Chris Wallace Calls Debate 'a Terrible Missed Opportunity'

[brooklynite]

Source: New York Times

Chris Wallace, the “Fox News Sunday” anchor and moderator of Tuesday’s melee of a debate between President Trump and Joseph R. Biden Jr., was on the phone Wednesday from his home in Annapolis, Md., reflecting on — his words — “a terrible missed opportunity.”

“I never dreamt that it would go off the tracks the way it did,” he said.

In his first interview since the chaotic and often incoherent spectacle — in which a pugilistic Mr. Trump relentlessly interrupted opponent and moderator alike — Mr. Wallace conceded that he had been slow to recognize that the president was not going to cease flouting the debate’s rules.

“I’ve read some of the reviews, I know people think, Well, gee, I didn’t jump in soon enough,” Mr. Wallace said, his voice betraying some hoarseness from the previous night’s proceedings. “I guess I didn’t realize — and there was no way you could, hindsight being 20/20 — that this was going to be the president’s strategy, not just for the beginning of the debate but the entire debate.”

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/30/business/media/chris-wallace-debate-moderator.html

[Yeehah]

1. Fox "News"is not a legitimate news organization and it should not have a part in the debates

Fox "News" is a propaganda arm of the republican party which has somehow been normalized as a news organization, just because it calls itself "news."

[wryter2000]

2. Not Wallace's fault

No one could have expected that mess. The only way Wallace could have stopped it would be to turn off Trump's mic. Wallace had no way of doing that.

Sure, Wallace said some really dumb things and mishandled several others. But look what he was up against, and he had no warning it would happen.

[dem4decades]

4. F him, he made the decision he wouldn't fact check Trump. That;s giving him a green light to go.

[sarge43]

10. Agree

I think he was shocked. He probably expected Moron to behave as the asshole he usually is (so say we all), but not the gaping asshole he turned into.

Even Wallace had a mute button, Moron wouldn't have stopped. About the only solution would have been a tranq gun and net.

[Rebl2]

11. I don't blame

him because he was having to deal with a childish adult. He was expecting two adults to show up and was not expecting to have to babysit a childish boor while conducting a presidential debate!

[LogicFirst]

14. Disagree. Chris Wallace was fully aware of Trump's bullying behavior.

He should have stopped Trump at the first interruption. If he said he thought Trump would follow the rules, he was lying. He knows Trump better than that.

[Sherman A1]

17. I have to agree

Anyone paying attention since the 1980s should have a reasonable grasp of Trump tactics. That said I suspect that Wallace was expecting better behavior on the national stage.

[The Genealogist]

20. I do as well

This is exactly the kind of thing I'd expect out of Trump. He is a bully, and he was acting like one last night.

[LiberalLovinLug]

22. I agree as well

“I never dreamt that it would go off the tracks the way it did,” he said

lol

Seriously? In your wildest dreams you could not have foreseen that this obese orange insecure man child would interrupt someone, anyone, who is contradicting his lies? Not even by watching how he handles folks in your own industry when they ask him an uncomfortable question? After knowing how he only allows yesmen and yeswomen into his administration? How fragile his ego is?

pu-leeeeeeeeeeease

[denvine]

23. I agree also.

Anyone who has been paying attention should have been prepared for the orange child's bullying behavior. He did it in 2016, although not as aggressively, but that is who he is. To choose not to fact check him was an invitation to chaos.

[quakerboy]

16. Noone except anyone who has ever observed trump interact with another human being

I find it literally incredible ("Impossible to believe&quot that any engaged american citizen, and therefore literally any "news" person would not know that is exactly how trump would likely approach the situation.

the last 4 years have been the "warning"

[yardwork]

29. Millions of us anticipated this mess. This is who Trump is.

Seriously, did you really expect anything else?

[dem4decades]

3. Well Chris I guess you the only one that was surprised by Trump's behavior. Weak.

[Mike Nelson]

5. I think...

... Chris Wallace must be smarter... he does not know what kind of organization FOX "News" is? He thinks FOX is "fair and balanced"? I think it's his paycheck. And, he is just now becoming acquainted with Crooked Donald? I think not...

[nocoincidences]

6. If he were truly surprised,

then he did no prep for this debate.

People were discussing what strategies were available to Dump and his mini-brain all over the internet, and this was exactly what many predicted, as his only approach.

I hope the future moderators are better prepared than Chris.

[Miguelito Loveless]

7. Have you been asleep the last four years?

[unblock]

8. Basically he's saying he couldn't have predicted sh*t would come out of an *sshole.

[AleksS]

9. "There's no way you could (realize Trumps plan.)"

Respectfully:

Bullshit. How could you not realize that would be his plan? We’re you alive in 2016? Have you seen Trump “debate?” Or even just speak?

The guy doesn’t understand “turns,” or “other people.” He only voices whatever insane ideas drip from the pus filled sacs of his rotting brain and erupt unfiltered and unslowed from his sphincter of a mouth. He’s a toddler with a sailors vocabulary and his hands in his diaper.

[Tommymac]

12. Then Wallace didn't prepare properly himself. No excuse.

Take responsibility that you did a piss poor job Wallace, shitcan the excuses.

You are a long time media professional and HAD to know what the Killer Clown is capable of. You should have been prepared for this eventuality.

You did what your network has falsely accused 'Libruls' of doing for the last 25 years...folded like a limp dishrag.

Go back to your irrelevant corner now.

[TheCowsCameHome]

13. Was that his first encounter with Trump?

Of course he had to know....

[Midnight Writer]

15. He should have called me. I could have told him Trump would take the chaos tactic.

And I'm not even smart.

[Under The Radar]

18. I do hope that last night's debate goes down as the worst

...because if that becomes the norm, than we are in trouble.

[bringthePaine]

19. a load of horseshit! whiney ball-less Fux asshole failure didn't expect perfidy? he's done too

[ToxMarz]

21. It's hard to believe

but I think Wallace and the rest may really be that stupid. Who would "never have dreamt" such a think after watching the orange clowns behavior the past 4+ years.

[Pacifist Patriot]

24. I can sympathize with him, but. A big BUT...

How can anyone in the media who has theoretically watched this guy for five years now, not have dreamt that it would go off the tracks? We're talking Trump here. A man who has shown very little if any impulse control for decades. Decades!

I'd be willing to bet 99% of DU could have predicted this behavior. My 17 year old son predicted this behavior. The one of my three sons who isn't a political junkie.

[niyad]

25. Sorry, Chris. You blew it. Every sentient person in the world knows how the predatory, murdering

Traitor tot behaves. BS that you were "surprised". Deferential, yes. In control? Not for one freaking minute. Whatever tiny iota of credibility you had as a journalist who works for faux snooze, disappeared last night.

[Marthe48]

26. Your Dad would have shut him down chris

too bad you're not your dad.

[NCjack]

27. Trump on Adderall.

[yardwork]

28. Nobody could have guessed... except millions of us.

Wake up, Chris. This is who Trump is.