Former Presidential Debate Moderator: Fact Checking Is Part Of The Job
Donald Trump's campaign is not based on facts so they've been very vocal in demanding that presidential debate moderators shouldn't be fact checking the candidates.
Bob Schieffer, a CBS news veteran and former presidential debate moderator had a very different idea of what the job of a debate moderator is.
CBS' Face The Nation host John Dickerson asked, "There's been a big question about fact-checking and what the moderator's role should be in that. How do you see that question?"
The only reason there are questions about fact checking is because Trump is against it.
Schieffer replied, "Well -- and I've said and I've thought about this over the years, after doing these things -- the first fact-checkers have to be the candidates themselves. If one candidate makes a mistake, you want to give the other person a chance to call him out on that."
This is very smart from Schieffer, but he didn't stop there.
Schieffer said, "If he or she doesn't, then the moderator steps in and sets the record straight. But if you don't give the candidates themselves that opportunity, you're being unfair to both of them."
Hear that, Lester?
Do not be intimidated by the Trump campaign. It's your job to run the debate and if candidates lie with impunity, then it won't be a debate at all.
Don't let the debate get Lauer'd.