Rick Santorum + Newt Gingrich + Donald Trump = TV Gold
Given the intellectual buffoonery displayed thus far by the candidates in the Republican primary debates, why not have a moderator who can match them, bluster for bluster, in entertainment value?
Donald Trump, you’re hired!
When it was announced over the weekend that Trump would moderate a pivotal GOP presidential debate in Iowa on Dec. 27, the glee was palpable among columnists, bloggers, tweeters and talk-show hosts. Conservatives busted a move or two, but not the happy kind.
A Trump-moderated debate would be the ultimate reality show. A Saturday Night Live skit. Candidates Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman both trashed Trump and the event as being unworthy of the highest office in the land. Even Republican party boss Reince Priebus wouldn’t publicly endorse it.
On the other hand, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum, both one-man laugh riots, jumped at the chance to fence with The Donald. Newt, Rick and Donald. The Prep Boys.
The debate might be a joke, but the timing is serious. The Des Moines event, sponsored by conservative media outlet Newsmax, will be the GOP candidates’ final joint appearance before the Iowa Caucus on Jan. 3. That’s when the race starts to get real.
Personally, I can’t think of anyone better for this assignment than Trump.
Like most politicians, he never lets the facts get in the way of a good story, his favorite topic is himself, and he’ll do just about anything for publicity. And those are his good points.
In other words, he was born to be a performer. The venue is incidental.
If, as predicted, the debate does boffo box office, who knows where it could lead? How about a political edition of The Apprentice, with all the GOP losers as contestants? Or a special segment of Miss Universe featuring the losers’ wives? (Only the most recent ones.)
Let’s not forget that Trump himself teased us about his own candidacy for a while, and that he was an unabashed “birther.” Jackpot alert. He could host Where Were You Born? Prove it!, a new game show in which audience members as well as contestants must produce their passports on command.
Like all good citizens, I believe political debates can play an important role in our democracy. The problem is twofold: Most candidates are not skilled debaters, and questions like, “How would you end terrorism?” cannot be answered in 30 seconds.
As a consequence, these debates have featured a succession of earnest, dull moderators–John King, Brett Baier, Scott Pelley, Chris Wallace, Anderson Cooper. Even Brian Williams, one of the funniest people on the planet, played it totally straight. Good civics, bad TV.
Fortunately, these 2012 Republicans are an amusing bunch, sometimes on purpose. They can always be counted on to say something stupid or blatantly untrue or, if we’re lucky, have a brain fart with the cameras rolling. (See Perry, Rick.)
Every circus needs a ringmaster. Donald Trump gets my vote. Let the fun begin.
