Fact-Checks on Trump During Presidential Debate Stir Controversy

The Epoch Times Header

One-sided fact checks raise questions over neutrality in presidential debate.

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trumpโ€™s presidential debate continues to generate attention as some media critics allege bias against the Republican candidate by ABC moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis.

The duo undertook the first live fact-checking of presidential candidates by debate hosts.

Previously, that function had been left to journalists behind the scenes, who published their findings separately from the debate itself.

Much of the criticism has been leveled at the moderators.

โ€œThey werenโ€™t necessarily in control of what was going on, and they only fact-checked one of the two candidates,โ€ Andrew Selepak, a professor of journalism at the University of Florida, told The Epoch Times.

โ€œA good moderator asks serious questions on serious topics and doesnโ€™t โ€˜fact check in real-time,โ€™โ€ Tim Graham of the conservative Media Research Center told The Epoch Times.

โ€œThey were excellent. Kept the debate moving on track,โ€ Robert Shapiro, a political science professor from Columbia University, told The Epoch Times.

โ€œAsking good questions that most Americans want answered, pushing the candidates to try to actually answer them but then move on, control the candidates to follow the rules and keep within the time limits,โ€ are what make for good moderation, Steven Fein, a professor at Williams College, whose specialties include media and presidential debates, told The Epoch Times.

The controversy over this debate may point to the larger problem of effectively holding presidential candidates accountable for their remarks in real time, essentially correcting sound bytes with sound bytes on live TV.

Fact-Checking

Moderators challenged four of Trumpโ€™s responses and none of Harrisโ€™s, which prompted the claim of bias.

When speaking of abortion, Trump referred to a former state governor saying: โ€œHe said the baby will be born and we will decide what to do with the baby. In other words, we’ll execute the baby.โ€

He was referring to former Virginia Gov. Ralph Northamโ€™s 2019 comment on a proposed law concerning late-term abortion in cases of severe deformity or a non-viable fetus.

In a radio interview, Northam said: โ€œThe infant would be delivered; the infant would be kept comfortable; the infant would be resuscitated if thatโ€™s what the mother and the family desire, and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother.โ€

ABC moderator Davis said, โ€œThere is no state in this country where it is legal to kill a baby after itโ€™s born.โ€

Byย Lawrence Wilson,ย Jacob Burgย andย Jackson Richman

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

Beijing and Moscow Double Down on Propping Up Tehran, Threaten to Give It Nukes

As anyone who understands how these things unfold could...

The Looming Threat To Our Homeland

After success of โ€œOperation Midnight Hammer,โ€ where U.S. military bombed Iranian nuclear facilities, the threat to America has never been greater.

Trumpโ€™s Bold Strike on Iran: A Necessary Move for Global Securityย 

Trumpโ€™s airstrikes on Iranโ€™s nuclear facilities have been hailed as a courageous and necessary action to safeguard American interests and global stability.

Groundhog Day came late this year to the Land of Smiles.

itโ€™s the same rigmarole, on whatever pretext, the army commandeers the Thai state with vague promises to restore democracy at some unspecified future date.

Resource number one

Russia has an unsustainable birthrate worsened by mortality rate of Russian males through war and alcoholism. One solution, steal young children from other countries.ย 

Boeing, FAA Share Blame for Door Panel Flying Off During Alaska Airlines Flight: NTSB

The sudden midair door panel blowout on Alaska Airlines flight last year stemmed from failures by Boeing, its supplier Spirit AeroSystems, and the FAA.

RFK Jr. Says Pregnant Women Can Get COVID-19 Vaccine If They Choose To

Pregnant women can get COVID-19 vaccines, even after CDC stopped recommending shots during pregnancy, Sec. RFK, Jr. told members of Congress.

Texas Governor Signs Law Requiring Warning Labels on Some Foods

Texas is requiring companies to add warning labels to some foods, under the Texas MAHA legislation bill signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott.

21.8 Million US Seniors Paying for Expenses With Only Social Security Income: Survey

An estimated 21.8 million senior citizens in America make ends meet solely using their social security funds, The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) said.

Trump Arrives in Netherlands for NATO Summit, With Defense Spending High on Agenda

President Donald Trump arrived in Amsterdam on Tuesday to attend the NATO summit, which is being held in The Hague from June 24 to 25.

Major Victory for Trump Administration and the American People on Deporting Criminal Illegal Aliens to Third Countries

Supreme Court decision allows DHS to deport criminal illegal aliens who are not wanted in their home country to third countries who've agreed to accept them.

No Changes Planned for FDAโ€™s Vaccine Advisory Committee โ€˜At This Timeโ€™: Spokesperson

There are no plans to remove any members of the panel that advises the FDA on vaccines, a spokesperson said on June 20.

Trump Says Trade Deals Expected With India and Pakistan

President Trump expects US will sign trade deals with India and Pakistan, signaling growing momentum in push to reshape global trade through tariff diplomacy.
spot_img

Related Articles