Marie Cocco: Same Old White Guys Run the Debates

from Truthdig:



Same Old White Guys Run the Debates

Posted on Aug 19, 2008
By Marie Cocco


A presidential campaign in which a prevailing theme is “change” makes it all the easier to see just how much things remain the same.

Take the presidential debates to be broadcast this fall. The Commission on Presidential Debates plans three events, as usual, with one a “town hall” format featuring questions from voters, a recent custom on its way to becoming routine.

Another tradition is firmly upheld as well: Three white men will be in charge of questioning Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama on behalf of millions of American voters who, as a group, are less white and male than ever before. Gwen Ifill, an African-American who is moderator and managing editor of PBS’ “Washington Week,” drew the No. 2 spot. She will moderate the vice-presidential debate, as she did in 2004.

I have nothing against Jim Lehrer, executive editor of “The NewsHour” on PBS, or Tom Brokaw of NBC, or Bob Schieffer, the host of CBS’ “Face the Nation.” But how about a dose of reality? Race and sex already have become flashpoints in this campaign. McCain’s age is an issue and Obama is sparking enormous enthusiasm among younger voters. So why are we stuck in a media rut with three white men, the youngest of whom, Brokaw, is 68?

Including the vice presidential moderator, “We chose four people who we thought were qualified,” says Janet Brown, the commission’s executive director. “That doesn’t mean others are not.”

Brown said the panel’s research into voter preferences led it to conclude that a single moderator, rather than a panel of questioners, makes the best format. There also is a preference for moderators with live television experience. As for the vice presidential debate being assigned to the sole female and person of color, Brown said the commission does not consider the job to be a lesser assignment. “Gwen is not seen as being any less important a moderator or having less important an assignment than any other moderator.” ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20080819_same_old_white_guys_run_the_debates/