{"id":31545,"date":"2016-05-07T12:17:27","date_gmt":"2016-05-07T19:17:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.newscorpse.com\/ncWP\/?p=31545"},"modified":"2016-05-07T12:23:32","modified_gmt":"2016-05-07T19:23:32","slug":"will-the-presidential-debate-commission-stand-up-to-donald-trumps-bullying","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newscorpse.com\/ncWP\/?p=31545","title":{"rendered":"Will The Presidential Debate Commission Stand Up To Donald Trump’s Bullying?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Now that Donald Trump has been designated the “presumptuous”<\/em> nominee of the Republican Party, it is a good time to look ahead to the debates that have been scheduled by the bipartisan Commission On Presidential Debates<\/a> (CPD). If the recent history of candidate debates within the Republican Party is any guide, Trump’s contribution to the general election match ups could wind up turning the events into feral spectacles of crass immaturity and an avoidance of substance – i.e. pro-wrestling on meth.<\/p>\n

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The CPD has been responsible for managing these debates since 1988. It was formed “to ensure that the voting public has the opportunity to see the leading candidates debate during the general election campaign”<\/em> in an environment that “is not controlled by any political party or outside organization.”<\/em> While it has not always been a perfect solution, it has provided some measure of independence to prevent the candidates from dominating the process for their own benefit. This year, more than most, there is a significant threat to the independence of the debates as a fair and open discourse that informs voters. That threat is Donald Trump.<\/p>\n

Throughout the GOP primary, Trump has forced himself and his rapacious self-interest on the candidates and the media participating in the party debates. Republican National Committee chairman, Reince Priebus, has made a determined effort to turn the debates into PR vehicles for the party by proclaiming that “allowing moderators who are not serving the best interests of the candidate and the party”<\/em> is “ridiculous.”<\/em> But that explicit endorsement of bias wasn’t enough for Trump who continued to strive to dominate the process and often got his way. He even refused to negotiate in concert with his party peers, preferring to conduct his own negotiations<\/a> with the debate organizers and sponsors. Subsequently, Trump’s tantrums succeeded in forcing the RNC and the media to capitulate to his will on several occasions. For instance:<\/p>\n