Debate moderators overlook key questions

[earthlover]

"Debate moderators overlook key questions

Through 17 debates this year, roughly 1,500 questions have been asked of the two parties' presidential candidates. But only a small handful of questions have touched on the candidates' views on executive power, the Constitution, torture, wiretapping, or other civil liberties concerns. (A description of those questions appears at the end of this column.)

Only one question about wiretapping. Not a single question about FISA.

There has, however, been a question about whether the Constitution should be changed to allow Arnold Schwarzenegger to be president.

Not one question about renditions. The words "habeas corpus" have not once been spoken by a debate moderator. Candidates have not been asked about telecom liability.

But there was this illuminating question, asked of a group of Republicans running for president: "Seriously, would it be good for America to have Bill Clinton back living in the White House?"

Though Republicans often claim that the Bush administration's warrantless wiretapping of Americans is necessary to prevent "another 9-11," debate moderators have not once asked candidates about recent revelations that suggest the administration began its surveillance efforts long before the September 11, 2001, attacks, not in response to them.

But NBC's Brian Williams did ask the Democratic candidates what they would "go as" for Halloween...."

http://mediamatters.org/items/200711170002?f=h_top

[ret5hd]

1. The debates seem like an episode of "The Dating Game"

[mrfixit]

2. Kucinich gets CUT OFF, REPEATEDLY, gets 5:37 of the total,

And they have the time (and the chutzpah) to ask HRC if she prefers diamonds or pearls? I thought Blitzen was going to bow down to kiss her ring at the close of the debate.

[amandabeech]

3. "It's the economy, stupid!"

In Thursday's debate, I recall only one question having to do with dollars and cents, and that was about social security.

No one had a question about mortgages and mortgage-backed securities, the falling dollar and/or its relationship to rising oil prices.

By this time next year, the economy could be in the toilet, and I want to know what the candidates will do about it.