I think we ought to ease up a bit on Matt Lauer.

[yellowcanine]

Granted, he spent too much time on the emails leaving less time for more important questions. But Hillary was able to give what I thought was one of her better explanations of the classification system for emails. And it came across as credible.

As for Trump - I thought he gave him enough room to hang himself, and hang himself he did. Enough there for another whole set of ads which I suspect the Clinton campaign is already working on. The Iraq war fact check would have been hard to do in that context - it would have just come down to a "No I didn't," "Yes you did." situation. Best just to move on and give Trump a chance to say something else which was controversial. And he did pull out the security briefing bombshell - which I thought was one of the most devastating things Trump said all evening - that one is going to haunt him with national security types.

[redstatebluegirl]

1. Sorry can't do it. He is a Republican, he doesn't hide it in any of his "interviews" on Today.

[trueblue2007]

2. I DON'T. MATT LAUER should be fired. He did a ROTTEN job as moderator.

MATT LAUER should be fired. He did a ROTTEN job as moderator. Let Trump get away with LIE after LIE. Shame on you Lauer!!!

[DUgosh]

3. As a woman

I absolutely will not ease up on Matt Lauer. His repeated interruption and imposition of time limit on Hillary.... As opposed to the red carpet Trump was given is indicative to what women face in the marketplace everyday.

[Bill USA]

4. have to disagree with you on Matt "lickspittle" Lauer. He's a simpering sycophant. A GOP toady.

[IllinoisBirdWatcher]

5. No way, His "fair and balanced" treatment wasn't even close to balanced.

Secretary Clinton was challenged and constantly interrupted. Trump got less than softballs. More like slow and smooth kickballs. And he still managed to babble nonsensical non-answers. With no real follow-ups.

[Tiggeroshii]

6. Not at all

People in the press need to may jr CV Jesse that behavior is appropriate in journalism.

[Shrike47]

7. I can only disagree. If he pays a penalty, the next moderator MIGHT think twice.

[democrattotheend]

8. I think all the focus on Lauer is a mistake

Attacking the moderator is often viewed as a way to distract from a poor performance by the candidate. I did not see Hillary's performance last night so I am not saying she did poorly, but that was what I assumed must have been the case at first when I saw all the emphasis on Lauer.

More importantly, focusing on the forum and Lauer is detracting from the Bondi scandal just when it was finally starting to get some attention.

[leftynyc]

10. Disagree 100%

If you don't complain, they hit you harder. Let the next moderator know that women are fucking fed up with the double standard and wont stand for it anymore. The bondi scandal will still be story next week.

[democrattotheend]

11. I hope so

It seems like it was all over the news yesterday and then it faded. I see your point though.

[leftynyc]

12. Today the story

is about last night. Once things calm down, bondi will be on the shows again - Hillary will be making ads about it - that story is long from over.

[yellowcanine]

14. I do think the focus on Lauer is distracting but the Bondi scandal has too many legs to fade away.

USA Today has a story on it today.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/09/07/why-trumps-donation-pam-bondi-has-come-back-bite-him/89970306/

[deathrind]

9. Negative Ghostrider...

...the pattern is full.




Lauer deserves every bit of critique concerning his performance lastnight. He allowed a person who is wanting to be the next President of the United States (a position that commands the most powerful military in the world.) lie to his face on national TV and did not confront that person about it.

[Keybrite]

13. Ease up, why?

Matt is a journalist, at least that is what he was representing, when he interviewed the former first lady, and that piece of filth. A journalists job is to dig, to source fact from fiction, to find the answers we the mass want and need to ask but cannot. So when he sits in front of the former first lady and treats her with such disdain, and minutes later is treating a fascist racist sexist commy loving pig with respect. It sickens me and all who give a damn about our country.

Matt should be fired period.

[renate]

17. welcome to DU!

[Sophiegirl]

20. Mrs. Clinton is more than a former First Lady.

Former Senator and Secretary of State.

Respect! Madam Secretary.

[Angry Dragon]

15. Perhaps Matt is a Putin plant( a deep mole)

[VMA131Marine]

16. Lauer was just out of his depth

He didn't prepare and he should stick to fluff pieces on the morning shows from now on.

[senseandsensibility]

18. His performance was sexist.

If it had been racist, no one would "ease up."

[MichiganVote]

19. +1

[MyNameGoesHere]

21. I think we should eat cake.

My post actually makes more sense than yours.

[kstewart33]

22. No can do.

I agree with much of what you've said, but he's never been much of an interviewer. He's not that smart and he's terribly overpaid at $20 million a year for hosting a morning show. His pay doesn't have anything to do with your points, but to me, it's galling and just adds to the perspective that the American national media is truly a mess.

The one positive outcome of the media's evaluation of Lauer's performance is that he will never again moderate a debate of any significant importance. He just doesn't belong there.

[yellowcanine]

23. I still think my assessment is mostly correct. Note I said ease up, not give a pass.

Particularly the part about Trump. This was a turning point, maybe in spite of Lauer rather than because of - but I believe we will look back on this as the moment when Trump finally jumped the shark. And for all of his flaws, Lauer has to get a little credit for that. The question about security briefings in particular was particularly helpful in exposing Trump for what he is - we knew already but I think now even some of his supporters know.