After Monday night’s debate several Newt Gingrich supporters, both on screen and in the “spin room,” defended what was perceived as their candidate’s sub-par performance by blaming it on the moderator. Brian Williams and the NBC team had insisted the audience refrain from clapping during the debate, and a Newt adviser said this prevented the candidate from getting a measure of the room. Newt doubled down on this interpretation during an appearance on Fox News. He said: “we’re going to serve notice on future debates,“ if the moderators wanted to restrain the audience.
“We’re just not going to allow that to happen. That’s wrong. The media doesn’t control free speech. People ought to be allowed to applaud if they want to.”
