How important do you think debates are in a political race?
Not at all. They've both contemplated the questions and answers. We know where they stand. Even if placed on the spot, it doesn't mean much. A totally capable and well meaning person can be placed on the spot by an undermining question and he may seem foolish or incompetent but only in action will the public know whether the candidate can handle a situation and what will actually come about. To my mind, it's just a show for TV.
I think they are not as important as the media makes them out to be. What I would prefer to see, as a voter, is a sit down with the candidates and let them expand on what they have only a few minutes to say in a debate.
During the last presidential election, Rick Warren did a sit down with both candidates. They each had an hour as I recall, and were asked identical questions. Each man had an opportunity to really answer the question and it was not about one-upping the guy in the podium next to you.
Public debates are like court trials. They pit one against another in order to test the relative soundness of each position in circumstances designed to provide equal footing for both. Debates not only put the issues to a forum of balanced argument, they try the ability of each candidate to think on his feet, a talent that good performance in public office demands. Some of the journalists who moderate them aside, the judges are not pompous, black-robed presiding jurists, they are the voters.
Debates are a great political tradition, and an important public service. Long may they stand.
by Stacie L 8 years ago
Should political campaigns and debates have to be set to a higher standard of behavior?Recent campaigns and debates are looking more like back alley brawls instead of intellectual debates.Is this going to be the new norm?
by Jack Lee 8 years ago
Why are Clinton and Trump the front runners this election year?I'm baffled. According to polls, 70% of Americans say we are headed in the wrong direction. Yet, we have Clinton ahead in the Democratic primary. More over, on the GOP side, this was supposed to be the year of the people against the...
by Sam Dolloff 12 years ago
Do you watch the political debates?
by Mike Russo 7 years ago
The current debate format is a farce and is nothing more than a slug fest that we watch. The moderators have little to no control over the debaters. John Donvan has a petition that proposes change the current format to the Oxford style format where the debates are done in a civil manner...
by Kathleen Cochran 7 months ago
No political advertisingWhat if instead of a presidential candidate spending millions on advertising to prove he or she wants to be elected, we just made them say where they stand on the issues? What if all a candidate was allowed to do to promote her or his campaign was to sit for media...
by John Coviello 7 years ago
How Do You Think Donald Trump Will Exit The Presidential Race?I have to wonder with Donald Trump slipping in the polls, if he is going to stay in the race for the Republican nomination to run for President? Not sure if his ego will allow him to be in 2nd place and eventually lose. If he...
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