What the hell was the Presidential Commission on Debates thinking?
I realize it is hard to find any MSM person who is neutral much less perceived as neutral, but really … this person will moderate one of three presidential debates?
She claimed to be reciting what unnamed Republicans were saying privately, but that’s the oldest trick in the book when a “news” person wants to insert her own opinion into a story without having to say its her own opinion.
Newsbusters has a good history of how every Republican Veep nominee gets attacked by the MSM:
DONATE
Donations tax deductible
to the full extent allowed by law.
Comments
Please, please get Newt on the debate prep team.
These flaming “moderators” will be ready for a Newt-like attack on them, so Romney and Ryan will need to have several layers of responses ready if they choose to point out the media’s bias, or the meagerness of the posed questions.
This is insanity! The GOP is the stupid party!
Seriously who approved this because they should be fired. Now.
We keep taking this stacked-deck crap, cycle after cycle. How weak are we in these negotiations? Jim Lehrer? Are you kidding me? Are we in some kind of time warp? This doesn’t come close to representing the realigned cosmos of the media. Someone from Breitbart should be involved, certainly someone like Brett Baier from Fox News. Dismal.
This comes from taking the mediots seriously.
One wonders if the Romney campaign thinks they have the conservative momentum on their side and now think surviving the left-biased media in the debates gives them extra credit with independent voters.
Why with Fox News’s huge popularity, is it not represented?
Yeah, why not Brett Baier or Brit Hume? Hugh Hewitt would be excellent, too.
Want a woman? How about Greta?
These people are all well-liked and respected.
As raven says, “We keep taking this stacked-deck crap.”
Just as Professor Reynolds encourages conservatives to bring their own videocameras and film MSM interviews in their entirety so they have an unedited record to refute potential MSM narratives created with misleading editing, the GOP must insist on truly trustworthy moderators … or do away with moderators … this paradigm must change or be held accountable.
Ditto! I read this earlier on Drudge and thought, well, probably best not post it . . .
One thought: Throughout all this land, this is the best we can do?
As a moderator of a debate to see that the rules are followed without bias, these are the ones R/R Team agreed to? There are, especially through the medium of TV, ways to subtly manipulate the “environment” of a debate. Besides, it’s no secret that once a word, a look, an inaction, or whatever the case might be is “out there”, regardless of subsequent retractions, it has its intended impact.
I once posted the question of whether we’re witnessing McCain 2.0. Despite the selection of Ryan, this, by itself, is not sufficient to withdraw the observation.
Clarification:
My original post was to “Ditto” raven’s remarks.
Upon reflection, this gets even harder to believe. Jim Lehrer stopped being relevant 20 years ago when he turned to writing second-rate novels. Candy Crowley and Bob Schieffer are haggard old media whores, truly sad-sack shills for institutional liberalism.
Depressing to realize that someone from Romney’s camp signed off on this. Or was it the RNC? Are we still this stupid or disconnected?
Now we’re discovering that Schieffer’s 60 Minutes censored the two hardest-hitting comments by Ryan and Romney. A burgeoning scandal.
Time to fight back, GOP. No Bob Schieffer. Reshuffle and start again, include Fox and new media. Let’s go.
I’d like to see some genuine people ask some “real” questions, ones not previously submitted to any candidate. So, here’s my list of suggested moderators, ones who would be a panel at each debate:
“The Old Man” from Pawn Stars
Miss Kay (Robertson) from Duck Dynasty
Troy Landry from Swamp People
Ferno Tweto from Flying Wild Alaska
If they were the moderators, not only would I be sure to watch the debates, I’d even pay to do so, Otherwise, . . .?
Lehrer is the best of this bunch and he is horrible. Candy Crowley? Are you kidding me. She loves bashing Republicans almost as much as stuffing M&Ms in her mouth!
In Candys room, there are food wrappers all over the floor, but to get to Candys room, you gotta walk the darkness of CNN’s halls, Staffers from Obama, call my babys number and they bring her cheese, When I come knocking, she smiles pretty, she knows I wanna be Candys squeeze,
Theres a sadness hidden in that pretty rounded face, a sadness all her own, from which not even the media can keep Obama safe.
We eat a pizza, my heart burn coming back again, when I touch the last piece of pizza, She grabs a fork and stabs me in the hand, I go driving deep into the light, in Candys eyes. She says,
Just wait for the Presidential Debates!
Can we please get a Hugh Hewitt or similar to moderate one of these?
I’m least familiar with ABC’s Martha Raddatz, but all the other proposed moderators – Crowley, Schieffer/CBS, Lehrer/PBS – are on record numerous times during the GOP primary and even more recently making points about “right wing extremism.” Definitely all of the networks had an initial reaction to Ryan along those exact lines. So, is there any reason to expect the will manage the debates in any way but to elicit answers along those lines? Rather than questions about health care post-election for Romney, for example, I would anticipate they will hammer him about any reduction of benefits that Obama touts. “Mr. Romney, what will you do specifically to provide appropriate health care benefits for those who have been disenfranchised but now are included in the program with the Act?” Etc., etc. There is no question in my mind the questions and approach to extracting information will be biased towards the President. But, that has been the case for a while.
Please tell me that Sheriff Joe is going to debate Paul Ryan. I don’t care who moderates – if Ryan was drugged he would still wipe the floor with poor old Joe.
Mark Levin. Rush Limbaugh. William Jacobson. Glenn Reynolds. Ann Althouse. Sarah Palin. Greta Van Susteren. Any of these could moderate the debate and ask questions even handedly.
The reporters cited are likely to ask Obama if his daughters have finished teething yet and to ask Romney why Ke killed Soptic’s wife.
When will GOPe’rs grow a pair and insist on non-LSM moderators or, better yet, insist in an unmoderated free for all debates on the order of Lincoln-Douglas?
Realistically, I think those like Lehrer and Schieffer will be a little less on the nose, but still tilt their questioning. There are ways to address a topic that favor Obama – for example asking how Romney’s plans will affect any/all of the media-touted positives from this administration. The millions (now sometimes reported as high as 50 million!!) “who now will have health care”, broke college kids who need to stay on their parents’ plan but also need long term debt relieve, seniors, etc. It can all be posed as a way to force Romney to explain how he will benefit those many different groups Obama has isolated and given benefits to.
“Mark Levin. Rush Limbaugh. William Jacobson …”
Yes!
Isn’t it about time the candidates were asked at least one question on their stand on bumper stickers?
Has Mitt Romney actually agreed to these debates? If not (and, perhaps, even if so), he should give three names that he demands to be the “moderators” (as if Candy Crowley would make anything more moderate) as a condition of his participation. Perhaps Dennis Miller, Rush Limbaugh, and Glenn Beck.
Lehrer is an outright, flaming bomb-throwing Collectivist from WAY back.
Scheiffer is a dotting fool of the Collective, as Crowley is rapidly becoming.
Why not just drop the pretense, and have Media Mutters do their spots?
I think this deserves a FIRE STORM of push-back.
What is important is who decides what questions to ask each candidate?
A moderator who simply reads a question is one matter. A moderator who specifically determines what question to ask is entirely different.
Why are we still playing by the Democrat’s rules? Why are their own cheerleaders allowed to moderate these so called debates? Yea, that’s rhetorical… I’m sure the Commission and the Obama campaign are already planning what grenades to throw at the Republican ticket while they get nice, slow softballs. The questions they’ll be getting will be scripted, because Obama won’t have TOTUS to rely upon.
Romney should issue a statement to the Debate Commission and the Obama campaign that they should be allowed to pick the second moderator (not a subordinate to first moderator but a co-host) for each debate, who will ASK OBAMA (and Biden) TOUGH QUESTIONS.
That way we know that we know Obama’s allies in the Press won’t be asking them prepared questions. Does anyone not think every question they ask of Romney and Ryan will be gotcha questions. Romney and Ryan will be fine, but I want to see Obama and Biden to sweat through shirt collars.
“Obama won’t have TOTUS to rely upon” – Considering that the media is corrupt and nothing but propagandists for Obama, sending Obama the questions before the debate would not surprise me.
Man, I am so sick of the democrat media running the debates. There are never any questions that I want asked. Instead it is the dnc talking points phrased as questions to the Republican. For the Democrat, it’s can-I-fluff-your-pillow-or-perhaps-get-you-another-lemonade type “question”.
23+ million people listen to Rush, and yet the news stations with ~6 – 7 million audience get to run these debates… Can the Republicans find their spines and self respect and get anyone from the new media?
Yep.
It’s so fashionable recently in debates to take questions via Facebook and Twitter and video questions from the public.
There’s this mindless effort to embrace innovations in technology.
How about embracing innovations in news dissemination?
How about a panel of moderators such as Professors Jacobson and Reynolds and respected bloggers such as Ed Morrisey, John Hinderaker, Michelle Malkin, etc?
Throw in a Markos Moulisitas, an Andrew Sullivan, etc., and let’s have the public also able to compare the premises behind the questions of the two sides.
“Can the Republicans find their spines and self respect and get anyone from the new media?”
They certainly haven’t so far. The spineless bums simply will not assert themselves or our agenda. As far back as I can remember watching prez “debates”, it’s been this way. The rats call the shots through the media which fronts for their home team rat candidate always, always, always.
The GOP need only demand respected, fair journalists like Brit Hume, Bret Baier, Paul Gigot or somebody strictly from the print media…..like Thomas Sowell. Other excellent choices would be Walter Williams (he would rock the place), Rich Lowry, Hugh Hewitt, Cal Thomas and Jim Pinkerton.
Beyond stupid. Stupidity can’t even begin to describe the reason for this. “Stockholm Syndrome,” can.
This outrage cannot stand.
I will not watch a single debate.
I would like to pretend I am shocked in some way. I am not that old and I shouldn’t be this jaded. This is a huge problem for the GOP, we have to break up the media conglomerates forever. The best way to do this, is start auctioning off the airwaves to cell phone companies and let everyone come up with internet based strategies. Then we won’t need the FCC anymore to boot.
Aw heckfire, we’d be disappointed if the Collaborationist Media DIDN’T trot out the knne-jerk hate! Really folks, it may be disgusting and infuriating, but surprising it aint.
Gobsmack! Does Axelrod own the PDC?
On the other hand, whether agreed to by the Romney campaign as a ‘strategy’ or not, maybe, finally, at long last, these leftist tools will get smacked down for their blatant bias, preferably during the debates, by Romney. ‘Gently’, of course (not).
Glenn Beck is non-partisan; he would ask some very pointed questions to both sides.
Maybe our side signed on because … Mitt is taking lessons from Newt. Maybe our side wanted this!
I hate to wake you from a pleasant dream, but….you’re dreaming.
The Romney/Ryan campaign should reject participation in any of these debates unless objective moderators are found.
To participate as currently proposed, is suicidal in my not-so-humble-opinion.
Reject the debate proposal in its entirety.
God help us…we’re sure not helping ourselves.
“I was appalled, although not surprised, to read the just announced list of moderators for the forthcoming presidential debates: Jim Lehrer of PBS, Candy Crowley of CNN, Bob Schieffer of CBS and Martha Raddatz of ABC (VP debate). All liberals from liberal news organizations. Not even a token representative from Fox or the Wall Street Journal – not in the moderator seat anyway. Don’t we live in a democracy? . . . I don’t have any idea why the tradition of allowing a biased media to run these events continues. It is a testament to the passivity of the Republican Party. We saw how it worked during the primary season. Now we are going to get a rerun during the main event, with more subtlety and ultimately more subversion. But there is something we can do about it even at this late date: protest and protest loudly. In this manner, we highlight the bogus quality of the debates.”
—Roger Simon
http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2012/08/13/remove-the-media-from-the-debates/
This is so bad, it is beyond parody.
Dead right. Incredible in this revolutionary media age that we consented to this retrograde BS. Does anybody know somebody in the Romney camp? I’ve tred to email them — not getting through.
But I agree. Protest.
On the Tip Line, I’ve asked Prof. Bill to organize some push-back.
Hey! Alinkites, you forgot Katy Perky! I mean come on, if your going DOWN, go all the way.
Oh and get Ann what’s her face, her and Katy..mmm, could be a catfight.
Questions, WHAT questions..jeebeezuz, katy just lost her bra
This time, as in the past, the Presidential Debate Commission has selected “moderators” (aka “d-cRAT helpers”) who are biased, d-cRAT stooges and OBOZO / Bite-me biden supporters, turning the “debates” into another farce of questions slanted to favor the socialist extremists, while insulting the Republican candidates. And they’ll call that a “fair and balanced” group !
[…] Like a good little lapdog, Crowley cited unnamed Republicans as the source of those words, but as Legal Insurrection points out, that’s “the oldest trick in the book when a ‘news’ person wants to insert […]
We learned from the GOP primaries that neither the candidates nor the audience will hold still for blatant bias. This may be more of an opportunity than we think.
(Calling Newt Gingrich! Calling Newt Gingrich!)
Debate Format:
Phase 1: Candidate A – max 5 min statement – Why I should be elected
Candidate B – max 5 min statement – Why I should be elected
Phase 2: (Each candidate has time for three (3) three-min max statements
with a rebuttal by the other candidate and a follow-up by
the originating candidate.) So,
Candidate A – max 3 min statement
Candidate B – max 3 min rebuttal
Candidate A – max 3 min follow-up
Candidate B – max 3 min statement
Candidate A – max 3 min rebuttal
Candidate B – max 3 min follow-up
The above is repeated twice.
Phase 3: Candidate A – max 5 min statement – In conclusion, . . .
Candidate B – max 5 min statement – In conclusion . . .
Moderator’s role:
a) welcome to the debate
b) time keeper (asks no questions)
c) says “Goodnight”
Camera:
a) one shot and one only of the stage
b) no shots of the moderator during the debate
c) no shots of the audience during the debate
With a brief opening and closing by the moderator, this would put the debate at about 1 1/2 hours in length. This would work against the debate itself being scripted by either candidate. Also, candidates would not be allowed to interrupt. To so so would be to receive a minute penalty for each interruption.
There’s no debate, liberal progressivism is a death wish on America and freedom loving peoples all over the world.
Beyond stupid. Took the wind right out of my sails about “RR.”
Now, “RR” should stand for “Republican Retards.”
Newt for debate coach!
I have not commented in a long time. But I have to say, this is a fking joke!
Romney and his VP better grow a pair and say NO! and HELL NO!! to Crowley, at least get Blitzer or tell them to get Fox….Fox News gets 5-10 times more viewers than CNN and the the moderator selected is of a network that’s circling the toilet???
And I don’t even consider myself that conservative, I lean right of center, what a fking joke! this isn’t bias! this is pure stalin like propoganda!
American Media ==> a piece of useless leftist propoganda, ALL of them. I never had any idea how pathetically pravada they are until very recently.
I’m not watching any of these idiotic debates. Bunch of dem hacks practically campaigning for their man, barry.
And I’m a former Howard Dean voting dem, these debates will be pathetic.
Obots worshipping in front of their Messaih. Not watching any of them. What a joke!
FOX News tonight reported that Crowley was picked to moderate because of an online petition calling for a female moderator.
I’m thinking maybe there are better ways to do this.
Candy Crowley? What, Helen Thomas wasn’t available?…
Anyway, CNN’s Candy Ryan-Ticket-Death-Wish Crowley is the token female this year. And unable to separate effect from cause, our three starry-eyed debutantes are just giddy over their new found fame….
[…] we see is Candy Crowley as a moderator in this fall’s debate and Mitt Romney acquiescing in allowing her to ask him questions when he should be asking her questions about her bias and Big […]