Conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt rejected complaints from Republican candidates that they are facing “gotcha” questions in the debates, and said voters deserve to hear them respond to tough questions.
“I disagree with that,” Hewitt said on CNN Friday morning, responding to a complaint from candidate Ben Carson. “Because debates are supposed to help Republican primary voters.”
Most candidates complained that the questions they faced during Wednesday’s CNBC debate were dismissive, biased and aimed at making the entire GOP field look weak. But Hewitt said the tough questions have given many of the candidates a chance to stand out, which will help voters.
“That means you need to see people who are put under stress, like Marco Rubio was put under stress, and shined,” he said. “You need to see people like Ted Cruz, who did that extraordinary summation, repurposing, repackaging of all the attacks on the candidates.”
Carson calls for change in debate format. @hughhewitt: This isn’t supposed to be come give us your talking points https://t.co/8bOvWXvP0s
— New Day (@NewDay) October 30, 2015
“You need to see Chris Christie be funny with his rude joke, take over the debate with his fantasy football,” he added.
“You need to see Carly Fiorina stand up and assert that she deserves to be on that main stage,” Hewitt said. “You need to see Donald Trump, remind people that he renegotiated the debate to two hours.”
“I call them commander in chief questions,” he said.
Hewitt did say that many GOP voters might think that Carson is “half right,” in that the candidates should be given more time to debate each other. That feature was missing from much of CNBC’s debate.
But still, he said the field must be ready to answer “tough questions.”
