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| Maria Bartiromo, a longtime CNBC star, now with Fox Business Network, says that she will not relent to GOP presidential candidates’ insistence on softer questions. |
As
the second-tier Republican presidential debates get underway on the Fox
Business Network, the Fox moderators have made it clear that, despite the
unprecedented revolt by GOP candidates to the last televised faceoff on CNBC,
tonight’s events will also involve free-wheeling discussions with no holds
barred.
Prior to the
debates, the Fox Biz crew gained some credence from the relentless mockery by
Fox News darling Megyn Kelly, who said the GOP candidates were essentially
acting as cry-babies. In particular, Kelly sharply challenged Republican candidate Ted Cruz, the
ornery Texas junior senator, for his suggestion that moderators of Republican
debates should be limited to Republican primary voters.
He has suggested
fringe-right talk-radio hosts Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Mark Levin would
provide a balanced, objective debate.
“Would we have to
submit our voting records to you?” Kelly said in a snarky tweet to Cruz.
Though CNBC
received widespread post-debate criticism, including from fellow journalists, the
Fox Biz moderators will be following a similar approach – tough questions are
never out of bounds.
“I agree with
Megyn,” said Maria Bartiromo, the former CNBC star who switched to Fox. “By the
way, President Obama says, ‘If these guys can’t handle moderators, how are they
gonna handle China and Russia?’ You should be able to know that you’re going to
be asked any question. It’s all fair game.”
Sandra
Smith, a moderator in the lower-tier debate said: “You have a huge
responsibility sitting there as a moderator. And I will know my stuff. Nobody
writes my questions for me. I ask a question because it’s something I truly
want to know the answer to.”
