A CNN host got a clinic in a recent interview. She got her butt handed to her by her guest. And it was clear she never saw it coming.
Love watching a good debate? And not the type of debate they teach in college, but debate that matters. Because almost every day we debate. Sadly for conservatives, from the political point of view we lose the debate; mostly because we don’t engage. But when you are on the side of righteousness, why avoid the debate?
I consider any interaction (debate) with Leftists as a potential sale. And if you allow them to spew their nonsense with no retort from you, then you’ve allowed them to make the sale. I can honestly say that no Leftist has ever sold me on anything. Because I debate them and kick their sorry butts. That’s why I love seeing other perform as I do.
When I see somebody debate well, I am thrilled. Such was the case recently with Vivek Ramaswamy.
Watch as Vivek Ramaswamy destroys CNN host Abby Phillips, and you get an idea of why debate can be so invigorating and why it’s so important.
I plan to make a debate series that show good and bad debates an techniques. This particularly video will be featured as a good one.
Let’s examine some of the reasons why Ramaswamy easily won this debate.
First, understand that Ramaswamy is a good listener. And as soon as Phillips turned from a substantive discussion to frivolity, Ramaswamy knows this shifted from interview to debate.
The interview originally centered around Trump’s comment at a rally:
“I pledge to you that we will root out the communist, Marxist, fascist, and the radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country.”
There is nothing wrong with this comment. But when Trump is your target, you must demonize everything the man says or does.
This is the statement on which CNN dedicated an entire segment.
Why ask a candidate about what another candidate has done? Answer: when you are setting a narrative.
Phillips didn’t even ask the question as if she were looking for an answer. She made a statement, ergo started a debate. She pulls the typical Leftist media stunt of parsing Trump’s comments, then asking a pointed and leading question.
The video begins where Ramaswamy responds to the question asked by Phillips. Ramaswamy doesn’t take the bait, but instead he blasts Phillips. He followed Rules #1 and #2.
Rule #1: ignore what the question insinuates.
Rule #2: set a new narrative.
By following good rules, Ramaswamy got inside of Phillips’ head. By ignoring her question, Ramaswamy causes her to get into a different mindset.
Note Phillips’ reaction at about the 1:10 mark. She changes her facial expression. When Ramaswamy mentions “the word”, Phillips can’t wait to chime back in. But Ramaswamy does the right thing. He implements the rules.
Phillips looks amateurish, as Ramaswamy now begins making his points.
You can see the entire video here.
He interrupts himself and pivots back to her question. But only to make the point that it doesn’t matter whether he uses the word or not. Nor does it matter if Trump uses it.
Then he gets back on point with Rule #3. Ridicule.
Ramaswamy rightfully ridicules the idea of discussing a word. He trivializes the discussion, even implying that what CNN and Phillips are doing is a “game”. Phillips can only watch and wait.
Where are her producers, who should be talking in her ear to help her dig out of the hole. Apparently, they had no clever retorts.
Another rule of debate (Rule #4 for this article) is to make it personal.
By using Gavin Newsom and the San Francisco cleanup for the APEC Summit part of the discussion, Ramaswamy defines the antagonist. Gavin Newsom is the bad guy.
Next Ramaswamy invokes another rule (Rule #5). Use their debate against them.
Ramaswamy deftly works in the word “vermin” to describe the situation in San Francisco. By using the term, he minimizes its wanted impact. But he also transfers the word to its rightful owners: Leftists.
By the end of this debate, Abby Phillips has no legs to stand on, as Ramaswamy cut her off at the knees.
