A reader — and an occasional critic — of this blog has just given me a valuable piece of intelligence that, frankly, got past me.
I chided Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz for suggesting that future GOP presidential debates be “moderated” by folks more friendly to their cause.
This reader said I got my “tighty whiteys” into a knot over it. Then he informed me that the next Democratic event, which occurs this Friday night at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., will be “moderated” by Rachel Maddow. It’s being filled as a “forum,” and not a “debate” sponsored by the Democratic National Committee.
Whatever. It serves the same purpose.
You know who she is, right? Maddow is an MSNBC commentator and host of a nightly cable TV talk show. She’s a flaming liberal. I mean, man, that she’s on fire with her progressive views.
She’ll have three Democratic candidates standing in front of her Friday night: Hillary Rodham Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Martin O’Malley.
All three of those folks are tacking left — to their party’s base — just as the still-huge GOP field is tacking right, to its party’s base.
Should we expect Maddow to get tough with the candidates on the debate stage later this week? I’m not holding my breath. Put me down as one who doubts Democratic Party primary voters are going to learn a single new thing about any of the candidates.
Just as the Republican candidates were whining about the questions they got at their most recent joint appearance, if only the Democrats would be subjected to the same level of scrutiny and occasional harshness their GOP colleagues got.
It does seem like the same coin, doesn’t it? But it’s not. Maddow has a Ph.D. in Political Science. She understands the depth and breadth of concerns in domestic and foreign policy. She is above “gotcha” questions based on media’s characterization of candidates. She strives to be fair and always extends a hand when she is proven wrong or makes a mistake. She doesn’t rely on her ego as much as some “journalists.” I’m sure you’d say Anderson Cooper is also “flaming” but I believe he did fine. He kept the candidates on point and reminded them if they didn’t answer a question. I have not doubt Maddow will do the same. This isn’t comparable to a make-believe debate featuring Hannity, Limbaugh and Levin. Not. At. All. Those three aren’t smart enough to realize the gravity of their situation.
I get it. Maddow is very smart. She’s also very friendly to progressives.