Question about primary debates.

[Garrett78]

Have primary debates always been moderated by partisans? Everyone has biases, of course, and some will argue that supposed non-partisans sympathize with one political party more than another. But my memory of primary debates is very foggy, and I'm only 37, so I'm wondering if some of you might recall when primary debates started being moderated by obvious partisans. Maybe it's always been that way.

It's bad enough that candidates lie and don't get called out for doing so. Must moderators set the stage for falsehoods with questions based on false premises?

[Smarmie Doofus]

1. In my memory, they were always moderated by people who at least pretended to be impartial.

Until tonite.

[brooklynite]

2. Primary debates are relatively new...

Most of the debates you're thinking of are for the GE, and are sponsored by the LWV or the Commission on Presidential Debates. Primary debates are largely sponsored by an advocacy group or network.

[Garrett78]

3. When did primary debates begin?

I know they've existed for at least a few election cycles, and I can't recall a circus like I witnessed tonight. But my memory isn't so great, and I'm not sure I've paid as much attention in the past.

[Uncle Joe]

6. From what I could find, 1948

http://www.debates.org/index.php?page=1948-debate

[yeoman6987]

4. Anderson cooper is doing the democratic debate

So yes they are partisan but not sure if they always were.

[Garrett78]

5. And that's what I'm hoping to determine.

Because it's already obvious that the moderators are abundantly partisan. The Republican candidate debate moderators asked question after question based on false premises. It'd be laughable if there weren't so many people who didn't recognize that.

[yeoman6987]

7. They were republican moderators so of course

You will see the same thing with Anderson. You don't want to purposefully screw the party you support.

[Garrett78]

8. We agree about the current reality, but that's not my question.

I'm asking if primary debates have always been moderated by such obvious partisans. Or if this is a new development. Or at least a development that has strengthened. When a noted conservative talk radio host is moderating a debate, there isn't even an attempt at displaying impartiality or what some might call journalistic integrity. But has that always been the case? Was that the case in 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008? Or is this largely the product of partisan cable "news"/infotainment programs that have produced celebrity partisans?