Bachmann Says Questions of Bias Delay Trump Debate Decision
EmailMichele Bachmann today said fears that Donald Trump might be too biased in favor of one GOP candidate have delayed her decision to participate in an upcoming presidential debate moderated by the real-estate tycoon and reality-TV star.
“We’re still in the process of looking at it,” Rep. Bachmann said on CBS’s “Early Show,” reflecting comments the campaign has made previously to ABC News.
The Minnesota congresswoman said “one concern” about participating was an announcement Trump made that he is close to endorsing a candidate. Trump has also hinted that he might yet run as a third-party candidate against the Republican nominee.
“One concern is he’s already leaning towards a candidate,” she said. “So there’s questions about objectivity.”
Some outlets have erroneously reported that Bachmann already said she would participate; she has not.
Bachmann, who has met with Trump several times, said today, “I have great respect for him.”
The debate sponsored by the conservative magazine Newsmax is slated for Dec. 27, a week before the Iowa caucuses.
Many GOP mandarins, including former George W. Bush advisers Karl Rove and Ari Fleischer, have been critical of Trump’s involvement and called on the candidates not to participate.
Already, Rep. Ron Paul and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman have said they will not participate. Only former Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum have signed on.
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I don’t understand Trump’s angle on this. He no doubt wants to influence the election. I don’t take him seriously as a potential candidate. Michele Bachmann has voiced legitmate concerts about participating in this “debate”. I think the prudent choice would be to not participate in it.
Posted by: Larry T | December 6, 2011, 11:02 am 11:02 am
It’s a money grab.
Yes, Trump does want to exert influence on the election. And the candidates want his money.
The candidates are debating for the benefit of the people and the country. The candidates are debating for money!
Posted by: repugs_are_pathetic | December 6, 2011, 11:22 am 11:22 am
She is afraid of it. Bottom line.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | December 6, 2011, 11:30 am 11:30 am
Correction:
It’s a money grab.
Yes, Trump does want to exert influence on the election. And the candidates want his money.
The candidates are NOT debating for the benefit of the people and the country. The candidates are debating for Trump’s money.
Posted by: repugs_are_pathetic | December 6, 2011, 11:32 am 11:32 am
I think the biggest issue is that Trump isn’t accountable to anyone. Whether Conservative or Liberal, news people have to at lease appear objective. Trump can just outright ambush one candidate and throw softballs to another; when it’s all over, everyone will say, well, that is kind of what we expected.
Posted by: Tom | December 6, 2011, 4:10 pm 4:10 pm
Trump always has an alternative motive. He has a chance for America to hear his views in the form of the questions without being a presidential contender. He will then announce he doesn’t like any of the candidates and get back in the election. His second motive is to get publicity for his book.
You can’t ever ever trust Trump. He has a Narcissistic personality disorder “(NPD) is a personality disorder in which the individual is described as being excessively preoccupied with issues of personal adequacy, power, prestige and vanity. Narcissistic personality disorder is closely linked to egocentrism.
Posted by: Joe | December 7, 2011, 1:02 pm 1:02 pm