The latest GOP debate, hosted by The Wall Street Journal and the Fox Business Channel, focused almost exclusively on economic issues. Unlike the previous GOP debate hosted by CNBC, questions largely stayed on topic and did not veer into insults. That style wasn’t appreciated by the left-wing media who went on Twitter to bash Fox Business and the debate moderators.
Political analyst for MSNBC and National Affairs Correspondent for The Nation Joan Walsh claimed moderators were “terrified” of the GOP and right-wing media:
These moderators are terrified of becoming the story, and this is a farce.
— Joan Walsh (@joanwalsh) November 11, 2015
Dean Obeidallah, comedian, radio host and a columnist for The Daily Beast claimed the moderators were practically giving foot massages to the GOP candidates:
Tonight's #GOPDebate on Fox Biz will open with moderators giving candidates a foot massage then they'll apologize for even asking questions
— Dean Obeidallah (@Deanofcomedy) November 10, 2015
Is there an applause sign that Fox Business keep lighting up? #GOPDebate
— Dean Obeidallah (@Deanofcomedy) November 11, 2015
Marc Caputo, Politico’s Florida political reporter, whined that he wanted the CNBC Debate moderators back:
Bring back the CNBC debate moderators...
— Marc Caputo (@MarcACaputo) November 11, 2015
He went on to complain about Neil Cavuto’s questioning style:
"Just how can we ask the least probing question of you so you don't hate us?" #CavutoDebateQuestions
— Marc Caputo (@MarcACaputo) November 11, 2015
Neil Cavuto makes sure to ask a question that continues the fiction that Obama's country of birth, church & friends weren't vetted
— Marc Caputo (@MarcACaputo) November 11, 2015
The crowd's booing the one almost-good question from Cavuto is a sign of how so few people want a real debate, just confirmation
— Marc Caputo (@MarcACaputo) November 11, 2015
Cenk Uygur, former MSNBC talking head and current host of The Young Turks on Youtube, claimed Fox was framing it’s questions to favor candidates:
Immediately Fox frames Ben Carson as so concerned about jobs in the set up to their question. #FBNGOPDebate
— Cenk Uygur (@cenkuygur) November 11, 2015
Ana Marie Cox, columnist for the Daily Beast claimed the debate was “chaos” due to the moderators’ lack of control:
CHAOS. INTERRUPTING. CROSS TALK. LIES. SCRIPTED COMEBACKS. SHADE. This isn’t a debate, it’s a Tyler Perry movie.
— Ana Marie Cox (@anamariecox) November 11, 2015
While NBC News’ Political Director Chuck Todd complained that the moderators weren’t forcing candidates to fight with each other enough:
I get there is an extra effort to not force candidate engagement tonight but I get sense candidates would like to debate more than they are
— Chuck Todd (@chucktodd) November 11, 2015
Michael Shure, political correspondent for Al-Jazeera America and frequent co-host of The Young Turks, agreed that the debate was too civil:
The moderators should stop moderating. Let them talk to each other.
— Michael Shure (@michaelshure) November 11, 2015
Seems like you can’t make a liberal journalist happy unless the media is relentlessly vicious toward anyone on the right.
