RNC's Priebus to NBC: You Don't Get the February GOP Debate Anymore

You want Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus to take a tougher line with NBC? Here’s a tougher line with NBC:

Mr. Andrew Lack
Chairman, NBC News
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, New York 10112

Dear Mr. Lack,

I write to inform you that pending further discussion between the Republican National Committee (RNC) and our presidential campaigns, we are suspending the partnership with NBC News for the Republican primary debate at the University of Houston on February 26, 2016. The RNC’s sole role in the primary debate process is to ensure that our candidates are given a full and fair opportunity to lay out their vision for America’s future. We simply cannot continue with NBC without full consultation with our campaigns.

The CNBC network is one of your media properties, and its handling of the debate was conducted in bad faith. We understand that NBC does not exercise full editorial control over CNBC’s journalistic approach. However, the network is an arm of your organization, and we need to ensure there is not a repeat performance.

National Review is scheduled to also be a participant in that debate, and Priebus’ letter said, “we still fully intend to have a debate on that day, and will ensure that National Review remains part of it.”