Harris relents on muting debate microphones

[ThatRobGuy]

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/09/04/harris-trump-debate-muted-microphones-00177420

The vice president made an unsuccessful push to have Donald Trump’s microphone left on when it wasn’t the former president’s turn to speak.

Vice President Kamala Harris agreed to ABC News’ rules, relenting on her campaign’s demand that both candidates’ microphones be unmuted for all 90 minutes they are on stage.

In a letter to the network, Harris’ senior adviser for communications Brian Fallon wrote that he believed the format “fundamentally disadvantaged” the vice president, denying the former prosecutor the opportunity to fully cross-examine the GOP nominee, according to a person familiar with the missive.

The muted mic, Fallon wrote, “will serve to shield Donald Trump from direct exchanges with the Vice President. We suspect this is the primary reason for his campaign’s insistence on muted microphones.”


It's an odd turn of events. The reason they went to muted mics before was because of Trump's non-stop interruptions in the 2020 debates and Biden's team was asking for it, while Trump's team was criticizing the muted mic rule claiming it was "tilting it in favor of Biden"

Now they seem to have switched positions, Trump wants them muted, and Kamala wants them unmuted.


Perhaps I'm a tad cynical, but am I the only one who thinks that the argument and party-switch on the "muted vs. unmuted mics" has nothing to do with decorum (pertaining to interruptions) and/or "being able to cross-examine the opponent", and has everything to do with Kamala wanting to make sure there's ample opportunities to use her "I'm speaking" catchphrase that people are wearing on t-shirts now (and Trump not wanting her to be able to use it).

 

[iluvatar5150]

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/09/04/harris-trump-debate-muted-microphones-00177420

The vice president made an unsuccessful push to have Donald Trump’s microphone left on when it wasn’t the former president’s turn to speak.

Vice President Kamala Harris agreed to ABC News’ rules, relenting on her campaign’s demand that both candidates’ microphones be unmuted for all 90 minutes they are on stage.

In a letter to the network, Harris’ senior adviser for communications Brian Fallon wrote that he believed the format “fundamentally disadvantaged” the vice president, denying the former prosecutor the opportunity to fully cross-examine the GOP nominee, according to a person familiar with the missive.

The muted mic, Fallon wrote, “will serve to shield Donald Trump from direct exchanges with the Vice President. We suspect this is the primary reason for his campaign’s insistence on muted microphones.”


It's an odd turn of events. The reason they went to muted mics before was because of Trump's non-stop interruptions in the 2020 debates and Biden's team was asking for it, while Trump's team was criticizing the muted mic rule claiming it was "tilting it in favor of Biden"

Now they seem to have switched positions, Trump wants them muted, and Kamala wants them unmuted.


Perhaps I'm a tad cynical, but am I the only one who thinks that the argument and party-switch on the "muted vs. unmuted mics" has nothing to do with decorum (pertaining to interruptions) and/or "being able to cross-examine the opponent", and has everything to do with Kamala wanting to make sure there's ample opportunities to use her "I'm speaking" catchphrase that people are wearing on t-shirts now (and Trump not wanting her to be able to use it).

They both know it's a trap for Trump.

 

[zippy2006]

The only interesting question is: Does Harris' team know how silly these tactics look? The muted-mic debate was the best thing since sliced bread. This is an overt attempt to avoid a setting where real answers can be given.

 

[RestoreTheJoy]

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/09/04/harris-trump-debate-muted-microphones-00177420

The vice president made an unsuccessful push to have Donald Trump’s microphone left on when it wasn’t the former president’s turn to speak.

Vice President Kamala Harris agreed to ABC News’ rules, relenting on her campaign’s demand that both candidates’ microphones be unmuted for all 90 minutes they are on stage.

In a letter to the network, Harris’ senior adviser for communications Brian Fallon wrote that he believed the format “fundamentally disadvantaged” the vice president, denying the former prosecutor the opportunity to fully cross-examine the GOP nominee, according to a person familiar with the missive.

The muted mic, Fallon wrote, “will serve to shield Donald Trump from direct exchanges with the Vice President. We suspect this is the primary reason for his campaign’s insistence on muted microphones.”


It's an odd turn of events. The reason they went to muted mics before was because of Trump's non-stop interruptions in the 2020 debates and Biden's team was asking for it, while Trump's team was criticizing the muted mic rule claiming it was "tilting it in favor of Biden"

Now they seem to have switched positions, Trump wants them muted, and Kamala wants them unmuted.


Perhaps I'm a tad cynical, but am I the only one who thinks that the argument and party-switch on the "muted vs. unmuted mics" has nothing to do with decorum (pertaining to interruptions) and/or "being able to cross-examine the opponent", and has everything to do with Kamala wanting to make sure there's ample opportunities to use her "I'm speaking" catchphrase that people are wearing on t-shirts now (and Trump not wanting her to be able to use it).

This is not a cynical take. It's an obvious one.

 

[iluvatar5150]

The only interesting question is: Does Harris' team know how silly these tactics look? The muted-mic debate was the best thing since sliced bread. This is an overt attempt to avoid a setting where real answers can be given.

Debates aren't a setting for real answers.

 

[Nithavela]

I don't think a debate is the right forum to find out a candidates positions. It's more of a place to see how they are able to cope with stressful situations, proving their mental faculties, their debate skills and their general charisma.

 

[durangodawood]

I demand that the "debate" be in the form of 10 minute written essay questions, which the 2 candidates then read aloud.

 

[Nithavela]

I demand that the "debate" be in the form of 10 minute written essay questions, which the 2 candidates then read aloud.

Personally I would prefer if they had to give their answers while being pelted with rotten fruit.

 

[loveofourlord]

The only interesting question is: Does Harris' team know how silly these tactics look? The muted-mic debate was the best thing since sliced bread. This is an overt attempt to avoid a setting where real answers can be given.

or peope don't want to listen to trumps rambling interuptions the entire time?

 

[ThatRobGuy]

The only interesting question is: Does Harris' team know how silly these tactics look? The muted-mic debate was the best thing since sliced bread. This is an overt attempt to avoid a setting where real answers can be given.

The muted mics was was specifically because of Biden's team asking for them, due to the fact that Trump made some ridiculous number of interruptions, I think it was north of 100).

If it were about wanting to lay out thoughtful responses, you'd think she'd want Trump's mic muted as to avoid getting interrupted and derailed.

The fact that Harris wants that rule "un-done" leads me to believe that she wanted the debate to be more about trying to highlight some of Trump's more obnoxious tendencies rather than make it it about substance. (via the old adage, give 'em enough rope to hang themselves with)


That, and she was probably planning on capitalizing on interruptions so she could trot out the "I'm speaking" a few more times and move some merch.

That'd be like if Dwayne The Rock Johnson was in a debate and insisting that the venue be a kitchen so that he could use the "Do ya smell what the Rock is Cookin'" catchphrase.

 

[ThatRobGuy]

or peope don't want to listen to trumps rambling interuptions the entire time?

It's Harris who actually wants his mic left on this time. It was Trump's team pushing for the muted mics this go-around. As noted before, there was something of a party-switch this time on this rule.

 

[wing2000]

The mic will be muted, but that wont stop DJT from talking anyway....in an attempt to derail her train of thought.

The "party switch" was done for obvious reasons: Harris is a skilled prosecutor. Biden is not.
I would love to hear substantial answers to:

1) (Trump) How does your proposed tariffs on 100% of imports help the American consumer?
2) (Harris) How would the government lower prices of groceries?

...but I doubt we'll get there.

Trump will go on the personal attack.
Harris will defend herself and then answer the current question with general goals.

And the moderators will not press either candidate to answer the question when they dodge. For once, I would love to see a real moderator hold their feet to the fire.

 

[zippy2006]

The fact that Harris wants that rule "un-done" leads me to believe that she wanted the debate to be more about trying to highlight some of Trump's more obnoxious tendencies rather than make it it about substance.

More simply: she doesn't want to debate. She wants a redux of the Trump-Biden fiasco of 2020, where she gets a de facto victory due to the cacophony.

 

[durangodawood]

....The fact that Harris wants that rule "un-done" leads me to believe that she wanted the debate to be more about trying to highlight some of Trump's more obnoxious tendencies rather than make it it about substance. (via the old adage, give 'em enough rope to hang themselves with)....

Yes of course its tactically self serving.

Some people would argue tho that the condition and demeanor of an out of the straightjacket Trump actually is a matter of substance, and we should see it - just as we saw the condition of one Joe Biden.

 

[durangodawood]

Personally I would prefer if they had to give their answers while being pelted with rotten fruit.

Hearing Trump read aloud basically one all caps tweet after another in his deadpan monotone teleprompter voice would be entertainment enough.

 

[wing2000]

Hearing Trump read aloud basically one all caps tweet after another in his deadpan monotone teleprompter voice would be entertainment enough.

...have him read from TruthSocial over the last 24 hours...

 

[ThatRobGuy]

The mic will be muted, but that wont stop DJT from talking anyway....in an attempt to derail her train of thought.

The "party switch" was done for obvious reasons: Harris is a skilled prosecutor. Biden is not.
I would love to hear substantial answers to:

1) (Trump) How does your proposed tariffs on 100% of imports help the American consumer?
2) (Harris) How would the government lower prices of groceries?

...but I doubt we'll get there.

Trump will go on the personal attack.
Harris will defend herself and then answer the current question with general goals.

And the moderators will not press either candidate to answer the question when they dodge. For once, I would love to see a real moderator hold their feet to the fire.

So basically we need a real life Will McAvoy to handle debates instead of each network taking turns doing softball questions.

 

[zippy2006]

Yes of course its tactically self serving.

To call it self-serving and leave it at that is to ignore how atrociously bad the optics (and substance) of this really are for Harris' campaign. This is much worse than merely being self-serving.

 

[durangodawood]

To call it self-serving and leave it at that is to ignore how atrociously bad the optics (and substance) of this really are for Harris' campaign. This is much worse than merely being self-serving.

Sorry, even with my most objective lenses Im not seeing that extent of drama here.

 

[zippy2006]

So basically we need a real life Will McAvoy to handle debates instead of each network taking turns doing softball questions.

Apropos. The moderators of the last debate did a fine job in my opinion. More than that and it would make the debate about the moderators instead of the candidates.