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Lehrer: I Never Intended to Have Control
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PBS’s Jim Lehrer discusses the first Presidential debate and how it will impact the election.
- Duration 5:13
- Date Oct 8, 2012
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PBS’s Jim Lehrer discusses the first Presidential debate and how it will impact the election.
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Morning to -- misalignment.
Good morning mr.
Imus -- companion good Cesar Garcia -- -- debate tonight.
What sense did you get as a debate.
Each thanked president elect and honor of them or whatever it well you not to fly to UBB straight about it.
I came away from that think just delighted.
That for the first time in American political history and an incumbent present United States.
On the same stage looking right at eight challenger who is challenging him and they were -- back and forth that it.
And that's never have -- for.
There is a good look at the presidential debates before I moderated much -- you know M two minute answers one -- -- all very can.
And look at this campaign can't stop thrilling meaning canned speech is commercial but here you had a wide open.
And that's what was intended by the debate commission.
And I signed on -- try to get that to happen.
Yes sure there are things it we're not perfect end to end in some respects I guess from some people's point of view relates from my point of view.
And clearly from their reaction.
The American public part of point of view is my god this wasn't real debate for change and so I have -- -- -- -- did you lose control of the event.
You would sit on her head control never intended to have control.
And I know that's what people Selma -- he lost control well the point of the exercise was for me not to control.
Which for me to stand back and see -- -- could -- -- you never know they're gonna do that are not know enough prepared to do the old thing if they didn't do it.
But they did.
And now Ron McBride -- Obama and I eventually started looking back and you know the -- there -- some there are moments.
Don when -- they just it was just.
The two of them talking to each other to me now if those were magic times those of the things we've never ever seen before.
And whether or not -- people or following the substance of what they were saying -- -- cases -- war but you also have to see that two people.
And the two men -- who is already the president one wants to be president and you can take the measure of a man I just autos terrific.
There was a consensus.
That president -- off tonight.
Even from our main.
For example.
-- Michael Moore so that's what you get constant.
Dollar from a -- but what -- does president Renee and John Kerry is a debate -- Bill Morris.
-- ominous under the present a million dollar and nobody thought he did well.
-- -- -- But did you think as you were during a debate looking.
That's presidency he seemed almost disengaged.
Did you get the sense that he wasn't doing well.
I didn't -- everything will have to watch you I am so concentrated in those and just and is really catch -- work I don't -- -- -- -- -- and that's part stuff.
And my concentration which completely.
On what was going on.
And and and going on in terms of making sure that they do the best I could at least to make sure of the time means were right and that that.
Everything -- running well.
I was not sitting there -- This schedule is growing me you know has gone undone while others got really don't -- whatever -- so I was not I know -- -- my judgment Jean.
Turn off.
For that ninety minutes and now I just -- David I -- cluttered everything amend mating things even worse for me.
So I wasn't thinking -- while.
I knew a couple of times I thought -- I thought the president should be -- more.
Now add to and Obama but -- I mean that Romney but it wasn't thinking -- -- -- -- my goodness the president has fouled up here than.
That's for other people to -- also keep in mind.
I'm sitting you know from here there -- -- not much further than I am from -- -- And that this was for the 67 million people who -- -- television so I had no idea.
How was coming on across the people who watched on television -- I -- just I'm the last one in the world frankly.
To judge those things in men and as -- -- -- job -- Original -- is the wrong one of my favorite novel of really all time wide Toronto.
Which is monitored ports of emerald zone I still think about to -- archers and embark SMS spent years in Sharon I still think about.
Most like our remember -- From -- from a from an adult tolls assumed name going on didn't initially to -- you know -- -- the -- Same with the white little.
-- please -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Yeah the most -- Yes certainly.
It's elusive it will -- memorable at this moment he knows.
After after a wake up and -- today's.
Oh sure -- -- and anybody who says -- He says they were nervous people are here is zero -- -- parents you know sure I was nervous.
I mean no new means to be we're going to be watching a -- -- -- had the potential.
For.
Found -- somebody's campaign for reelection or somebody's campaign for election.
And I don't wanna make any mistakes and be the cause of that so yes I was nervous and I realize that I had to.
I had a huge a huge job to do there and it may be nervous no question about it you've been up mr.
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