The day after Newt Gingrich’s Monday night participation in a Republican presidential debate on NBC, the former House speaker said he disagrees with moderator Brian Williams’ asking the Tampa audience to withhold applause until the commercial breaks, observes Grumpy Editor.
NBC’s rules, Gingrich said in a Fox News interview, amount to stifling free speech.
“I think (Williams) took them out of it because the media are terrified that the audience is going to side with the candidates against the media, which is what they’ve done in every debate,” Gingrich said.
“The media don’t control free speech,” Gingrich added. “People ought to be allowed to applaud if they want to.”
Grumpy Editor agrees, citing ratings-conscious NBC (and its advertisers) wouldn’t like it if Burbank audiences were told to hold up on applause for Jay Leno’s banter on “The Tonight Show” until commercial breaks.
It’s noteworthy that when NBC, along with other networks, cover --- live in most cases --- President Barack Obama making speeches today and tomorrow, facing workers and constituents in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Chandler, Ariz.; Las Vegas, Nev.; Denver and Detroit, those attending will not be asked to hold applause until the next break.
Meanwhile, Gingrich is rolling up his sleeves for another Republican presidential debate in Florida tomorrow night on CNN --- which said it will allow applause.
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