The Courant is running this article discussing the next Senate debate in Connecticut, which is being run by WFSB, Channel 3.
One good thing about it:
Wednesday’s taping of the second of three debates will feature the top contenders - incumbent Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman and anti-war Democratic nominee Ned Lamont - along with Schlesinger, Ralph Ferrucci of the Green Party and Timothy Knibbs of the Concerned Citizens Party.
It’s good to see the minor party candidates getting the stage along with the major candidates. It’s probably hypocritical to deny them debate access, considering that Ferrucci and Knibbs probably aren’t polling that far behind Schlesinger.
The downside of the debate:
The Hartford CBS affiliate has banned representatives of the news media - other than its own - from Wednesday’s 3 p.m. taping of the debate that is to be moderated by national CBS newsman Bob Schieffer before an audience of specially invited guests at The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts.
After a news blackout of 27 hours, WFSB plans to show the canned one-hour event Thursday at 7 p.m.
“We’re renting the hall, it’s our debate, and we’ll invite who we want to invite” - that was Channel 3’s position, as paraphrased by Richard Foley, campaign manager for Republican candidate Alan Schlesinger.
I’m sorry, but a political debate ought to either aired live-and-uncensored or be available (within reason) to viewing by the general public. To do otherwise is to open the door to the debate sponsor being able to creatively sculpt the responses.
I doubt that that’s going to happen, but given all the concerns about fairness and accuracy in American elections these days… I’m going to be uncomfortable with any practice that doesn’t promote openness.