Brokaw Blasts Debate Plans

[acroyear]

Tom Brokaw has taken umbrage with remarks by Janet Brown, executive director of the debate commission, that the nightly news anchors of the major networks were not suitable to moderate the presidential and vice presidential debates because "they would overshadow the events." Brown made her remarks last Friday in an interview in the New York Times, in which she also said, "It's important for the moderators to focus attention on the candidates."

In a letter to Brown that was disclosed in today's (Friday) New York Daily News, Brokaw said that the Times account "leaves the undeniable impression that you believe if we were moderators, we'd be preening, egocentric performers. ... I deeply resent that implication." He pointed out that he himself has interviewed candidates for the presidency on numerous occasions and "Not once did candidates, campaigns or press critics suggest I was more concerned with my role than with the role of the candidates."

Regarding the commission's decision to select ABC's Charles Gibson, CBS's Bob Schieffer and PBS's Jim Lehrer and Gwen Ifill as moderators, Brokaw said: "I am particularly outraged that the commission failed to choose anyone from NBC News personnel for a moderator's role. ... For a commission that has assumed primary power in the exercise of the democratic process, you have a peculiarly autocratic style."

-- source: Sudio Briefing @ IMDB

You tell 'em, Brokaw!

Comments

[thatliardiego.livejournal.com]

Me, I'd rather have Brokaw than Schieffer. Ask any progressive member of Congress who has dealt with Schieffer on "Face The Nation," and they'd tell you he leans to the right.

(I myself found this out in 1993 when he had my boss on his show).

[acroyear70.livejournal.com]

well, that's the thing, isn't it. seems this "Janet Brown" is being extremely protective of "bad" information that harms the current status-quo. The Libertarian party and others have published complaints about her approach.

Farah and other supporters of a new debate commission say the current format, which requires a third-party candidate to register at least 15 percent in national polls to participate, effectively is controlled by the major parties, to the detriment of the public.

That contention is dismissed by Janet Brown, executive director of the Commission on Presidential Debates. She said her nonprofit, nonpartisan organization is independent of the Democratic and Republican parties.

"The candidates and parties do not have control over what we do," Brown said.

-- source

Yeah, but if you don't act to keep them happy, they'll just sponsor a new organization to do your job, or forget the debate process entirely and just act on adds. The debates right now only cost the candidates travel expenses and make-up. Certainly both candidates can do without that and get along fine just arguing from a distance...