In American politics, some decisions make you stop and scratch your head.

One such choice is the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) recent decision to let NBC News host the third GOP presidential primary debate.

To put it bluntly, this is a stupid idea that could hurt the party far more than help it.

Why? Let’s first look at the context. The debate is scheduled for November 8 in Miami.

The RNC says the debate will let Republican candidates show how they’re different from President Biden.

That’s a worthy goal, but you have to ask: Why pick NBC, a network that isn’t known for being friendly to conservatives?

Have you ever seen the Democrats let Fox News host one of their primary debates? Of course not.

The Democrats know that the network you pick for the debate matters a lot. It’s not just what you say; it’s how and where you say it that counts.

By picking NBC, the RNC is setting its candidates up to play a losing game.

Also, consider the rules the RNC set for candidates to join the debate.

They need to have at least 4 percent support in two national polls, or in one national poll and two state polls. They also need to have 70,000 unique donors.

The RNC is making it harder for candidates to qualify for the debate, but they’re making it easier for the debate to hurt them.

The first two debates were on Fox News, where Republicans usually feel more at home. Now, suddenly, they’re stepping into risky territory without a clear reason.

Let’s not forget that Donald Trump, who’s leading in the polls, has skipped the first two debates and plans to skip this one too.

He’s leading with 61 percent support, so why would he risk going into hostile territory?

But what about others like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is way behind with 12 percent?

They’re in a tough spot, thanks to the RNC’s odd choice.

This decision shows a Republican Party that’s still trying to figure out who it is.

It’s a sign that the party’s leaders need to get smarter, not just about what they stand for, but also about how they get their message out.

The famous writer Edmund Burke once said, “Those who don’t know history are destined to repeat it.”

The RNC needs to learn from past mistakes, and fast.

Hosting a GOP debate on NBC is a dumb move that could cost the party a lot more than it gains.

It’s time for the RNC to think long and hard about its strategy moving forward.