For the first time, Fox News has been selected to moderate a presidential debate. The Presidential Debate Commission selected Chris Wallace, host of Fox News Sunday, to moderate the third presidential debate, scheduled for October 19 in Las Vegas.
Wallace appeared on Fox News’ Media Buzz to discuss what his selection meant to him personally and “what it means to Fox News.”
The host of the program, Howard Kurtz, asked Wallace, “What do you do if they make assertions that you know to be untrue?”
“That’s not my job,” Wallace replied, without skipping a beat. “It’s not my job to be a truth squad.”
Unknown iFrame situation
A moderator who lets the candidates lie with impunity could be an advantage for Donald Trump, based on his Politifact scorecard. (Here is Hillary Clinton’s scorecard, for comparison.)
Trump rose to political prominence making false claims about Barack Obama’s birth certificate. He has recently been consulting with one of the nation’s most notorious conspiracy theorists.
Wallace is has close personal and professional ties to Roger Ailes, who was his boss until a few weeks ago and is now reportedly helping Trump prepare for the debate.
When Ailes was forced out of his position due to a string of credible sexual harassment allegations, Wallace showered him with praise.
Wallace said that he was “very proud to be a representative of Fox” in his role as debate moderator. He agreed with Kurtz that his selection dispelled the notion that Fox was a “right-wing network” that “favors Republicans.”
According to Wallace, his selection means the debate commission looked at Fox News’ body of work and decided it really was “fair and balanced.”