McCain, Obama deal puts limits on "town hall" debate

[Hope And Change]

McCain, Obama deal puts limits on "town hall" debate

By Lynn Sweet on October 6, 2008 7:54 AM

WASHINGTON -- Barack Obama and John McCain meet for a second debate Tuesday night with a "town hall" format, but a deal made between the camps limits the interaction the candidates will have with the undecided voters in the pool of questioners.

Almost every important detail about the debates -- three presidential and one vice presidential -- is governed by a 31-page "memorandum of understanding." It was collegially negotiated between the Obama and McCain camps and covers everything from how the candidates are addressed to the permissible camera shots.

The campaign pact was worked out by Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) and attorney Robert Barnett, representing Obama, and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Brett O'Donnell, a former debate coach at Jerry Falwell's Liberty University, representing McCain.

Tuesday's match-up at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., will be moderated by NBC's Tom Brokaw, with the questions to be culled from a group of 100 to 150 uncommitted likely voters in the audience and another one-third to come via the Internet. The Gallup Organization -- as in past debates like this -- has the job of making sure the questioners reflect the demographic makeup of the nation.

Brokaw selects the questions to ask from written queries submitted prior to the debate, according to the "contract." :scared:


more...

http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/10/mccain_obama_deal_puts_limits.html

[radfringe]

1. roam past their "designated area"

An audience member will not be allowed to switch questions. Under the deal, the moderator may not ask followups or make comments. The person who asks the question will not be allowed a follow-up either, and his or her microphone will be turned off after the question is read. A camera shot will only be shown of the person asking -- not reacting.

While there will be director's chairs (with backs and foot rests), McCain and Obama will be allowed to stand -- but they can't roam past their "designated area" to be marked on the stage. McCain and Obama are not supposed to ask each other direct questions.

As in all the debates, the contenders cannot bring in notes, though they can take them once at the lectern.

----

would love to see McCain "cross the line" :evilgrin:

[MindMatter]

2. So WTF is the point of a "town hall" format?

Damned cowards -- afraid to address each other -- afraid to be challenged.

McCain is running around saying that he wanted to have 10 of these, and then he's afraid to take any challenges from Obama or the moderator. He talks a tough game, but he's a coward.