Should Carly Be on the Main Stage?

 

Carly Fiorina The next GOP primary debate is scheduled for Saturday and every major candidate is invited to participate. Well, everyone except Carly Fiorina. She wrote an open letter to the Republican National Committee to request that they discard the rules as created by ABC News:

Our debate process is broken. Networks are making up these debate rules as they go along — not to be able to fit candidates on the stage — but arbitrarily to decide which candidates make for the best TV in their opinion. Now it is time for the RNC to act in the best interest of the Party that it represents.

In 2012, the debate stage featured 8 candidates until the Iowa Caucus and then all declared candidates still in the race were invited from that point forward, including the ABC New Hampshire debate. As of today, I will be the only candidate kept off the debate stage. To review, we beat Governors Christie and Kasich in Iowa this week when voters actually had their say. This campaign has the same number of delegates as Governors Bush and Kasich while Governor Christie has zero. We’re ahead of Dr. Carson in New Hampshire polling. We are 6th in hard dollars raised and have twice the cash on hand as either Governors Christie or Kasich. We are already on the ballot in 32 states, and there is a ground game with paid staff in 12 states. Yet, all of these candidates will be invited to the ABC debate. I will not.

There are only 8 candidates left. It’s time for the RNC to demand that media executives step aside and let voters hear from all of us.

Technically, there are nine candidates left, but seeing that James Gilmore only received 12 votes in Iowa, you can hardly consider him a major player. So what do you think, Ricochetti — should ABC let Carly in?

Published in General
Like this post? Want to comment? Join Ricochet’s community of conservatives and be part of the conversation. Join Ricochet for Free.

There are 112 comments.

Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.
  1. Beatrice Campbell Member
    Beatrice Campbell
    @

    Mike LaRoche:I’d like to see Cruz versus Trump, one on one.

    I think we could get Vegas to host that one! :))

    • #91
  2. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental
    @JudgeMental

    Beatrice Campbell:

    Mike LaRoche:I’d like to see Cruz versus Trump, one on one.

    I think we could get Vegas to host that one! :))

    I’ll bet Michael Buffer is free.

    • #92
  3. CuriousJohn Inactive
    CuriousJohn
    @CuriousJohn

    Can someone kneecap Jeb before the Saturday debate. I and Carly would appreciate that

    • #93
  4. Jules PA Inactive
    Jules PA
    @JulesPA

    Songwriter:

    Mike LaRoche:I’d like to see Cruz versus Trump, one on one.

    Out of curiosity – Is there any reason individual candidates cannot set up just such debates?

    If she is excluded, RICOCHET should offer an exclusive live podcast debate with Carly , with the EXACT same questions as the rest of the crew on ‘stage,’ in real time.

    When are we going to use social media and technology to accomplish our goals?

    Honest, if Ricochet does not pick up the slack if ABC disses Carly Fiorina, I will never go Reagan Level. My Rico membership is up on the ides of March.

    I’m just that pissed about a lot of things, both in and out of politics, to mean that with all my heart.

    • #94
  5. Jules PA Inactive
    Jules PA
    @JulesPA

    Lucy Pevensie:Now that you brought it up, is there a petition to the Republican party that we could sign on behalf of this cause? I generally don’t sign petitions–but I generally don’t think the people who are being petitioned have any particular interest in the signers of petitions. I hope that the Republican party has some interest in what its members think.

    there was a carly petition earlier from a PAC (not Carly), but it expired at 3pm today.

    • #95
  6. Jules PA Inactive
    Jules PA
    @JulesPA

    Kay of MT:

    KiminWI:I came back to the thread to post that link. Note that when you sign it, the next page gives you a phone number for the RNC. I left a message there as well.

    I signed the petition, then called the phone #, was directed to leave a message, and disconnected before any beep for a message. Hah, maybe they are getting too many calls.

    I did the petition, and expect payment in the form of a million pieces of political spam.

    Small price to save the future.

    • #96
  7. inmateprof Inactive
    inmateprof
    @inmateprof

    Yes, she should be there.  She has done extremely well in the other debates.  She speaks concisely and with more intelligence than any other candidate on stage.  She doesn’t use clichés.  Once again, we are letting the media decide things for us.  Geez, I hate the GOP.  Gutless.  Maybe we are just a bunch of sheep.

    • #97
  8. Jules PA Inactive
    Jules PA
    @JulesPA

    inmateprof: She doesn’t use clichés.

    I don’t think she uses common cliches, but I do think she creates her own cliches, from her own story, and life path.

    I like Carly, and I would not be unhappy to see her move up in the pool.

    I get why its important to be consistent with a message, but I started to hear that some of her answers, even if they were true, strong, and on point, were exquisitely personalized boiler plate.

    • #98
  9. Duncan Winn Member
    Duncan Winn
    @DuncanWinn

    Yes! I enjoy hearing from her. She would make a great VP (I don’t think she has much of a chance to be voted in as president. Too many people want Trump, or whoever they think can eliminate Trump.)

    • #99
  10. Pulaski the Dog Member
    Pulaski the Dog
    @PulaskitheDog

    I think she has no chance, but she should be on that stage – she did better than Govs. Kasich and Christie.

    • #100
  11. Scot Wilcox Inactive
    Scot Wilcox
    @ScotWilcox

    I caucused for Carly in Iowa on Monday (a lifetime ago?). I became interested because I thought she gave the best answers during every debate. I later attended a talk in Iowa City, where she solidified her grip on my vote.

    What the ABC/RNC rules are doing in New Hampshire is giving more credibility to polls than to votes (where as others have noted, Fiorina has more than both Kasich and Christie). And Carly’s spot-on correct that her best path to support is through increased media coverage.

    Bottom line: I would never have voted for her had I not seen her in previous debates. That vote is proof how much debate presence matters.

    Will she win? Well almost certainly not the nomination. But I’d sure like her chances for taking the debate, and for making a compelling case to restore citizen government.

    • #101
  12. Jules PA Inactive
    Jules PA
    @JulesPA

    #101 Scott Wilcox
    “Will she win? Well almost certainly not the nomination. But I’d sure like her chances for taking the debate, and for making a compelling case to restore citizen government.”

    I agree and I like the tone AND her boilerplate but very true statements about RESTORING our citizen government. She needs to be heard and the front runners, as well as the people need to listen.

    How could carly’s skill set be used to help us do liposuction and gastric bypass on the federal government?

    • #102
  13. dittoheadadt Inactive
    dittoheadadt
    @dittoheadadt

    Jules PA:If she is excluded, RICOCHET should offer an exclusive live podcast debate with Carly , with the EXACT same questions as the rest of the crew on ‘stage,’ in real time.

    When are we going to use social media and technology to accomplish our goals? (emphases added)

    Honest, if Ricochet does not pick up the slack if ABC disses Carly Fiorina, I will never go Reagan Level. My Rico membership is up on the ides of March.

    I’m just that pissed about a lot of things, both in and out of politics, to mean that with all my heart.

    Ditto (except the Ides of March thing; I think mine’s in October).

    • #103
  14. The Other Diane Coolidge
    The Other Diane
    @TheOtherDiane

    KiminWI
    “I came back to the thread to post that link. Note that when you sign it, the next page gives you a phone number for the RNC. I left a message there as well.”

    I’m popping in and out of this thread but somehow missed this link, KiminWI. Searched a few pages but still don’t see it. Can you post the link again? Especially want to leave a message for the RNC who drive me crazy with phone calls near election time. I’m also disappointed that Rubio is mum on this issue so far – or has anybody heard something from him in the last two days that I missed?

    • #104
  15. Jules PA Inactive
    Jules PA
    @JulesPA

    I don’t think I’ll quit Ricochet altogether, but I may opt out of the Reagan level if the Reagan dollars aren’t used to make what seems to be a CRITICAL statement.

    I don’t think Carly will be our nominee, but how these debates are run is ridiculous.

    I can see using polls as a measure to winnow the field on a limited stage, but now that VOTES have been cast, it seems different.

    The way things are now, ABC is managing it. In what world is that SANE?

    ps…i’m not a reagan member, but seeing positive action in this election cycle declaring PRINCIPLES from Ricochet would go a long way toward making me think about doing it.

    • #105
  16. Jules PA Inactive
    Jules PA
    @JulesPA

    I’m going to flag my own initial comment, because I’m guessing higher ups are deep in to reading comments on this thread.

    • #106
  17. dittoheadadt Inactive
    dittoheadadt
    @dittoheadadt

    Well, not according to the Anybody But Carly network, Jon.

    • #107
  18. dittoheadadt Inactive
    dittoheadadt
    @dittoheadadt

    The Other Diane: I’m also disappointed that Rubio is mum on this issue so far – or has anybody heard something from him in the last two days that I missed?

    As of 3:16pm AST on Saturday the 6th, I’ve only seen comments by Cruz and Carson supporting Carly’s inclusion in the debate.

    The rest of our “contenders” apparently don’t have the presidential chops necessary to make a stand for one of their own, nay, for New Hampshire primary voters and the American people.  Oh, but they’ll stand up to Putin and Ahmadinejad for sure, yep, they will.  They even say so.

    • #108
  19. dittoheadadt Inactive
    dittoheadadt
    @dittoheadadt

    The Other Diane:KiminWI
    “I came back to the thread to post that link. Note that when you sign it, the next page gives you a phone number for the RNC. I left a message there as well.”

    I’m popping in and out of this thread but somehow missed this link, KiminWI. Searched a few pages but still don’t see it. Can you post the link again? Especially want to leave a message for the RNC who drive me crazy with phone calls near election time. I’m also disappointed that Rubio is mum on this issue so far – or has anybody heard something from him in the last two days that I missed?

    This is the link, TOD.

    • #109
  20. TempTime Member
    TempTime
    @TempTime

    Did everyone see this from Dittoheadadt’s OP on the Member Feed — the Anybody but Carly network?  It’s great, share it with everyone.

    best political ads

    • #110
  21. Jules PA Inactive
    Jules PA
    @JulesPA

    dittoheadadt:Well, not according to the Anybody But Carly network, Jon.

    great ad.

    • #111
  22. Craig Inactive
    Craig
    @Craig

    As a Californian I see Carly as a failed U.S Senate Candidate, and former CEO. Chuck DeVore summed up Carly the best in 2010 when she just entered the 2010 race for the GOP Nomination.

    • #112
Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.