It’s Jim Lehrer’s turn to respond to the debate

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/its-jim-lehrers-turn-to-discuss-the-debate/2012/10/05/042d20cc-0ef4-11e2-bb5e-492c0d30bff6_story.html

It’s Jim Lehrer’s turn to respond to the debate
By Paul Farhi, Friday, October 5, 11:43 AM

Jim Lehrer has a few words in response for those who thought he let President Obama and Mitt Romney ramble on and roll over him in Wednesday’s presidential debate:

“So what?”

The veteran PBS newsman, who was persuaded by the Presidential Debate Commission to moderate his 12th debate — the last one he’ll do, he vows — says the event wasn’t about “control” or the strict enforcement of rules. It was about producing a sharp discussion and substantive contrast between the candidates. Besides, he says, few people seemed to understand that the new format, which divided the discussion into 15 minute segments, was supposed to encouraged such exchanges.

In this edited transcript of a phone conversation Friday morning, Lehrer, 78, lays out his thoughts about what went down in Denver the other night. ...