The Democratic presidential debate was moderated by four women Wednesday night for the third time in U.S. history ― drawing praise from viewers who also noted that women made up the majority of the debate stage.
The debate in Atlanta, co-hosted by MSNBC and The Washington Post, was moderated by four journalists: Rachel Maddow and Andrea Mitchell of MSNBC, Washington Post White House reporter Ashley Parker, and NBC White House correspondent Kristen Welker.
Viewers applauded the historic all-female panel ― which was preceded twice, in 2016, when Gwen Ifill and Judy Woodruff moderated a Democratic debate and Trish Regan and Sandra Smith moderated a Republican presidential debate.
Of the 10 candidates on stage, four were women ― Sens. Kamala Harris (Calif.), Amy Klobuchar (Minn.) and Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii).
It’s the first time in history that women are the majority of the debate stage!
— Adrienne Watson (@Adrienne_DNC) November 21, 2019
8 women — 4 moderators and 4 candidates — and 6 men. https://t.co/tCycpXpBkg
Some Twitter users celebrated the questions asked by the moderators during this debate, highlighting how issues previously neglected ― such as paid family leave plans, child care, abortion legislation and housing ― were being brought up by the panel.
Female moderators = more questions to the rights and burdens of women.
— Clara Jeffery (@ClaraJeffery) November 21, 2019
Paid family leave was just brought up at the #DemDebate for the first time.
— Jennifer Wexton (@JenniferWexton) November 21, 2019
I don't think it's a coincidence that this is also the first debate we've had with all female moderators.
More 👏 of 👏 this!
Finally, an abortion question, yay! Thank you female moderators!
— Joan Walsh (@joanwalsh) November 21, 2019
Strong--and unexpected--questions and good pacing. More women moderators going forward, please. #DemDebate #JuliánDebates https://t.co/6z6jFk1CWY
— Mark Joyella 🏳️🌈 (@standupkid) November 21, 2019
Four women moderators asking great questions. Three women candidates kicking ass on stage (not you, Tulsi). The future is female. #DemDebate
— Dr. Melissa R Michelson (@profmichelson) November 21, 2019
Moderators are doing a good job of asking questions that have been ignored in previous debates.
— Jeff Hauser (@jeffhauser) November 21, 2019
But why is climate change never an Hour 1 topic?????
Elect more women. Have more women as moderators. Make sure more women are at the table...wherever the table is. https://t.co/j1v1qzu4Po
— Christina Reynolds (@creynoldsnc) November 21, 2019
During a debate with four women moderators, a follow up on paid family leave comparing Harris and Klobuchar plans. Noteworthy.
— Adrian Carrasquillo (@Carrasquillo) November 21, 2019
Four female moderators asking two female presidential candidates to debate their paid family leave plans is real progress.
— Laura Bassett (@LEBassett) November 21, 2019
Child care and paid family leave.
— Amy Weinstock (@alweinstock) November 21, 2019
The kind of topics that keep families up at night.
Also the kind of topics that you get when you finally get a team of all female moderators.
Child care and paid family leave FINALLY in the #DemDebate. Let’s hear it for women moderators who understand how critical this issue is!
— Katie Sherman (@LaughSoIDontCry) November 21, 2019
When all the moderators are women, issues that affect women get more attention.
— Michelangelo Signorile (@MSignorile) November 21, 2019
Funny how that works.
We’re also not seeing a CNN wrestling match debate, with moderators creating staged fights for candidates.#DemDebate
The panel was also cheered for its discipline and diplomacy, and for keeping the peace between candidates.
The moderators are running a remarkably disciplined debate, and it's apparent that the candidates have figured out how to share the stage with one another, too.
— ErikWemple (@ErikWemple) November 21, 2019
The moderators are doing a good job of varying the topic compared to the Groundhog Days that came before.
— Irin Carmon (@irin) November 21, 2019
Thank you, @msnbc moderators, for letting the candidates speak a bit longer to express their visions and ideas for a better America. It matters. #DemDebate
— Ringuette (@Ringuette) November 21, 2019
The moderators did, however, draw criticism for some questions, particularly when Maddow asked Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) whether he thought it appropriate that crowds at his rallies chanted “Lock him up” in regards to President Donald Trump.
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this is incredible. they're literally trying to use some randos silly outraged tweet about Bernie's crowd chanting "lock him up" re: Trump against him on a nationally televised debate. what a stupid question. #DemDebate
— Matt Binder (@MattBinder) November 21, 2019
Bernie Sanders asked if people should chant lock him up at Trump:
— Alex Morash (@AlexMorash) November 21, 2019
Sanders says “nobody is above the law.” #FeelTheBern #DemDebate
Others felt that the moderators neglected some candidates and favored others.
Andrea Mitchell, to Warren: “Do you need to bring the country together to achieve your goals?” I’m sorry, but these are lousy questions.
— Jim Geraghty (@jimgeraghty) November 21, 2019
The job of debate moderators should be to give every candidate a fair and equal chance to be heard.
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) November 21, 2019
That's, of course, exactly the opposite of what MSNBC is doing, which is everything except surprising.
Also: challenge them on their vulnerabilities but that's asking too much.
Moderators are worse than last time. They're not only ignoring Bernie but the questions are somehow WORSE than last time. #DemDebate
— The Humanist Report🌹 (@HumanistReport) November 21, 2019
about one hour in...ah yes, this is reflective of where they stand in the polls #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/1CqA9lOUla
— Matt Binder (@MattBinder) November 21, 2019
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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
