In the wake of the second presidential debate, there was
significant consternation over the role of moderator, Candy Crowley. When
Republican candidate Mitt Romney pointed to a comment by President Barrack
Obama and said he wanted it noted for the record, Crowley confirmed the record
based on a speech Obama had made in the White House Rose Garden regarding the
Libyan terror attack on a U.S. consulate. Unfortunately for Romney, the
transcript favored the president.
Facts can be both embarrassing and liberating. The truth
shall set you free. Validation of truth
is what these debates have lacked. Instead, networks like CNN have offered real-time
trend lines in green and yellow across the screen depicting word-by-word
reactions of focus groups viewing the debate. So, as a viewer, I know what
independent voters think of a candidate’s comments, but I don’t know if the
remarks are actually accurate or convenient fabrication.
We have the technology to superimpose validation on the
screen moments after a candidate makes a statement. We can also designate when
he or she is in error. When a two-minute time allotment runs out, we have the
technology to mute the speaker’s microphone. When a candidate interrupts, we
have the ability to cut off his microphone and even mask his image from
viewers. When a politician stretches the truth or snaps it in half, production
crews can superimpose a Pinocchio nose on the screen. Three Pinocchio’s and
you’re out!
The irony is, we have multiple angles and instant replays on
a sports play to determine whether the player scored. Was the ball in or out?
Was the shot down before time expired? But when life and death decisions like
foreign affairs depend on the results of an election, we have to wait days or
sometimes years to learn the truth.
But with the billions pouring into elections, don’t expect
to see any real journalism in the near future. Tight elections make the media a
lot of money. And that’s the truth.
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