The second debate between President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney provided us another media debacle with CNN’s Candy Crowley taking center stage. Through all of the Republican primary debates and the first two debates during the general election we’ve seen some bad debate moderation. Crowley, in my opinion, take the award of the worst debate moderator thus far. Here are six reasons why:
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Crowley declared that she wouldn’t be a fly on the wall and that she would not abide by the contract agreed upon by both campaigns. We wished that she was a fly on the wall so we would have been able to hear more questions from the audience which is what makes town hall formats interesting. Instead we heard limited questions from the audience members and more follow-up questions from Crowley.
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President Obama receiving 9% more time than Governor Romney. This highlights an amazing coincidence that Democrats have received more time in all three debates thus far.
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What is worse still when counting interruptions by Crowley. She interrupted Governor Romney 28 times and President Obama just 9.
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Not only did she interrupt Governor Romney she often threw a “let me give the President a chance here” softball. In contrast she would provide more direct and pointed follow-up to Romney.
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Then she selected this question from an “undecided” voter that was directed to both candidates, “I do attribute much of America’s economic and international problems to the failings and missteps of the Bush administration. Since both of you are Republicans, I fear the return to the policies of those years should you win this election. What is the biggest difference between you and George W. Bush, and how do you differentiate yourself from George W. Bush?”
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Governor Romney had to debate two people on the issue of Benghazi. Crowley interjected herself into the debate and provided a fact check which was false and she later admitted it. The man who asked the Libya question said that President Obama never even answered the question.
The last reason alone is enough to cinch it for Crowley. You can’t go from debate moderator to debate participant and claim to be not biased.