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Are These Debates or Synchronized Swimming?

September 28, 2004

Kudos to Editor & Publisher for rounding up some of the country’s “leading journalists,” all of whom are unhappy with the kabuki-like rules to be imposed upon both candidates, moderators and the studio audience in the three presidential debates.

By the time any given debate is over, viewers may conclude they have just watched a puppet show, not a policy argument by the two men who want to be president for the next four years. The 32-page guidelines for the debates — negotiated by the Bush and Kerry campaigns along with the Commission on Presidential Debates — limit follow-up questions, restrict audience participation, and prohibit even certain camera shots. Candidates may not move about the stage as they orate, nor may they question each other. Basically, each debate will unwind as a series of 60-second statements and 30-second rejoinders. During the lone “town hall” debate, all questions from the audience will have to be submitted beforehand and reviewed by the moderater, ABC’s Charles Gibson. No audience member may ask a follow-up question.

This has left the leading press gurus queried by E&P more than a little dismayed, and we can’t quarrel with a single one of their misgivings. Here’s a sample:

“It is grotesquely wrong for a debate of this sort. Pretty soon, they’re going to tie them up in such knots, there will not be debates, just appearances. I find it shameful. Each [candidate] is perfectly capable of talking.”
— Marvin Kalb, a 30-year veteran of NBC and CBS who is currently a fellow at the Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard.

“Too stylized….[T]he candidates get away with [their own] stump speeches.”
— Jack Germond, political reporter for several decades at the Baltimore Sun and author of several books on presidential campaigns.

“Let them talk to each other. [As it is] It’s like a huge fight, and you don’t let them hit each other.”
— Jimmy Breslin, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist at Newsday.

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“I’m disappointed that [the moderators] are so anxious to be part of the process that they will allow themselves to be restricted by regulations that they are not even involved in creating. The idea that you would allow others to set up rules is very disturbing to me.”
–Bill Kovach, founder of the Committee of Concerned Journalists and former editor of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

“I think it’s a very bad rule that there are no follow-up questions. That means answers from either candidate cannot be queried. It encourages slogans rather than substance.”
— Ben Bagdikian, a respected former journalist, author, and teacher.

“I’m so delighted I don’t have to do it.”
— Gene Roberts, who led the Philadelphia Inquirer to 17 Pulitzers in 18 years.

–Steve Lovelady

Steve Lovelady was editor of CJR Daily.