We must take the Presidential Debates away from the DNC & RNC Chairs

[IndianaGreen]

I remember when the Presidential Debates were real debates, with a real impartial moderator, and a distinguished panel of journalists, in which candidates were given the time to answer and expound on their views on major issues. There were no Judys, or Paulas, or Timmys trying to get their KO punch and the soundbite.

When the political machines of the 2-major parties took away the debates from the League of Women Voters, it did a disservice to the American people. Debates were won by the best prepped and coached candidate, not by the better candidate.

It is our fault that we allowed American democracy to degrade to the point that it has. The outrageous abuses of the Bush government are the culmination of years of neglect by us, the American people, of the liberties and democratic values that so many sacrificed their lives for.

I don't care what a candidate's favorite book, or philosopher, or artist happens to be. I don't care how tall or short the candidate is, or whether he is single or divorced. I don't care to hear how well rehearsed the candidate was in giving the TV audience a bland and safe answer on a thorny issue. I do care what the candidate's values are, and what he is going to do if elected.

There are Americans from all across the political spectrum that would like to change the way presidential debates are organized and conducted. I ask that you give them a fair hearing.

The Issue

The Presidential debates are the single most important event in the process of selecting a President. They have traditionally given the American people an opportunity to see all the viable candidates discuss important issues in an unscripted manner.

Presidential debates were run by the civic-minded and non-partisan League of Women Voters until 1988, when the national Republican and Democratic parties seized control of the debates by establishing the bi-partisan, corporate-sponsored Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD). Posing as an institution committed to voter education, the CPD has continually and deceptively run the debates in the interest of the national Republican and Democratic parties, not the American people. The CPD, co-chaired by the former heads of the Republican and Democratic parties, has insulated the major party candidates from challenging questions, difficult issues, and popular third party and independent candidates. As a result, under the CPD's control, the debates have been reduced to "glorified bi-partisan news conferences," where the major party candidates merely recite prepackaged soundbites and avoid discussing many important issues.

Open Debates is working to establish a nonpartisan Citizens' Debate Commission to sponsor presidential debates that are rigorous, fair, and inclusive of important issues and popular candidates. The higher values of democracy and voter education will be restored to the presidential debates by the Citizens' Debate Commission.

http://www.opendebates.org/theissue/

OPEN DEBATES APPLAUDS REP. KUCINICH

Open Debates, National Press Building, 529 14th St. NW, Suite 1201, Washington, DC 20045
November 25, 2003

OPEN DEBATES APPLAUDS REP. KUCINICH

WASHINGTON, DC -- Open Debates commends Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) for calling for open debates as part of his presidential campaign platform. "I believe in the power of open debates to restore higher values of democracy and voter education to the American political process," stated Rep. Kucinich.

"We applaud Rep. Kucinich's call for open debates," said Open Debates' Executive Director George Farah.

The bipartisan Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) has sponsored the presidential debates since 1988, when it seized control of the debates from the non-partisan League of Women Voters. The CPD is a private corporation that was established by the chairs of the Republican National Committee and the Democratic National Committee.

"CPD sponsored presidential debates have been little more than glorified press conferences, where candidates recite prepackaged sound-bites, and avoid discussing many important issues," said Farah.

http://www.opendebates.org/news/pressreleases/06252003.html

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

1. They took the debates from LWV because of Jesse Jackson

They took the debates from the League of Women Voters because in 1988 Jesse Jackson had the audacity to point out that the Bush/Reagan administration and Oliver North had allowed cocaine to be imported into the US and distributed as crack into our major cities. BCCI and Iran-Contra were all over the news, and we didn't want Jesse Jackson to talk about it - we wanted Michael Dukakis to tell us which kind of tax breaks corporations should get. Dukakis was the "electable centrist" in 1988.

Anyone have that links to the videos of the debates that was posted a few times in the last month?

fwiw, I have a big problem with the LWV because they are opposing voter verified ballots, which we need to ensure fair elections. But they ran very good debates, unlike FOX and ABC with Teddy Coppul.

[SharonAnn]

3. Bush Sr took the debates away from the LWV because he

would not agree to a real "debate". He would only agree to one with pre-arranged questions or something like that so the LWV refused to sponsor it.

[IndianaGreen]

6. Both parties are to blame for this...

Party bosses wanted to play it safe by having a highly scripted debate. Anyone here remembers when the Reagan campaign stole one of President Carter's debate briefing papers?

Under the current system, we could not get Abraham Lincoln or Franklin Roosevelt nominated, much less elected. No wonder we have such a twit like Bush perceived as a giant!

[economic justice]

2. I may be

I may be one of DU's so-called "moderates" and don't always agree with your views, Indiana Green.....BUT.....you are SO right about this. It's GOT to change!

[realFedUp]

4. Are we at the end of the Democratic ones?

I hope so. I think the League of Women Voters
should still do them, without all the hoohaw
and none of the oversight that the parties and
networks have now.
Course, I'd like to go back to the days when
there were no gasoline powered lawnblowers.
:-)

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

5. if we just kept Corporate Media out, it would be fine

Any civic organization, and the LWV always did a great job, could moderate the debates. What we do not want it some actor hired by FOX or ABC to be moderating and making up questions. The networks should broadcast the debates and air commercials. Other than that, they should have no involvement.

Everyone on DU knows this. The Corporate Media wants Bush, don't they?

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

7. kick

super important issue, thanks for posting IG

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. Hear Hear!

I second that!