Most Americans were aghasat at Donald Trump’s cavalier, “I will keep you in suspense, OK?” debate response tonight. At least two political reporters think it’s the moment he lost the debate. But not Fox Business anchor Lou Dobbs! He applauded Trump for saying it.
From Fox Business’ post-debate analysis:
DOBBS: And this little moment we had there where there was this, all of this drama about whether he would accept the results of the election. What kind of chump would say I’m going to accept the results of the election open-ended? No requirement that it be absolutely free, fair and correct?
…I think we’re looking at a country right now and a media that’s a little brainwashed to think that there is something – first of all, I think he did a brilliant job. … That was a bit of a pause moment when he wouldn’t accept it on any condition. He has conditions: A lack of corruptions. He’s the reform candidate! He’s the change candidate! Why should he put up with more corruptions when it goes to the very issue as to whether or not he will be sitting in the Oval Office? I think any one of us would demand that and should, as voters.
Host Neil Cavuto sounded nonplused. Rather than challenge Dobbs, Cavuto merely said, “Alright, well, uh, they are wading into the crowd right now,” about Donald and Melania Trump.
But Washington Post pundit Chris Cillizza pegged it as the moment Trump lost “in 1 sentence.”
How Donald Trump lost the debate, in 1 sentence pic.twitter.com/SplOu98CWp
— Chris Cillizza (@TheFix) October 20, 2016
Vox's Andrew Prokop wrote:
This is so consequential because even if Trump did put in a performance that was overall reasonably effective at convincing swing voters, it will now be completely drowned out by the overwhelming focus on this one moment in the post-debate commentary.
…
If not for that one segment, the post-debate commentary probably wouldn’t have been good for Trump — but he could at least hope that pundits would agree that he had held his own and put in his strongest performance yet.
Instead, everyone’s talking about how dangerous he is for American democracy.
Everyone, that is, except for the Trump faithful at Fox. Because I’ll bet Dobbs is not the only Fox pundit to defend this outrage.
Watch it below, from the Fox Business Network on October 19, 2016.
Um, Hillary Clinton in 2008?
She was asked, on many occasions, during the primaries if she would do just that in terms of the primaries. She never said anything that would hint at anything else. The most “weaselly” (if you want to call it that) was her statement that she would support whoever the nominee was. (The first time Michelle Obama was asked that, on the other hand, she refused to answer—not that it was really her place since it was her husband running for the office. It was still seen as somewhat bad form, especially by Clinton supporters, since Michelle had been pretty adamant that Hillary swear to support the Party’s nominee if it weren’t Hillary. To the best of my memory, Barack was never asked that question.)
Then again, as far as I remember NO other Presidential candidate in American history has even suggested that he wouldn’t accept the results of Election Day. The only reason that we had the “situation” in 2000 was because there were legitimate reasons for questioning Florida’s results (eg, a new type of ballot used in some counties, but not all; a mandatory state law requiring recounts within a certain percentage; verified reports of voters being “misdirected” as well as “unexpected” roadblocks requiring pretty significant detours). But BOTH Bush and Gore were willing to accept the RESULTS (the main argument between the two sides came down to Gore’s wanting only a few counties’ votes being recounted rather than the votes from the entire state being recounted; the FL Sec’y of State should’ve recused herself from any connection with the matter as she was on Bush’s FL campaign team).
Back in 2000 when Al Gore got more votes than Bush, you were saying to Gore, STFU. You thought it was repugnant that Gore should protest little Lord Fauntleroy Bush being anointed President by his daddy’s friends on the Supreme Court. So yeah, fuck you arrogant bastards!
It’s a clean sweep for Hillary. A hat trick. I’ll be curious as to the estimate on the number of viewers.
Again, the pundits all say Trump needed more than a home run, he needed an epic performance because he’s so far behind with so little time left and no scheduled milestone opportunities moving forward to November 8th. Trump failed.
Or Lou, what kind of moron believes America is a banana republic where the other party is involved in a massive conspiracy to stuff ballet boxes and overturn the results over 120,000,000 (2012 Romney v Obama) votes cast? Seriously. Especially considering elections are controlled by the states and a majority of states are run by Republicans so shouldn’t Hillary be the one who’s nervous? Not to mention tens of thousands of volunteer poll workers come from both parties or neither.
On a more recent note, I was really interested in “Fox & Friends” take on Debate 3 because they’re the daily Fox News propaganda talking points kickoff. “Fox & Friends” isn’t disappointing. A ‘fair and balanced’, full-throated gush for Trump. The trio of Trump bobble-heads are essentially parroting and masturbating over everything Trump said even when, IMHO, it makes no sense and is transparently open to easy criticism (which is most of the time). 👍
It seems to me that all of Fox Business is incredibly vile. I have my hands full watching FNC so I don’t watch it much. But our Richard does and he sends me notes all day about how awful and/or biased it is. He even calls one of the shows the FBN’s Hannity. I forget if it’s Trish Regan’s show or Risk & Reward.
As for Hobbs, I’m surprised he’s not on Hannity.
Note to the Fox News producers patrolling this site: Maybe you could go one night without Laura Ingraham and really show off your money-making extremism with Dobbs!
His “commentaries” midway through the show have to be heard to be believed.
