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Will America Tune Into Upcoming Debates?

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    PBS’s Jim Lehrer on the importance of the Presidential debates.

  • Duration 7:58
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And -- you don't.

And -- a runners tourism so comment.

Well here's my view that and and not defensive about it -- you an apologetic about it the way this thing was working.

And the way I wanted to work.

Was if you have somebody I get challenged if if somebody's gonna challenge Romney about the 47% he was gonna have to be the candidate.

-- it's gonna have to be the president and vice Versa.

They were they -- to do the challenging they were there to do the debating I was there to facilitate the challenges to facilitate the debate.

I was this was not that I was determined.

That this would not going to be -- year routine kind of simultaneous one on one interviews I'll interview the president.

And then I'll interview governor Romney in column follow what -- that's how do that tells them all the time and -- -- -- -- now a lot of these debates were.

This was an opportunity.

That the debate commission provided for the country I think -- -- -- very strong about it is that debate commission really kind of sucked it up and said let's try.

-- trial will you help me and I said yeah -- we publicize it yes how well could I really thought it was you know I really terrific candidate.

And so but part of my decision making in terms -- getting ready.

I was not there to -- you know do a lot of -- I was prepared to do it.

I was prepared to do good.

But if they've if the candidates wouldn't do it themselves and have a listen -- a go I'm gonna follow up on -- follow on on different and similar -- -- I'm part of the seventeen until nor do I go on these depressed size and well I think this ended I don't know if they decide anything in the long run.

I think -- acute have been hugely important event in this election in the election campaign 2000 well.

This first today.

Was a huge event in that process and of course we're -- -- -- well he sometimes it is sometimes it is about now because that's when took has gotten so much attention.

My guess is that the vice presidential debate on Thursday in the two -- following.

Presidents of major going to be a lot more important and they have the task of -- -- -- wanna see while how they gonna do it next time etc.

I think it's this I think it's a terrific thing.

They're more it 67 million people watching the problem -- those 67 -- PeopleSoft.

Excerpts from Aladdin have read about it it's become a big event.

And in the -- in the process and now and constricting.

The human.

-- supposed to pay attention.

All this tell fly I -- and start.

And attention to -- selection until this debate.

Alone even know -- -- of these.

Pollster told -- I thought you -- you -- guidance don't but I and I suspect most of the public.

That is well amendment does so this first about it was on the -- not reform society and already are not.

Allowed to -- that -- -- its first order keyed in on what's going on on stuff long total.

-- -- -- -- That's why this debate because it is -- -- so important.

It's not just the timing that -- I would add to be the timing of course part of because ought to be if you say like you -- people have not pay -- attention.

But they paid attention and they saw all these two guys -- -- take to measure the two of them watch how they reacted.

As Wilson is the words they used to do that and and how they do you know interacted not sort of stuff and it's a terrific beginning for people who were beginning to focus on the.

Action before the debate started -- -- along revenue on status report.

We actually -- -- just a matter just for it and they just come letter to come right now because don't they meet backstage do -- I don't know I don't know it's all alone.

It's all.

Isolation chamber of stuff all of these twelve debates -- moderated.

-- this citizens the most interest -- at least its most recent shipments of sure.

But what she -- all the -- -- him.

Well -- 2004.

Or between John Kerry end and George W.

Bush the first debate down in and Coral Gables, Florida.

It was doing the we it was after 9/11.

The Iraq War was already underway and -- -- -- really meaningful exchanges with them.

Between jurors every bush and and net John Kerry about the issues raised there but here again it was a very restricted format so they -- They weren't really able to engage head on like they were last nine many other doesn't mean I'm.

You know -- do you know I've I've -- two Q1 time between George H.

W.

Bush when George HW questions and amount of other answer and I tell mr.

value vice president on them as much as -- time is up -- -- is that.

I'm not to not to -- time and said in in my -- the producer said.

He strategy and -- had a sales -- presidential sorry continue mr.

Buffett go ahead.

And he -- forgot what -- -- and up like an idiot.

That's obviously an honor to be asked to do this so what it is for -- no question that social not never thought in my Clinton sage of all of the Internet and blogs and admirably to -- some assault instant reaction -- everything.

Zain do damage -- second thoughts about -- sure you mean about to debated Ottawa blood -- -- Akashi has wanted for assessing you know now and imam my life among three dollars and no you could had already pretty much -- don't.

And I don't have pretty much they're not set -- -- anymore.

And the only reason I agreed to do this is -- you can debate commission -- good people.

And good people from both parties who have good people experience people came to -- today the the they wanna try this to open it up.

And asked if I would do it incumbent you know would agree to it considered -- -- allotted to make up a -- -- and I did it reluctantly.

And and there were a couple of times the other -- Wednesday night I thought well maybe.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- And -- -- also how way you know it's -- mean it was -- And there ebb and end when I was not when sol sender and -- -- talking to you now.

I have absolutely no second thoughts about it I'm delighted that did it did -- -- in rid of whatever little small contribution -- -- and it was really small I'm not a new.

Just get a man there all that but -- I think the end result was worth it and I feel good about it.

As a -- -- you.

All -- general surgeon.

Who who was the best competitors.

But it is the producer it and it's not fair to ask me no doubt they'll have just -- it.

What prompted this -- just turned into the camera here today we did was Bill Clinton -- as I mean Clinton Clinton just comes in their ready yet.

Ready to engage easily engage new -- don't give it to natural act to him he doesn't have to -- -- to get ready to engage.

And for -- politics in which you think about him -- sad fact is as a debater he's the pastor I've ever.

In and all the ones it that I have been involved and I as a moderator he says he's he's he's it mr.

Romney and his -- -- I don't wanna I don't know what I I'm I missed the news I mean I'm watch the news I'm I'm very very proud of but we -- created and I'm delighted about the team and how their act Alex say how it's going for them and going for the country because of them.

And but the you -- TV journalism.

I've done for fifty years and I'm I'm free of that daily you know no matter what else I had to do underwriter prevention -- sure -- every day and you know got another novel sort of finishing out coming -- to -- next year revenue rent rent a little play that.

Don Alexander Graham Bell that on you know some.

I had a good time practical -- I took Aurora took.

-- from all of that to get ready for this debate and do than debate and on the right back to that.

Or is necessary dollars and asked me and you always been nice to me in general and be -- -- regatta.

And brick ranch coming -- fox -- and milk.

The clean as a whistle man I'm Jim Lehrer and abstinent rambler -- fascinated -- of the strong division -- that's out there provide --

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