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Title: Rand Paul Reluctantly Defends Trump from Hewitt’s ‘Gotcha’ Questions
Source:
Mediaite
URL Source: http://www.mediaite.com/tv/rand-pau ... from-hewitts-gotcha-questions/
Published: Sep 4, 2015
Author: Matt Wilstein
Post Date: 2015-09-04 20:40:47 by Hondo68
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Keywords: None
Views: 3421
Comments: 33
“I’m not big on defending Donald Trump by any means and I’ve been one of his fiercest critics,” Rand Paul told host Michael Smerconish on his SiriusXM radio show Friday morning. But all that being said, the candidate still proceeded to take Trump’s side on the question of whether Hugh Hewitt was guilty of asking “gotcha” questions about the Quds Force during his interview with the GOP frontrunner last night.
Paul said he too sometimes has trouble hearing the difference between “Quds” and “Kurds” and gave Trump the benefit of the doubt on that confusion. “And I also thinking that running through a list every different Arab name and asking people to respond to them is a little bit of a game of ‘gotcha,'” Paul added. But at the same time, he said that knowing the difference between Hamas and Hezbollah is an important attribute for the next president of the United States.
When Hewitt asked Trump if he thought a question along those lines also qualified as a “gotcha,” Trump replied, “Yes, I do. I totally do. I think it’s ridiculous.”
RELATED: Carly Fiorina Tackles Quds Force ‘Gotcha’ Question that Stumped Trump
“Like I say, I’m not into defending Donald Trump and you find it often,” Paul said. “But I think some interviewers do like to play this game.”
During a phone appearance on Morning Joe Friday, Trump dismissed Hewitt, who will be one of the moderators at this month’s GOP debate on CNN, as nothing more than a “third-rate radio announcer.”
Listen to audio below, via The Michael Smerconish Program:
Poster Comment:
In response to Rand Paul's criticism in the Fox debate, Donald Trump has sworn an oath of allegiance to Mitch McConnell, the Republican Party, Sheldon Adelson, the Koch Brothers, and Jeb!.
He stands with Rand, just another damn Republican/Democrat. (2 images)
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...Trump dismissed Hewitt, who will be one of the moderators at this month’s GOP debate on CNN, as nothing more than a “third-rate radio announcer.”
As much as I can't stand Trump, he's correct on this statement.
#2. To: hondo68 (#0)
Once again Donald showed how smart he is and how good a negotiator he is, by signing the pledge it binds the other to support and endorse him after he wins the nomination.
I can't wait to see Juan Bush making pro-Trump ads in spanish.
#3. To: hondo68, Bob Celeste, Fred Mertz, redleghunter (#0) (Edited)
He was asked some simple questions about prominent people and organizations in a region that is still vital to our national interests ...and he stumbled and ' attacked the questioner for asking him 'gotcha questions' . Any other candidate would take a hit for that ,but I guess Trump is the exception.
What is most amazing to me is that he willingly admitted that he was unschooled on basic knowledge of the region BUT if we elect him ,he'd make it a point to learn the details AFTER he's elected .Chuck Todd asked him who his foreign policy advisor was . Trump said he watches "all the shows " . Palin got destroyed over similar answers .
His foreign policy experience is negotiating building high rises and being the sponsor of the Miss Universe contest .
Trump basically said he did not need to know the details because he would find a General MacArthur to handle the details. That would be the same General who was instrumental in creating the modern state of Japan . Trump recently criticized the detail of the arrangement that MacArthur hashed out in a treaty saying :"You know, we have an agreement with Japan where if somebody attacks Japan we have to come to their rescue. But if we get attacked Japan doesn't have to help us. Do you think that's a good deal?" When Hewitt pressed him for details ,asking Trump what he would do if China sunk a Japanese ship ,Trump was non-committal . We currently have a POTUS that our allies cannot trust to live up to our commitments . We may be selecting another one who is even less willing to live up to our treaty obligations .
He'd better get used to this type of questioning . He was once a somewhat interesting side show . But now that he is a serious candidate ,we have a right to know the details of his plans ,who's his advisors ,and most importantly ,his basic understanding of all the issues important to the country .
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
#4. To: tomder55 (#3)
Nice summary and analysis.
#5. To: tomder55 (#3)
"He was asked some simple questions about prominent people and organizations in a region that is still vital to our national interests"
Hewitt was showing off. I bet he got all the pronunciations right, too.
Next time, Trump should echo Reagan and say, "What's important is that they know who I am."
#6. To: misterwhite (#5) (Edited)
Hewitt was showing off. I bet he got all the pronunciations right, too.
Qassem Suleimani is a prominent Iranian leader ,and Iran's leading terrorist , who is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American soldiers. He flooded Iraq with copper tipped EFPs which killed and wounded scores of Americans . http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/capitol-hill/2015/07/14/iran-linked- to-deaths-of-500-us-troops-in-iraq-afghanistan/30131097/
He is the one most responsible for exporting the Iranian Revolution to not only Iran's neighbors ,but around the world .There were special travel bans on him under the sanctions .
"Is he the gentleman that was going back and forth with Russia and meeting with Putin?" No Mr Trump ,Suleimani is not a gentleman . He is a thug who should be instantly recognized by everyone who thinks they should be CIC. They should also instantly know who Hassan Nasrallah is, and Zawahiri, and al- Julani, and al-Baghdadi; and know which organizations they head . Trump made it sound like they are insignificant leaders who come and go. "I think by the time we get to office, they’ll all be changed. They’ll be all gone. "Hassan Nasrallah has been head of Hezzbollah for over a decade .
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
#7. To: tomder55, misterwhite, redleghunter (#6) (Edited)
WSJ:
Can You Trump Donald Trump on Foreign Policy?Donald Trump stumbled on Middle East foreign-policy questions in a radio interview. Can you answer questions on the subjects he avoided? |
I knew them all except one (which I guessed correctly). And I'm not really a quiz kid on all these factions in the Mideast, maybe a little better than average at who's who in Sandland. I'd bet redleghunter would know them all.
I don't think that it counts against Trump that he couldn't answer all of these questions correctly. The problem is that he couldn't seem to answer even one question correctly and discuss anything in the Mideast in any depth.
It's a bit like having an opinion, positive or negative, on the Supreme Court but not being able to actually name a single justice on the Court.
#8. To: TooConservative (#7)
Okay Mr. I-knew-them-all-except-one. Quick. Who's the Prime Minister of Russia? (Vladimir Putin is the President) Can you name anyone else in the Russian government besides those two?
Who's the President of Germany? (Angela Merkel is the Chancellor)
Who (or what) is Recep Tayyip Erdogan? Cristina Fernández de Kirchner? Stephen Harper(easy one)? Michael D. Higgins?
#9. To: hondo68, Ross Perot (#0)
The Takedown of The Donald started with his signing of the "pledge". Watch as the tide turns. And if they can't sufficiently take him down they will find a way to make one of the rotors on his helicopter fall off.
"NEWSFLASH: Trump Helicopter crashes minutes after takeoff. No survivors."
He should have never signed that silly piece of paper. Who's advising this guy- or was it all a hoax to begin with? Perot Redux? Are his kids all married?
By the way, why has Ross Perot seemingly vanished from all media? He should be doing victory laps saying "I TOLD YOU SO" about NAFTA and talking about the new TPP and TTIP. But it's as if he doesn't exist. Why? Wiki says he's still alive.
#10. To: misterwhite (#8)
Okay Mr. I-knew-them-all-except-one. Quick. Who's the Prime Minister of Russia?
Medvedyev. He and Vlad play musical chairs as prime minister and president.
Who's the President of Germany? (Angela Merkel is the Chancellor)
A nobody. The last important president of Germany was Hitler. The rest of them, presidents of East Germany and West Germany and unified Germany, are nobodies, unimportant to anyone. The real action in Germany is with the PMs.
Who (or what) is Recep Tayyip Erdogan?
Turkish PM for over a decade, dreams of Greater Turkey apparently.
Cristina Fernández de Kirchner?
Another nobody.
Stephen Harper(easy one)?
Canucki PM.
Michael D. Higgins?
I draw a blank. No one important enough to matter.
#11. To: TooConservative, mister white, redleghunter (#7) (Edited)
The only one I would give Trump a pass on was al-Julani because the news tends to lump the Nusra front in with the Islamic State (and as you know ;Trump watches all the shows ) .
Did you listen to Hewitt's interview with Carly Fiorina ? She nailed it as opposed to Trump who showed a distinct lack of interest in anything but the quality of the wall he's going to build.
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
#12. To: tomder55 (#11)
Did you listen to Hewitt's interview with Carly Fiorina ? She nailed it as opposed to Trump who showed a distinct lack of interest in anything but the quality of the wall he's going to build.
Fiorina has hit the books, apparently determined to be taken more seriously than Palin was.
Palin wasn't too bad overall but, after McStain lost, she just stopped studying and trying to present herself and her ideas better. It's a shame, she had some real potential. Now she hosts a show on a marginal outdoorsy channel (where she did shoot a honking huge feral boar while in Texas).
In fairness, the other candidates should be asked these same questions. I know Perry is also determined not to be caught looking uninformed again and I think he'd do pretty well. Walker was too casual about foreign policy knowledge early on, suggesting he could catch up with briefings and lectures by listening to podcasts on his phone while jogging or something. Miz Lindsey would knock these questions out of the park because she really does know a lot of foreign policy info, probably more than the Stain, for instance. Rubio is no slouch at knowing all the main actors in foreign policy, he'd perform well at such questions. Kasich hasn't said anything very impressive yet that demonstrates any knowledge or real interest in foreign policy. Carson seems to think he just needs to find the right SoS and the right general and that's his entire foreign policy which seems just a little weak to me. Rand Paul would do okay at foreign policy quizzes but probably not better than Rubio, maybe about like Walker or Bush in general knowledge.
So before Trump is dismissed over this dustup with smarty-pants Hugh Hewitt (you know he's an asshole with a name like that!), maybe we should have all the other candidates answer some similar questions. Or give them all a pre-debate quiz on foreign policy knowledge, say 100 questions relating to Russia, Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, China, Japan, Korea(s).
Taking a foreign policy knowledge test would probably be pretty informative, maybe more than exhibiting debating skills which don't tell us much about how a president would govern since presidents give orders. They don't actually sit around conducting debates with their cabinet members to determine policy. They mostly just give orders to their subordinates, by suggestion in person to a cabinet member, and by executive memo (formally suggesting a policy to a cabinet member and authorizing it), or by direct executive order (requiring cabinet members to implement particular policies or resign from the cabinet).
Sure, I'd like to see a test. Might be very informative.
#13. To: Operation 40 (#9)
Perot is really old now probably enjoying the very few things he can still do. Why get involved?
"The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.”"---Isaiah 40:8
#14. To: Operation 40, trump swiftboat (#9)
Trump will be swiftboated, somehow.
"We (government) need to do a lot less, a lot sooner" ~Ron Paul#15. To: misterwhite (#5)
Next time, Trump should echo Reagan and say, "What's important is that they know who I am."
I recall the MSM tried a similar gotcha with Reagan when he was not up to speed on the arcane subject of farm price parity.
#16. To: tomder55, misterwhite (#11)
I see that Weekly Standard noticed the same thing that you did about Fiorina's performance compared to Trump's in a Hewitt interview:
Trump Confuses Iran's Quds Forces and Kurds Fighting ISIS (Updated)Accuses radio host of "gotcha questions."7:15 PM, Sep 3, 2015 • By MICHAEL WARREN |
WS also pointed out that Trump was asked specifically about Suleimani at the first debate. But Trump still hasn't bothered out finding out any info about this top Iranian general who has been at the top of every Iranian gambit in the Mideast for decades.
When Donald Trump botched a question Thursday about General Qassem Suleimani, head of Iran’s Quds Force, it wasn’t the first time. He did the same thing last month during the Fox News debate, but his answer was largely overlooked in the post-debate hysteria over Trump’s answers to questions on a third party candidacy and his treatment of women. Bret Baier asked Trump about Suleimani and offered the candidate a helpful tutorial in the introduction. “Candidates, you may not have seen the late developing news today our Fox Pentagon team broke earlier this evening about a top Iranian general traveling to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin,” Baier said. “His name is General Qassem Soleimani. He's blamed for hundreds of U.S. troops death in Iraq and Afghanistan. His trip to Russia appears to directly violate U.N. Security Council resolutions to confine him to Iran. So, Mr. Trump, if you were president, how would you respond to this?” “I would be so different from what you have right now. Like, the polar opposite,” Trump said, before setting off in several different directions at the same time. “We have a president who doesn't have a clue. I would say he's incompetent, but I don't want to do that because that's not nice. But if you look at the deals we make, whether it's the nuclear deal with 24 hour periods—and by the way, before you get to the 24 hours, you have to go through a system. You look at Sergeant Bergdahl, we get Bergdahl, a traitor, and they get five of the big, great killers leaders that they want. We have people in Washington that don't know what they're doing. Now, with Iran, we're making a deal, you would say, we want him. We want out our prisoners. We want all these things, and we don't get anything. We're giving them $150 billion dollars plus, they are going to be—I'll tell you what, if Iran was a stock, you folks should go out and buy it right now because you'll quadruple—this, what's happening in Iran, is a disgrace, and it's going to lead to destruction in large portions of the world.” In his Thursday interview with Hewitt, Trump asked for some help before attempting an answer. Here is that exchange:
|
#17. To: TooConservative, Ask Bibi, tomder55, misterwhite (#16)
It's notable that the first thing that Fiorina is going to do is check with Bibi to make sure she doesn't inadvertently do something in the best interests of the US. Oy vey!
"We (government) need to do a lot less, a lot sooner" ~Ron Paul#18. To: tomder55 (#3)
He was asked some simple questions about prominent people and organizations in a region that is still vital to our national interests ...and he stumbled and ' attacked the questioner for asking him 'gotcha questions' .
Good for him, they were gotcha questions.
Tell me the names of 5 peopple who haven't poste3d here in a month.
You read the site daily so you should know.
But you don't know. Does that make you stupid? No it doesn't.
He doesn't have to get used to gotcha questions. Knowing some names doesn't mean shit. Doesn't mean shit. Doesn't mean shit.
#19. To: A K A Stone (#18) (Edited)
Grasping at straws trying to defend the indefensible ? This is not trivial pursuits. It was a legitimate question to ask someone who thinks they are qualified to be the Commander in Chief .
He should've known that Qasem Soleimani was the head of the Iranian Qud forces .....and as TooConservative pointed out ,he was even asked about him in the 1st debate and STILL did not do his homework . It is not unreasonable to expect a Presidential candidate to know the leading characters in regions vital to our interests and what their role in the region is. It's not a gotcha question to ask him about the heads of major terrorist organizations . It is important for him to know the difference between Hamas and Hezbollah. As Carly Fiorina said in her interview " , it is critically important that we have a leader in the White House who understands the world and who's in it and how it works."
I don't know..... maybe Trump is some kinda magic candidate like the emperor was who can win the whole thing on the force of his personality . He seems to think that saying "I'm going to be so good about the military it will make your head spin" is enough of a response to get the deal done. I for one need more specifics .
You may not recall this but 4 years ago Herman Cain was leading in the polls for a while . Then he started getting questions about foreign policy and he proved he had no clue about the basic issues . In fact ;Trumps response is almost a carbon copy of what Cain said when he was exposed . Cain said he would 'consult with experts' ,and 'come up with a plan sometime between his election and his inauguration'. When Chris Wallace asked him about the so called "Right of Return" for Palestinians ,Cain said he was reading a book about Israel.He would not say what book it was . O’Reilly asked him what he would do to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons .He said he would do things to make America energy independent . Too bad he didn't think about building big beautiful walls. Maybe that would've done the trick .
You can support who you like . I'm looking for a SERIOUS candidate who at very least has a basic rudimentary understanding of the issues and the major players involved .
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
#20. To: A K A Stone (#18)
Tell me the names of 5 peopple who haven't poste3d here in a month.
You think that is comparable to knowing the name of Zawahiri who was Bin Laden's chief lieutenant and the operational commander of al-Qaeda worldwide for over a decade?
You're just making lame excuses for Donaldo. Apparently, the Trumpsters want a literal Know-Nothing Party.
You have to wonder if Trump knows anyone outside his world of real estate and country clubs and casinos.
#21. To: tomder55, A K A Stone, misterwhite (#19)
You may not recall this but 4 years ago Herman Cain was leading in the polls for a while . Then he started getting questions about foreign policy and he proved he had no clue about the basic issues .
Cain's 9-9-9 was semi-famous, albeit widely ridiculed as simplistic and unworkable. But Cain was ultimately stopped by a bimbo eruption. Which made it all too clear that Cain was never anything more than a book tour and the Not-Romney until he imploded over an old fling with a broad. And hints that his infidelity was ongoing.
It's worth pointing out that Trump's strong lead developed much earlier in the race and has now outlasted Cain's stint as frontrunner. So Trump has more durability than Cain, largely due to his celebrity factor and high name recognition.
Knowing Suleimani is perhaps not of primary importance. But any candidate should know that Baghdadi is the new Caliph and head of ISIS/ISIL/Caliphate with a capital in Raqqa. And any candidate should know that Zawahiri was a co-founder of al-Qaeda in the late Nineties, that he was bin Laden's chief lieutenant and operational commander for 9/11 and the Iraq war, that he became the leader of al-Qaeda after Bin Laden was killed in 2011.
Trump appears to be as much a Know-Nothing as Carson. But at least Carson has applied himself to studying foreign policy. Trump is doing no prep work so he can discuss the basic elements of foreign policy in debates and in conversation.
You can't credibly defend America against its enemies if you do not even know the names of two of your most implacable and ruthless enemies. Zawahiri and Baghdadi, what, it's really that hard? I thought Donald said he "watches the shows" but he must not watch very closely or he would have at least soaked that much up.
#22. To: TooConservative (#21) (Edited)
"You can't credibly defend America against its enemies if you do not even know the names of two of your most implacable and ruthless enemies."
Obama knows their names. Do you feel "credibly defended"?
I sure as shit don't ... but I would if Trump was in charge. Isn't that what's important?
#23. To: tomder55 (#11)
"Did you listen to Hewitt's interview with Carly Fiorina ? She nailed it as opposed to Trump who showed a distinct lack of interest in anything but the quality of the wall he's going to build."
So you prefer having Ms. Fiorina deal with the terrorists rather than Trump? I mean, she knows their names.
#24. To: misterwhite (#23)
So you prefer having Ms. Fiorina deal with the terrorists rather than Trump? I mean, she knows their names.
I have not decided on a preferred candidate . I have eliminated some from consideration however . Knowing the players is one criteria. But I'm sure Lindsey Graham knows them like the back of his hand and I still don't support his candidacy for various reasons .
Of the so called 'non-politicians' ,Carly Fiorina is the one who has shown the keenest grasp of foreign policy .It was not just that she knows the names ....if you listen to her reply ,she had a firm understanding of the issues related to the topic. She did not try to defect it with answers about how pretty a wall she would build.
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
#25. To: tomder55 (#24)
"It was not just that she knows the names ....if you listen to her reply ,she had a firm understanding of the issues related to the topic."
Well, when it comes to terrorism that's the most important thing. Understanding.
#26. To: tomder55 (#24)
I have eliminated some from consideration however. Knowing the players is one criteria. But I'm sure Lindsey Graham knows them like the back of his hand and I still don't support his candidacy for various reasons.
Me too.
And some candidates I do like are underperforming their potential, I think (Perry, Paul, Walker, Jindal). Mostly because Trump's antics and celebrity have sucked the oxygen out of the room.
#27. To: TooConservative (#20)
You think that is comparable to knowing the name of Zawahiri who was Bin Laden's chief lieutenant and the operational commander of al-Qaeda worldwide for over a decade?
Who gives a shit.
Bin Laden has been dead for 15 years.
#28. To: tomder55 (#19) (Edited)
It was a legitimate question
Sure it was a legitimate question. Because it was structured properly and had a question mark at the end.
But it wqs irrlevant if Trump knew someones name.
If you think differently you sure a dumb ass.
#29. To: tomder55 (#19)
1st debate and STILL did not do his homework
Yep you're a dumb ass.
But that was obioious when you support the sell out of American Jobs.
I mentioned Pat Buchanan. And what was your lame ass comment. His ideas are from the 1800's and outdated.
Well the constitution is from the 1700's. So you think it is outdated too. According to your logic in your comments.
You're GOPe all the way.
Prove differently and tell us you will not vote for that piece of Baraara Shit John Ellis Bush.
#30. To: tomder55 (#24)
It was not just that she knows the names ....if you listen to her reply ,she had a firm understanding of the issues related to the topic.
Then vote for the GOPe cunt.
#31. To: A K A Stone (#30)
If you think differently you sure a dumb ass.Prove differently and tell us you will not vote for that piece of Baraara Shit John Ellis Bush.
Then vote for the GOPe cunt.
I'm not going to waste my time wallowing in your gutter .
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
#32. To: tomder55 (#31)
You don't need to answer. I already know you would vote for open borders Make American Mexio Bush.
#33. To: tomder55 (#19)
Here is your potential presidential candidates.
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