When watching debates, I often times feel that these are not so much debates as they are a reflection of which candidates the moderators and the media machines behind them most favor. This should be easy enough to see, not from the amount of attention they give to each candidate - which has its own implications though it could be chalked up to their idea of which candidates they think the people want to see - the clue of the media's favorites can be asked in the questions that they ask to the candidates.
The questions that the candidates get asked are reminiscent of tabloid headlines. They are full of implications and cannot always be answered simply as "yes" or "no." The quintessential question that demonstrates this is the question, "Have you stopped beating your wife yet?" Answering "yes" can imply that the man was beating his wife beforehand but has since stopped. Answering "no" is obviously even worse. The assumptions, implications, and even accusations behind the questions make this less of an honest debate over important issues and more of a political reality TV show.
A perfect example was the question Mitt Romney was asked about whether or not he would keep or fire Herman Cain over the false accusations made. If he answered "no" he would be a jerk. If he answered "yes" he would be affirming his biggest competition in the Primaries. And of course, their have been tons of other examples like this throughout the debate.
Okay, I'm off my soap box. Once I get passed the loaded "gotcha" questions I settle down and actually enjoy watching the debates. They are entertaining, they are informative, they are revealing. Our nation is undergoing some serious crisis right now, and we need leadership, character, and some severe reduction in government spending if we do not want to look like Italy in the not too distant future.
