# Presidential Debate Moderators Named **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 2, 2016, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-debate-moderators-named/764787 "2016-09-02T16:01:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![oft\_wears\_hats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7993a0/32.png) [@oft\_wears\_hats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oft_wears_hats)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2016, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-debate-moderators-named/764787/1 "2016-09-02T16:01:14Z")
[From Politico:](http://www.politico.com/blogs/on-media/2016/09/commission-sets-dates-formats-moderators-for-presidential-debataes-227679) > [@](#): > > NBC’s Lester Holt, ABC’s Martha Raddatz, CNN’s Anderson Cooper, Fox News’ Chris Wallace and CBS’ Elaine Quijano will moderate presidential and vice presidential debates this fall, the Commission on Presidential Debates announced on Friday. [ol] [li]First Debate (9/26): Lester Holt[/li][li]Vice Presidential Debate (10/4): Elaine Quijano[/li][li]Second Debate (10/9): Martha Raddatz & Anderson Cooper[/li][li]Third Debate (10/19): Chris Wallace[/li][/ol] Apparently this is the first time a Fox News host has moderated a presidential debate. I don’t know anything about Chris Wallace. Is he closer to Shepard Smith or Bill O’Reilly? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2016, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-debate-moderators-named/764787/2 "2016-09-02T16:21:47Z")
Curious to see how Holt does. I’ll be very disappointed if he softballs the questions. Cooper is probably dangerous for both candidates. Don’t know about the other three. ---
**Author:** ![oft\_wears\_hats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7993a0/32.png) [@oft\_wears\_hats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oft_wears_hats)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2016, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-debate-moderators-named/764787/3 "2016-09-02T16:26:05Z")
But Cooper is one of the moderators for the second debate, which is the town hall format. It’s been a while since I watched a presidential debate, but aren’t all the questions asked by the audience and the moderators simply enforce the debate rules and schedule? Do the moderators have any control over the questions in the town hall debate? Such as selecting which questions are asked? ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2016, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-debate-moderators-named/764787/4 "2016-09-02T16:32:42Z")
I’m surprised Trump found anyone acceptable. ---
**Author:** ![oft\_wears\_hats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7993a0/32.png) [@oft\_wears\_hats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oft_wears_hats)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2016, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-debate-moderators-named/764787/5 "2016-09-02T16:41:05Z")
Do we know that Trump has even commented on it yet? Did either candidate have input into the choices? I assumed that the CPD made the decisions unilaterally. On a related note, will Wallace go easy on Trump due to his relationship with Ailes? Even if not, it’s possible that Ailes will have an advantage preparing Trump for the third debate, since he presumably knows Wallace very well. The jury is still out on whether Trump can pay attention long enough to take Ailes’ advice. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2016, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-debate-moderators-named/764787/6 "2016-09-02T17:00:22Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > I’m surprised Trump found anyone acceptable. The moderators have been announced, has there been any official word from the Trump people that they approve? ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2016, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-debate-moderators-named/764787/7 "2016-09-02T17:21:09Z")
I wonder if the order of the moderators is important. It’s my impression that the later debates have more of an effect on the election, and the moderator from the most conservative news channel comes last. I don’t know that Wallace will intentionally steer things Trump’s way but he could do so subconsciously given his day in and day out reporting. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2016, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-debate-moderators-named/764787/8 "2016-09-02T17:36:29Z")
I think the big show will be the first. It will be the highest rated, it will be the one where Trump gets the snot beat out of him. He may well not show up for the last two. Lester Holt is in my estimation a good guy. He’ll be fair. I’m hoping Rachel Maddow and Lawrence O’Donnell get some input into the questions. I don’t think he’ll ask questions like “do you think your opponent is a bigot?”. Chris Wallace is a rarity at Fox, an actual journalist. He’ll do fine. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2016, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-debate-moderators-named/764787/9 "2016-09-02T17:40:26Z")
I’m disappointed there’s only one woman at a presidential debate. Trump does not do well with female moderators. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2016, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-debate-moderators-named/764787/10 "2016-09-02T17:43:29Z")
> [@oft\_wears\_hats](#): > > Do we know that Trump has even commented on it yet? Did either candidate have input into the choices? I assumed that the CPD made the decisions unilaterally. Why would you assume that? I have no doubt the campaigns were consulted to some degree. The CPD is basically a bipartisan commission, not “nonpartisan” as it describes itself. The two co-chairs are a former chair of the RNC and a former Communications director for the DNC (who was also Bill Clinton’s press secretary). ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2016, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-debate-moderators-named/764787/11 "2016-09-02T18:24:23Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Why would you assume that? I have no doubt the campaigns were consulted to some degree. The CPD is basically a bipartisan commission, not “nonpartisan” as it describes itself. The two co-chairs are a former chair of the RNC and a former Communications director for the DNC (who was also Bill Clinton’s press secretary). While waiting for The Donald’s response, I found[this _Variety_ article](http://variety.com/2016/biz/news/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-presidential-debates-2-1201848085/)with some background: > [@](#): > > The commission — a bipartisan, non-profit entity set up to sponsor the general election debates starting in 1988 — does not give the campaigns a yea or nay on moderators, McCurry says. Instead, they are paring down a list of more than 100 personalities, seeing how they performed in challenging interviews or at past debates. McCurry, co-chairman Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., executive director Janet Brown and the debate producers then consult with the board of directors to get their input. The board includes past moderators such as Charles Gibson and Jim Lehrer. > > David Bohrman, media consultant and former Washington bureau chief for CNN, said that “personality focus is going to make it complicated for the committee, because there is a sense that Trump might say no. What if one of the candidates says no — then what? I don’t know the answer. The fear of ‘no’ has delayed the selection process.” ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2016, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-debate-moderators-named/764787/12 "2016-09-02T18:41:36Z")
And the best way to avoid a “no” is to call someone at Trump’s campaign and ask them. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2016, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-debate-moderators-named/764787/13 "2016-09-02T18:48:11Z")
> [@SaharaTea](#): > > I’m disappointed there’s only one woman at a presidential debate. Trump does not do well with female moderators. His having a female \*opponent \*will probably overshadow that. Will Raddatz have blood coming out of her wherever? ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2016, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-debate-moderators-named/764787/14 "2016-09-02T19:29:52Z")
> [@oft\_wears\_hats](#): > > Apparently this is the first time a Fox News host has moderated a presidential debate. I don’t know anything about Chris Wallace. Is he closer to Shepard Smith or Bill O’Reilly? More like a guy who’s bitter that he doesn’t get the same respect his dad got. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2016, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-debate-moderators-named/764787/15 "2016-09-02T20:14:21Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > And the best way to avoid a “no” is to call someone at Trump’s campaign and ask them. Yes, but is that “someone” called going to be there in a week’s time? Trump is \*so \*changeable… ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2016, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-debate-moderators-named/764787/16 "2016-09-02T20:16:47Z")
CNN’s moderating was a shit show during the debates. Cooper did pretty well in some of the one-on-one town hall sessions, but he let the GOP debates turn into a circus, IIRC. Wallace, to my surprise, was pretty good and tried to cut off the crazy train antics of Trump. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2016, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-debate-moderators-named/764787/17 "2016-09-02T20:19:08Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > I’m surprised Trump found anyone acceptable. I felt Gwen Ifill was pretty good but guessing Trump wanted none of her – Ifill would treat the debate like, well, a debate instead of a WWE “ladder match,” which is probably what Trump wants to turn it into. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2016, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-debate-moderators-named/764787/18 "2016-09-02T21:33:01Z")
Too bad Jim Lehrer isn’t moderating instead of just advising. Yeah, I know, he’s old. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2016, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-debate-moderators-named/764787/19 "2016-09-02T21:37:32Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Curious to see how Holt does. I’ll be very disappointed if he softballs the questions. Cooper is probably **dangerous** for both candidates. Don’t know about the other three. My bold. What does this mean-- “dangerous”? How would this manifest? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2016, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-debate-moderators-named/764787/20 "2016-09-02T21:57:02Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > My bold. > > What does this mean-- “dangerous”? How would this manifest? Well, Anderson has stabbed several people. Or maybe he means he’ll ask pointed uncomfortable questions with strong follow ups. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-debate-moderators-named/764787.md?page=2)