What's new
Fantasy Football - Footballguys Forums

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Moderating a Debate... (1 Viewer)

O

Opie

Footballguy
Should a moderator "fact check" during a debate?

I feel that Tim Russert was probably the best moderator that I've seen in my lifetime and he rarely (if ever) fact checked during a debate while I feel that Candy Crowley showed us all what can happen when a moderator interjects questionable facts into a debate.

So, how should it be?

Should the moderator interject during the debate with the possibility of being wrong him(her)self, or should they ask the question and let the candidates "fact check" each other?

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Put candidates in shock collars and give them a nice jolt of electricity every time they tell a lie.

 
12 posts? Still think you're dfsguy. But in this instance you raise an interesting question. 

Personally I think that in a normal debate it is not the moderator's job to fact check. But this debate is different because of Donald Trump. There has never been a Presidential candidate in modern times who lies as blatantly and as often as this one does- not subtle misinformation or exaggeration, as most politicians engage in (including Hillary) but outright falsehoods, such as "I was always outspoken against the Iraq War" or "On 9/11 I saw thousands of Muslims in Jersey City cheering" or dozens of others. 

If Trump repeats blatant and obvious falsehoods during these debates, I think the moderators ought to point them out. 

 
timschochet said:
subtle misinformation or exaggeration, as most politicians engage in (including Hillary)
Click to expand...
So, let me understand your position.

Trump tells "blatant lies" while Hillary engages in "subtle misinformation or exaggeration"?

 
Last edited by a moderator:
No the moderator isn't there to play gotcha. He is there to ask questions and let the debaters respond. Besides who gets to do the fact checking? Despite what people think the facts these people are checking can be spun however they want.

Case in point: Bernie say 17-20yo blacks have an unemployment rate of 51%. Politifact calls it mostly true, but the number could be even higher. Trump says young blacks have unemployment rate of 58% politifact calls it mostly false. So which is it? Mostly true or mostly false?

 
Opie said:
So, let me understand your position.

Trump tells "blatant lies" while Hillary engages in "subtle misinformation or exaggeration"?
Click to expand...
Yes. And the quantity is very different. As several news sources have demonstrated, Trump lies something like 80% of the time. We've never witnessed a candidate like this before. On issues of policy (which will be the main subject of the debate) Hillary is generally truthful. Trump is not. 

 
I like the concept of moderators fact checking, but it has to be both neutral and 100% accurate. Hook her up to an ear piece and have a team ready to check/confirm facts she's questioning.  subtle misinformation or exaggeration has no place in a debate when you're making a point.

 
There absolutely should be fact checking. It's a critical role of the fourth estate. Maybe the moderator shouldn't do it real time and it should be done televised right afterward as part of the debate alloted time. If the moderator does it real time it at least gives the candidates a chance to explain themselves on gray areas.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
No, they shouldn't. Otoh Romney should have known the subject better. Obama could have said what Crowley did and Romney would have been faced with the same issue. Obama was just checked out in that debate and CC stepped in, it wasn't her job to save a candidate.

I think if it's a blatant lie by Trump or Hillary arises, then yeah it should be called out. But if it's an arguable claim, no, stay out, it becomes advocacy or partisan, not moderation.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
cap'n grunge said:
There absolutely should be fact checking. It's a critical role of the fourth estate. Maybe the moderator shouldn't do it real time and it should be done televised right afterward as part of the debate alloted time. If the moderator does it real time it at least gives the candidates a chance to explain themselves on gray areas.
Click to expand...
Facts don't matter, it's how something makes you feel.

 
timschochet said:
Yes. And the quantity is very different. As several news sources have demonstrated, Trump lies something like 80% of the time. We've never witnessed a candidate like this before. On issues of policy (which will be the main subject of the debate) Hillary is generally truthful. Trump is not. 
Click to expand...
Hillary lives her life in the gray area.

If Hillary claims her email system was authorized, I could see that deserving a smackdown, that's a blatant lie.

If Trump claims that Russia didn't annex Crimea or invade Ukraine, he should also be slapped hard for that.

Really the mods have their work cut out for them. The SNL skit will be automatically hilarious.

 
As someone with vast experience in moderating city council debates, that seems like a lot of work. No fact checking.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

DJackson10
Work won’t allow me back after being injured because of limitations on a separate issue they had no issue with previously when doing this job
Replies
29
Views
2K
DJackson10
DJackson10
Dr. No
Am I on the verge of a mid-life crisis.. how do you deal?
3 4 5
Replies
241
Views
11K
Ed Wood
Ed Wood
Anarchy99
Debating About Reporting A Service Company
2
Replies
84
Views
4K
Mitchie
M

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 2 (members: 0, guests: 2)
Back
Top