After the most recent presidential candidate debate, it is apparent to almost everyone that the journalistic moderation of presidential debates is damaging our civic process.  As a debate professional, I have struggled with the American presidential debate process directly since 1992.  I have written and argued with some vehemence that we must reform the debates – especially in relation to the moderators.  Journalists are understandably reluctant to give up their gateway control of the presidential political process.  Journalists believe that their role is legitimate because as members of a free press, they should and must interrogate candidates about their beliefs, behaviors, and potential fitness for public office. Yet the journalistic right of interrogation is damaging the civic practice of debate in serous ways that cannot remain unchallenged.  Moderators should serve the role of facilitating debate, not destroying it, as we saw in recent...(Read Full Article)