Most readers already know, at the federal level, which national media personalities are NOT desirable choices for moderating presidential debates. It’s also well known that the participating candidates are to agree upon the format and other details prior to the event. They often “do a walk-through” at the studio or other event site to iron out various details, such as which podium and which camera, among other things. Many moderators will tell the audience that lots were drawn in deciding who goes first, last, or the whole order when there are more than two candidates present. In the agreed-upon format, there’s often an opening statement and a closing statement to be made by each candidate, but not always, and the order in which they speak is the result of lots being drawn.
Last night’s congressional debate (available below), hosted by WMUR, did not feature closing statements as part of the format. Why does it matter? That’s a reasonable question, especially when the candidates agreed to such a format, but Adam Sexton certainly knew what he was doing with that format in place when he “did Vikram a solid.”
Customarily, in most debates, the moderator tells the audience at the beginning that s/he will grant 30 seconds of rebuttal time at the discretion that comes with the job. Adam Sexton misused his discretion in crying “we’re all out of time” after Vikram, who got to speak last in the last round, attacked both his opponents. Because he said both their names, one might argue that Lily Tang Williams and Hamlen were both entitled to that discretion.
WMUR has been doing the bidding of the State Royal Family for years, but most readers already know that and its special treatment of Vikram was on full display, whether or not the Damn Emperor has endorsed or will endorse him. It’s no surprise as it’s like Chris Wallace (No relation to Scott, that I know of, but he would probably endorse Vikram just like Scott.) covering for Biden in a Trump debate. Adam Sexton carried water for Vikram in the similar manner that the RCRC did for Senator Gannon. Just ask Emily Phillips.
When it’s time for late October debates for all the higher offices, I hope “our side’s candidates” let him know that he’s on notice. One way of doing that is being fussy about discretionary rebuttal time being made obligatory in the last round, especially if the attacked candidate doesn’t have a closing statement opportunity to insert the rebuttal into.
