NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: The first GOP debate covered topics like Donald Trump, abortion, education, and Oliver Anthony’s latest hit, ‘Rich Men North of Richmond’.
In fact, Anthony’s song was one of the very first questions asked on the debate stage in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
As per HuffPost, Fox News anchor and GOP debate moderator Martha MacCallum asked Republican candidates, “Why is this song striking such a nerve in this country right now?”
After the debate, MacCallum has taken over X, formerly known as Twitter, to defend the question asked by her in relation to the song by Anthony. Since the debate, Anthony also responded to ‘Rich Men North of Richmond’ being a part of the first GOP debate.
Martha MacCallum gives the reasoning behind using Oliver Anthony’s song
Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum wrote on X, "The reason we asked 8 GOP candidates, after playing “Rich Men North of Richmond” and pointing out that DC is just 100 miles N of Richmond was to say, are you on the stage part of the problem that he sings about? or part of the solution?”
She continued, “Asking about the criticism of welfare programs is not blaming the poor. It’s asking if the government is helping or hurting? He sings of people who are deeply frustrated and don’t want anyone trying to control them. It would be a good way to start a Dem or GOP debate, to spark an important conversation.”
The internet wasn’t thrilled about MacCallum’s response, and evidently, neither about the use of the song by Oliver Anthony as a part of the GOP debate.
Internet slams Martha MacCallum and Fox News after GOP debate
People have asked Martha MacCallum about the lack of questions surrounding other topics as one person wrote, “No questions about Covid and lockdowns? But question about UFOs? Really Martha?” Another said, “You didn’t ask the questions GOP voters truly cared about and it sounded like a Democrat wrote those questions.”
“Apparently our Presidential candidates should be listening to viral YouTube videos from no-name artists instead of interacting with voters...” wrote one person, and another also said, “Sad to see Fox News take a big left turn.”
Some have labeled it a “horrible question” as one person wrote, “It was a horrible question and one of the many during a horrible debate by a horrible network. Any questions?”
A sixth person tweeted, “Not a serious way to start the debate. Just ask pointed, straightforward questions. Your real motives are obvious to anyone who thinks about it. FNC is dead to me.”
