Schieffer, Crowley, Lehrer to moderate presidential debates

Updated 11:55 a.m. Eastern Time

The Commission on Presidential Debates have announced the moderators for the three presidential debates and the vice presidential debate set to take place in October. Among them is the first female presidential debate moderator in two decades.

CNN's Candy Crowley is set to moderate a town hall-style debate on October 16, the second scheduled debate. The last woman to host a presidential debate was ABC News' Carole Simpson, who moderated the 1992 debate between President George H.W. Bush and candidates Bill Clinton and Ross Perot. Three teenagers from New Jersey had pressed for the Commission on Presidential Debates to choose a woman moderator for one of the presidential debates.

Moderating the third presidential debate will be CBS News' Bob Schieffer, who moderated a 2008 presidential debate between President Obama and John McCain. Schieffer, who also moderated a 2004 debate, will lead the October 22 debate in Boca Raton. The first debate, on October 3 in Denver, will be moderated by Jim Lehrer of PBS, who has moderated 11 of the past 35 presidential debates. The vice presidential debate will be moderated by Martha Raddatz of ABC News.

"These journalists bring extensive experience to the job of moderating, and understand the importance of using the expanded time periods to maximum benefit," said Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr. and Michael D. McCurry, co-chairmen of the Commission on Presidential Debates.

The first presidential debate will focus on domestic policy. The second will be a town meeting-style debate, with undecided voters posing questions. The third will focus on foreign policy.

Alan Schroeder, professor at Northeastern University and author of "Presidential Debates: 50 Years of High Risk TV," noted that Lehrer has moderated more presidential debates than anyone.

"There's a comfort level with him on the part of the debate commission but also the candidates, I would assume," he said. "He's been through this so many times."

He said the debate that Schieffer moderated in 2008 was the best of that year.

"His moderating of that final Obama/McCain debate was really a model for how this is supposed to be done," Schroeder said. "And Schieffer is particularly good in that kind of sit down, have-a-conversation format, which was the format of that debate."

Both Schieffer and Lehrer, he said, "understand the debate is not about them. You need people who understand you have to let the candidates have all the focus."

Raddatz, he said, was a surprise pick, "only because she's been reporting more Pentagon, more international affairs and has not been as active on the domestic news front - and this vice presidential debate will deal with both international and domestic topics." But he called her "a very solid reporter with an excellent reputation in the business."

Crowley, Schroeder noted, will have to deal with the added challenge of a town hall-style debate.

"In a town hall debate you're concerned about the candidates and time and content, but you're also concerned with a rather complicated process of getting the people in the audience asking the questions," he said. "But she has tons of experience in live TV and the interview format and all that so I'm not concerned that she wouldn't be able to handle it or anything."

Below, Schieffer and Lehrer discuss their experiences as debate moderators.

[Davestraub1947]

TO DR. JULIA WEEKS: To answer your questions -- A) If the bi-partisan road blocks were up again (as they were {in spades} during the Carter Admin.), The majority of Americans (obviously Republican if Romney is living in the White House) should/would pressure their reps on Capital Hill to S ___T or get off the pot. If they don't do that, there's something very wrong with our legislative system; B) What would Romney do if (blah,blah,blah). Well, Romney doesn't make $50-$70,000 a year and I'm sure he has insurance. So ???? You can't play "what if" games just because you're not happy with the way the debate went. Obama was outclassed and Romney was so well read on the issues, he sounded like a prepared Ph.D thesis in APA format - with all of the sources given proper attribution. Dave (former CNN anchor /NBC Carter Admin. reporter).

[genny2012]

In watching the presidential debate tonight on Wed, Oct 3 I find myself getting angry because moderator Lehrer is allowing Governor Romney have the last word on every single segment. And he has cut of the president when he has tried to get a last word in. This makes the debate seem very lopsided and shame on Lehrer.

[drjuliaweeksworldview]

Would the moderators of the presidential debates please ask the following questions of Mr. Romney: 1). What would Mr. Romney do if he becomes President and Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and any other leader of the Democratic Party tells the other members of their party to thwart and or block any action attempted byhim; in other words, to attempt to make sure he is a one term president; 2)What would Mr. Romney do if he was an average Jo making around $50 to 70 thousand a year, and lost his job and insurance, but still had to provide for his wife's illness. Outside of the emergency room, which cannot be used for long term care and living in Massachusetts, exactly how would Mr. Romney take care if his wife?

[LisaFP]

Bob Scheiffer as a moderator? I watch CBS every morning and I have seen repeated, blantant instances of bias. His personal political views are extremely obvious. To present commentary as "news" is deceptive. He clearly lacks the self control needed for a moderator.

[ainttherenomore]

Couldn't agree more. Here is a question: When, just when are they going to allow at least one of these debates to moderated by a conservative moderator, I don't know, say someone from the #1 watched news source in America...FOX NEWS???????? I personally am so tired of watching liberal moderators lean the debate towards Obama & Biden, and cut off the republicans, ask extra questions of republicans to "get the question answered," then let the democrats get away with NOT ANSWERING THE QUESTION! ie) Obama last night on the man,s question of who made the decision to cut security in Libya! While we are at it, why do these moderators always give more time to the democrats??? How about in this modern day of digital timing devices, we balance it out in the end and allow whomever has had less time overall to make it up in speaking on any topic he chooses or add it to his closing statement? SEEMS FAIR TO ME!

[GOP-R--Con-Men]

Who is Paul Ryan?

A catholic who rejects the teachings of Jesus Christ for the philosophy of atheist Ayn Rand. Nice pick Mitt

[ainttherenomore]

Guess like Obama, just throw it out there, and his voters will believe it! Here's a question for ya since you are interested in following the teachings of Jesus Christ, as well you should be, and since you picked the Catholic faith. Does Biden, a professed Catholic, who "supports" his church's stance on abortion, but prefers to push Obama's efforts to increase our already shameful access and payment for abortions on people rather than push the church's stance on them, think he'll meet Obama on the last day for judgement...or GOD? And futher, since he seems to be only (and barely that) a Catholic on Sunday, would he at least lobby to outlaw abortions on the Lord's day! that is how rediculous his statement in the debate sounded to me and lots of others. He and Pelosi should be excomunicated from the church if the church truly believed in church discipline!

[fredfons]

How can you have a Bob Scheiffer moderate after making the comment on CBS Morning "I can't believe such a nice guy like" Paul Ryan can have the views he has

[tsigili]

To be entirely candid......Scheiffer is a blatant Democrat, and far too biased, to moderate a debate. CBS should seriously reconsider that.

[AnOldAmerican]

In the various discussions on cuts in Medicare and Social Security I have never heard anyone mention cuts to Congressional or presidential pensions and medical.
1 Exactly what medical care do congress men and women and their families recieve and how much do they pay for this medical care.
2. How much does this cost taxpayers?
3. What about the pension they recieve for serving in any form of government, are they willing to eliminate this?
4. How much are we paying for politican's pensions?
Remember those of us that reeive social security have paid into this system for many long years while the politicians have not paid nto the system.

[justaworker]

I can answer that question, I work for a former Member of Congress. At age 62 they start collecting their retirement, which is based upon their final salary in office. My former member collects $10k per month and will do so for the rest of his life. WE THE PEOPLE pay for this extravigant retirement, along with his unbelievable health coverage -- which is also paid by the taxpayers for he and his wife for the remainder of their lives. Just remember, a majority of former congressmen and senators retire from office and land six figure and seven figure salaries and benefits ON TOP OF THE THEIR CONGRESSIONAL RETIREMENT! Romney and Ryan call Social Security an ENTITLEMENT, well, the real entitlement are these bloated congressional retirements! I don't understand why former members get paid benefits for life on top of landing cushy executive jobs? I don't hear one member, democratic or republican saying that they will forego their retirement benefits. Its criminal!

[Concernedgrandmaof8]

I would just like for CBS to choose to be a leader and report fairly on both sides of all issues so the American people would have the facts they need to decide what type of country we want for our children and grandchildren. However the news media and journalists cannot seem to get their own biases out of the way. The reason freedom of the press was included in the 1st Amendment was to make sure the people could always be informed. Too bad so many news organizations including CBS have warped that basic right.

[GOP-R--Con-Men]

Schieffer, Crowley, Lehrer to moderate presidential debates

Moderators please ask Romney & Ryan = Team Wall Street where will women get basic health care if they defund planned parenthood and eliminate the Affordable Health Care Act as they propose?