Jim Lehrer blasted for his performance in first presidential debate

[cal04]

PBS Executive Editor Jim Lehrer was criticized in various media circles for his performance during Wednesday’s first presidential debate after losing control of the proceedings and allegedly letting Republican candidate Mitt Romney “push him around.”

Lehrer, who moderated his 13th debate Wednesday, was “head-scratchingly absent,” wrote Buzzfeed’s Rosie Gray, who also pointed out criticism from several of his peers, including Meet The Press host David Gregory, who was himself pilloried for his performance in the Massachusetts senatorial debate Monday between Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA)

Even non-political media members like Today Show meteorologist Al Roker joined in the disparaging of Lehrer; “I hope Jim Lehrer gets the license plate of the truck that drove over him in this debate,” Roker said on Twitter.

On MSNBC, Hardball host Chris Matthews said Romney had a plan to “push (Lehrer) around, which he did effectively,” a criticism echoed by Current TV contributor Tricia Rose.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/10/03/jim-lehrer-blasted-for-his-performance-in-first-presidential-debate/?utm_source=Raw+Story+Daily+Update&utm_campaign=5f7307cdf5-10_3_1210_3_2012&utm_medium=email

[monmouth]

1. Lehrer looked like someone waiting to be admitted to assisted living. He was out of it...n/t

[skeewee08]

2. Hopefully this was his last debate

[Jennicut]

3. At 78 he seems to not be able to handle this anymore.

But it sure makes Romney look even more like a prick.

[spanone]

4. it was inexcusably lame

[DollarBillHines]

5. I am with Tweety

SpeedBall shuffled Lehrer all over the board.

[quakerboy]

6. There should be some rules and enforcement

That was the key thing to take home on this debate. The candidates ran it, there was no moderator. For practical intents and purposes, an occasional question flashed on a screen to provide general direction would have been more effective.

I get that these are two strong and socially well thought of persons, due respect. But that was rediculous. Next round there should be a cut off. Go over your 2 minutes, try to demand the podium, and you end up talking to a dead mic while the proceedings go on. Or just do away with the moderator and have the candidates run it, unscripted, Mano a Mano.

[Indpndnt]

7. By steamrolling Lehrer, Willard looked like the bully he is. That will resonate.

That's not the behavior of a leader. That's the behavior of a weak person. That's the behavior of someone a leader ignores.

[iemitsu]

16. agreed.

mitt looked bad tonight.
maybe others will recognize that after they sleep on it.
the only ones who are really impressed are those who want to see obama as less than he is.

[Cha]

20. It was willard, the demon barber from hell,

all over again.

[OldDem2012]

8. Have to agree...Lehrer was worse than weak. nt.

[Lugnut]

9. Jim Lehrer is used to candidates who are gentlemen.

Mitch is no gentleman.

[C_U_L8R]

10. Romney disrespects old people

And ran over Lehrer just like he's going to run over our seniors.
When a candidate like Romney reveals who they are like this, believe him

[iemitsu]

14. if one measures respect by honesty

romney certainly fails the test.
its not just the old he has not respect for. romney does not respect anyone who is not rich.

[SmileyRose]

15. Willard disrespects ALLpeople.

Not just the geezers

[Cha]

22. Good Metaphor for

an Ad.

Newt pulled that shit in the primaries, too..how'd that work for ya, Newt?

Betcha mitt was copying him.

[iemitsu]

11. i think the debate formula was a set up for obama.

lehrer asked only questions designed to get the candidates to draw distinctions between their ideas and policy proposals.
and he didn't control romney's insistence on having the last word. i can now imagine how romney acted at univision when he threw the tantrum and forced the opening of the show to be re-taped.
of course, romney really has no clear policy proposals and obama has a four year public record.
romney could base his practiced answers and attacks on that record while obama had to rely on statements that romney and his campaign have made and retracted and reworded (often inelegantly).
armed with this jumble of pronouncements obama addressed the issues brought up by lehrer. romney then denied anything he has ever gone on record as supporting and insisted his policies would benefit the very people he vilified in the tape released last week. the lies went unchallenged and obama appeared weak.
he wasn't actually weak but untrained or inattentive observers might think that.

[glinda]

18. That pretty much sums it up.

[young_at_heart]

12. Romney had a plan to “push" (Lehrer) around

That what we all need and want in our president----a bully!

[SmileyRose]

13. Blame the victim?

That's like blaming grandma for getting hit by a bullet when the bank is robbed.

[.99center]

17. Exactly

And those that are blaming Jim are just empowering the bully. Why isn't it Rmoney's fault for treating someone with such disrespect.

[iemitsu]

19. it is romney's fault.

he was ugly tonight.
insistent and unwilling to conform to rules if he felt they left him at a disadvantage.

[SmileyRose]

23. That is ALL of Willard in one sentence

He cares about no one but himself and will stoop to anything to take everything for himself.

[NYC Liberal]

21. Because Leher DID put his foot down once or twice when he really wanted to,

and got Romney to shut up. That showed he was more than capable of reigning Romney in, but chose not to.

[iemitsu]

24. that's what i saw too.

a fained attempt to control the situation with no real intent to treat the two equally.
lehrer actually was more likely to try to stop obama from talking overtime than he was to try to keep mittens from interrupting or speaking out of turn.
while it allowed romney to grab the viewers attention the tactic did not make him look presidential or confident.
he looked stressed and frazzled.
obama looked cool as usual.