Democrats and political journalists made clear that they weren’t impressed with the way NBC News’ Matt Lauer moderated the Commander-In-Chief Forum Wednesday night.
The event focused on foreign policy and national security and featured questions from veterans. Many took issue with Lauer not pressing Donald Trump on false claims, like saying he didn’t support the Iraq War, and for asking Hillary Clinton several questions pertaining to her use of a private email server.
One of the most brutal takedowns of the evening was Jonathan Chait’s scathing headline at NYMag: Matt Lauer’s Pathetic Interview of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump Is the Scariest Thing I’ve Seen in This Campaign.
Matt Yglesias at Vox had the take that “It’s not a great idea, in general, for journalists to let politicians get away with bald-faced, on-camera lies.”
The Huffington Post had the succinct breakdown: “Matt Lauer Failed The Moderator Test.”
And, as those unhappy with 2016 are wont to do, many took to Twitter to share their displeasure:
“I was totally against the war in Iraq,” Trump says, saying something that is not true. Matt Lauer offers no follow up.
— andrew kaczynski (@BuzzFeedAndrew) September 8, 2016
Seriously — everyone, and I mean everyone, knew this would happen. And Matt Lauer didn’t have a followup planned? https://t.co/mm5ufZKjEx
— Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) September 8, 2016
Matt Lauer’s interviews of Clinton and Trump were a complete disgrace to journalism https://t.co/P3Xv8QbkpH
— Jonathan Chait (@jonathanchait) September 8, 2016
This #NBCNewsForum feels like an embarrassment to journalism. It’s about soundbites, not serious discussion of foreign policy.
— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) September 8, 2016
Trying to imagine the female equivalent of Matt Lauer – an entertainment reporter – being picked for this same role. https://t.co/uGyFVYmsAt
— Jill Filipovic (@JillFilipovic) September 8, 2016
Matt Lauer should be an inspiration to kids. You can grow up, do mediocre work, & get paid $20m per year for it.
— Dana Houle (@DanaHoule) September 8, 2016
The combo of Matt Lauer not pressing Trump on Iraq & @nytpolitics not *mentioning* Trump’s Putin love letter is just awful.
— Seth Mnookin (@sethmnookin) September 8, 2016
Matt Lauer managed to get played by Ryan Lochte; I don’t know why y’all thought he’d actually challenge Donald Trump.
— Saeed Jones (@theferocity) September 8, 2016
Just think about media intentionality: If @MLauer hadn’t asked about #Hillary‘s emails, he would have had time to ask real policy questions.
— Peter Daou (@peterdaou) September 8, 2016
Lauer says the night was a “success”
Fact check: Pants on fire
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) September 8, 2016
Matt Lauer, you’re fired.
— John Aravosis (@aravosis) September 8, 2016
