Last night’s debate confirmed the depths news programming has fallen. Even using the low standard of what amounts to news comedy, like the programming on CNN, and the other alphabet cable news channels, last night was in a word, “two steps below awful.” I have never in my life seen such a poor example of professionalism.
I’m not sure if the moderators had been drinking or had excessed on “silly pills,” but it would have been hard for them to behave more poorly or do a worst job.
The moderators let the debate get out of hand with their blessings. The only reason there was even an illusion tehy exercised any control at all – was because Gingrich, Santorum, and Herman Cain, displayed more decorum than the moderators did. The absence of balanced questions for all of the candidates, was second only to the absence of questions for Cain, Gingrich, and Santorum.
Newt Gingrich was correct when he challenged Chris Wallace, pursuant to “gotcha” questions. As a collective, I’ve seen been moderators and better questions in high school debate forums.
The debate last night was serious. It may not have been that overly important for those who have already made up their minds, but what about the undecided? It wasn’t fair to the candidates. And it was fair to those who wanted to hear a well moderated professional exchange of ideas? Was it fair to young persons not yet of voting age, who perhaps had been given a homework assignment based on the debate? Was it fair to young people perhaps preparing to vote for the first time?
And as is often the case, even as you want to believe a thing has reached its lowest point, it sinks lower. So it is with those who are now hailing the work of Wallace, and Bret Baier as a stellar job. The truth is, their work was not stellar and neither were they. The questions Byron York asked were not fitting of someone of his ability.
Last night was a shameful disgrace, not worthy of ability of those who moderated. They have an obligation to perform professionally, even when they do not want too. Chris Wallace’s behavior was even more untoward than when he asked Michelle Bachmann if she was “a flake?” What kind of program host, short of Jerry Springer, asks a Congresswoman and presidential candidate such a question?
Could it be that they weren’t there to be serious, because they themselves do view the candidates as being worth their time? If so that’s their prerogative to feel that way – but it wasn’t their prerogative to behave that way once they accepted the assignment. To even hint that they did a good job, speaks to how far our once vaunted news programming has declined. And for the moderators to not apologize for their behavior, shows hows morally opprobrious the news industry has become.
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Totally agree with all your comments..
From an interview with George Friedman & Stratfor.. ( sorry don’t know how else to get this to you Mychal..
“..The issue is: who are these people who are running things, what gives them the right to do so, and if that right does not somehow flow from competence, what does it flow from? ” Geo Friedman
and here’s the link.. in my mind.. it’s ALL connected.. in a multi-faceted way.. and THAT is what is scary.
link..
http://www.stratfor.com/analysis/20110812-agenda-george-friedman-crisis-political-economy
Landpanther1: agreed…see comments in this thread by RRStubbs…
Before we knee-jerk to the offensive behavior of Chris Wallace, Bret Baier and the other folks from the Washington Examiner, I think we need to ask ourselves this question: Did they conduct themselves in that offensive way because they wanted to hold the candidates’ feet to the fire, or did they attempt to persuade independents and others who have not yet made their decisions to understand the journalists’ sense of fairness? Sometimes, the message gets lost in the rhetorical aftermath. I would suggest that all four questioners wanted to show the nation that they were — unlike the far-left left media like Matthews, Maddow, Schultz, the Washington Post, the NYTimes, ad nauseum — significantly more balanced than their socialist/Marxist/fascist competitors.
ronruthfield: not a chance…a noble thought but believe me not even close…they are to be professional…nothing about their behavior allowed one to honestly share that opinion…
I deeply respect your opinion, Mychal, but as a former TV newsman and journalist for the AP there are, indeed, times when journalists take a turn for what, in his or her opinion, takes into consideration how to best influence their audience. Yes, I agree they should always be professional but we live in a much more pragmatic society, especially when politics are involved. Don’t underestimate the human dimension and unknown factors that are not in anyone’s control. As a cynic, I rarely accept anything res ipsa loquitu…and not even prima facia evidence. Somehow, there’s always an agenda underneath the obvious.
Please continue to write your very insightful columns; they’ve become a source of political and social comfort to be. And I thank you for both.
ronruthfield: that’s precisely the point I’m making…we are in agreement albeit perhaps coming at same from different directions…do not view my disagreement pursuant to my view of how wallace et al behaved as rejection of that which you have just shared…it is not as such…it is precisely the agenda underneath the obvious that generated my response…did you read RRStubbs comments below…
I had not read the Stubb’s post until now. Incisive but puzzling. I don’t get the connection between Beck’s departure and airing the Republican debates. Unless he’s saying that FOX is now bowing to a different king, namely those hellbent on continuing a globalist agenda.
Trump? I see him running uphill and never getting to the top. Ditto Palin. I like both of them, actually voting for McCain and Palin in the last election, but they’ve been torn apart almost as bad as Obama has torn apart the U.S. Constitution. Our dumbed-down society is no different than that of the Greeks, Italians, Portugese, Brits and all of Europe; “give me my entitlements and let me retire at 53. And don’t make me work for more than 30 hours a week.” Can we really respect or expect that kind of mentality to elect a Trump, Palin, Christie or Paul?
As a fellow Tea Party member (NC chapter) and advocate for a government controlled by those who despise government, who will extricate us, in your opinion, from the existential economic and cultural tyranny in our nation?
ronruthfield: fox is bowing to the globalists…and they will do so even more as the mess they are embroiled in in europe is now spreading here…as are you I obviously swim in the same waters…fox got so bad during the debt ceiling and budget theatrics that I stopped watching it…only Martha MacCallum and Neil Cavuto did responsible and factual programming…it was beyond disgraceful…the daytime programming was nothing more than the parroting of talking points and misinformation…thkfully I was hearing from many who were equally turned off just on hte basis of common sense and their own research…they have savaged Palin and Trump but I believe should the two pair up they would be formidable…you are right about the dumbed down…it is amazing that people can be so politically illiterate…we must save ourselves…it is up to thjose of us who know what is really going on to fight and educate…the repubs will be our greatest enemy…they were caught off guard in 2010…but they will not let that happen again…rove et al have set up bogus 527s that people give to only to find out the money ends up in the hands of RNC supporting candidates they want…remember how rove et al savaged the Tea Party blaming us for repubs not taking the senate…we got 50% of candidates in the senate and I think it was 37% in the house w/ literally no real organization and none of the party machinery….they will do all in their power to see that only the Tea Party candidates they co-opt will get in…we must be resolute in our determination to not give them our money and fight to replace boehner cantor et al…they are not our friends…Mark Levin has been all over those phonies…we can do it…but it will take gorilla warfare to succeed…I remember a person who is unimpeachable telling they were at a w/h mtg early in bush’s first term when rove lamented that if there were a way to get bush reelected w/out using the Christian conservative base he would do it in a heartbeat but there wasn’t…remember bush lying to Paul Weyrich about the highway bill…we have been duped by these guys for a long time…they aren’t interested in us…they treat us just as the dems treat blacks…the only difference is until the Tea Party they camouflaged it better…
Staged Entertainment. Fox News will be the exclusive source for Republican debates. In order to secure this entertainment position, Fox had to agree to dump Glenn Beck. Hidden in plain site the Republican moderates a.k.a. RINOs, need to control the stage to make sure their “globalists” friends get the nomination.
This staged program includes “globalist” actors such as Mitt Romney the designated winner of the RINO nominating convention, Rick the father of the North American trans continental transportation corridor. Pawlenty the CO2 promotor. Huntsman the global industrialist.
None of the above are scripted to beat Obama the Globalist in Chief. But Romny will put on a great show.
Ron Paul, Bachman, Christy, do not have a chance against the globalist buzzards who will pick their bones clean.
So that leaves us with Donald Trump and Sarah Palin. Experienced stars that are capable if capturing the American voters as independents.
RRStubbs: as you and I have discussed…the threat we fight in 2012 is getting the people to understand and believe this is the case…
Using something so important for the nations voting public in making “life saving” decisions at such an historic time for our country and the rest of the world simply to enhance their individual professional egos and their networks notoriety was such a classless example of informative televison. These people are more interested in promoting themselves and adding to their resumes than educating the public or allowing candidates to express openly their ideas on how to save this country for its own governments suicidal actions. I’ve lost all respect for Chris Wallace. Surely I’m not the only one who would like to ask him if he is,as many now believe, a flake.
Bill Sr: you are absolutely correct…the the that really sickens and offends me is that they circle their wagons and defend one another…
I was shocked to see that Fox even allowed Chris Wallace to be on the questioning panel…after his disgraceful, disrespectful treatment of Congresswoman Bachmann, he should have been banned from any future exposure to the Republican candidates. And…after last night’s Gingrich fiasco, I do hope those who make such decisions will never place him on the stage with serious PRESIDENTIAL candidates again!
Our political system and our election process are in need of a long-overdue upgrade! This type of so-called ‘debate’ is NOT working! In computer-speak, I feel as if we are still operating in DOS 1.0.
Cape Conservative: Had chris matthews asked Bachmann such an insulting question hannity and o’reilly would still be on it…but because it was wallace they came him a complete pass…none of them have any credibility…and if wallace were any more full of himself brown ooze would be running from his ears…
There needs to be a different mediated debate that does not include the influence of these alphabit “news” organizatrions. These mediators are making ruining these debates with their petty personalities and stupid questions. It’s really a mockery of the political systems and what gives these news organizations the right? I guess if the people and the candidates don’t arrive at these debates and have their own where the reporters and their mediators take a back bench and are not included in the debate but can just report it, maybe that will work. Or maybe we can have a computer run it asking less insulting questions, I don’t know.
radargeek: I obviously agree…the bottom line that not enough people understand…is that we are or more accurately stated…we have witnessed the end of our political system…it is been stolen and corrupted right from under our noses…the problem is that people don’t get it…they’re looking at what’s taking place believing it to be the norm when in reality it is a bastardization of the process…but so insidious and thorough has been the co-opting of the process that people react as if it has always been this way…