I don’t think there’s any question who won the first Republican presidential debates.

Political correctness.

The candidates who impressed and energized voters were Donald Trump, Dr. Ben Carson, Carly Fiorina, Ted Cruz and Mike Huckabee – and, what they had in common, was their unbridled attacks on the irrational, illogical plague of mental illness that threatens to destroy America’s free society.

We all know Trump stole the big show. His personality is bigger than life. He’s brutally blunt and consistently drives home the point that the language of political correctness is designed to limit debate, limit solutions to problems that are ravaging the country and limit rational thinking about ways to save America from its downward cultural, spiritual, economic and political spiral.

But Trump was not alone. Others who broke through to connect with voters were those who weren’t afraid to venture off the politically correct reservation.

So who lost the debate?

While Fox News is toasting itself for the record-shattering ratings for the debates, the “fair and balanced network” might have to rethink its marketing slogan.

Megyn Kelly was over the top in suggesting Donald Trump is anti-woman – maybe even part of the Democrats’ phony “war on women” concocted to eliminate from acceptable political discussion the sanctity of life and the sanctity of marriage.

The popular anchorwoman was clearly out to get Trump – nail him for unacceptable name-calling – and, in the process, become part of the debate herself, showing anger, open hostility and emotion in her “gotcha” assertion that he wouldn’t be able to stand up to Hillary Clinton in a presidential campaign.

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For Chris Wallace, too, asking tough questions wasn’t enough. He openly mocked candidates for not answering his question. Whatever happened to “we report, you decide”?

While Bret Baier remained, as always, a consummate professional newsman, it’s quite possible the performances of Kelly and Wallace in front of Fox News’ biggest audience ever could foment discontent with the base for a network built on its reputation as an “alternative” to the misnamed “mainstream media.”

When Fox News gets rave reviews from the fringe MSNBC for its aggressive pursuit of the leading Republican presidential contender and kid-glove treatment of GOP establishment figures, you might think the big audience could prove to be a mixed blessing for the future of Fox.

What do YOU think? Will GOP debate moderators’ performance affect your viewing of Fox News? Sound off in the WND poll

Remember, also, that there are big changes coming for Fox News and the formula that made it the most successful cable news channel, showering it, along the way, with higher profits than ABC News, CBS News, NBC News and CNN combined.

The tenure of the two architects of this success are nearing the end of their careers at the helm. Rupert Murdoch is preparing for retirement and delegating authority to his children, who don’t share his eclectic views, and Roger Ailes, the genius programmer, is operating on borrowed time as Murdoch’s kids have openly signaled their own distaste for the Fox News formula that actually permits a fairly wide spectrum of ideas and opinions to be expressed on air.

Many Fox News viewers have actually come to believe the criticism of Fox from its worst antagonists – that it is a purveyor of right-wing thought. It never has been. But the attacks on Fox News have helped propel its legendary ratings and revenue success. Now, however, following this first series of 2016 Republican presidential debates, Fox viewers are expressing the kind of outrage normally reserved for CNN, ABC, CBS and NBC.

While Trump emerged unscathed from the bare-knuckled, undisguised, open attacks by two Fox News stars – and possibly more popular than ever – Fox News’ position could be diminished as a result. It might even be time for some damage control.

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