The Republican National Committee says it will suspend a debate partnership with NBC News, citing "inaccurate or downright offensive" questions during Wednesday night's debate on CNBC.
An NBC News debate was scheduled to take place on February 26, 2016 at the University of Houston, and was to be cosponsored by National Review and Telemundo. "We simply cannot continue with NBC without full consultation with our campaigns," RNC Chair Reince Priebus wrote in a letter to NBC Chairman Andrew Lack.
The letter continued:
"While debates are meant to include tough questions and contrast candidates' visions and policies for the future of America, CNBC's moderators engaged in a series of "gotcha" questions, petty and mean-spirited in tone, and designed to embarrass our candidates. What took place Wednesday night was not an attempt to give the American people a greater understanding of our candidates' policies and ideas."
CNBC is owned by NBC Universal, as is NBC News, but the networks have separate editorial operations and are headquartered in separate locations. The RNC acknowledged that NBC News does not control CNBC, but said "the network is an arm of your organization, and we need to ensure there is not a repeat performance."
NBC News said it would work "in good faith" to resolve the situation:
"This is a disappointing development. However, along with our debate broadcast partners at Telemundo we will work in good faith to resolve this matter with the Republican Party."
Priebus wrote the RNC will suspend the partnership "pending further discussion between the [RNC] and our presidential campaigns."
Several of those campaigns are scheduled to meet on Saturday, reportedly without the RNC, to discuss the debate process and how they could have more control over it. Politico reported that the meeting was organized by advisers to the Donald Trump, Ben Carson, Bobby Jindal and Lindsey Graham campaigns.
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