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Friday, October 12, 2012

2012 Martha Raddatz Makes Karl Rove Yearn for Jim Lehrer

Posted by Bethany Jean Clement on Fri, Oct 12, 2012 at 9:05 AM

Moderator Martha Raddatz pushed both vice-presidential candidates in the debate last night—and both got testy with her—but weirdly, it seemed like she could take it, and also-weirdly, Republicans prefer the demure Jim Lehrer. Meanwhile, everyone else and their mother thinks Raddatz did a fantastic job—a better job than a man! HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE??? Um, remember how some teenage girls in New Jersey had to be all, "Hey, ladies could moderate the presidential debates and WHY THE HELL AREN'T THEY?"

The Washington Post talked about and to ol' Jim Lehrer back then:

Jim Lehrer of PBS is one broadcast pro who definitely can do it. Eleven moderating gigs since 1988 arguably make him the Michael Phelps of presidential debates. He groaned at the comparison during our phone interview (sorry sir, it needs to stay in) and agreed these are skills not easily aggregated.

“You need the ability to think and talk at the same time and do it on live TV. You have to know ‘Is this person saying something really important that has to be followed up on?’ while you are wondering ‘how much time do I have left?’”

There is more. “It requires a tremendous amount of homework because you also have to be relaxed.”

Jim Lehrer was pretty relaxed, all right.

Martha Raddatz: a lady who can think and talk at the same time!

Because you'd like to see a little more of her:

Unfortunately your browser does not support IFrames.

CNN's Candy Crowley will moderate the second presidential debate next Tuesday. I'm guessing she, too, can walk and chew gum better than ol' Jim Lehrer.

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Comments (11) RSS

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I completely agree that Jim Lehrer was too soft as moderator this time around (perhaps he has mellowed at age 78). I hope this one little episode doesn't diminish his reputation as a first-rate newsman. I want my news person knowledgeable, experienced with a hint of cynicism, and maybe looking a little weathered. How very tired I am of Ken and Barbie dolls reading the news and maybe not having a clue as to the implications of what they are reading.

Jim Lehrer is a vanishing breed. Now it's all - he's got a hot body and she has nice tits. Jim Lehrer didn't need a $200 haircut. He didn't need cleavage.

Posted by Bauhaus I on October 12, 2012 at 9:21 AM

That said - props to the magnificent women in journalism.

Posted by Bauhaus I on October 12, 2012 at 9:23 AM

You wouldn't understand this, Bethany Jean, because you're a lady, and because you don't remember the Truman administration, but really, these things should be left to the olds. Really, really old. Trifocals old. Walker and ear trumpet old. Forget to put on pants old. Only the senile have the experience necessary to interview or discuss the future of this great sandwi--er, nation. Now, don't you worry your pretty little head any longer, dearie - you or that Raddatz child.

Posted by Fnarf

on October 12, 2012 at 9:54 AM

@3: Martha Raddatz is almost 60.

Posted by bigyaz on October 12, 2012 at 10:30 AM

She mopped the floor with Lehrer's ass.

Posted by The_Shaved_Bear on October 12, 2012 at 10:39 AM

@4, precisely. She's practically an infant. Lehrer is a man's man and has been celebrating his 104th birthday for two years now.

Posted by Fnarf

on October 12, 2012 at 10:49 AM

So, instead of debates being calm settings where the candidates recite their usual rehearsed blurbs, debates should be yelly, interrupting, fox-news settings where the candidates recite their usual rehearsed blurbs?

This nation is doomed.

Brawndo's got what plants crave. It's got electrolytes.

Posted by Urgutha Forka on October 12, 2012 at 10:58 AM

Am I the only one whose browser keeps throwing up errors because of the video in this post?

Posted by Zebes

on October 12, 2012 at 11:01 AM

I'm sure months of being embedded in Iraq greatly lower one's tolerance for the shit a couple of political candidates will try to pull.

Posted by Chelydra_serpentina on October 12, 2012 at 12:58 PM

Um, don't count on it, Beth. She's CNN's answer to Andrea Mitchell (or, if you prefer, Megyn Kelly). But a complete ninja of idiot Washington Conventional Wisdom.

Posted by maddogm13 on October 12, 2012 at 5:38 PM

Unfortunately, Candy Crowley will simply be "The Lady With The Microphone," as the debate she is hosting (and, I guess, moderating) is a town-hall, where the audience, not Crowley, asks the questions.

http://www.onthemedia.org/2012/sep/28/la…

Posted by Andy Niable on October 13, 2012 at 3:22 AM