Poor moderators, not candidates, focus of GOP debate: #tellusatoday

Facebook comments edited for clarity and grammar:

In the most recent debate, CNBC appeared incompetent and embarrassed. Chris Christie humiliated the moderators on fantasy football and rudeness. We are seeing more diversity from the Republican Party than from the Democratic slate.

—Julie Felix

Marco Rubio has impressed me most consistently. Donald Trump should change his tune on immigration. I believe that his message is he dislikes illegal immigration from any country, but he appears to be singling out Mexicans.

—Kabul Bulan

These candidates, who have all said they would stand up to Russia and make it back down, complained the news media were picking on them. For a party that attacks others who it says unfairly claim to be victims, it was amazing how they proclaimed their own victimhood.

—Michael Moore

Letters edited for clarity and grammar:

A Trump-Cruz ticket would pack a powerful one-two punch. Ted Cruz has been sucking up to Donald Trump to pick up Trump supporters if the lead horse drops out and to be picked as a running mate should Trump become the nominee. Both are tenacious fighters who never give up. With Trump’s ability in economics and Cruz’s lead as a top Tea Party reformer, the Republican Party would have a very formidable team to challenge Hillary Clinton.

John Lemandri; Williamsburg, Va.

The debate was one of the most poorly run I have ever seen. The GOP will complain that questions were unfair. Democrats will complain that the moderators were not tough enough.

My complaint is that the moderators lost control. Participants picked which questions they responded to and which they used to stage talking points. There was no informed follow-up to challenge responses not based in fact. This does a disservice to the public.

Why don’t we demand a representative from an organization like FactCheck.org be there to ensure candidates don’t mislead and misinform? As it stands, the public is worse for watching – both in terms of civility and being forced to sort out fact from fiction.

Todd M. Pitcher; Scottsdale, Ariz.

We asked followers for overall impressions about the latest GOP debate. Tweets edited for clarity and grammar:

Marco Rubio won. Ted Cruz came in second.

—@NC_Nighthawk

I keep watching these debates, hoping to know the candidates’ plans for America. It never happens.

—@SoulPhilosophy

On Donald Trump’s immigration plan, the law is the law! I came here on a work visa with scrutiny, policies and costs! Why should others be able to jump a wall?

—@AdrianoVeneto

The biggest losers were the moderators. The fantasy football question was one of the worst debate questions ever. My grade: F.

—@noma2300

I agree with Cruz on Social Security being unreliable for our generation. It will be there in some form, but not as it is now.

—@Shawneuser

I am a Latino voting for @realDonaldTrump.

—@McMcbillion43

I think Ted Cruz came in first, Marco Rubio second and Carly Fiorina third.

—@mikeyb3102

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