conducted in 2012 between romney and obama. this is nothing new. i think what you will see going forward is kind of a more sensitivity on the network s part to not asking i m not talking about gotcha questions. i hate that phrase. it doesn t really sorry, jeremy. solve what the problem is here. it s the candidates. it s not really a gotcha question to put someone on the spot and ask them something tough. it s more about the tone of the questions and perceived pettiness. it will be interesting to see what the effect might be if any. is this going to hurt those criticizing the process? those who might view it i m talking about voters, as being petty by asking too much and bringing too much attention to themselves, although we ve seen donald trump, ben carson, the two leaders here being able to effect this process. that may be the difference we re
as quote, crap sandwich. we have more. reporter: the leading gop candidates outraged over wednesday s debate, meeting to where he write the ground rules. among those calling for change, ben carson. it is supposed to be established to help the people get to know the candidates, and get to know what is behind them and what their thinking process is, what their philosophy is. what it s turned into is a gotcha. reporter: sunday s meeting is an unheard of gathering of rivals. the campaign s ewe united the board fired you. why should we hire you now? is this a comic book version? reporter: complaining moments after it ended. it was one gotcha question,
we want to press you on things that maybe have come out in the press. maybe you have said something we need to question. maybe there is something in your plan that doesn t work out. we have to ask those things. you envision a day when candidates will get tired of these gotcha questions and say, you know, what we re just not going to participate? well think about this what else is happening. there are o candidates who weren t on the main stage. and they weren t on the main stage. they would love to be asked a gotcha question as long as it was in prime time. so the opportunity to do well is going to draw people into the debates. do you think mark rubio is disappointed he showed up for this debate? i think he felt he did himself a lot of good. so the candidates do see an opportunity but they all want to work the referees. like any contest. thanks for your insight. great to be with you carol.
bitterly moments after the debate ended. there was one gotcha question and low blows one after the other. reporter: charging that party bosses have failed to take their concerns to the networks. more evidence of the gop at a crossroads as politicians led by party outsiders struggle for control of the party. in an unprecedented move, aiming to control, the rnc is suspending its ties with nbc news for a february debate saying in part, i expect the media to hold a substantive debate on consequential issues of concern to the american people. cnbc did not. i think the bigger frustration is all of the candidates on the stage had prepared for a substantive debate. we had $19 trillion in debt, we have people out of work, isis and al qaeda attacking us and we re talking about fantasy football?
worry about the brand of the party and speak to republican parties. how are news organizations choosing who the nominee will be? don, if you let anchors ask questions, gotcha questions and they go after bush and that kind of stuff, we don t need. we ve got plenty of ideas to talk about. we ve got plenty of solutions to talk about. barry, with all due respect, if one is going to be the president of the united states, you re going to face questions from conservatives, moderates, from liberals, everyone. even if it s a gotcha question, i ll give you that, sbt this sort of a test of what kind of candidate or president they will be in front of the media, in front of foreign leaders, how they are going to answer particular questions? not every question, especially after you sit in the chair of the oval office, it s not going to be an i love you question. i understand that but this is the republican primary first, right? so we don t need people who are