Someone let me be a debate moderator

I don't think i'm alone in thinking the CNN moderators were not very good. They were easily walked over, didn't push hard enough, and led the longest, most useless debate I recall ever watching. Maybe i'm being harsh but after more than three hours and barely a mention of the Economy, I really don't think CNN can handle debates.

Okay, some good things happened. In a set up designed to get the candidates to battle each other (purely for ratings not substance), we did see Trump put in his place a few times, especially by Carly Fiorina. Rand Paul had a stellar soundbite on the War on Drugs, and we all got confirmation that Jeb Bush toked back in the day. But here is the main problem: because the media is feeding on emotional voting rather than guiding voters to more intelligent discourse, every conversation was designed to pit candidates against each other. You need not do this. Most of the candidates biggest problems is in their own stand-alone positions. So, I gave myself an assignment. What is the one question I would ask each candidate if I were moderator?

There are rules. I would first instruct the candidates that their answers are to reflect their own positions NOT be used to attack another candidate...even Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders. The must answer the question, not talk around it. They are allowed up to 5 minutes to answer the question but may not used that time to grandstand or recite talking points. If any of these rules are broken they would be buzzed until they answer the question properly. So, here are my questions for each individual candidate starting from the bottom (at debate time).

Rand Paul: 

You claim to care about the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Generally speaking, you have exhibited this position in you career as Senator with the exception of one issue: Gay Marriage. I understand that your proposed solution for the issue of marriage equality is simply to have the government get out of marriage altogether. That is consistent with the small government principle, however currently the government does facilitate legal marriage and there seems to be no reasonable expectation that it is close to changing. So, if the government has a monopoly on legal marriage, wouldn't denying gay couples the right to marry in that system be a violation of the 14th Amendment?

Chris Christie:

You have said you will utilize the might of the Federal Government to go after pot smokers and sellers even within states where marijuana is legal. How is that in any way small government? If you believe in State's Rights, and use of marijuana does not violate anyone else's rights, how can you justify using the strong arm of the Federal Government to meddle in state issues? Furthermore, why do you believe that the Federal Government should have the authority to criminally prosecute people for crimes that have no national security implications? At what point do you draw the line on what State Rights the Federal Government is allowed to disregard?

Mike Huckabee:

You have ardently supported Kim Davis in her crusade to deny gay couples in her county marriage licenses even though the SCOTUS has ruled that refusing to allow gay people to marry is a violation of their 14th Amendment Right to 'equal protection under the law'. You have further asserted such a ruling is a direct attack on religious freedom. Would you be as ardently supportive of violating the rights of others, as a government employee, in the name of religion, if the religion of the person doing the discriminating was not Christianity? For instance, would you support the right of a Muslim run DMV to deny women drivers' license on the basis of religious belief? What about a Hindu head of the Department of Agriculture banning all forms of cattle slaughter?

John Kasich:

Having happily taken Federal funds for both Common Core and Obamacare, how can anyone be certain you are committed to deep cuts in Federal Spending? What, exactly, would you cut? Would you be willing to commit to reforming the tax code?  If so, how?

Marco Rubio:

I'd like clarification on your immigration policy. For some audiences, you've supported a path to citizenship and for others you have said you do not support such a path. Which is it? If you do support a path to citizenship, what would be the obstacles to that citizenship? If not, would you create a special status for undocumented residents? Do you still support building a wall across the border? If so, how would you pay for it?

Carly Fiorina:

You have used very strong language in regard to possible American enemies, especially with regard to Russia and Iran. It is very easy to say you will make them respect America as a power, but how do you propose, exactly, to make either country do what you wish without pushing us toward an offensive stance and the brink of war? Other than rebuilding military arsenals, how, exactly, would you propose we stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon? How much more money do you plan to put into American Defense, and at what point would you say that the world's problems cannot be solved by us?

Ted Cruz:

You are willing to shut down the government over Planned Parenthood funding. When you know this reflects poorly upon the GOP politically, why? Would you reallocate that $500million to other programs for poor women to receive healthcare? If so, which ones? If not, how would you suggest these women get necessary preventative care? Is 'principle' always more important than compromise? Or are you going to be as stubborn about every issue as President as well? Can you work with people with whom you disagree? Would your Presidency be as polarizing and partisan as Obama's has been?

Scott Walker:

You have said you'd build a wall on the Northern Border, too. That is, of course, unrealistic. Is this indicative over a predisposition to overspend and take on projects the Federal Government cannot afford? Fiscal responsibility is more than busting public unions, it means deep cuts to a bloated government. What programs, specifically, would you cut, and how would you pay for any new projects?


Jeb Bush:

School Systems have, traditionally, been run locally. This has allowed the schools to keep a close eye on progress since learning is such an individual endeavor. You support Common Core. Why? Doesn't Common Core take the decision making out of the hands of those who see results and put it into a formula which cannot possibly work for every individual child? Would you, as President, implement any other incentive-based federal programs that get states to comply with national standards in any other department?

Ben Carson:

I'm concerned about a comment you made about homosexuality some months back. You used the rate of homosexual activity in the prison system as a sort of evidence for homosexuality being a choice. Now, of course, I recognize this is your personal belief and I'm not likely to change it, but it does call into question your reasoning skills. Do you really believe prison turns people gay? If so, how do you explain homosexual people raised by the same parents as straight siblings? What causes someone to 'choose' a sexuality that makes life harder? As a doctor, how can you disagree with the overwhelming medical and psychological consensus on this issue?

Donald Trump:

I feel confident, you will not follow the rules, but here goes anyway. Why are you so mean spirited? Is it for political gain or because you are actually just an asshole. :)*

*Sorry. I cannot even take this guy seriously. I'm not going to waste my time on a question for a guy who only loves himself.