California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) team slammed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ ® counterproposal for a debate as a “joke” on Saturday, claiming that the Republican presidential candidate’s suggested rules are meant to “hide his insecurity and ineptitude.”
“What a joke,” Newsom spokesperson Nathan Click said in a statement, according to Politico. “Desantis’ counterproposal is littered with crutches to hide his insecurity and ineptitude — swapping opening statements with a hype video, cutting down the time he needs to be on stage, adding cheat notes and a cheering section.”
If true, that is so weak.
I’m not trying to defend Ronny by any stretch, but after reading the DeSantis memo, I can’t say I find most of it weird. Yes, the video thing is highly unusual. Why bother with that if you’re just gonna debate for 90 minutes anyway? Saving 2 minutes is weird.
As for the pad of paper requested, I can’t say I’ve ever seen a debate where people don’t make notes. And also, most debates do have audiences. Do I trust Fox not to stuff it with hard rights losers? Of course not, but debating in front of an audience is not an odd request. And they claim it would be a 50/50 audience (edit: it’s obvious which side would be rowdy and annoying and which would be respectful audience members though)
Overall, I just don’t think it’s a great look for Newsom to slam DeSantis’ fairly tame counteroffer as extreme. It easy to portray him as trying to back out
Stop playing mental gymnastics to justify ol Ronny trying to switch the rules when his bluff was called.
It’s obvious panic among Desantis campaign staff trying to reject accepted terms and then inject arbitrary nonsense to make the debate even more of a generic advertisement with no substance.
What specifically about the memo, linked in the article, was that bad though? I hate Ronnny as much as the next sane American, but I really think the Newsom response is over the top here
I’m not trying to defend Ronny by any stretch, but after reading the DeSantis memo, I can’t say I find most of it weird. Yes, the video thing is highly unusual. Why bother with that if you’re just gonna debate for 90 minutes anyway? Saving 2 minutes is weird.
He’s trying to pump his closeted homo-erotica to the rest of the world. it’s hard to get oily beefcakes up on stage and explain how they got there, and why they got there.
DeCreepy folds under pressure and refuses to be challenged, even when he knows he’s wrong. There was a story about how he would intentionally pronounce a word wrong, and if his date corrected him, he would end the date right there.
I guess RonnyBoi needs every advantage he can get?
don jr married newsoms ex
these people rub elbows more than you think this one stinks of an actual both sides bad vibe
Just do it, newsom.
The 2 minute video is weird, but why object to a live audience? I’d rather see that than an empty room debate.
Maybe one side is seen as more likely to try to heckle the other? I think the governor of California wants it to be more in depth. The differences to me makes it look like the governor of Florida doesn’t want an in depth debate, just something flashy and fast.
Edited for tone, I’m trying to type nicer.
I’m actually over the live audience debates. I don’t need to be “told” when to cheer or when to boo by some audience of party loyalists and donors. Half of the time candidates are just playing to to audience and trying to get the biggest response and not really answering the question and often not engaging with the person next to them.
Honestly I think audiences should be setup like juries for these events. It makes a lot more sense to have an audience of mixed diversities and lifestyles react live in front of the whole country than allowing it to be a highschool popularity vote.
Remember when your teacher made everyone put their heads down when voting on something?
