Imagine what the reaction would be if only black and brown moderators and voters were permitted to ask questions during the presidential debates.
So why has the Commission on Presidential Debates limited all but three of the dozens of questions during the debates to questions from white moderators and voters?
The lack of racial diversity in the presidential debates is very troubling. No black, Hispanic or Asian moderators participated this year and only one black person was permitted to ask a question in the town hall meeting debate. Two questions came from Latino voters. All other questioners – whether voters or moderators – were and will be white.
How is it possible that, as our country becomes more and more diverse, only one black person was given an opportunity to ask a question of the candidates? And why was that one question completely unrepresentative of what the vast majority of black people are thinking in this election – “I voted for you last time, why should I vote for you again?” Considering that 98% of black voters will likely vote for President Obama, this was a very odd choice of question. It suggests that the President’s failure to secure the support of every single black person in the country is a problem, while Romney’s failure to obtain or even seek the votes of 98% of black Americans is not even worthy of note. It would have been much more instructive to have a black person ask Mitt Romney to explain why any African American in their right mind should even consider voting for him.
MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell last night slammed the Debate Commission for limiting the questioners to “undecided voters.” He noted that. not only does this reward unengaged and disinterested voters (how can anyone who is paying attention be undecided at this point?), but it effectively freezes out the voices of African Americans, the vast majority of whom are very decided.
It’s wonderful that we have a black president. But it’s a shame that, during this year’s presidential debates, President Obama is the only person of color permitted to say anything.