Why Stephanopoulos Should Not Moderate 2016 Election Coverage

A recent Rasmussen poll found that 46 percent of Americans want ABC News chief anchor George Stephanopoulos banned from all 2016 campaign coverage following the revelation last week that he’d failed to disclose 75,000 in personal donations to the Clinton Foundation.  He has already bowed out of his scheduled appearance to moderate ABC’s February GOP debate in New Hampshire.

Did he fail to disclose his contribution?  Yes.  But more importantly, Stephanopoulos has a clear liberal bias.  He is a former staffer for President Bill Clinton who continues to have close ties to the Clinton family.  His reporting has a continual liberal drumbeat.

Can he truly be an effective moderator for the debate?

No, he can’t.  The moderator’s role is to be the champion for the audience, asking the questions they want answered.  He (or she) is to be neutral & objective, withholding his or her own personal opinions and judgment. The moderator doesn’t show bias or favoritism toward any particular side.

A moderator can affect the outcome of the debate, much like Candy Crawley in the Obama/Romney debate of  2012.  We certainly don’t need to see that happen again!

Of course, all moderators have an opinion; however, they need to refrain from showing their opinion and biases.  AND the audience (in this case the American public) needs to believe that the moderator is unbiased and acting on their behalf.

America deserves someone who can be an objective champion for the American people during the upcoming presidential debates.

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