Feb 5, 2016

USA: They blew it with Democrats, will ABC ask Republicans about climate change?

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Drew Hudson, Environmental Action" <action@environmental-action.org>
Date: Feb 5, 2016 12:19 PM
Subject: They blew it with Democrats, will ABC ask Republicans about climate change?
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The last #GOPDebate before the New Hampshire primary will air live on ABC News tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET. Moderators David Muir and Martha Raddatz blew their chance to ask climate questions of the Democrats in December. Click here to send your questions and see if they do better tomorrow night!

Liz,

ABC News will hold the last Republican Primary Debate before the voting begins in New Hampshire this Saturday night, February 6, at 8 p.m. ET. It will be moderated by "World News Tonight" anchor David Muir and Chief Global Affairs Correspondent Martha Raddatz.1

Muir and Raddatz haven't faced this crew of Republican candidates before, but when they had a chance to ask the Democrats about climate change in December, they blew it. On December 12, 200 world leaders struck a historic climate change agreement in Paris to reduce global warming pollution. Muir and Raddatz had all the Democratic candidates on stage a week later (December 19), and could have asked them how as President they would live up to that historic accord.2

Instead, they asked NOTHING about climate change, but did find time to ask all the candidates about the role of their spouses.2 This follows the pattern of debate Moderators asking candidates 1000 percent more questions about nonsense issues and gaffes than they do about the most serious problem facing our country and planet - namely climate change.3 But we've seen before that when we show up and demand the moderators #AskOnClimate, they DO notice AND respond.

The debate starts Saturday, February 6, at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT, 5 p.m. PT). And even if you're not the most computer-savvy person out there, we've made it simple to send your questions to ABC News and then watch the result live with us tomorrow night.



This will be the first Republican debate without an "undercard" event -- since several candidates dropped out after the Iowa Caucus earlier this week. Carly Fiorina has been cut from the stage entirely, and only Donald Trump, Sen. Ted Cruz, Sen. Marco Rubio, Ben Carson, Gov. Jeb Bush, Gov. Chris Christie and Gov. John Kasich will be present.4

It's also one of the only Republican Primary debates hosted and moderated by a major network, as opposed to one of the Fox affiliates -- so Raddatz and Muir have not had a chance like this to ask these candidates questions before. How will it impact the race? Will the ABC moderators be any more likely to #AskOnClimate this time around? There's only one way to find out: Tune in with us and watch!

Click here to send your thoughts and questions to Raddatz and Muir and RSVP to watch with us tomorrow night at 8 p.m. Eastern!

Thanks for tuning in -- not dropping out,

Drew and the Debate Watch Crew at Environmental Action

1 - ABC NEWS, ABC News Announces New Hampshire Republican Debate Candidate Lineup, February 4, 2016
2 - Matt Gertz, ABC Moderators Ignore Climate Change And Planned Parenthood, But Find Time For Presidential Spouse Question, Media Matters for America, December 19, 2015
3 - Denise Robbins & Andrew Seifter, Presidential Debate Moderators Obsess Over Political Horserace, Rarely Ask About Climate Change, media matters For America, January 11, 2016
4 - Tom LoBianco, Despite Republicans' calls, ABC declines to include Fiorina in debate, CNN, February 5, 2016
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