Schieffer set to moderate last McCain-Obama debate

[UpInArms]

Source: Associated Press

NEW YORK - The debate season that has chewed up its moderators comes to a close Wednesday when John McCain and Barack Obama meet for the third time, with CBS News' Bob Schieffer directing the discussion.

The veteran "Face the Nation" host won't telegraph what he will ask. But he said he will be seeking more details about their potential presidencies than have been evident so far.

"By now we've all heard their talking points," he said. "We've heard the general outlines of what they are talking about. The time has come to be a little more specific."

Jim Lehrer, Gwen Ifill and Tom Brokaw had great plans going into their debates, too. Each had their own frustrations.

<snip>

It's always a tough call for a journalist in this situation. Do you ask the question, and trust that it's evident to viewers when the candidate is completely ignoring it? Or do you press persistently, taking the risk that your conduct becomes the issue as much as the question itself — as CNN's Campbell Brown found when her questioning of a McCain aide angered the campaign.

Lehrer tried hard to get McCain and Obama to speak directly to the other when it was evident they didn't want to.

During the vice presidential debate, Republican Sarah Palin took pride in not answering Ifill's questions. "She blew me off," a bemused Ifill said later.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081012/ap_on_en_tv/ap_on_tv_last_debate

[BeatleBoot]

1. Bob Schieffer's Brother is Bush's Ambassador to Australia

Good old Texas boys!

[BrklynLiberal]

2. If the moderators have not been able to get specifics out of them by now,

there is no way that Scheiffer has got a chance to do it.
I think he will have even less control than Brokaw did.

[Eric J in MN]

4. Jim Lehrer asked follow-up questions.

That made it less boring.

[nc4bo]

3. sigh............one more time with another un-debate. nt

[Mira]

5. He's being interviewed on CSpan 2 as I type this.

[nc4bo]

6. What's he ly........er saying? nt

[DUlover2909]

7. They should allow the candidates to ask each other questions.

That's a real debate. The moderator could control the format by telling one candidate to ask the other something like, "Sen. Obama, what questions do you have for Sen. McCain regarding his tax plan?" Obama could ask him something and McCain would answer, and then Obama could ask follow up questions, and so on back and forth.

[LeftCoast]

14. That would be great!

I would love that.

[ikojo]

8. I wish they'd get people who are not tied into the administration

I'm sure Schieffer would prefer McCain over Obama.

[ScaryBob]

10. Even so...

We all thought that Tom Brokaw was "in the tank" for McSame too, but to no avail. Even if Karl Rove was the moderator, McSame would still find a way to screw it up. Third time's the charm, and the last wheel will fall off the "straight talk express".

[stillcool]

9. I love that they're sitting around a table...

might be kind of hard for McCain not to look at Obama, and say it to his face.

[Raschel]

11. They're sitting at a table!? NOT good for McCain. That means

mostly close-ups and a good shot at how feeble McCain is/looks. His goose is really cooked. LOL

[stillcool]

12. yeah..check it out..

The two candidates will sit at the same table for the third debate, so close that they will be able to reach out and touch each other. Schieffer hopes this will encourage more interaction.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081012/ap_en_tv/ap_on_tv_last_debate_4

[Raschel]

13. Hahaha. This is going to be great. McCain is such a loser.

[LeftyMom]

22. Unless the chairs adjust, it'll be really obvious how much shorter he is too.

Being short looks bad on TV, people perceive the shorter person on stage as being weak.

[IsItJustMe]

15. I don't accept your premise that Obama did not look at McCain during that debate. It was the other

way around. Go back and look at it.

[October]

17. That was in the article -- not the OP's comments

But you're right -- McCain didn't look at Obama, but Obama certainly looked at McCain.




Edited for clarity. (I hope.)

[Supersedeas]

18. One way of marginalizing/trivializing McNasty's behavior is to say Obama does it too

Even when Obama doesn't

[TankLV]

20. Where in the post or the article did it even mention that?

I didn't see it at all, and it was NOT in the OP...

[Delphinus]

16. Just to clarify,

Barack did talk to John directly - it was McCain who TOTALLY IGNORED him, not looking him in the eye EVER!

[FLyellowdog]

19. What will Schieffer do if McCain suddenly jumps up and starts to wander around.? Scary.

[Doctor_J]

21. Jesus, aren't there any Dems who could moderate one? Why is it all Repukes?

:wtf: