Posted on 08/15/2012 9:28:27 AM PDT by jmstein7
In just over a month, Barack Obama and Mitt Romney will square off in a series of debates. It's a time-honored tradition, and if they are anything like the GOP primary debates, hopefully people will learn more about the candidates and make an informed decision. However, what is blatantly missing from the debate line-up is any moderator from the center-right. Why is it that the so-called "nonpartisan" Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) can only pick left-wing moderators?
As announced by the CPD, the one vice presidential debate and three presidential debates will be moderated by the following people:
First presidential debate:
Jim Lehrer, Executive Editor of the PBS NewsHour
Wednesday, October 3, University of Denver, Denver, COVice presidential debate:
Martha Raddatz, Senior Foreign Affairs Correspondent, ABC News
Thursday, October 11, Centre College, Danville, KYSecond presidential debate (town meeting):
Candy Crowley, Chief Political Correspondent, CNN and Anchor, CNN's State of the Union
Tuesday, October 16, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NYThird presidential debate:
Bob Schieffer, Chief Washington Correspondent, CBS News and Moderator, Face the Nation
Monday, October 22, Lynn University, Boca Raton, FL
Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr. and Michael D. McCurry, co-chairmen of the "nonpartisan" CPD, had this to say about their selections: "These journalists bring extensive experience to the job of moderating, and understand the importance of using the expanded time periods to maximum benefit. We are grateful for their willingness to moderate, and confident that the public will learn more about the candidates and the issues as a result."
In referencing the "expanded time periods," the moderators are referring to new formats for the debate which are designed to allow the candidates time for more in-depth discussions:
First presidential debate
The debate will focus on domestic policy and be divided into six time segments of approximately 15 minutes each on topics to be selected by the moderator and announced several weeks before the debate.
The moderator will open each segment with a question, after which each candidate will have two minutes to respond. The moderator will use the balance of the time in the segment for a discussion of the topic.
Vice presidential debate
The debate will cover both foreign and domestic topics and be divided into nine time segments of approximately 10 minutes each. The moderator will ask an opening question, after which each candidate will have two minutes to respond. The moderator will use the balance of the time in the segment for a discussion of the question.
Second presidential debate
The second presidential debate will take the form of a town meeting, in which citizens will ask questions of the candidates on foreign and domestic issues. Candidates each will have two minutes to respond, and an additional minute for the moderator to facilitate a discussion. The town meeting participants will be undecided voters selected by the Gallup Organization.
Third presidential debate
The format for the debate will be identical to the first presidential debate and will focus on foreign policy.
The more discussion, the better. The more in-depth a candidate is forced to go on an issue, the less he can rely simply on talking points. But the real problem here is about who is leading the discussions. Why is it the same, tired "journalists" from the left? If this commission is truly nonpartisan, why continue to pick left-wing media hosts? It absolutely makes no sense.
CNN is represented, but not Fox News? Just the other day CNN's Soledad O'Brien was caught referencing a story from a left-wing blog as one of her "sources" when she was interviewing a Republican legislator from Virginia.
On CBS, Bob Scheiffer conducted the first Romney/Ryan interview for "60 Minutes," and, as reported by The Right Scoop, the portion of the interview where Ryan says, "My mom is a Medicare senior in Florida," was edited out of the broadcast. Hmmmm... perhaps it doesn't go with Obama and the media's plan to paint Ryan as an enemy of seniors?
There are so many examples of left-wing bias, and yet these same people are used over and over again for events such as the upcoming presidential debates. How could the "nonpartisan" commission be so stupid?
Why not Stewart Varney moderating a debate on the economy?
typical question for Romney will be “when did you stop killing old ladies exactly?”
Typical question for Owebamie: “how does it FEEL to be you (moderator bats eyes)?”
One of the best moderators I can remember is Wendell Goler.
Apparently, they're all hiding under a table somewhere, scared shitless, worried about what the liberal scumbags will think of them. Tell them to grow a pair, and start throwing punches. They may win, they may lose, but at least they tried, and no conservative will fault them for that.
They will NEVER give us one.
What a fine collection of ashen old Bolshevik had beens. Very telling indeed that the #1 name in news does not have a single voice in the “debate”.
What is Obama afraid of? Someone as smart as he should have no trouble answering questions from a network seen by the neo-left as dumb and “faux”.
Yeah, 4 filthy reds against Romney is just about what you imagine the left calls “fairness” and “equality”.
Beware the democrat/media/government/1% ruling class elite complex.
It’s sick out there and getting sicker.
The only one out of the three that could do a debate would be Sean Hannity and I don’t even know if he wants too. Rush and Mark don’t have a network which is why they will never be chosen. If you notice all the moderators are part of a TV network. Fox News should have one of those debates though.
We will see the “rules” such as to diminish the GOP positions... I fully expect the moderators to try and limit any factual discussions, and derail the uncomfortable truth of Obama failure. Romney and Ryan must declare they are NOT playing by such rules, and will speak as they wish (sorta a version of Renauldus Maximus “This is my microphone, I paid for it”).
If done with boldness they can get their points across and neturalize the (alleged)moderators for the Obama toadies they are. Just my humble opinion.
“Apparently, they’re all hiding under a table somewhere”
Do you mean that the debate organizers couldn’t find conservatives willing to be moderators?
We can’t analyze the current moderator selections without understanding the selection process. Do the candidates that will be debating have some say-so in the selections?
Why are we having media moderators at all? Shouldn’t a trained forensic debate moderator used all over the country be sufficient?
I’d be happy with neutral moderators, personally.
Or Lincoln-Douglas style
Who is THEY?
Why is the League of Women’s Voters in charge?
Who put them in the power seat.
HOW AND WHY? (or do I already know the answer)
If they were to pick Fox News; you would get Chris Wallace...bank on it. No improvement there...
I’d take Chris Wallace over Candy Crowley in a hot second.
With the current MSM being loaded with like minded liberals, I highly doubt that anyone even remotely considered a conservative was asked to participate. Looking at who all of the companies that the selected moderators work for should clue you in to where their allegiances are, and why no conservative was considered.
Why would the GOP even agree to this garbage?
Where are they? They aren't allowed, they too stoopid to ask the right questions.
In the MSM only the Left to Far Left are non-partisan because there is only one side. Everything else isn't something that can even be thought, just a bunch of non humans blubbering about facts, Truth, and other non-intellectual mental constructs. And the Republicans are, well, Republicans.
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