Image Source: Times Union

BY CHRISTY LEWIS

The comb-over and orange tan man known as Donald Trump is weezling his way into political affairs again. After flirting with the idea of running for president himself...and more recently talks of an endorsement...Trump now plans to make sure his investment choice is on point a week before the Iowa caucus. Here’s KTVU.

ANCHOR: “He will moderate a republican debate on December 27th in Des Moines.”
TRUMP: “They’ve asked me to do it and I always like a challenge and I always like doing something a little different, and certainly this is different. Well, I think I’ll be asking questions that are a little bit different and maybe a little bit more to the point and I guess you are going to have to wait and see what happens.”
 

News of the debate, which is sponsored by conservative site Newsmax, sent bloggers into a collective rage. And an opinion writer for CNN isn’t sugar-coating it.

“ … let's just call this what it is: a publicity stunt by Newsmax.com to gain more subscribers to its growing media empire and a chance for Trump to bask in the glow of being taken seriously by the candidates who want to occupy the White House.”

But a writer for The Washington Post thinks it’s more than just a publicity stunt: The a-list moderator choice points to a bigger problem.

“Here we are at the uncomfortable fusion between celebrity and politics. In general, they say politicians are like celebrities, but less photogenic. And so is The Donald...I know it’ll be great television, but we might have to vote for one of these people. And unlike most reality TV, the vote will matter."

GOP Presidential candidate Ron Paul agrees. The Iowa frontrunner declined the invitation to participate -- calling the debate a contribution to an unwanted circus.

“The selection of a reality television personality to host a presidential debate that voters nationwide will be watching is beneath the office of the Presidency and flies in the face of that office’s history and dignity.”

According to a writer for Business Insider, Jon Huntsman declined the invitation too, and apparently with some flare. Here’s how he said no:

"Lol. We look forward to watching Mitt and Newt suck-up to The Donald with a big bowl of popcorn," he said in an email to Business Insider.

Immediately after, Trump responded by telling Politico that Paul had "zero chance of winning either the nomination or the presidency," and as for Huntsman he says...

"Jon Huntsman, who has inconsequential poll numbers or a chance of winning, will not be attending the debate and wasting the time of the viewers who are trying very hard to make a very important decision."

The Chief Executive of Newsmax defends the debate by saying its readers love Trump.