(Wikipedia: Astroturfing is a neologism for formal public relations campaigns in politics and advertising that seek to create the impression of being spontaneous, grassroots behavior.)
I believe in the debates. It’s always better for voters to hear the candidates first-hand. It’d be better still if voters got to choose the questions asked. Unfortunately, big media is determined to control it:
“The faux populism of the YouTube format is an Orwellian leap even for CNN.”