Aaron Sorkin: Media ‘Not Concerned Enough About The Truth,’ Debate Moderators Should Cross-Examine Candidates

Josh FeldmanOct 3rd, 2012, 7:50 pm

With a presidential debate tonight and the inevitable onslaught of media coverage to ensue, who better to turn to for his take on the media than the creative force behind a new TV show all about the media? Aaron Sorkin, in an exclusive interview with POLITICO, expressed his hope that the debate moderators, including tonight’s moderator Jim Lehrer, would not just ask questions of the candidates, but be willing to cross-examine and follow up with the candidates on their answers.

Sorkin expressed hope that the media would finally demand the truth from politicians, and the debate moderators would not just let candidates with saying whatever they want.

“It’s an important election. My concern is that we’re not concerned enough about the truth and my hope for the debate tonight is that the moderator, that Jim Lehrer really calls balls and strikes. That it doesn’t become a trial where there’s only a direct examination and no cross examination.”

Sorkin argued that the country is “suffering from an epidemic of bad information,” and lamented how during one of the early Republican debates, CNN’s John King did not call out Mitt Romney after he said “I give the answers I want.”

Watch the interview below, courtesy of POLITICO:

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