Republicans fume as moderator of next Democratic debate gets together with campaign aides

[elleng]

ahead of time for 'informational' meetings.

'Republicans are upset at CBS News anchor John Dickerson for meeting in secret with representatives from the three surviving Democratic presidential campaigns in advance of Saturday's primary debate.

Politico reported Friday that Dickerson sat down with campaign representatives to talk turkey about the issues he'll cover in his Des Moines, Iowa debate questions, possibly giving them a valuable heads-up about what to prepare for.

That isn't sitting well with Republicans, who fumed on the margins of a central Florida GOP cattle call that the network is playing favorites.

'We would never dream of having a debate moderator from any network give us a verbal crib sheet before a debate,' a senior aide to one of the Republican front-runners told DailyMail.com on Friday in Orlando.

He was granted anonymity to speak freely. . .

CBS News told the inside-the-beltway newspaper that reaching out to the Democratic presidential campaigns is in line with the kind of research Dickerson does in preparation for his weekly 'Face the Nation' broadcasts.

He also spoke with representatives of organizations not aligned with the campaigns, the network said, in order to 'immerse himself' in the issues.

Politico reported that the group discussions were described by campaign sources as 'informational in nature.'

Dickerson will share the stage with CBS News correspondent Nancy Cordes; KCCI-TV anchor Kevin Cooney and Des Moines Register political columnist Kathie Obradovich.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3317738/Republicans-fume-moderator-Democratic-debate-gets-campaign-aides-ahead-time-informational-meetings.html

[randys1]

1. This was stupid.

Although I think for primary debates, before the party nominee is picked, that the candidates and party leaders should be in charge of who asks the questions.

Make it obvious the debate is FOR the base.

[Fred Sanders]

2. If you asshats had less than 15 clowns running maybe the media debate producers could meet

with you?

And after the mutual fellating by the GOP, Fox and CNN to date....what is the whining about again?

[madamesilverspurs]

3. They're mad? Really?

[Kalidurga]

4. How much prep time do you need to:

Advocate building a wall and sending 11 million people out of the country.

Blame the poor for the economy.

Talk about cutting social security and making it harder for disabled people to get assistance.

Talk about the 47% being takers and not contributers.

Talk about ending the ACA?

and my favorite slam the philosophers while trying to pretend you give a damn about welders and unions.