Megyn Kelly is an expert on the U.S. economy, and she's also not afraid to ask the 2016 presidential hopefuls the tough questions. It's a shame, then, that Kelly won't be joining the moderators at Wednesday's economy-focused primary debate among GOP presidential candidates. The Fox News host was praised for her performance moderating the first Republican debate, when she asked the candidates a series of challenging, unique questions, and endured a significant amount of backlash from Donald Trump. At Wednesday's debate, though, the moderators will be CNBC journalists John Harwood, Becky Quick, and Carl Quintanilla, since the debate is airing on CNBC. Still, it's fun to imagine what would happen if the debate transcended network allegiances, and the questions that would be discussed if Megyn Kelly moderated the third Republican debate.
During the first Republican primary debate, Kelly asked GOP presidential contender Donald Trump about his treatment of women, saying that in the past, he'd referred to women he didn't like as "fat pigs, dogs, slobs, and disgusting animals." Though Kelly may not support all of the feminist ideas that Democrats do, especially reproductive rights, the question showed that Kelly wasn't afraid to stick up for gender equality and to use identity politics in the debate context. And during an economy-focused debate, lively questions like that one would definitely make the evening more interesting. Here are some of the other reasons a Kelly-hosted economy debate would have been one to remember.
1. She'd Definitely Single Out Donald Trump Again
Donald Trump introduced himself at the second Republican debate by saying he'd "made billions and billions of dollars" as a real-estate mogul. While that may have been successful for his personal finances, Kelly would have no problem grilling Trump about how his financial success would be good for the United States and not just for himself.
2. She's Blunt As Hell
During the first Republican debate and during Fox News interviews, Kelly has become infamous for asking tough questions that challenge her subjects' points-of-view. In this way, Kelly proved herself as an objective reporter during the first GOP debate, asking various candidates about their views of abortion, for example, challenging them even when she agreed with their viewpoints. Kelly would definitely bring that straightforward honesty to this week's debate.
3. She'd Grill Jeb Bush About His Brother's Policies
In a recent appearance on The Kelly File, Bush said Clinton was "leading from behind" when four Americans died in Benghazi. But Kelly could easily turn that "leading from behind" comment around and ask Jeb Bush about all of the times he's praised George W. Bush's policies. She'd make him differentiate what his plan was for the economy versus his brother's.
4. She'd Ask Carly Fiorina About Her Background At Hewlett-Packard
Fiorina's record as CEO of Hewlett-Packard is filled with controversy. Some say she did the best she could during an incredibly difficult time for the company, while others say her actions led to thousands of people losing their jobs. During a debate about the economy, Kelly's blunt manner would be especially handy — she would ask Fiorina questions about her time at HP and how she could apply her mistakes there to improving the U.S. economy. In a recent interview, Kelly told Fiorina she wasn't connecting well with voters, and if Kelly were hosting Wednesday's debate, we'd have the chance to see more of that biting language.
5. She'd Ask Florida Sen. Marco Rubio About Immigration
In an April Kelly File interview, Kelly grilled Rubio about his background on immigration, including his support for immigration reform in 2013. Though Kelly's questions suggested that Rubio's stance could distance him from many Republican voters, Rubio maintained that immigration must be dealt with because it's an issue that's not going away. But adding the economic aspects of immigration to that discussion would make things a lot more interesting, and it would help viewers learn more about what differentiates Rubio from the other Republican presidential hopefuls.
6. She'd Ask Ben Carson How His Campaign Funding Strategy Relates To His Policy Goals
At the first Republican debate, Ben Carson revealed that his campaign funding has been strikingly similar to that of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, rather than his fellow Republicans' plans. Carson said that he would "never go after billionaires and special interest groups' money," and that "hundreds of thousands of people" have donated small amounts of money to his campaign. If he differs from his fellow Republicans in that respect, where else does Carson differ from the party? Kelly would be more than happy to ask him.
Even without Megyn Kelly hosting, though, the third Republican debate will certainly be one to remember. Now that two Republican primary debates are already out of the way, we're diving deeper into the candidates' viewpoints and what sets them apart. And no matter what your political affiliations are, it's definitely good to keep up with what the candidates are saying so that you can make an informed decision in 2016.
