CNN announces GOP debate at St. Anselm College without school or party approval, officials claim
CNN Surprises New Hampshire Officials with Unplanned GOP Debate Announcement
In a shocking turn of events, CNN has announced that it will be hosting two GOP presidential debates in January. One of these debates is set to take place at St. Anselm College in New Hampshire. However, officials at both St. Anselm and the New Hampshire Republican Party were completely unaware of CNN’s plans.
The announcement came just hours after the fourth Republican debate in Alabama. CNN revealed that they will be hosting debates in Iowa and New Hampshire, just days before the states’ caucuses and primary. Neil Levesque, the executive director of the New Hampshire Institute of Politics and Political Library at Saint Anselm, expressed his surprise at CNN’s announcement. He stated that there had been no prior planning or booking between the university, the Republican Party, and the media outlet.
“We were surprised to be included on a press release by a network about a debate which we had not planned or booked,”
Levesque said in a post on X. “Such a debate announcement breached the RNC debate rules. We have and will continue to work with the Republican Party on debates.”
Chris Ager, chairman of New Hampshire’s Republican Party, was equally taken aback by the news. He expressed his confusion, stating, “The CNN thing came out and everybody’s like, ‘What the heck?’ I’m still scratching my head. And I still haven’t been contacted by CNN at all.”
Ager added, “For a big, professional organization like that, putting out a location on this date and the location doesn’t know — something’s not quite right.”
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CNN has not been able to explain the apparent miscommunication. According to a spokesperson, the network is “moving forward with our plans to host a debate in New Hampshire on Jan. 21,” just two days before the New Hampshire primary.
It is worth noting that both the Republican Party and St. Anselm College have already approved a GOP debate for January 18, which will be hosted by ABC News. Ager mentioned that the state GOP had been working with ABC “for months” on this debate and had even done a “run-through” of the facility at St. Anselm.
In addition to the New Hampshire debate, CNN is also planning to host a Republican debate in Iowa on January 10, just five days before the Iowa caucuses. However, this debate has not yet been sanctioned by the Republican Party. The current RNC rules state that candidates who attend an unsanctioned debate will be barred from future Republican gatherings. Nevertheless, the party’s debate committee is expected to meet to discuss waiving this rule, allowing candidates more freedom to attend any debate, as reported by POLITICO.
Viewership for Republican debates has been steadily declining since the first debate in August, which attracted over 12 million people. Former President Donald Trump, the Republican frontrunner, has chosen to skip all four GOP debates so far, leaving the stage to his competitors who are trying to catch up to his significant lead in national polling, according to the Real Clear Politics average.
How does CNN’s failure to communicate and coordinate with St. Anselm College and the New Hampshire Republican Party impact the transparency and fairness of the debate planning process?
It is unusual for a major media outlet like CNN to make such a significant announcement without prior communication or coordination with the involved parties. The fact that St. Anselm College and the New Hampshire Republican Party were completely unaware of CNN’s plans is concerning and raises questions about CNN’s adherence to the rules set by the Republican National Committee (RNC) for hosting debates.
Neil Levesque, the executive director of the New Hampshire Institute of Politics and Political Library at Saint Anselm, expressed his surprise and disappointment at CNN’s announcement. He stated that there were no prior discussions or arrangements made between the university, the Republican Party, and the media outlet. This raises concerns regarding the transparency and fairness of the debate planning process.
Levesque also pointed out that CNN’s announcement breached the RNC’s debate rules, which require coordination and cooperation with the Republican Party. He made it clear that despite CNN’s actions, they would continue to work closely with the Republican Party to ensure that the debate process is fair and unbiased.
Chris Ager, the chairman of New Hampshire’s Republican Party, shared Levesque’s confusion and frustration. He stated that he was still trying to understand why CNN made such an announcement without contacting him or any other party involved. Ager emphasized that it is not acceptable for a professional organization like CNN to disclose the location and date of a debate without informing the concerned parties.
This unexpected announcement has left both St. Anselm College and the New Hampshire Republican Party questioning CNN’s intentions and its commitment to following the set guidelines. Ager highlighted the need for transparency and effective communication in order to maintain the integrity of the debate process.
It is imperative for media outlets like CNN to ensure that they adhere to the rules and procedures set by the RNC, as well as maintain open lines of communication with all parties involved in organizing the debates. The debates play a crucial role in shaping public opinion, and it is essential that they are conducted in a fair and impartial manner.
Moving forward, it is crucial for CNN to rectify this situation and engage in constructive dialogue with St. Anselm College, the New Hampshire Republican Party, and other involved parties. Effective communication and collaboration are key to ensuring a transparent and fair debate process, which ultimately serves the best interests of the American people.
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