RNC Snubs South Central In Debate Schedule

RNC Announces 9 Primary Debates

RNC Chairman, Reince Priebus, announced 9 debate plans

From the RNC Website:

"...the RNC announced that it has sanctioned nine debates from August 2015 through March 1, 2016. RNC Chairman Reince Priebus presented a clear vision for the debate process, including the dates, locations and sponsors. 

  The RNC previously appointed a standing committee for presidential primary debates to sanction debates on behalf of the RNC. The committee chose to limit the number of debates, spread the debates across the country by sanctioning no more than one debate per state..."

1. Fox News     August 2015     Ohio	2. CNN     September 2015     California	3. CNBC     October 2015     Colorado
4. Fox Business     November 2015     Wisconsin	5. CNN     December 2015     Nevada	6. Fox News     January 2016     Iowa
7. ABC News     February 2016     New Hampshire	8. CBS News     February 2016     South Carolina	9. NBC/Telemundo     February 2016      Florida

  What remains both puzzling and irritating, is the rewarding of an untimely debate to the most egregious violator of RNC rules. Florida violated the RNC requirements in 2012 by awarding all of their delegates to a candidate who clearly did not receive the majority of the vote.
The RNC did make threats, in case RNC rules are violated...

 "All sanctioned debates listed are contingent on further negotiations with the media partners and any future violation of RNC could result in the debate being unsanctioned. "

  I'm sorry, Reince, but I really have a hard time believing your threats when you just gave Florida a special reward at the expense of the entire mid-south region.

Snubbing the South

  And the RNC further insulted the traditional south by moving the Florida debate just prior to the Super Tuesday southern regional primary. Texas votes on March 1st, along with about 10 other states who make their selection before the Florida primary date of March 15th. It makes no sense to call all the candidates off the campaign trail for a debate event in the far corner of the nation.
  Dallas would be a far better choice. Texas has the most delegates at stake. They followed the rules in 2012. they have several neighboring states also selecting a nominee prior to Florida's scheduled date. Telemundo is a partner in the late February debate. Texas has a far higher viewership of Telemundo than most any other state.
  No state south of Missouri (from Tennessee to Arizona), will have an RNC sanctioned debate event. It looks like an attempt to slightly curtail the impact of traditional southern voters and their important issues. This obviously helps Marco & Jeb. It clearly harms Ted & Rick. It will appear to make the alien amnesty issue favor Jeb Bush, rather than Rick Perry or Ted Cruz.

  There may be another opportunity for Florida to host a March debate. Here are the tentative events that are still in consideration...

Pending Debate options:
Fox News     March 2016     TBD	CNN     March 2016     TBD	Conservative Media Debate     Date TBD     Locations TBD

      Wisconsin got a debate event. When did they last select a Republican president? 32 years ago. I guess we'll chalk that up to 'voter outreach' in Mr Priebus' home state. 

 What can southerners do about this? We can let the RNC know that we do not support this Florida decision. Perhaps we can earmark our RNC contributions "for a 2016 February Presidential Debate in a Super Tuesday southern state". I believe that would require them to acquiesce, or return the donation.