Readers React: Ted Cruz was right about media bias at the Republican debate

To the editor: The strategy used by the CNBC moderators to make the Republican presidential candidates attack one another with rude and offensive questioning should prompt an apology by the cable network. Furthermore, The Times’ headline attempts to make the candidates look bad. (“Republican debate: Candidates seeking an edge go after front-runners and one another,” Oct. 28)

Yes, all candidates should get tough questions, but just take a look at the recent Democratic debate, which resembled a lovefest with the type of questioning from moderator Anderson Cooper. At the GOP debate, once Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) pushed back, the questions became more of what should be expected in a debate.

As an independent voter, I don’t have a horse in this race yet, and generally I’m not fond of any politician. But when the media are so favorable or unfavorable toward a candidate, it goes against their responsibility to be unbiased.

Stephen Casey, Tarzana

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To the editor: When I think about the years I worked in the federal government, I am so proud, and I feel it was a privilege to train employees, to adjudicate claims for asylum status and to work in foreign consulates and embassies.

So when I hear candidates running for president disrespect the government, when I hear them say they don’t like their job as a U.S. senator (Marco Rubio), that they have “better things to do” (Jeb Bush), they don’t deserve to be a senator or president.

I want someone who has experience in government, someone who believes in the government and in the Constitution.

Republican, Democrat, Libertarian or independent, I want someone who loves and feels that it is a privilege to be in the

White House, not someone who doesn’t like Washington and who thinks that government is the problem.

Alba Farfaglia, San Clemente

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To the editor: In my mind, the purpose of reporting is to inform people who weren’t able to observe the events.

While the front-page article and the accompanying analysis described certain aspects of the debate, they made the paper feel more like a fanzine about personalities, disputes and attitudes. There was commentary about how someone’s tax proposal wouldn’t work, but little to let readers know what proposals were put forward and who presented them.

I watched the debate and, yes, there was a lot of back and forth between the candidates and the moderators, with a few well-deserved hits at the media. There were also a few (too few) questions about taxes and the economy. The candidates had to bypass the moderators and present their plans themselves.

The front-page articles only reinforced the candidates’ opinions, and mine, about bias in the media.

Debbie Clark, Burbank

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