CNN is getting blasted for its performance in hosting the GOP presidential debate, and rightfully so, but this could be the best thing that's happened so far in the primary campaign. All those planted questions, which CNN producers either let by with a wink or were ill-prepared to catch, when combined with the planted questions at the Hillary Clinton event a few weeks ago will serve to prepare the public for how things are going to be next year.
Republicans, with some justification, have long complained that so-called non-partison general election debates were stacked with liberals. That was back long before the, famous to conservatives, pony-tailed man who asked Bill Clinton how government was going to take care of all of us.
Now we had a Republican primary debate in which so many of the questions were about liberal concerns. For a list of the plants, check the Michelle Malkin Web site. The early buzz was all about the gay general, but there turned out to be so many more that it gave CNN a black eye.
There's two bottom lines:
First, we at home have to realize that CNN's political coverage is a joke. The debate producers either got duped or really thought these questions were pertinent. Either way it looks real bad for them, and not so hot for us either, because now we can't depend on them for high quality coverage.
Second, Republicans simply have to be ready for this. Not just in being blindsided in debates, but eventually, one of them is going to win the nomination and is then going to have to answer to concerns of people other than committed Republicans who are paying attention to presidential politics one November too early. Like independents. Like Reagan Democrats. There's no problem with them starting last night.
