Generation Debate

So: We know when the Presidential debates will be held this year, and who will be moderating: Jim Lehrer, Tom Brokaw, Bob Scheiffer and Gwen Ifill, who will moderate the Vice-Presidential debate once the Veepstakes have been won. It's the same slate as it was two years ago, except Brokaw is replacing Charlie Gibson in the lineup.

For those keeping score, that's two for PBS, one for NBC, one for CBS --and zip for ABC. There has been some murmuring that it's payback for the widely-criticized ABC debate this past April (a.k.a. the "Where's Your Flag Pin And Why Do You Hate America, Barack Obama?" debate). To that we say: Who knows. The Commision on Presidential Debates website is about as bland and informationless as any I've ever seen.

But: The replacement of Charlie Gibson isn't as striking as the statement that's being made here generationally. Look who's been tapped to moderate the most important debates in the land: Brokaw, 68; Scheiffer, 71; Lehrer, 74. (Ifill is 52, and will be 53 by the debate, but she'll be with the Veeps, which we'll get to.)

So imagine the stage: The distinguished elder-statesman moderator (or AARP-eligible, whichever you prefer), John McCain, who will be 72 by then -- and Barack Obama, who will be 21 years junior to the youngest of the bunch. I joked about AARP eligibility, but let's face it: The face of wisdom and authority in this country is still a distinguished and gravitas'd one. There's a reason they call it "eminence grise."

So, close your eyes and imagine the tableau. Remember how striking the Republican line of candidates looked in their homogeneity, and how no one had really noticed until there were the dems with their striking pair, the brightly-pantsuited woman and the handsome, darker-hued man? Here, that darker hue will stick out not only in color but in age: more than being the African-American on stage, Obama will be the junior member.

Back to Ifill. She'll be moderating the Veeps as she has done in the past (and we will leave the designation of the woman-minority to the second-tier debate for another time). But imagine if she was moderating a presidential debate. Then, instead of the visual of two distinguished, elderly men and the younger African-American (a first for that stage), it would be two younger black Americans with one older white man (a real first for that stage!). But think of how different those visuals are, especially in the balance of majority/minority.

What's different than last time? Virtually nothing, from one side. Except for the Gibson-Brokaw swap, the slate is pretty much the same. But on the other side, we have two candidates whose many differences begin at the superficial: one is young and black, one is old and white, and against the same old backdrop, suddenly you notice.

Comments

[Uselessboy]

Moderators from the last half generation before the free love treasonous boomers. People who were current half a century ago.

One candidate a peer of theirs. The other, well, .....

[AlieNation]

When you say "treasonous boomers", are you refering to George W. Bush?

[cheforacle]

Although Jim Lehrer also fits the septuagenarian category, he has a history of objective reporting and interviewing that others don't. While Brokaw on MTP has repeatedly evinced a tendency to go over whatever the prevailing narrative of the campaign is, as defined by the MSM, instead of making a cold calculation as to what issues really matter and then accordingly focus on them, Lehrer has usually been thoughtul in his journalistic approach if somewhat - to borrow Rachel's word - bland. He deserves to be exempt from the rest of the group. Scheiffer's uninformed and sloppy claims that the Obama camp is smearing McCain because General Clark stated that being a pilot and POW does not provide the skills necessary to be President and his failure to even recognize that Obama actually distanced himself from those remarks indicates slippage from journalistic standards from one of the few, I believed, who still maintained such standards.

[Uselessboy]

Brokaw enshrined those who ran the Vietnam war and then gave us Reagan to dismantle the New Deal, as the "Greatest" generation so that we'd know exactly how to regard those who doubted the "greatest" generation's war.

Philadelphia, we have a problem.

[hglassberg]

All this can be solved by restricting media coverage to radio. On radio, the listener can't see the candidate. The candidate can wear plaid and stripes without fear of losing the fashion vote. He can pick his teeth while his opponent answers a question. He can even make faces. Moderators will be similarly liberated. They can ask questions without worrying about their dentures, roll their eyes at the platitudinous questions of their fellow moderators, while simultaneously appearing to be the souls of rectitude.

Radio. Whatever the question, that's the answer.

Yours sincerely,

The Playdo Institute
Handel Glassberg, President

[AlieNation]

If you ever notice Obama's campaign staff you will see that many of them are much younger than Obama himself. This reflects to some extent the amount of support and enthusiasm he has from younger voters. It is a surprise then, as you point out, that Obama has put himself into the middle of the AARP crowd for these debates.

Much of the divisiveness in modern U.S. politics is traceable to the Vietnam War and the culture wars of the 1960's and 70's.

Isn't it time for the Dick Cheney's and Jesse Jackson's and John McCain's and so many other icons of a passing generation to just move on?

We would all be better served by having some much younger people participating in every level of this process.

[RButler]

I'm not too enthusiastic to have the 'text messaging' generation deciding policy for the country. LOL ROTFLMAO and so on.

[pablito]

I'm not too enthusiastic for the so-called (and persistently self-proclaimed) "greatest generation," nor for the Baby Boomers, to continue setting policy for my generation and the ones coming after mine. Look at the state of the country right now. The world. Your generations have bankrupted the nation on so many fronts -- morally, economically, politically, environmentally -- that it's falling to us to pick up the pieces and try to carve out lives for ourselves and our children. Thanks to your hedonic halcyon dreamining and buck-passing over the last four to five decades the United States is a wreck. I cannot wait to see Obama shred McCain in those debates and knock down every question the decrepit old moderators throw at him. I will be texting my enthusiasm to my friends and colleagues all throughout. And we will LAUGH OUT LOUD.

[Moka11]

These old timers are so stale and out of touch. But younger types like Anderson Cooper or Katie Couric aren't much better. It's like they are as uninformed as the so called "low information voter".
jeez, I wonder which came first? low info news or low info voters. It's the "chicken vs. egg" debate.

Shieffer is the "Andy Rooney" of news anchors. John McCain is the Rooney of politicians. It's all embarrassing.

[Politihal]

There used to be a time when age was considered a badge of honor, and youth respected their elders for their wisdom borne of a lifetime of experience. Now we denigrate the aged. Look where it's gotten us.

Halli Casser-Jayne
http://www.thecjpoliticalreport.com

[pablito]

Yeah, look where it's gotten us! Look what the aged politicians and policymakers have done to the American landscape! Good point Halli. Can't wait for my generation to supplant yours entirely.

[CaptainStormfield]

Its not a matter of denigrating the aged. Its just that the game is so rigged.

Why not have younger moderators? Why not have moderators who are not in the Corporate
Media? How about letting Joe Bageant ask the questions? Or Ariana? Not going to happen.

[irkthesmirk]

There used to be a time when age DESERVED to be seen as a badge of honor, and elders were respected because they demonstrated wisdom that they had gained from their lifetime of experience. Unfortunately, John McCain, in his blind allegiance to the Bush Administration and his corporate lobbyist suppprters hasn't demonstrated any wisdom that I have seen. He is one of the biggest flip-flopping panderers that have run for office in recent memory and he is even less gifted as a public speaker as the current "Presidunce". As far as the moderators are concerned, Jim Lehrer is the only one who hasn't compromised his integrity by serving as a willing enabler of the current administration and its "reign of error". Give me an elder statesman who demonstrates wisdom and he or she will have my respect.

[DasBoot]

So Rachel, I was waiting for you to come out and take a stab at the question whether this line up is an advantage or a disadvantage for Obama. You seem to lean toward the latter, but I am not so sure. Obama could also come across as even sharper and fresher when contrasted to a bunch of old guys.

The fact that he is black will not influence anybody but the hardcore right who won't for him anyway, but a sharp contrast between young and different=change on the one hand and old=more of the same, in my opinion, is good for Obama.

Otherwise, I expect Brokaw to continue shilling for McCain, as he has been doing on Meet the Press for the last couple of weeks.

[celticjag]

The debates should be returned to the auspices of the League Of Women Voters. The debates would be centered on the candidates and not shared with the MSM personalities. Corporate America and the MSM have no place in the debates.

[RButler]

Katie, Brian and Charles were on Larry King last night and then I realized that the decision was probably made to eliminate the anchors of the 3 networks which is good as I can't stand any of them. That ABC was also eliminated was probably incidental but still a good thing. They really need moderators that don't draw any attention to themselves, even if it's just their celebrity. That should have eliminated Brokaw.

[Rachel Sklar - Huffpost Blogger]

See Rachel Sklar's Profile

The Big Three typically do not moderate...remember in 2004 Charlie Gibson was not an anchor and Brokaw was. I should have noted that little flip.

[heal57]

I used to get my absentee ballot info thru the League of Women Voters. All things true and substantial are gone. Only non biased moderators who ask policy questions should be part of the debate between the candidates.

[truth101]

policy questions? the fact is what counts is how many hours they
are going to put in determining appointments to the key posts.....
are they going to be careful or fall prey to leveling we have seen for a decade
where third level people are appointed because of contacts and connections,
or are we going to see for change some meritocracy.......both of the candidates
have immense powers of appointment ......sweeping away the BUSH LOUTS...
QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ARE ESSENTIAL BUT NEVER ASKED.....is
MC CAIN GOING TO APPOINTED GONZO TO THE SUPREME COURT?
IS OBAMA GOING TO APPOINT BRADLEY TO THE UN? these are the questions
which should be asked.......

[AJ39]

I couldn't agree more, although I would add cable tv to your MSM.

[Shaddup]

Maybe that's one of the problems with our MSM, they're all a bunch of constipated old geezers.

[truth101]

I noticed the same thing........but more interesting was the shut out of CNN.
You can bet your life the execs at TimeWarner are pouring a few stiff ones
and shaking their heads........and wondering ''HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?"

[geha714]

Well, the Comission on Presidential Debates obviously prefers the big network over cable news.

[truth101]

Are you saying they don't think CNN is the best political team on tv?
Have mercy....the American PEOPLE would much prefer to see
Lou Dobbs rake these candidates over the coals than see Brokaw
smooth talk them, and that is a FACT not an opinion. A debate should
be added for Dobbs asap so ALL THE ISSUES HE COVERS WOULD GET COVERED
WHICH OTHERWISE THEY SURELY WOULD NOT.