Nates Notes

“The questions asked in this debate illustrate why the American people don’t trust the media.”

Presidential hopeful Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) uttered this alarming yet valid claim during the Republican debate Oct. 28. In an opportunity to broadcast to the American people the strengths, weaknesses and differences of possible presidential candidates, financial reporting media hotshot CNBC, albeit a station known for its liberal bias, fell flat on its face.

In a world and a nation filled with economic uncertainty, international instability and an ever-growing array of social issues, questions involving fantasy football made the docket.

Yes, candidates should be challenged. Yes, candidates should be asked questions involving fields they may not be comfortable with. Yes, candidates should be asked “the hard questions.”

These are all reasons to host these debates. They provide voters with the opportunity to get a personal glance at who they may want to cast their vote for.

But nothing of that nature transpired Wednesday evening. The CNBC moderators — Carl Quintanilla, John Harwood and Becky Quick — were bombarding the GOP candidates with questions that were, as Fox News’ Howard Kurtz stated, “condescending, snide, hostile and borderline insulting.”

I understand each network has its favorites. That comes as no surprise. But moderators are expected to be professional and cast aside at least some of the bias. But apparently, Quintanilla, Harwood and Quick did not get the memo.

This brings me back to Cruz’s quote. Can the media be trusted? Can the group of men and women, whose sole purpose is to inform the American people with honest and fair truth, be taken seriously? Unfortunately, there is no definitive answer to that question. And that is reason to raise concern.

A Gallup poll taken in September reported that 60 percent of Americans do not trust mass media. And as much as it pains me to say, after CNBC’s most recent showing, that may just be a
good thing.

HAYWOOD is the editor-in-chief.