Letter: Questions unasked at the CNN Town Hall

Posted 5/17/23

The moderator of the recent CNN Trump Town Hall tried valiantly to ask pertinent, newsworthy questions to a declared presidential candidate, now convicted and under other legal duress. He …

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Letter: Questions unasked at the CNN Town Hall

Posted

The moderator of the recent CNN Trump Town Hall tried valiantly to ask pertinent, newsworthy questions to a declared presidential candidate, now convicted and under other legal duress. He blathered and obfuscated all evening, seemingly thrilled by the friendly audience and by all the free TV coverage.

I believe that simple questions that any of us could answer — or that the former president should answer — might have been a better approach.  For example:

• Who, in your opinion, is an American?

• Does this country belong to us all?

• Racism, misogyny, anti-semitism, and homophobia are clearly on the rise in America. Does a president have a role to play in reversing these trends?

• Do you actually consider groups and individuals you mock and belittle to be your enemies?

• Do you see no link between your cruel statements and the danger your extreme supporters pose to those you openly vilify?

• Why do you believe your oft-stated assertion that the press is the enemy of the people?

• What evidence do you have that President Biden is a criminal?

• You seem to have a very dark view about America and about America's standing in the world.  Why?

• Neither you nor your supporters have provided any evidence that the 2020 election was a fraud.  Why do you continue to insist that was so when so many courts have dismissed your baseless claims?

• Do you see no contradiction between banning abortions and backing the proliferation of assault rifles in America?

• Most Americans know that your exaggerations and lies are too numerous to list. How is it helpful to you or to the country to make assertions unsupported by facts? Examples include 'Democrats hate America'; 'Joe Biden is an illegitimate president'; 'Mexico is sending known criminals and people from mental hospitals across our border'; 'those convicted after the January 6th insurrection are being treated terribly'; and 'I completed the southern border wall'.

• Thanks to your pardons, many of your closest associates, duly convicted or awaiting trial, have escaped legal jeopardy. If elected in 2024, do you intend to surround yourself again by the same or similar people? If so, will you continue to insist on personal loyalty to you, rather than fealty to the Constitution and to the rule of law?

Will Newman

Tiverton

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