Poll Position: Do we need moderators in presidential debates?
Through three debates — two between the presidential candidates, one featuring their running mates — there’s been one constant: The moderators have been part of the story each time. PBS’ Jim Lehrer was faulted by some for being too hands-off; ABC’s Martha Raddatz for being too quick to interrupt; CNN’s Candy Crowley for playing fact-checker during one particularly heated exchange between President Obama and Mitt Romney.
Do we need moderators for presidential debates?
- Absolutely (131 Votes)
- Never (53 Votes)
- Only in some of them (46 Votes)
Total Voters: 230
Loading ...(As an aside, as someone who’s moderated several debates myself, Crowley was wrong to intervene in that manner for two reasons, neither of them partisan: First, it wasn’t her place to offer an opinion; if she was trying to cut off the debate and move on to another topic, she should have simply said, “This one will have to go to the fact-checkers.” Second, fact-checking isn’t part of the moderator’s job largely because the moderator has too much else going on to be counted on to be a reliable fact-checker, from keeping track of speaking time to paying attention to which question comes next and even whose turn it is to give the first answer to that question. Crowley was, we can only assume, going off memory about what Obama said at a press briefing almost five weeks earlier, and with more than 60 million people watching. She was just as likely to make a mistake or misspeak as the candidates were.)
Rather than arguing about which moderator did the best job, or which style is best, my question to you today is: Do we even need moderators for these debates?
Throughout the primary season, Newt Gingrich famously challenged anyone and everyone to “Lincoln-Douglas style debates” without moderators. How much would you like to see Obama and Romney taking turns asking each other questions rather than relying on journalists and “undecided” voters bound to be accused of being partisan? (One thing I thought was clear from Tuesday night’s debate was that none of the questioners sounded all that “undecided” — their questions were aimed at one candidate or the other.)
Ah, you may ask, but who will cut off the candidates when they speak too long if there isn’t a moderator?
Well, the first three debates have proven human moderators aren’t very good at cutting off the candidates anyway. A CNN honcho even defended Crowley’s over-allowance of time to Obama — a repeat from Lehrer’s moderation of the first debate — on the ludicrous grounds that Obama speaks more slowly than Romney and might not have gotten in more actual words during his extra minutes of speaking time.
In any case, technology would do a much better job: Simply flash a red light when a candidate has 5 or 10 seconds left, and then cut off his microphone when the time has elapsed.
And what about the questions? Wouldn’t the candidates just make the debates meaningless or overly partisan by getting bogged down in gotcha-style questions?
Oh, you mean like George Stephanopoulos, apropos of nothing, asking GOP candidates about banning contraceptives last January?
It’s a problem that already exists with moderators. But it’s also one that, if the candidates themselves did it, would force voters to evaluate the candidates for asking such questions rather than letting the moderators take the blame. If Obama or Romney asks a gotcha question, he’d have to defend his choice as much as the other candidate had to defend his answer.
You might guess where I land on this issue, for at least one debate per cycle. But what say you? Do we need moderators in presidential debates?
It’s the return, after a brief hiatus, of the Poll Position question. Answer in the nearby poll and in the comments thread below.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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266 comments Add your comment
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
October 19th, 2012
4:30 pm
“It would not have made any difference in Benghazi,” Lamb said, pointing out that Wood’s team was based in Tripoli and spent nearly all of its time there.”
WOW, effective security is supposed to protect the PERSONNEL first, then the buildings. If security wasn’t sufficient for the Ambassador’s travels, you make it so or he doesn’t travel.
You’re really becoming embarrassing.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
October 19th, 2012
4:31 pm
“Romney has already blown his chances at getting the women vote”
And yet, Gallup has him even with Obama with women.
Care to be wrong some more, rocket science?
MarkV
October 19th, 2012
4:33 pm
Romney made an ass of himself when he disputed that Obama had called the attack on the consulate in Benghazi an act of terror. Those who deny it just make the same of themselves.
Del
October 19th, 2012
4:33 pm
WOW,
You’re only making yourself appear uninformed and a bit foolish. The prior attacks are documented, the requests for additional security is documented, the intelligence briefings are documented and what the White House along with State Department said, did and did not do is documented.
WOW
October 19th, 2012
4:33 pm
Dusty
14th or 15th paragraph down.
Keep flailing. If it wasn’t for talking points you would have anything to say.
I already mentioned that there are several things that is more than fair game to go after the administration on, but it is disingenuous to not mention that particular part of the testimony……. That is unless you are just on a witch hunt
Dusty, let facts be your friend. You have lived a long life overlooking them. It is not too late to start.
Have a awesome weekend
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
October 19th, 2012
4:33 pm
Oh, and rocket science?
I must have missed your answer about your military service, since you called out others for possibly not serving themselves.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
October 19th, 2012
4:36 pm
“Tib: so you concede that you are in fact a bitter lonely person who has not seen the ballot? ”
No, I’m actually a very happy, healthy voluntarily early-retired guy with a wonderful wife of 28 years and counting.
And while I have seen the ballot, I have not voted as yet.
Care to be wrong some more, rocket science?
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
October 19th, 2012
4:37 pm
“Romney made an ass of himself when he disputed that Obama had called the attack on the consulate in Benghazi an act of terror.”
Fortunately, only an opinion of one.
WOW
October 19th, 2012
4:38 pm
Del
Did I say he wasn’t critical? Did I say there was not things that should be asked? Did I say that there should not be an investigation?
You seem to be good at making assertions and putting the words in other’s mouths that you want them to have said. It will not work here. Try with someone else
Take off your partisan bs classes for a minute.
It is not all left or right…………………….. Unless you are just a simpleton
But ignorance can be bliss and if that is you; enjoy it for all it is worth.
Have an awesome weekend
And I’m gone
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
October 19th, 2012
4:39 pm
“You mean the same Gallup poll that was taken before the second debate? ”
Uh, rocket science?
Gallup is a rolling 7-day poll.
Try educating yourself before you come back. I’ll even thank you for your service once you provide information that you actually served.
Del
October 19th, 2012
4:39 pm
WOW, did you watch and listen to the testimony? It sounds like you’re depending on stories from CBS and the A/P.
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
October 19th, 2012
4:41 pm
Late to the party, but my thoughts on moderator/no moderator.
I haven’t seen many politicians, maybe silent Cal Coolidge and he was before my time, that could ever shut up on their own and stay on the subject, while holding a microphone, so we need a moderator.
In football when they play bowl games between the SEC and Big Ten, the officials are selected from conferences other than those two. We need to do the same in America. The press are mostly partisan, and academia is far left, so where do we turn. I suggest someone, who doesn’t have a dog in the fight, like Tony Blair or the Prime Minister of Canada.
They command enough respect to make the candidates obey the rules. Where do they get the questions. Select a panel of columnist, 5 from each side, and have them submit 10 questions each. Take Tiberius’ lottery idea, number the questions and have them selected by lottery.
The key is that you have to select a foreigner as the debate moderator, anyone else is partisan.
MrLiberty
October 19th, 2012
4:43 pm
Only one party was represented on stage at all of the debates – the warfare/welfare party of big government. How about a vibrant second party for this country. When both candidates fundamentally agree on every major issue, the voters have no real choice. Whoever wins, Goldman Sachs wins and the american people lose.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
October 19th, 2012
4:49 pm
“When both candidates fundamentally agree on every major issue, the voters have no real choice.”
Clearly, the dumbest post of the day.
And that’s going some based on the players here.
Paulistas – Welcome to Fantasy Island!
Del
October 19th, 2012
4:50 pm
Wow, Wow’s running off and not answering my 4:39 question. He like most of the libs posting on here get from left wing Web sites or the MSM what they then construe as facts and regurgitate this spin cycle information as proven facts. Oh well same story, same song, same dance steps
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
October 19th, 2012
4:53 pm
Romney made an ass of himself when he disputed that Obama had called the attack on the consulate in Benghazi an act of terror.
Nonsensical statement Mark, he didn’t specifically call the attack on the Consulate an act of terror. Spin it any way you like. He used the word terror and that is what Crowley said in the debate, but he didn’t call it an act of terror. Moreover, if you read the last paragraph of his statement and he was implying it was the result of the stupid video.
Obama made an ass of himself implying that he called it an act of terror, when he didn’t. He lied for 14 or more days. Has he ever himself personally referred to it as an act of terror. I know that Carney finally admitted it weeks later, but has Obama. The man who would not allow his regime to use the term “War on Terror”, or who insists the terrorist act at Ft Hood was workplace violence is dishonest.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
October 19th, 2012
4:55 pm
Everybody as some allegiance to one side or another, Del, but these libs just have no grounding in reality.
They’re shocked that their decision four yeas ago hasn’t done much to advance their cause or improve this country, and they’re frightened that once America sees someone effective, and who gets things done, their make-believe world where everything will be handed to them crumbles to dust.
They’re not ready for personal responsibility just yet, and they’re scared to death of the prospect.
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
October 19th, 2012
4:55 pm
The shooting outside the recruiting station is Little Rock was also a terrorist attack, by a wannabe, who went there looking to shoot some soldiers. The Obama regime has never called that an act of terror either.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
October 19th, 2012
4:56 pm
Thank you for your service, rocket science.
Too bad you took a wrong turn somewhere after that service.
Kyle Wingfield
October 19th, 2012
4:59 pm
Ah, Gravy Train/rocket science, I see you took advantage of my being out of the office for a bit this afternoon. And you thought you were being so clever…
cc
October 19th, 2012
5:03 pm
This is the best ad of the year, and no moderator is needed!
http://thehayride.com/2012/09/maybe-the-best-ad-of-the-political-season-so-far/?utm_source=Nooner%2c+9-5-12&utm_campaign=Nooner+1-25-12&utm_medium=email
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
October 19th, 2012
5:04 pm
Tib
Now that we know Rocket Science was actually Gravy Stain, do you really think he was a Marine. I think he was at the library, since Kyle had blocked his IP address. He is a persistent ##, you will have to give him that. Maybe he is on the DNC payroll.
Del
October 19th, 2012
5:05 pm
Hard to envision how an 8th. and I Street Marine can claim credibility in discerning that plutocrats are the root influence over Romney’s political policies. Oh well I was just a grunt.
curious
October 19th, 2012
5:06 pm
Republicans are the true Socialists!
Wealth in the hands of a few and then there’s everyone else.
cc
October 19th, 2012
5:09 pm
Del, if gravy stain was a Marine, I’m an astronaut!
Del
October 19th, 2012
5:15 pm
cc,
Those guys that come over here from the left blog with different handles are really a hoot. I’m sure the closest gravy brain ever got to the Marine Corps was watching a recruiting ad on television.
cc
October 19th, 2012
5:24 pm
Del, I believe I would very much like to see him report for basic at Paris Island! He would be a DI’s nightmare!
MarkV
October 19th, 2012
5:27 pm
Rafe Hollister @ 4:53 pm
“Nonsensical statement Mark, he didn’t specifically call the attack on the Consulate an act of terror. Obama made an ass of himself implying that he called it an act of terror, when he didn’t. “
From the Rose Garden speech by the President: (same paragraph, consecutive sentences):
“No acts of terror will ever shake the resolve of this great nation, alter that character, or eclipse the light of the values that we stand for. Today we mourn four more Americans who represent the very best of the United States of America. We will not waver in our commitment to see that justice is done for this terrible act. And make no mistake, justice will be done.”
“He lied for 14 or more days.”
Ok, Rafe, I am giving you the same challenge I gave Lambeau, and which he failed to answer: You are accusing the President of lying. So present the evidence, an Obama’s quote, which was a lie. If you don’t I will call you a liar.
Gallup. Are you sure?
October 19th, 2012
5:28 pm
Gallup Performs Poorly When Out of Consensus
Usually, when a poll is an outlier relative to the consensus, its results turn out badly.
You do not need to look any further than Gallup’s track record over the past two election cycles to find a demonstration of this.
In 2008, the Gallup poll put Mr. Obama 11 points ahead of John McCain on the eve of that November’s election.
That was tied for Mr. Obama’s largest projected margin of victory among any of the 15 or so national polls that were released just in advance of the election. The average of polls put Mr. Obama up by about seven points.
The average did a good job; Mr. Obama won the popular vote by seven points. The Gallup poll had a four-point miss, however.
In 2010, Gallup put Republicans ahead by 15 points on the national Congressional ballot, higher than other polling firms, which put Republicans an average of eight or nine points ahead instead.
In fact, Republicans won the popular vote for the United States House by about seven percentage points — fairly close to the average of polls, but representing another big miss for Gallup.
http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/18/gallup-vs-the-world/#more-36284
gm
October 19th, 2012
5:35 pm
Amazing, 40 years of debates and no one complained about Moderators, now once again with the first African American President, standards now should change, these right wing jobs are showing who they really are.
These people are a disgrace to all Americans, these people can not wait for Mitt to kill their sons in war, while his golden boy sons sit on the beaches and will never wear a uniform, no party can be this stupid.
MarkV
October 19th, 2012
5:39 pm
Rafe Hollister @ 4:53 pm: “Moreover, if you read the last paragraph of his statement and he was implying it was the result of the stupid video.”
Last paragraphS (to be fair) of President’s statement in the Rose Garden:
“But we also know that the lives these Americans led stand in stark contrast to those of their attackers. These four Americans stood up for freedom and human dignity. They should give every American great pride in the country that they served, and the hope that our flag represents to people around the globe who also yearn to live in freedom and with dignity.
We grieve with their families, but let us carry on their memory, and let us continue their work of seeking a stronger America and a better world for all of our children.
Thank you. May God bless the memory of those we lost and may God bless the United States of America.”
Rafe Hollister does not even know what he is talking about.
gm
October 19th, 2012
5:39 pm
3 generations of Romneys not one has ever served this country, at least Obama had grandfather who served, every veteran should be outraged, 5 sons not one has ever put on any type of military, had this been a Dem, scum bags like Rush Limbaugh and Hannity would have been running a 24 hour cycle with low viewers fox.
Kyle Wingfield
October 19th, 2012
5:39 pm
Are You Sure @ 5:28: That was too long an excerpt of someone else’s work, so I trimmed it back a bit.
Gallup. Are you sure?
October 19th, 2012
5:44 pm
Kyle
No problem. I add the link because I knew it was long.
Just showing that in the last several elections, regardless of party, Gallup has a tendency to overstate their numbers.
Of course since we are not dealing with an exact science, Gallup could be the one that is correct and the others which seem to be close could be incorrect.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
October 19th, 2012
5:59 pm
MarkV, you need to go back to school.
Obama and his administration REPEATEDLY told us it was a result of a demonstration, when 24 hours after the fact they knew it was not. They sent Susan Rice out on the Sunday talk show circuit to say “based on the best intelligence we have now” the very same thing, when they KNEW it wasn’t a demonstration gone bad.
They lied, MarkV, and no amount of wordsmithing by you, r anyone else, can cover that FACT up.
LeRoi2
October 19th, 2012
6:01 pm
I cannot get over these 1 dimensional posters on here. It is impossible for the most part to have a conversation with any of them. The leftist just ape DNC talking points, all day long, over and over again. I learned a long time ago, presenting facts to these people is a waste of time, they just deny them, or argue for hours over insignificant items. The only thing that make wake them up is when on the morning of November 7, the worst president in the history of this republic has been repudiated by 55% of the electorate. Even when their lives improve by showing that clown the door, they wont admit it.
LeRoi2
October 19th, 2012
6:03 pm
MarkV, they either lied, or Obama is the most incompetent fool to ever be president. I am comfortable with either assessment, its just splitting hairs, as far as I am concerned.
cc
October 19th, 2012
6:03 pm
MarkV:
You accidentally omitted this from your comment:
“Since our founding, the United States has been a nation that respects all faiths. We reject all efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others. But there is absolutely no justification to this type of senseless violence. None. The world must stand together to unequivocally reject these brutal acts.”
It would appear to the rational person that Obama references the video in these remarks.
How do you explain the advertisements paid for by the U.S. and aired in the Middle East denouncing this video immediately after this TERRORIST ATTACK?
Why did Obama ALLOW his people to continue to blame a video for two weeks?
You can’t defend the indefensible.
cc
October 19th, 2012
6:10 pm
gm, why don’t you tell us when Obama ‘served’, and in which country’s military? Was it Kenya or Indonesia? Maybe that’s too difficult a question for you? Perhaps you can tell us when and where his grandfather served?
MarkV
October 19th, 2012
6:16 pm
LeRoi2 @6:03 pm
“MarkV, they either lied, or Obama is the most incompetent fool to ever be president.”
Are you referring to the President as “they?” The accusation was that the President lied. None of the liars here has been able to prove that.
President fool, incompetent? What did you expect from him? To go to Benghazi and search for clues?
Next time, don’t be so ridiculous.
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
October 19th, 2012
6:16 pm
Carney told reporters, authorities “have no information to suggest that it was a preplanned attack.” He added that there was no reason to think that the Benghazi attack wasn’t related to the video, given that the clip had sparked protests in many Muslim cities.
“The unrest that we’ve seen around the region has been in reaction to a video that Muslims, many Muslims, find offensive,” Carney said.
When pressed by reporters who pointed out evidence that the violence in Benghazi was preplanned, Carney said that “news reports” had speculated about the motive. He noted again that “the unrest around the region has been in response to this video.”
Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/10/18/3873734/obama-administration-officials.html#storylink=cpy
Mark Carney’s statement was on 14 Sep, three days after the attack. Nothing, no one word comes from Carneys lips that has not been parsed, planned, and authorized by the Mistake. There are other transcripts available of Obama on the stump or at the UN.
Obama should resign for lying to the American people. The precedent has been set, by Nixon, who resigned after attempting to coverup a two bit burglary. Obama has tried to cover up an attack killing 4 Americans. It is all about trustworthiness, Nixon failed, Obama failed. He will not resign, I’m sure, but hopefully in less than 3 weeks the long national nightmare will be over.
Gallup. Are you sure?
October 19th, 2012
6:20 pm
Rafe
You made it through Bush, I am sure you will make it through the Obama years.
Pull yourself up by your boot straps and keep marching. One day at time.
MarkV
October 19th, 2012
6:21 pm
cc @6:03 pm
“MarkV: “You accidentally omitted this from your comment:”
I did not “accidentally” omit anything:
Rafe Hollister @ 4:53 pm: “Moreover, if you read the last paragraph of his statement and he was implying it was the result of the stupid video.”
You ignore that before the attack in Benghazi there were demonstrations and attacks elsewhere, such in Cairo. Those were clearly initiated by the video. What is your problem with denouncing the video?
Gallup. Are you sure?
October 19th, 2012
6:22 pm
Rafe
If you want any given President to resign for lying, who will be in the Oval office?
MarkV
October 19th, 2012
6:23 pm
Rafe Hollister @ 6:16 pm
You failed to provide any evidence that the President lied, as you had claimed. You are a liar.
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
October 19th, 2012
6:25 pm
You got me on my numbers Mark it wasn’t the last paragraph where Barry implied it was the video it was the third. Mea Culpa to a bad memory. Here it is, no one is talking about what he implied, just that he made mention of terror.
_____
Since our founding, the United States has been a nation that respects all faiths. We reject all efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others. But there is absolutely no justification to this type of senseless violence. None. The world must stand together to unequivocally reject these brutal acts.
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
October 19th, 2012
6:28 pm
Lambeau and I both proved our case, Mark, Obama lied and deceived us all, whether you admit it on not does not change that fact. He should follow Nixon’s precedent and resign.
Gallup. Are you sure?
October 19th, 2012
6:29 pm
Rafe
I read where you posted the Luntz comments about Dems and Americans when he was on Maher.
Why did you not mention at the start of that same segment Luntz said even with the Romney momentum, OBAMA was still going to win?
Guess you forgot that part………………….
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
October 19th, 2012
6:31 pm
Gallup you are right they all lie, but some like Nixon and Obama lie repeatedly even when confronted with the error of their ways.
MarkV
October 19th, 2012
6:34 pm
Rafe Hollister @6:28 pm
“Lambeau and I both proved our case, Mark, Obama lied and deceived us all, whether you admit it on not does not change that fact. “
You failed to provide any evidence that the President lied, as you claimed. You are a liar.