2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumMartha Raddatz’s Approach Should Be The Standard For Future Debate Moderators
Martha Raddatzs Approach Should Be The Standard For Future Debate Moderators
Jim Lehrer tried to defend his performance moderating last weeks presidential debate between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney by saying he wanted to facilitate direct, extended exchanges between the candidates about issues of substance and he wanted to make sure he was stay[ing] out of the way of the flow. But what tonights debate definitively proved is that a good exchange of ideas does not require the moderator to stay above the fray. Martha Raddatz not only asked better questions of the two candidates, but she asserted enough control so that the candidates did not go too far over their allotted time.
Raddatz used her first question to grill Biden on whether the administrations response to Libya was a massive intelligence failure. A number of times she told the candidates to be specific. Remember Lehrer asking them innumerable variations of the same whats the difference between you on this issue question? Raddatz not only told the candidates to be specific, but she asked specific questions, like the following:
To Joe Biden: What were you first told about the attack? Why why were people talking about protests? When people in the consulate first saw armed men attacking with guns, there were no protesters. Why did that go on?
To Paul Ryan: What is your specific plan for seniors who really cant afford to make up the difference in the value of what you call a premium support plan and others call a voucher?
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Full article here: http://www.mediaite.com/tv/martha-raddatzs-approach-should-be-the-standard-for-future-debate-moderators/
phleshdef
(11,936 posts)mike_c
(36,281 posts)Not at all a foil for the candidates. She cut through the bullshit, which will likely make the republicans accuse her of "liberal bias," LOL.
TheDonkey
(8,911 posts)and not the sort of circus like the 1st Presidential Debate when the moderator sat there like a confused bystander.
renate
(13,776 posts)In a way, I can see why Jim Lehrer took the approach he did. It wasn't the Obama-Romney-Lehrer debate, after all.
But I think a GOOD moderator who takes an active, questioning role is fine. I just don't trust Candy Crowley.
Lugnut
(9,791 posts)Lehrer was a pushover. He allowed Romney to bulldoze both himself and the President. Martha Raddatz moderated the debate like the seasoned professional she is.
Jennicut
(25,415 posts)She was terrific and very fair.
NCLefty
(3,678 posts)Put Raddatz in that debate last week and see how she would have handled Romney.
I think she did a good job here though, of course
Tigress DEM
(7,887 posts)or whatever the politically correct terminology is for that.
kwolf68
(7,365 posts)If you are versed on the issues and consistent in principle, then the question shouldn't bother you. This is Barack Obama we are talking about, a very bright man. This isn't Sarah Palin laying an egg on the most remedial of questions from Couric.
Baitball Blogger
(46,749 posts)How old is she? She seemed very wise and raised in a family where there were lots of boys.