How networks treat debates like reality TV

• The Democratic debates are very entertaining, but that's exactly what's wrong with them.
• Moderators manipulate the candidates to combat each other instead of clarifying their stances.
• The debates don't help us decide which candidate is the most qualified, they just show us who's the best on camera.
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The 2019 Democratic debates have been entertaining, but that's exactly what's wrong with them.

Voters may turn on a debate to get clarity on an issue or better understand a given candidate's proposal, but often what they find is a shouting match filled with insults, one-liners, and gaffes.

As it turns out, this is exactly what networks want from a debate, and they employ methods to force these big moments into existence. But these methods don't help us voters decide who the most qualified candidate is, they just tell us which candidate is best on camera.