Posted on 05/03/2003 3:55:37 PM PDT by dixie sass
George Stephanopoulos knows he will moderate tonight's debate at USC under trying circumstances.
For starters, it's hard to imagine so many candidates -- nine Democrats are running for president -- actually debating.
Then there's the timing. The election is 19 months away, and most Americans don't want to tune in to presidential politics so early in the game.
"I'm a masochist," Stephanopoulos said. "But what I'm hoping for is to have a real conversation -- not canned speeches -- and for there to be real moments of engagement and substance. What you want to avoid is a cacophony."
The former adviser to President Bill Clinton and host of ABC's "This Week" has never moderated a debate before. But ABC and Stephanopoulos beat out several rivals.
The big three cable news outlets -- Fox News Channel, CNN and MSNBC -- also made pitches to run the event, the first debate of the election season.
More than 4 million people are expected to watch.
To choose a network and moderator, the S.C. Democratic Party sought help from Mike McCurry, a White House spokesman during the Clinton administration. They pored over the proposals and picked ABC.
"George Stephanopoulos was a big selling point," S.C. party chairman Dick Harpootlian said. "If you've ever watched his show, you know that he's a tough interviewer."
On Sunday, Stephanopoulos will host "This Week" from Columbia. He is billing today, debate day, as akin to "a big exhibition game during spring training."
"I'm hoping that people will get a better sense of what distinguishes the candidates -- what the real debates within the party are."
Bernard Shaw, the former CNN anchor who has moderated 13 national debates, doubts today's show will provide much in the way of a meaty political discussion.
"Substance will not be a concern on that stage .‘.‘. " Shaw said. "I have moderated a CNN-sponsored debate in New Hampshire where we had five candidates, including Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton. We had five candidates on the stage, and it was just a blitz of sound bites -- no exchange of ideas."
Nine candidates, 90 minutes.
"Do the math," Shaw said. "It's a misnomer, and it's false advertising to call this a debate."
But he still believes the exercise is worthwhile -- at least as a way to help voters familiarize themselves with the Democrats who want to be president.
Shaw's advice to Stephanopoulos: Moderate with an iron hand.
He recalls 1988: Michael Dukakis versus George Bush, the president's father. Each candidate had packed the audience with supporters who hooted and hollered every time their man opened his mouth.
Live, on national television, Shaw told Bush and Dukakis they would be held responsible for any further outbursts: It would cost them time.
"I didn't hear another boo," Shaw said.
Is C-SPAN doing the honors?
And if so, what time?
I am leaving in about half an hour. I will be back before the 11:30 broadcast (I think).
Does anyone know if this is going to be carried on radio?
I also think we should start a pool on who kills his/her candidacy tonight.
My predictions:
Because Carol Mosley Brown is the Sharpton terminator (in the Brazile theory of politics) she will be given softball questions and not pressed.
Sharpton will get questions that cause him to say something outrageous.
Howard Dean and John Kerry will go at it personally, and both come off as unlikeable.
Edwards will blink, blink, blink.
Winners will be Lieberman and Gephardt, who will look normal compared to the rest of this crowd.
"I believe we shall be able to bear the deprivation."--Jane Austen.
I'm holding up well ;-)
I don't watch taped sports....it's got to be live.
Same with this.
(unless somebody chokes so badly that I've just got to rubberneck)
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