A debate moderator's functions include keeping the debate process orderly and on topic, enforcing debate rules, asking questions and maintaining time limits for responses. (from ehow.com)

1.  Name the moderators for each of the 4 debates.

2.  What is significant about the moderators chosen for the 2012 presidential debates?

3.  What is the format for the debate Ms. Crowley will be moderating?

4.  How many Americans signed the petition requesting the Debate Commission to pick a woman moderator?

5.  Fox News has higher ratings (more viewers) than CNN or MSNBC. As with CNN and MSNBC, people seem to either like Fox News Channel or hate it.  Many Republicans say that the moderators chosen for the debates favor the Democratic candidate, either subtly or overtly, as the vast majority of major media members are Democrats themselves.  Many liberals say the major media (ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, NY Times) is not biased, but Fox News is.  Should a Fox News anchor also have been chosen to moderate one of the presidential debates?  Explain your answer.

6.  There are many members of the media.  However, Jim Lehrer of PBS has been chosen as a moderator at least 11 times; Bob Shieffer three.  Should the same news people always be chosen to moderate?  Explain your answer.

7.  NewWorldEncyclopedia defines ideology as a set of ideas or beliefs that determines a perspective with which to interpret social and political realities.  Which is more important: to choose debate moderators with diverse ideologies or moderators from diverse social categories (sex, race, religion, age, disability, gender)? Explain your answer.

CHALLENGE QUESTIONS:

From paragraph #10:  "Women and men will never be truly equal in our country until they're one and the same in positions of power and both visible in politics," the girls wrote, noting that women will not be represented on either presidential ticket this year.

Consider the following: Hilary Clinton ran for president in the 2008 Democratic primary and Sarah Palin was the Republican vice-presidential candidate in the 2008 election.  Michelle Bachmann ran for president in the 2012 Republican primary. [per wikipedia: In 1984, Democratic presidential candidate Walter Mondale selected Geraldine Ferraro to be his running mate. In doing so she became the only Italian American to be a major-party national nominee in addition to being the first woman.] 

Yahoo, eBay, Hewlitt Packard, Pepsi, Xerox and Kraft are some of the companies whose chief executives are women.  The current Secretary of State is a woman; the previous administration's Secretary of State was a woman.  Several supreme court justices are women.

a) Do you think women and men have similar opportunities for success at this point in time in our country?  Explain your answer.  Be specific.
b) Should voters elect the candidate that is closest to their social category, whether it is age, race, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, etc.? Explain your answer.
c) Can only a person who belongs the same social category as you adequately represent you? Explain your answer.

NOTE: Tomorrow's Daily News Article will be about last night's first Presidential debate.

ATTENTION TEACHERS (Regarding the “Answers” email):
We recently switched to a new email service provider. If you have any problems receiving your “Answers” email, please contact us at webmaster@StudentNewsDaily.com.