crossposted from www.OpEdNews.com
How About Debate Integrity... and taking control back from the networks? It's time for the major parties to refuse to allow the networks to plan, script and program debates. They've made it clear they are incapable of doing what's best for Americans, for democracy.
The ABC Gibson-Stephanopolous debate was, perhaps more than anything else, a profound insult to Americans. The failure of ABC's leadership up and down the corporate ladder makes it clear that the network no longer has the right or privilege to call the shots on the contents or script for a debate. Other networks have not done much better with their "gotcha" questions and their agenda of catching soundbytes for later use against candidates.
The state of presidential debates has nit such lows it is no longer acceptable for the networks to determine what questions are asked. The fact that Stephanopolous so transparently replicated right wing screed-meister Sean Hannity's suggested question is unpardonable. The fact that Stephanopolous was given a job by Clinton's husband is unpardonable.
