Moderators Muck Up Presidential Debates

The first two presidential debates have been raucous brawls, marked by verbal bolts of lightning crackling across the stage.  Media critics have been quick to blame the candidates for the sparring matches, but much of the guilt rests squarely on the shifty shoulders of the moderators.

In the first debate, NBC's Lester Holt seemed to disappear for long periods while the candidates rambled without answering the questions. Did he take a potty break while the cameras locked on the candidates? His performance became the butt of numerous jokes on social media.

No one knows why the Commission on Presidential Debates selected Holt.  He appears to be a nice fellow, but his credentials to moderate a presidential debate are skimpy at best.  Holt was clearly out of his comfort zone and he lost total control of the debate.

During the opening of the debate, Holt mentioned how "honored" he was to serve in the capacity as moderator.  Perhaps, he was overwhelmed by his lofty position under the klieg lights with more than 80 million Americans eyeballing the proceedings.  He wilted under the stifling pressure.

Then in last week's melee, moderators Anderson Cooper from CNN and ABC's Martha Raddatz fumbled the town-hall style debate.  These two self-important members of the TV news glitterati intruded, interrupted and provoked what became a verbal rumble in the jungle.

Right from the start, Cooper tried to burnish his journalistic chops by quizzing Donald Trump about a leaked "Access Hollywood" tape featuring lurid comments about women.  After Trump addressed the question, he attempted to move on and was interrupted three times.

This sparked a Trump tirade about Bill Clinton's sexual assault history, while a stern-faced Hillary Clinton simmered in the background.  When he was finished, Ms. Clinton launched her counter attack.  This back-and-forth consumed nearly 30 minutes of the town hall.

Although most Americans wanted the "tape" issue addressed, why did it have to be the opening volley? It could have been teed up later in the event.  By leading with the tawdry tape, Cooper deliberately set the tone for the spectacle and buried interest in obvious issues in the campaign.

As a result, only a handful of real voters in the room were allowed to ask questions.  Even that scanty portion was ruined by pompous pests Cooper and Raddatz, who insisted on inserting themselves into the discussion with a series of follow-up questions.

Town halls are supposed to be about the audience, not the moderators. Cooper and Raddatz, who view themselves as A-list media celebrities, were intent on keeping the camera's eye on them not the voters. As a result of their shoddy performance, they made a mockery of the town hall format.

Who selects these moderators anyway?  Glad you asked.  That job belongs to the Commission on Presidential Debates, an allegedly non-partisan, non-profit organization established in 1987.  The commission is comprised of mostly political hacks.

The co-chairs of the current commission are Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr. and Michael D. McCurry. Fahrenkopf served as the Republican National Committee chairman from 1983 to l989.  McCurry was press secretary for former president Bill Clinton.

Does anyone believe either man is non-partisan?

Therein lies the problem with selection of the moderators and the debate format.  The only way to fix the situation is to have an independent commission filled with people who have not served in any political capacity.  How about ordinary citizens with an interest in an honest debate?

Heaping all the blame on the moderators for the first two skirmishes would not be fair either.  Both Trump and Ms. Clinton have allowed their rhetoric to degenerate into verbal fisticuffs with each hoping to land a knockout punch to the other's candidacy.  Decorum and decency be damned.

The final round on the three-debate card is scheduled October 19. Chris Wallace of Fox News has been tabbed to moderate the donnybrook. Don't expect any change in performance.  Wallace, like the other conceited TV bigwigs, has a reputation to polish as a serious journalist.

The moderator's job is to make the debates about the candidates.  That won't happen until the Commission on Presidential Debates stops trotting out TV news celebrities to be moderators.  The time has come to let real debate moderators run the show.