CNN's Debate Questions Were Embarrissing

[dajoki]

CNN’s Debate Questions Were for Losers
Highlights of an all-night attack ad.
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/07/cnns-democratic-debate-questions-were-embarrassing.html

With 10 candidates on stage and Jake Tapper being bound by law to repeatedly scream “Senator” at intervals of 30 or 60 seconds, the format of the first night of the second round of Democratic debates was never exactly going to offer much in the way of substance. But CNN, being the enterprising cable network that it is, wasn’t about to let that stop it from actively making the night as dumb as humanly possible.

And so the moderators peppered the candidates with questions that were evidently designed to produce bad answers in the short format.

Question after question was framed up from the ideological perspective of a Heritage Foundation intern or otherwise crafted as a gotcha to generate a 15-second clip for Republican attack ads down the line.

On the one hand, it was a gross display of cynical political theater that wasted everyone’s time. On the other, congratulations to CNN’s Chris Cillizza on what was undoubtedly a phenomenal night of stunted politics-like content. Here, straight from the screen, are the questions CNN decided America needed to hear.

<<snip>>

[watoos]

1. MSNBC is worse.

I said cnn and msnbc will work to bring down Bernie, Harris, Warren and Biden.

They are both pushing right wing narratives hard now. Will be interesting to see if Nicolle and Rachel got their orders?

I believe that Trump wants to run against Biden.

[ooky]

5. Yup.

"Raise your hand if you would give health care to an illegal". Savannah Guthrie, NBC

"No, I favor a policy of doctors and hospitals refusing to treat a sick or injured person who can't first show valid documentation of their legal status."

Republicans are already running an ad of that Savannah Guthrie incited bullshit hand raising episode.

I don't know why anyone who has listened with understanding to either of these two networks would be surprised by these bullshit questions they come to democratic debates with. I also don't understand why we allow them to moderate our debates in this manner.

[snowybirdie]

2. Turned it off

These debates with 20 candidates are useless. No real positions or ideas are really examined. Gotcha questions to stir up and divide Democrats. The cable news outlets look awful. Turning them off too for the duration. Until the actual primary means something.

[Jirel]

3. Hear, hear!

The first 20 minutes or so were repeated attempts to stoke a fight between candidates for ratings. They had no interest in answers to any questions. I was so relieved when the moderator was called out for using republican talking points to set up the questions. Hopefully they’ll learn something for the next time about stupid formats preventing any real debate on the issues, wasting time trying to shut debaters up rather than getting answers, and prioritizing fights.

[awesomerwb1]

4. I was surprised a question like

Mr/Mrs xxxxxxx. Mr/Mrs XXXXXXX has allegedly told friends that you're a poopy head. What do you want to say to Mr/Mrs XXXXXXX about it?

They were ridiculous.