Just like the RNC stopped Ramaswamy and Christie from duking it out on Fox News Special Report last month, they are now stepping in to stop any candidates from appearing at an Iowa ‘Thanksgiving Family Forum’ moderated by Bob Vander Plaats.
The candidates were invited by Vander Plaats for a ‘family discussion’ where the candidates would “gather around a table”.
But the RNC considers that a debate and a violation of a pledge each candidate signed and have warned the candidates against it.
Here’s more via RCP:
Earlier this month, an influential Christian conservative leader invited each of the Republican presidential candidates to attend a “Thanksgiving Family Forum” in Iowa. Candidates who accept wouldn’t stand behind podiums. Instead, they would be encouraged to gather around a table.
The Family Leader Foundation is set to host. Bob Vander Plaats, the head of that organization, has promised to moderate. The event is being billed as “a family discussion with presidential candidates.”
And no one will show up. That is, if the candidates want to keep on participating in debates sanctioned by the Republican National Convention. The RNC has warned the 2024 field not to attend the Thanksgiving dinner, RealClearPolitics is first to report.
Multiple campaigns now tell RCP that they feel stuck in the middle of an ugly argument between a kingmaker in Iowa and GOP leadership.
In an October 28 letter, addressed to “Republican Presidential Campaigns” and obtained by RCP, the RNC sought to spoil to the Vander Plaats event. Show up for dinner, the party warned the candidates in so many words, and they’ll be booted from all future debates.
“It has come to the attention of the RNC Counsel’s Office that several Republican presidential candidates have been invited to participate in an open-press event in Iowa in November at which they would ‘gather around the table to have a moderated, friendly, and open discussion about the issues,’” the letter reads. “In other words, a debate.”
Citing a pledge signed by each of the candidates, the RNC counsel continued, “Please be advised that any Republican presidential candidate who participates in this or other similar events will be deemed to have violated this pledge and will be disqualified from taking part in any future RNC-sanctioned presidential primary debates.”
So the RNC would rather them stand in front of garbage media moderators than have a discussion with each other and take questions from a moderator who is truly conservative?
Honestly, I think every one of them should do it and call the RNC’s bluff. Then we’ll see if the RNC will kick them all out of the December debate. If they team up together I think they can win this one.