A growing chorus of critics is decrying the Commission of Presidential Debates’ decision to not include a single journalist of color among the presidential (and vice presidential) debate moderators this year.
This week it was revealed that Jim Lehrer, Bob Schieffer, Candy Crowley and Martha Raddatz would moderate the 2012 debates in the fall. This announcement was slammed by the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) and the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies.
Representatives of the Spanish language network Univision have also expressed displeasure with the lack of debate moderator diversity.
Now, reportedly, a celebrated black journalist, who has moderated vice presidential debates in the past, is speaking out as well.
“I was indeed disappointed,” PBS’ Gwen Ifill told the New York Times, which reports that she is “livid” about not being offered a role as a moderator this year despite the fact that Lehrer had previously said he didn’t want the job and she had ably filled the role during the 2004 and 2008 debates.
Meanwhile, right wing shock jock Rush Limbaugh has come out against the moderators as well, calling them all “far, far left wing.”