CHIEF INSIGHT: CBS botches GOP debate 

This article has been read 731 times.

If there’s one thing we in the media, or those running for office, can learn from the CBS Republican debate on Saturday, it’s how not to run a presidential debate.

What was supposed to be an informative discussion of what the candidates thought about foreign policy and national security issues turned into a 90-minute lesson in agenda-setting.

First of all, the fact that an event this important would be cut off in most markets for an “NCIS” rerun is ridiculous.

While I understand that many citizens don’t care about politics, you can’t advertise a 90-minute debate and then tell people to go online to watch the final half hour of it. It trivializes the magnitude of what’s being discussed. If you don’t think a presidential debate is worth your network’s time, then don’t bid for one.

Secondly, the focus (or lack thereof) of candidates based on polling numbers was appalling. Apparently, the Michele Bachmann campaign was mistakenly sent an email from CBS executives telling the moderator not to give her a lot of time because she was doing poorly in polls.

CBS has no right to say which candidates deserve focus. Ron Paul had been low in the polls and claims he got only 90 seconds of air time.

He’s now in a statistical dead heat in Iowa, but people couldn’t hear much of his foreign policy. CBS has effectively ripped off all those hoping to get an idea of the candidates’ foreign policy because they decided who was worth people’s time.

Paul’s current numbers should be a lesson in why candidates should get equal time, all the time. So many people are now in the dark about what the less-supported candidates believe, and now making an informed decision will be that much harder for the public.

Republicans choose who will represent their party, not CBS.