Vance Challenged Moderator During Debate
It happened again last night: the debate moderators were nothing short of atrocious. Senator JD Vance (R-OH) found himself not just debating Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, but also contending with CBS’s Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan, who at times seemed more focused on protecting Walz than moderating an even-handed discussion.
While the moderators didn’t reach the cringe-worthy levels set by ABC News’ David Muir and Linsey Davis in previous debates, Brennan’s smugness still radiated through the screen, leaving a bitter taste for anyone hoping for genuine discourse. Yet, even with this bias on full display, Vance maintained his poise and composure, running circles around a visibly flustered Walz.
I can’t stop watching this. Dana Bash jerking her head around like a bird because her target didn’t accept her Narrative’s premise. Vance rejects the premises. Then he attacks the premises. Just beautiful. pic.twitter.com/gsNOV4hiwJ
— Oilfield Rando (@Oilfield_Rando) September 15, 2024
Walz, awkward and underprepared, struggled to hold his ground against Vance, who was sharp, articulate, and completely unfazed by the grilling from both his opponent and the moderators. The Ohio Senator managed to run roughshod over the Minnesota governor for most of the night, and it wasn’t even a close contest. Vance’s ability to stay on message and control the narrative became particularly evident during the segment on immigration, a topic that clearly made both Walz and the moderators uncomfortable.
The immigration segment was a low point for the moderators and a masterclass from Vance. Springfield, Ohio, has recently become a focal point for the ongoing immigration crisis, with reports of tens of thousands of Haitians entering the area, resorting to eating local animals like geese, ducks, and even household pets such as cats and dogs. This troubling situation has sparked intense debate, and Vance, always prepared, skillfully navigated the topic.
JD Vance just TOOK COMMAND of this debate by fact-checking these debate "moderators" who tried to fact-check him!
This is how it's DONE.
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) October 2, 2024
It was when Brennan attempted to “fact-check” Vance on temporary protected status (TPS) for the Haitian immigrants that the debate reached its most blatantly biased moment. Brennan insisted that these migrants were in the country legally under TPS, but Vance quickly shot down this claim, pointing out the reality that many of these individuals do not have legal status. Walz, eager to jump on the bandwagon, tried to repeat this falsehood, but Vance wasn’t having any of it.
CUOMO: "At one point, Vance wanted to correct something about how Haitians got into this country — and he was RIGHT — and the moderators wouldn't let him correct it." pic.twitter.com/jWn9kpK60J
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 2, 2024
Vance was clearly prepared to take Brennan’s shoddy fact-check apart and expose the misinformation, but in a shocking turn of events, his microphone was muted. This blatant act of silencing came just as Vance was about to land the knockout blow, leaving viewers frustrated by yet another example of media bias in real-time.