Debate

I was watching Fox News recently when they mentioned the story that Oregon plans to offer sex change surgery to children as young as 15 and at taxpayer expense.  They had two women, both professionals, both mothers on to discuss this.

I wasn't able to hear both sides of the argument because the woman in favor gave her opinion, but when it was the other woman's turn to speak, she was drowned out  by the proponent of this legislation.  Every time the opponent tried to speak, she was interrupted.  The moderator tried several times to let the opponent speak, but the other woman wouldn't give her a chance.  The moderator even tried to give the opponent of the legislation the last word, but the other woman again loudly interrupted so that I could not hear what either of them was saying.

I've noticed that this is quite common in these "discussions" of policy.  The liberal often does not give the conservative the chance to speak, or will laugh at the conservative's opinion.  I guess they don't want anyone to hear a differing point of view.

I've never been trained in debate, nor have I even been in a debate, but I don't think this is how they should be run.  I've always thought each side was given a specific amount of time to present their argument and, if possible, rebut the other's claim.  Please correct me if I'm wrong.