Telling reporters at his daily press briefing that President Barack Obama never ducked a debate, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest revealed why he’s joined the GOP to pile on real estate mogul and former reality TV star Donald Trump. Looking more likely he’ll lock up the Republican nomination, the White House did it’s part to sabotage Trump’s campaign with recent polling showing the 69-year-old entrepreneur could beat either Democratic front-runner former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton or Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Neither match-up would be favorable to Democrats. With Obama practically endorsing Hillary yesterday, it’s clear that the Democratic establishment fear running against Trump. Riding a popular anti-Washington wave, Trump speaks to voters’ utter frustrations, jaded by the nation’s bitter partisan divide.
Whether Trump can turn Washington around is anyone’s guess. What’s known is that he’s not afraid to take on Washington’s most entrenched interests, including the GOP’s conservative Fox New Channel. Expected to tell Fox News Bill O’Reilly his story tonight why he refused to show up at the Jan. 28 Fox News debate, Trump won’t back down from Fox News Channel’s 75-year-old President Roger Ailes. Since Fox News hosted the first GOP debate Aug. 6, 2015, its moderator Megyn Kelly ripped into Trump for his alleged misogyny. Kelly blindsided Trump in the first GOP debate, hoping to derail his presidential campaign early on. Kelly insists her questions on Trump’s derogatory remarks on women were fair game. What Kelly didn’t admit is that Fox News, as the GOP’s media wing, wanted desperately to wreck Trump’s presidential ambitions.
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest refuses to admit to the GOP’s premeditated bias against Trump. Had a reporter or news organization blindsided Obama with questions about his religion, past pot smoking or father’s Muslim faith, he would have also cried foul. Wasting his briefing on Trump’s spat with Fox News shows just how Democrats fear Trump’s success. Like other candidates have done in the past, Trump exercised his right to have a biased reporter removed from the debate. Refusing to honor Trump’s request, Fox News President Roger Ailes showed that he’s more concerned about defending Kelly and saving face, than giving viewers what they want: Watching the GOP front-runner in action. No responsible network Tweets out insults about Trump’s fears of meeting with Putin, the Ayatollah or, replacing Cabinet officials with Twitter followers.
Ailes revealed firsthand his antagonistic attitude toward Trump with his incoherent Tweet-storm, essentially calling Donald a chicken. Refusing to honor Trump’s request to keep Kelly off the debate stage, Ailes decided to sacrifice Fox News Channel’s Nielsen ratings. Without Trump on the stage, it’s doubtful they’ll get close to the past viewership. Ailes’ openly hostile attitude toward Trump proves he’s no longer fit to run the Fox News Channel. Plenty of past presidential candidates have negotiated with networks who’s in and who’s out when it comes moderating debates. Ailes refusal to heed Trump’s requests showed he’s more about ego than doing what’s best for the network. Watching the bulk of GOP candidates, polling under 10% and likely to drop out soon, offers nothing compelling to viewers. Trump showed he knows the numbers’ game better than Ailes.
Running behind in national polls by double-digits, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) lashed out at Trump, announcing a Website “duckingdonald.com” to pressure the front-runner into a one-on-one debate. Cruz’s antics more than likely dashes any chance of Trump considering him for VP. Losing ground to Trump in Iowa, Cruz faces the very real possibility of watching Trump run the table, wrapping up the GOP nomination March 1, Super Tuesday. Bating Trump can only backfire on Cruz heading into next Tuesday’s Iowa Caucuses. After raising doubts about his eligibility for president and recent undisclosed Wall Street loans, Cruz’s fortunes have faltered. “These kinds of theatrics by Ted Cruz and Donald Trump are an entertaining sideshow, but they have nothing to do with defeating Hillary Clinton,” said Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fl.), hoping to score some quick points.
Trump’s popularity with voters and double-digit lead in national polls mirror the public’s disgust with Washington’s business-as-usual. Telling Fox News President Roger Ailes no to his debate speaks volumes about Trump’s refusal to jump through the Fox News Channel’s hoops. Speaking on O’Relly’s show tonight signals that there’s life at Fox News beyond Roger Ailes. O’Reilly decided smartly to keep the doors open to capture Trump’s rating bonanza. Getting beyond the squabbles proves he’s ready step up as Fox News’ elder statesman, perhaps looking to Ailes’ retirement. Fox Entertainment Chairman Rupert Murdoch can’t be happy watching Ailes’ sabotage Fox News Channel’s Nielsen ratings. Without Trump on the stage, it can’t be good for Fox News. Insisting Fox News would not “give in to terrorizations toward any of our employees,” showed why Ailes isn’t fit to run the show.
