“I've traveled around the country and I read local newspapers and all of that, an…” — Jim Lehrer

Preparation is based on one driving force for me and that is to be relaxed enough to be able to listen to what the candidates are saying and react appropriately.

Well, I don't know about objectivity, but I know for certain that it's always possible for a professional journalist who understands what he or she's up to to be fair, and that's the key word. Fairness to individuals, fairness to ideas, and to issues and whatever - that is critical, and that is also part and parcel of what the job.

I'm a gatekeeper, and the gatekeepers all used to be mostly old, white men.

If we're going to have debates, let's have real debates.