Same Old White Guys Run the Debates

[tannybogus]

A presidential campaign in which a prevailing theme is “change” makes it all the easier to see just how much things remain the same.

Take the presidential debates to be broadcast this fall. The Commission on Presidential Debates plans three events, as usual, with one a “town hall” format featuring questions from voters, a recent custom on its way to becoming routine.

Another tradition is firmly upheld as well: Three white men will be in charge of questioning Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama on behalf of millions of American voters who, as a group, are less white and male than ever before. Gwen Ifill, an African-American who is moderator and managing editor of PBS’ “Washington Week,” drew the number two spot. She will moderate the vice-presidential debate, as she did in 2004.

I have nothing against Jim Lehrer, executive editor of “The NewsHour” on PBS, or Tom Brokaw of NBC, or Bob Schieffer, the host of CBS’ “Face the Nation.” But how about a dose of reality? Race and sex already have become flashpoints in this campaign. McCain’s age is an issue and Obama is sparking enormous enthusiasm among younger voters. So why are we stuck in a media rut with three white men, the youngest of whom, Brokaw, is 68?

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20080819_same_old_white_guys_run_the_debates/

[Bucky]

1. I thought part of the point of Obama's nomination was that we look beyond racial superficialities.

These are three top broadcast journalists. Your sole objection seems to be their race.

[senseandsensibility]

2. Well to be fair the linked piece does quite a hit job on age as

well...to me, those are not the important objections. Brokaw has done a terrible job on MTP, showing the usual corporate news rightwing biases, Bob S. is the one that gasped in shock when Wes Clark dared to criticize McSame, and I have neutral feelings about Jim Leher.

[tannybogus]

3. Same.Old.White.Guys

Here is the last paragraph of the article:
"There is value in pursuing the same issues from a different perspective. But it seems that this year we are destined again to see them through the same lens."
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20080819_same_old_white_guys_run_the_debates/

There are several criteria that could be changed. Am I disputing the fact that the people named are qualified? Absolutely not!

Of the qualifiers, you chose the word "white" as my objection. I would like to see some variety. Does that mean that random new

people from wherever should be yanked in just to have diversity? No! However, I have to believe that there are qualified women, minorities,

and people in different age groups who are qualified. It's not a matter of not wanting Lehrer, Brokaw, and Schieffer but a matter of

wanting that "new perspective."

"Since the commission began running debates in 1988, only one female correspondent, Carole Simpson of ABC, has moderated a presidential forum.
That was in 1992 and the format was a “town hall” meeting in which Simpson’s role was to facilitate questions from the audience, not ask them herself. Before his retirement, CNN’s Bernie Shaw moderated both a presidential and a vice presidential debate. Simpson, Shaw and Ifill are the only African-Americans who’ve had such high-profile roles."
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20080819_same_old_white_guys_run_the_debates/

If there haven't been any people besides Old. White. Guys. since 1992 who have become qualified, then something is wrong somewhere.
:hi:

[Kaylee]

4. Oh my god....McCain IS Hank Hill's father.

Right down to the war injuries and the womanizing.:rofl: