Should Chris Matthews be Allowed to Moderate GOP Debates?

In the wake of MSNBC "Hardball" host Chris Matthews's deplorable comments regarding the Bush administration having "finally been caught in their criminality," many conservatives are wondering if this clearly left-leaning pundit should be allowed to moderate GOP presidential debates including this Tuesday's.

To address the growing controversy, Fox News's "Fox & Friends" invited media members from both sides of the aisle Monday morning to debate the issue. On the left were Ellis Henican of Newsday and Ellen Ratner of FNC; on the right were radio host Herman Cain and Jim Pinkerton of Newsday (video available here courtesy Johnny Dollar).

In the end, I strongly agree with Henican and Cain who felt that candidates should be willing and able to answer anybody's questions regardless of political leaning if they want to attain the highest office in the land.

In fact, I would take this a step further: Let's have debates where exclusively the top liberal pundits in the land are moderating Republican events, and the top conservative pundits in the land are moderating Democrat events.

Think about it: When you go on a job interview, you don't expect to get softballs thrown at you. Instead, you prepare for a veritable inquisition.

Shouldn't our political candidates be so put to the test?

Frankly, I'm tired of debates where everybody's nice and cordial. We're currently at war, and our nation faces some very tough decisions in the next decade.

As such, I'd like to see ALL these candidates mercilessly grilled as if their lives depend on it, because ours certainly do.

JMHO FWIW!