Candy Crowley to defy debate contract

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In an interview with CNN this afternoon, Candy Crowley reiterated that, like past town-hall debate moderators, she intends to do more than just hold the microphone at tonight's debate in Hempstead, N.Y. -- an intention that has caused concern for both campaigns.

"They will call on 'Alice,' and 'Alice' will stand up and ask a question. Both candidates will answer. Then there's time for a follow-up question, facilitating a discussion, whatever you want to call it," Crowley said. "So if Alice asks oranges, and someone answers apples, there's the time to go, 'But Alice asked oranges? What's the answer to that?" Or, 'Well, you say this, but what about that?'"

(Also on POLITICO: 5 things to watch at the debate)

Crowley's vision of her role at tonight's debate is in keeping with past town hall debates, but it would defy the expectations agreed to by both campaigns in the co-signed memorandum of understanding, obtained and released yesterday by Time's Mark Halperin. From section 7, part ©, sub-part (iv) (italics mine):

7. Additional Rules Apllicable to the October 16 Debate...

© With respect to all questions...

(iv)

The moderator will not ask follow-up questions

or comment on either the questions asked by the audience or the answers of the candidates during the debate or otherwise intervene in the debate except to acknowledge the questioners from the audience or enforce the time limits, and invite candidate comments during the 2 minute response period.

There is hardly any gray area here. Crowley is expected to do nothing except to acknowledge questioners, enforce the time limits, and invite candidate comments.

...

Asked on CNN today how she was responding to the controversy surrounding her role tonight, Crowley said: "We are so close to an election, and there are people around these two men that push every button they can to try to get an advantage. I understand the stakes are enormous. This is what campaigns do, they push and shove and pull, and moderators become a part of that evermore in society over the past election cycles. It's just a part of it. But in the end, you'll look at these debates as a continuum, and people can judge all the debates the way they want in the end."

http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2012/10/crowley-promises-to-defy-debate-contract-138596.html

Edited October 16, 2012 by ^_^

[Penny Lane 8,159]

I want to moderate this debate.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

I see nothing wrong with the moderator reiterating a question if the candidates try to dodge answering it.

These rules for debates are ridiculous in many ways and the main reason why the establishment has these rules is the same exact reason they won't allow the Libertarian candidate up there: smoke and mirrors.

Edited October 16, 2012 by Obama 2012

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I see nothing wrong with the moderator reiterating a question if the candidates try to dodge answering it.

These rules for debates are ridiculous in many ways and the main reason why the establishment has these rules is the same exact reason they won't allow the Libertarian candidate up there: smoke and mirros.

Besides, Crowley never signed that contract. The Commish did... and they can come after her later if they wish to.