In defense of Matt Lauer

Lauer was also targeted for supposedly spending too much time asking Clinton about her email scandal. But it was undoubtedly news, and reporters had not had many chances to ask Clinton about it since the FBI’s release of some of its investigative documents in the case. And it was definitely a national security issue, since the mishandling of classified information is at the heart of the matter. Yes, Clinton’s partisans are tired of the email affair — after the forum, the Washington Post editorial board pronounced the story “out of control” and appeared to hope it would just all go away — but the fact is, there are still significant unknowns in the story. How could Lauer not drill down?

So to review: Yes, Lauer pressed Clinton on a number of questions. But he also pressed Trump. He fact-checked on the fly. He clarified Clinton’s position when Trump mischaracterized it. He elicited from Trump new statements on Putin, on the nation’s generals, on women in the military, on his intelligence briefings — all of which made news and served as ammunition for Trump’s adversaries.

That didn’t just happen. Lauer, the moderator, made it happen. And neither side has any legitimate complaint about how he treated them.