With only three candidates appearing at tonight's Democratic debate, CBS moderator John Dickerson thought it would be a good idea to have a dress rehearsal of sorts, meeting with the candidates before the actual debate. Apparently, two hours is not enough to make sure the candidates get their questions and answers straight.
John Dickerson, whom viewers might recognize as the new host of CBS "Face The Nation," is also a columnist for far left news site Slate.com. In a 2013 piece titled "Go for the Throat! Why if he wants to transform American politics, Obama must declare war on the Republican Party," John wrote: "Obama's only remaining option is to pulverize. Whether he succeeds in passing legislation or not, given his ambitions, his goal should be to delegitimize his opponents."
In what can only be called an unprecedented pre-debate meeting with the candidates, Dickerson is helping his team pulverize the opposition.
"If you think of the moderator as a glass that viewers see the candidates through, that's the hope," Dickerson told USA Today, referring to his role as moderator.
He's wrong, of course - very wrong. Viewers can see with their own eyes. What they can't do is be there to ask their own questions. Dickerson's mission, therefore, is to act as their proxy, not host an infomercial.
Veteran journalist and radio host Hugh Hewitt, a panelist for this year's Republican debates on CNN, confirmed as much to the New York Times, revealing he prepared for weeks on a list of questions because, "It's not my job to change someone's personality; it's my job to give them the full opportunity to display it."
"If they can't take the heat from CNBC moderators how are they going to handle Russian President Vladimir Putin?" President Obama jibbed in referring to Republican candidates who complained about CNBC moderators for hijacking the debate they hosted – one that drew widespread criticism for its circus atmosphere punctuated with gotcha questions that revealed nothing about the experience or policy beliefs of respective candidates.
That the president took the swipe at all was laughable, given that none of the Republican candidates - particularly Ted Cruz - backed down from the moderators' smear tactics, and because Republicans are participating in debates hosted on Democrat-leaning networks with Democrat-leaning moderators.
To the contrary, the Democratic National Committee rejected Fox News' request to host a debate of Democrats. Instead, the DNC scheduled its anemic number of debates to air on Democrat-friendly networks with moderators who are gleeful cheerleaders - including one, Dickerson, who has lead the candidates in an unprecedented rehearsal before the main event. Does President Obama think Vladimir Putin will be so accommodating?
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