKS FOR NEXT MONTH.

IT’S THE EARLIEST GENERAL ELECTION DEBATE EVER.

AND IT’S GOING TO BE A LITTLE UNCONVENTIONAL – A SIGN OF THE TIMES.

THE COMMISSION THAT USUALLY ORGANIZES PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES HAS BEEN CUT OUT.

IT’S THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE 1980’S THAT THE TRADITIONAL AVENUE FOR A DEBATE ISN’T BEING FOLLOWED.

INSTEAD.

BIDEN ISSUED A CHALLENGE TO TRUMP ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

TRUMP ACCEPTED.

BIDEN RELEASED A SET OF CONDITIONS FOR A DEBATE.

CNN SENT OUT AN INVITATION.

BIDEN AND TRUMP BOTH ACCEPTED.

HERE ARE THE CRITERIA.

NO CROWDS. JUST THE CANDIDATES AND MODERATORS IN THE ROOM.

BIDEN OFFERED FOUR VENUES – CNN. ABC. CBS. OR TELEMUNDO.

MICS WILL BE MUTED ONCE A CANDIDATE’S TIME TO ANSWER QUESTIONS RUNS OUT.

AND – NO THIRD-PARTY CANDIDATES ON STAGE. MEANING NO RFK  JR ON STAGE.

TRUMP AGREED TO BIDEN’S TERMS – AFTER SAYING FOR MONTHS “ANYTIME. ANY PLACE.” 

THE DATE. JUNE 27TH. THE PLACE. CNN.

HOSTED BY CNN’S JAKE TAPPER AND DANA BASH –

WHO ARE HOPING FOR A BETTER DEBATE THIS GO AROUND THAN WHAT THEY LAST COVERED IN 2020.

“That was the worst debate ive ever seen, that wasn’t even a debate, it was a disgrace primarily because of trump.”

“You just took the words out of my mouth. You used some high-minded language, i’m just gonna say it like it is, that was a **** show.

THE CHOICE OF VENUE AND CHOSEN MODERATORS – HAS DRAWN A PARTISAN REACTION – FROM THE MEDIA.

“SEAN HANNITY – BIDEN WILL BE DEBATING IN FRIENDLY TERRITORY.”

“CNN’S JAKE TAPPER – WHO CALLED TRUMP’S PRESIDENCY A ‘NIGHTMARE’, TAPPED TO MODERATE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE.

“FOX NEWS IS ALREADY THROWING A HISSY FIT OVER NEXT MONTH’S CNN DEBATE.

“FOX NEWS HOSTS GO INTO MELTDOWN MODE OVER BIDEN-TRUMP DEBATE DEAL”

BEFORE THE DEBATES EVEN BEGIN –

LEADERS IN THE TWO MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES HAVE ALREADY TAKEN A HARD STANCE.

REPUBLICANS LARGELY SEEING THE DEBATE RULES AS LENIENT FOR BIDEN.

WHILE DEMOCRATS LARGELY SEE THE DEBATE RULES AS NECESSARY TO CONTROL TRUMP.

LARA TRUMP WHO IS NOW CO-CHAIR FOR THE RNC SAID –

“IT’S RIGGED SO HEAVILY IN JOE BIDEN’S FAVOR, BUT EVERYTHING ALWAYS IS.”

NANCY PELOSI SAID

[NANCY PELOSI]

“I myself would never recommend going on stage with Donald Trump, but the President has decided that’s what he wants to do. I think the format he is suggesting is a good one.”

[KARAH RUCKER]

WHILE THERE ARE PARTY-DIFFERENCES OVER HOW THE DEBATE IS SLATED TO GO –

THERE IS SOME BIPARTISAN CONSENSUS.

AMERICANS WILL TUNE IN TO SEE THE TWO CANDIDATES DEBATE.

EVEN IF – THEY AREN’T LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

“Well the image that comes to mind is those two little muppets, statler and waldorff, statler and waldorff alright.  

“but i actually think there’s going to be a huge audience. I think people have low expectations for what biden would do and high expectations for what trump and his competitiveness…i share the public’s perceptions, and we’ll see what happens.”

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