Right-wing media fumes over Univision anchor’s debate questions

MicroWave@lemmy.world to politics @lemmy.world – 401 points – Right-wing media fumes over Univision anchor's debate questions | CNN Business
cnn.com

…

“Florida’s new black history curriculum says, ‘Slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit,’” she said to Gov. Ron DeSantis. “You have said slaves developed skills in spite of slavery, not because of it. But many are still hurt. For the descendants of slaves, this is personal. What is your message to them?”

She later asked former vice president Mike Pence: “The Department of Homeland Security warns that violence against LGBTQ+ people is on the rise and intensifying. According to a recent study, members of that community are nine times more likely to be victims of violent hate crimes. As president, how would you protect this community from violent attacks and discrimination?”

But the unsparing and frank manner in which she engaged with the Republican field prompted a wave of ferocious backlash from right-wing media figures watching back at home and one of Fox News’ own prime time hosts.

52

I'm unfamiliar with her, but good on her for asking questions that are intended to make these people give impromptu and unrehearsed answers to questions that aren't soft queries on banal bullshit.

What were thier responses?

"woke CRT is destroying America!"

Cue right wing audience applause

Copied from https://www.rev.com/blog/transcripts/second-republican-presidential-primary-debate-transcript

CALDERON: Governor DeSantis, I have a question for you. Governor DeSantis, I have a question for you. This new black history curriculum says quote, “slaves develop skills which in some instances could be applied for their personal benefit.”

You have said slaves develop skills in spite of slavery not because of it. But many are still hurt. For descendants of slaves, this is personal. What is your message to them?

DESANTIS: So first of all, that’s a hoax that was perpetrated by Kamala Harris. We are not going to be doing that. Second of all, that was written by descendants of slaves. These are great black history scholars. So we need to stop playing these games.

Here’s the deal. Our country’s education system is in decline because it’s focused on indoctrination, denying parent rights. Florida represents the revival of American education. We’re ranked number one in the nation in education by US News and World Report.

CALDERON: Vice President Pence, the Department of Homeland Security warns that violence against LGBTQ plus people is on the rise and intensifying, according to a recent study, members of that community are nine times more likely to be victims of violent hate crimes. As President, how would you protect this community from violent attacks and discrimination?

PENCE: Well, as President of the United States, I’ll — I’ll stand up for the safety and the civil liberties of every American, from every background. And I want the American people to know that. But I want to answer the question as well as, Dana, that you just asked Burgum. Because my way of full disclosure, Chris, you mentioned the President’s situation. I — my wife isn’t a member of the Teachers Union, but I got to admit I — I’ve been sleeping with a teacher for 38 years and a full disclosure. Look, education is a state and local function.

DESANTIS: So first of all, that’s a hoax that was perpetrated by Kamala Harris.

Lol what a tool

So DeSantis lied and Pence tried to jump on that then answer her question.

And what assholes told him Florida is number 1 in education?

Yeah its like #5.. jk its #1

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/education

That link says #14 in K-12 education, which is what the question was about. So this is a perfect example of cherry picking some data (#1 in higher education) that sounds like it proves his point, but not really.

Additionally, if you click on that #1 Higher Education, it explains that it's based on the share of citizens who have degrees and student loan debt, which could all have little to do with the colleges in Florida. It also takes graduation rates of Florida colleges into account, which is an important metric, but without some context showing the quality of the programs, it doesn't mean much.

So essentially all that metric shows is that people with money who can afford college tend to retire where we all already consider the retirement capital of the county. Neat.

I was just posting what he probably referenced. Its not very nuanced, his voter base isnt going to look too deeply into it...

Shit even you guys wouldnt have looked into it had I not pointed it out.

Weird that he says he's been sleeping with a teacher for so long, I wonder who he's referring to since he and Mother (his pet name for his wife) sleep in separate bedrooms by his own admission.

They don't actually say in the article.... I Guess they can take the news out of CNN

I'm sorry but that's ridiculous. They absolutely are prepared to give answers on those questions. They've already been asked them multiple times. Any reasonable debate prep would have also covered it. It would have only been more in their favor if no one had asked them the obvious questions about slavery and LGBT+ people.

The key point of the article is that they haven't actually been asked these questions multiple times, because they exclusively stick to right wing media which exclusively lobs softball questions at them.

These are softball questions. They barely challenge their positions.

It's about making them devise answers on the fly though. They could just say "TRANS PEOPLE BAD" but they won't. The questions were pointed, and asking about very specific thoughts on subjects, which forces these people to either dodge, or give an honest answer. With this crowd, you can guess a lot of idiocy and dodging was used.

Exactly “what’s your policy on lgbt people” can lead to an easy way to say you’ll bring more oppression, but “how will you protect lgbt citizens from illegal violence” forces them to either dodge the question, say that they’ll make the violence legal, ignore it, or go tough on crime but this time with the implication that it’ll be at their base.

You're talking about the same political party that thought "what magazines or newspapers do you read?" was too hard a question.

Alternative title: "Republicans furious because debate moderator asked real questions to candidates expecting 10-ply softball questions"

Why are they so afraid of answering questions that 50% of the country is asking? If it’s such a ridiculous question, take the opportunity to give it the answer it deserve and appreciate the person that gave you that opportunity.

I get it, though, to the fascists, a question is a dangerous thing.

Because the 50% that are asking those questions are the exact people Republicans don’t give a shit about.

I would argue 50% is low-balling the percentage of people they don't give a shit about.

I'd have to guess the number is closer to 99% based on the country's wealth distribution.

The people Republicans hate, you mean. The people Republicans don't give a shit about are other Republicans.

Good for her. We are their citizens too. One has a responsibility to their constituents even ones they dislike

I haven't been paying attention. Is Mike Pence running for president? Doesn't he remember when his own supporters tried to hang him? Who would vote for him?

Mother, mother would vote for him... if pence allowed her to vote.

There’s a thought that most of them are running for the vp spot. If Trump wins he’ll only be able to serve one term. Whoever is the vp has an advantage in 2028.

If Trump gets in the Whitehouse again he won't be leaving until he is dead. They do all know he and his hardcore followers are trying to set him as a dictator?

And feudalist society is trying help make that happy with their 2025 project.

4 more...
4 more...

The DACA dodge by pence had me furious. I wish she would have just cut off their mics.

What was the question?

It was just about what to do with all the “dreamers”, the children of illegal immigrants, many of whom are adults now with jobs and families.

Pence just refused to say what he’d do one way or the other.

LMFAO, I love that the "young Republicans of Iowa" is a room full of old white men.

This is the best summary I could come up with:

After welcoming viewers in Spanish (the debate was simulcast on Univision), Calderón queried the Republicans through the night on weighty issues related to immigration, hate crimes, health care, and more.

Ahead of the debate, which ultimately averaged 9.5 million viewers, Calderón told the Los Angeles Times she viewed her co-moderator role as a “big responsibility to represent all of our community” and was “preparing real and respectful questions.”

She later asked former vice president Mike Pence: “The Department of Homeland Security warns that violence against LGBTQ+ people is on the rise and intensifying.

But the unsparing and frank manner in which she engaged with the Republican field prompted a wave of ferocious backlash from right-wing media figures watching back at home and one of Fox News’ own prime time hosts.

“Why did the RNC who is supposed to stand for our values allow Univision BS leftist questions?” CPAC boss Matt Schlapp asked.

The outrage incited by the journalist’s questions spoke to a larger, worrisome trend that has taken root in the Republican Party in recent years, particularly under the thumb of Donald Trump, where right-wing figures often flock to friendly outlets to air their claims unchallenged.

The original article contains 655 words, the summary contains 196 words. Saved 70%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!

What do you think you’re doing?Don’t ask them hard questions! You’re supposed to just serve them lay-ups, not anything incisive and challenging!