The problem with Chris Wallace.

[DanTex]

Everyone is talking about how great he was. He wasn't great.

He did manage to keep the discussion on policy more than in previous debates. So credit for that.

But the policy discussion was all based on his right-wing views. No questions about climate change. When it came to guns, it was "how do we protect the second amendment" but nothing about "how do we reduce our rates of gun death down from 10x higher than the rest of the industrialized world"? The abortion talk was all about late-term abortions, and no mention of the fact that even the morning after pill is under assault, and that some states have restricted choice so far that they have only one abortion clinic left. On economic policy, he repeated right-wing talking points about the Obama economy, not mentioning that W's economic policies, which are the same as Trump's, brought us to the brink of depression. And so on.

Yeah, I'm glad that Hillary knocked Trump out and that Trump made an ass of himself. Again. But the right-wing slant in policy questions needs to be challenged.

[Pacifist Patriot]

1. I caught that too.

Ended up turning it off and reading a Stephanie Plum novel instead.

[Mass]

2. He still was a lot better than every other debate moderator.

Yes, his questions were not framed in a left wing and it is regrettable that no questions were asked about climate change, but it was up to the candidates to tweek their answers toward the frame they wanted it.

And Hillary Clinton more often than not did that well.

But generally speaking, he was a lot better than the other moderators and we should recognize that.

[greatlaurel]

4. Wallace use of Koch Bros/John Birch Society talking points was appalling.

Wallace disqualified himself as a serious journalist by framing every question using the right wing talking points. The fact that the other journalists did not call him out for that bias shows how far the state of journalism has fallen in the US.

Thanks for the post. I am so glad you pointed this out.

[jcgoldie]

5. Wallace

Personally I thought he slanted the debate to the right as you said, but gave Trump just enough rope to hang himself. Seemed like he was giving cover to republicans to jump the sinking ship.

[BobbyDrake]

6. He's being fellated so much in the news today, I'm wondering if it's his birthday.

I agree that his slant was obvious and that it should undermine any "Chris Wallace did a great job" headlines. But the media has decided to go uncritical again, the same way they did for Trump for a year, so expect him to get away with it.

[procon]

7. Wallace framed his questions around rightwing talking points.

One of his first questions was about the Supreme Court, and Wallace used language that is loaded with rightwing tropes about constitutional originalism while making the Democratic view that the Constitution is a living document seem suspicious.

Wallace also criticized Hillary's economic plan, comparing it to Obama stimulus plan, and then he quipped that "led to the slowest GDP growth since 1949," implying that Obama caused slow growth when he did the opposite and stopped the global recession.

[brush]

8. Wallace's questions mostly had a right wing slant but Hillary was ready for them . . .

and knocked them out of the park anyway.

Trump's stamina ironically ran out about 2/3s of the way through the debate, as it did in the others.

He was no match for her and demonstrated that he would be no match for world leaders either with his limited concentration span.

Imagine if he had been the one being grilled for 11 hours in that House hearing on Benghazi. Hillary handled that smoothly and brushed the dust from her shoulders as she left the repugs in disarray. Trump could have never handled that.

[Redleg]

9. Good points

The way he asked about the national debt/entitlements and about the supreme court were also framed from a right-wing view.

I did appreciate that he questioned Trump about his use of Trump Foundation funds to settle a lawsuit and asked him about whether he would concede the election.

[Goblinmonger]

10. I agree that every question was a Republican wet dream question.

But his control was better. Patton Oswald said that he was saying "Sir. Sir." like a bouncer dealing with an angry drunk.

That Trump couldn't do better when he had every question framed in his favor makes this loss even worse. There is no way he can claim it was the moderators fault without looking like a bigger doofus.

[nini]

11. Hillary handled Wallace as well as she did Trump

She has to deal with that right wing bias from this day on and how she handled it was perfect.

So, he did her a favor in the long run because it gave her the chance to show her stuff AND it pissed off the mental midget on the stage next to her.

[Cakes488]

12. I'm glad the first question was about the Supreme Court/Abortion...

let them both declare their positions and let the American people decide what they want. I know plenty of Republican women who are pro-choice. She is 100% correct that Government should not be making these personal decisions for women and their families. Aren't the Repub's the party who wants less government...OK well than start with this.
I am also glad she addressed the partial birth abortion lie that is constantly said about her.

What an idiot Trashpot was! Declaring that he's going to appoint judges to the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade. Dumb move Donnie. He doesn't even have enough smarts to manipulate that question by simply stating I will appoint conservative judges...hey Repub's when are you going to realize that you are losing on the social issues including this one.