Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman said last week that they would not participate in the Iowa debate since it will be moderated by Donald Trump. Both candidates said that they wanted to avoid the media circus that will inevitably ensue during the debate. What Paul and Huntsman both fail to realize is that a media circus cannot be avoided when Mr. Trump is involved.
After it was announced that Donald Trump would be hosting the debate , Ron Paul released the following statement:
“The selection of a reality television personality to host a presidential debate that voters nationwide will be watching is beneath the office of the Presidency and flies in the face of that office’s history and dignity… Mr. Trump’s participation will contribute to an unwanted circus-like atmosphere… Therefore our candidate Ron Paul, the champion of the Constitution, has advised he will not attend.”
Huntsman issued a similar statement, although Huntsman’s announcement was a little less insulting… at least to the Donald. Huntsman said:
“We look forward to watching Mitt and Newt suck up to The Donald with a big bowl of popcorn.”
Trump said that he was glad that Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman won’t be attending his debate. Trump said that since Paul and Huntsman have no chance of winning the nomination, the Iowa debate can focus on the more important candidates. Trump told Matt Lauer on The Today Show:
“I think most candidates are going to join, I think those two candidates have zero chance of being elected so it makes no difference.. I think they are joke candidates.”
He later clarified to the New York Daily News:
“Few people take Ron Paul seriously and many of his views and presentation make him a clown-like candidate. I am glad (Ron Paul) and Jon Huntsman, who have inconsequential poll numbers or a chance of winning, will not be attending the debate and wasting the time of the viewers who are trying very hard to make a very important decision.”
Do you think Donald Trump should be hosting the next GOP debate? Are Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman maintaining some dignity for the GOP party, or as Trump says, are they really ‘joke candidates?’
