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The debate moment that humiliated Dana Perino

September 28, 2023 | | Print Article

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis quickly shut down a “disrespectful” effort by Fox News’s Dana Perino to make the entire stage of candidates look foolish during the second Republican primary debate on Wednesday.

The 2024 GOP candidate impressed many when he showed his chops as a leader, taking back the moment created by Perino, who was one of the debate moderators after her question to the contenders seemed to devolve the occasion into a juvenile game.

(Video Credit: Fox News)

Perino, who is a former White House press secretary turned Fox News host, set off laughter after asking the candidates to write down who they would “vote off the island” in the race for the 2024 nomination.

“It’s now obvious that if you all stay in the race, former President Donald Trump wins the nomination. None of you have indicated that you’re dropping out. So which one of you, on stage tonight, should be voted off the island?” Perino asked the seven Republicans as the shocked audience reaction could clearly be heard.

“Please use your marker to write your choice on the notepad in front of you, 15 seconds starting now. Of the people on the stage, who should be…” she continued before being cut off by DeSantis.

“I’m not going to do that, with all due respect, like we’re here, we’re happy to debate but I think that’s disrespectful to my fellow competitors,” DeSantis asserted, coming to the rescue of the other candidates who seemed equally disturbed by the sudden game of “Survivor” they had been thrust into by Perino.

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“Then if you won’t answer that question let me ask you this one – what is your mathematical path, Gov. DeSantis, in order to try to beat President Trump who has a commanding and enduring lead in this race?” she asked Trump’s closest competitor.

“Polls don’t elect presidents, voters elect presidents,” DeSantis responded claiming he would take his case to the voters.

All the candidates refused to play the game and answer who should go out of respect for their fellow Republicans despite the mathematical certainty of Trump winning the nomination if all of them stayed in. All of them, that is, except former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

Moderator Stuart Varney interjected and asked, “Governor Christie, I believe I did see you write something on the card!”

“No, but I’ll certainly tell you,” Christie grandstanded. “Yeah, look, I think I’m the only one on this stage who’s been clear about this. I vote Donald Trump off the island right now. And the reason I vote him off the island…”

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Varney tried to interrupt and reiterated that the challenge only applied to “the people on the stage.” But Christie wanted to get in his Trump-bashing for the night and did so.

“No, no,” Christie insisted. “Cause you know what? Every person on this stage has shown the respect for Republican voters to come here to express their views honestly candidly and directly and to take your questions honestly.”

He went on to contend that the former president “has not only divided our party; he’s divided families all over this country. He’s divided friends all over this country. I’ve spoken to people who have sat at Thanksgiving dinner or at a birthday party and can’t have a conversation anymore if they disagree with Donald Trump. He needs to be voted off this island and taken out of this process.”

Trump is far, far ahead in the GOP primary polling. The current Real Clear Politics polling average shows him 42.2 points ahead of the second-place contender, Ron DeSantis.

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The former president has been a no-show at both of the GOP debates held so far. He was once again absent at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California, leaving the other candidates to battle it out amongst themselves.

Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy did not attack Trump as he was dogpiled by the other candidates.

He was the last to speak during the debate and stated that he thought Trump was an “excellent president” but said that voters needed to look for a candidate who would take Trump’s MAGA movement to the “next level.”

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“So yes, I will respect Donald Trump and his legacy … but will unite this country to take the America First agenda to the next level,” he vowed.

Perino’s attempt to ambush the candidates with her survival question was met with stinging rebukes on social media while DeSantis was praised for his reality check on the Fox News host.

There were some who thought Perino’s question was a much-needed moment of levity amid the seriousness of debate topics.

 

 

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