MediaBistro Poll: Was Tim Russert a Fair Debate Moderator?

Take the poll here.

I'm no Hillary sycophant, but Timmeh was in conspicuous Clinton-bash mode.

Flashback to 1998:



ON EDIT: At time of posting, 67% said YES. Let's turn it around...

he all of sudden change his stripes and be a fair Dem Moderator?

HELLO!

It was ridiculous for him to bring up the UFO question. He's one hell of a lousy moderator.

What's the point? Who cares?

We learn NOTHING in these debates. This is a new low after the "what's your favorite Bible verse" gem.

I thought Dick was bad about Hillary, but Tim has been after Hillary since 2000.

He really looked pathetic directing every question to her and waving his paper at her.

Obviously, it was an attack on Clinton the way he phrased it but it will be used against every candidate who answered in the assent.

Than the majority of GOP candidates not believing in evolution. :(

I didn't think he, or anyone could possibly dare spend a debate trashing one candidate. I'm not a big Clinton fan, and she is not my candidate, but this was inexcusable. Tim was dishonest, too...as he surely knew, Clinton did NOT say to Russert that she would not consider lifting the cap for Social Security. Tim claimed she told him "no." She did not. She gave a rather long, nuanced answer, because it's not something you can give a yes or no answer to, if you're honest. You may not LIKE her answer, and I didn't like all of it, but it was certainly not a "no" except in Timeh's fevered imagination.

Tim asked 52 questions in that debate. Of those, 25 were aimed at, or about, Clinton. Of the 25, 22 specifically trashed her character and honesty. No matter what you think of Hillary Clinton, this isn't the way to moderate ANY debate. I've seen grade school debates that were better moderated...certainly more fairly run. Tim isn't even pretending anymore. ANd if we approve of these tactics, it will happen again, and again, and again, just as in the media's war on Gore in the 2000 election. Yes, it will happen to YOUR candidate if he or she wins the nomination.

And remember...

What if one of them said "Tim, I'm not going to answer that question, and I don't think any of my colleagues up here should either. Try again."

I mean literally, what exactly would happen?