Where’s Waldo? Who cares? I want to know where Lester Holt (the so-called moderator of the first presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump), disappeared to. I believe Lester had a well-defined task, moderate, keep the candidates focused on the question at hand, and enforce the mutually-agreed upon rules of debate.
If you watched the debate, you already know the problem. Trump repeatedly and rudely interrupted Hillary during her allotted time to speak. What did Holt do? He timidly (and ineffectively) reminded Trump that it was Hillary’s two minutes. Please! Can we find a moderator who's fair to both parties, who actually enforces the rules, who takes charge and keeps the candidates on point?
The second debate is scheduled for Sunday, October 9th. Any field-tested, battle-hardened kindergarten teacher might have some practical advice for the moderator. Set clear rules and enforce them with consequences for ignoring the rules and rewards for complying with the rules. Now, no one is suggesting that Lester should have sent Trump to a “time out” corner but how about the following?
1. If either candidate interrupts the other, a buzzer will sound. The moderator will pause the debate and the offender will be given a warning. If it happens a second time, another warning. A third offense triggers a consequence. The microphone of the candidate doing the interrupting is turned off and the camera is turned toward the other candidate. The other candidate is rewarded with an extra 30 seconds of speaking time. Outcome? The offender is “punished.” The one who complies “rewarded.”
2. If either candidate avoids answering the moderator’s question and instead attempts to deliver an off-topic sound byte, again the same “three strikes and you’re out” rule applies. The offending party’s microphone is muted and the camera pans away to the opposing candidate. Again, the other candidate is awarded an extra 30 seconds of air time. The offender is “punished.” The one who complies “rewarded.”
3. Finally, let's offer candidates a bonus reward for actually staying on topic throughout the debate. If both comply, both earn an extra minute that can be used during the closing speech. If one complies and the other doesn’t, the offender loses a minute and that minute is awarded to the other. If neither stays on topic—if both are non-compliant—then both candidates lose a precious minute from the closing statement.
If a kindergarten teacher can control a room full of 5-year old’s, certainly two adults can do it! The secret? A confident, courageous, take-charge moderator—the kind of a moderator that could survive a kindergarten classroom.