Moderator Calls Out Reporter for Interrupting GOP Candidate During Arkansas Senate Debate

Senator Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) squared off against his Republican challenger, Congressman Tom Cotton, in a Monday afternoon debate moderated by veteran Arkansas anchor Steve Barnes. During the debate, Pryor received some much needed assistance from local journalist Gwen Moritz, editor of Arkansas Business.

While answering a question, Congressman Cotton was interrupted by Ms. Moritz and she obnoxiously asked if he was “answering my question about what your job as a candidate is or are you just doing talking points? Is it your responsibility as a candidate to make sure your ads are not misleading?” [Click here to watch the video.]

For his part, debate moderator Barnes called out Moritz for violating the rules of the debate and insisted “I have to allow him to go ahead because we have no provision for a follow-up question right away.”

Apparently Ms. Moritz felt it appropriate to interrupt the Republican challenger while he was responding to her question but did not do the same for his Democratic opponent.