Tonight (American time), President Bush and Sen. John kerry of the United States will meet on the campus of the University of Miami in Florida for the first of three presidential debates.
The debate really started weeks ago, as the two campaigns began negotiations on the rules for the forums. Last week, they finally reached a 32-paged agreement covering every element of the event. No detail was too trivial, from the temperature on stage to the color of paper the candidates could use for notes. Each candidate will have his own make-up artist, and the room temperature will be F.68.5 degree. The two parties have considered every variable and controlled almost every aspect of the debate. And that's the problem about which we ought to concern because Taiwan has long been a rapacious gobbler of American democarcy, no matter how superfacial it actually get.
Debate are meant to be unique forums in which the candidates speak spontaneously instead of delivering stump speeches. They're meant to let voters see the candidates more closely instead of a barrage of pretentious acts. At least they used to be. Between 1976 and 1988, the League of Woman Voters, an independent body, ran the debates and set the rules. Since the formation of the Commission on Presidential Debates in 1988, however, decisions on debate rules have changed hands to the two parties. The result has been a move away from spontaneity toward spin.
In fact, an agreement by the two parties this year seeks to keep networks from broadcasting one candidate's reaction to the other. That may not seem important, but in an event about openness, voters deserve to see everything. the networks may refuse to follow such a clause, but it is troubling that access could be denied when it is needed most.
During one of the few times they face each other, candidates should not be allowed to hide. If voters are to gain anything from debates, the events must return to their roots. Debates must regain their independence from the spin machines of the two major parties. The candidates deserve some input, but an independent outside agency must have the final say. Otherwise, these events will grow even tamer until they are nothing more than an extension of any campaign stop.
In presidential campaigns, everything a candidate says, does, even wears has been controlled. Voters deserve a few nights when at least some things are kept real. The candidates have plenty of time for stump speeches and choreographed campaign events-----they should spare a few evenings to stand on their own and speak to voters spontaneously.
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