If I were moderating the debates.
Christy and I went to a meeting in the Indy area Tuesday evening, so I missed out on what was, apparently, the most boring presidential debate in recent memory. Which, of course, leads to the question – since when were the presidential debates supposed to be entertaining? Maybe Dr. Postman was right and we really are Amusing Ourselves to Death. But I digress…
This debate was supposed to be a ‘Town Hall’ format, fielding questions from the live audience as well via the Internets. Since I knew I wouldn’t be able to watch, I didn’t even bother submitting a question. Just like a a tree falling in the woods, if you ask a question and don’t stick around for the response, was it ever really answered?
But I came up with a list of questions, anyway. And I’d like to take the opportunity to share them now. As stated numerous times (including here and here), I’m still not sold on any particular candidate. These are the questions I’d ask if I had a hand in the moderation process. If I were to get real answers to these questions, then the candidates might be able to convince me to pull the lever (I think it’s actually push the button in Indiana) for their tickets. I’m not holding my breath, though.
Questions for Senator Obama
Senator Obama, my eight-year-old son is campaigning for you every day in our house. He thinks we should vote for “Morocco” so we can have the first African-American President in the history of our great nation. I applaud him for understanding the historical nature of your candidacy. I’m trying to listen to the words of Dr. King and judge your candidacy not upon the color of your skin but the content of your character. If I choose not to vote for you, I am not a racist. And I am offended by the implication by the talking heads on the news networks that the only reason I wouldn’t vote for you is because of some kind of inherent racism. When you reminded everyone that politicians’ families are ‘off-limits,’ it seemed that many of them listened. If you could share with them that focusing on one’s race should be ‘off-limits,’ I’d greatly appreciate it. If I’m going to vote for you, I want to vote for you. With that in mind, here are a few questions for you:
How do you define the word ‘bipartisan’?
Your Senate and members of the House have nearly broken your arms patting yourselves on the back for passing the ‘bipartisan’ $800 billion bailout bill last week. The week before that, the bill didn’t muster enough support on both sides of the aisle. After nearly $100 billion in pork was added to the bill, it was passed with overwhelming ‘bipartisan’ support. Is adding billions of dollars in pork what makes something bipartisan? If so, then I might have to become a partisan.
How do you define the phrase ‘reaching across the aisles’?
You bring up working with our esteemed Senator from Indiana, Dick Lugar, to elminate nuclear stockpiles around the world. You make it sound like this is something that’s new. Senator Lugar has been working towards this end since the early 90s. In fact, the Nunn-Lugar program was established in 1991. And that was back when people thought Senator Lugar was Chicken Little, proclaiming that the sky was falling. In hindsight, Senator Lugar had wisdom beyond his years in this regard. I agree with you working with Senator Lugar to continue the reduction of WMDs, but did you really take a risk in reach across the aisle in this regard? Our nation is in crisis and we need real leadership with all members of the Federal government working together. Sometimes, that means working together on unpopular issues. It will also require leaders who are willing to blaze a trail instead of riding a distinguished Senator’s coat-tails. How do you define reaching across the aisles and what examples can you give of you showing real leadership in doing this?
Do you plan on a strict interpretation of the Constitution?
Your running-mate, Senator Biden, knows the Articles of the Constitution rather well. In his debate, he outlined the job description of the Vice President as outlined in our founding document. He described a rather strict interpretation of the Constitution. Will you require that type of interpretation of the rest of the Constitution?
Would you go into Sudan unilaterally?
I think this might have been addressed in the last debate, but I missed that debate, so forgive me. But I seem to remember you mentioning before that you’d make intervention in a genocide situation with international support. What if no one else wants to go in? If we can’t stand idly by, would you still go in, regardless of international support?
What was your biggest mistake? What did you learn from it?
All of us have made mistakes. All of us have had to change our minds at one point or another. If you really want transparency in government, I believe that comes from the top. How are you being transparent now?
Please define ‘negative campaigning.’
Both of you promised that you wouldn’t go negative. Over the last few months, I’ve watched both of you go negative. Maybe I don’t understand the word.
Without mentioning your opponent in any way, why should I vote for you?
I want to vote for someone, not against someone else. Why should I vote for you?
Can you sing the IU Fight Song for me?
I’ve seen the video clips of you playing hoops during one of your campaign efforts here in Indiana. Since you’re from a Big Ten state, I wonder if you could sing for me the Indiana Fight song. If so, please post it on YouTube for all the world to see. According to the talking heads, Indiana is one of the battleground states this year. Singing the fight song might help your efforts here quite a bit. Who knows? It might just push your campaign over the top.
Questions for Senator McCain
Senator McCain, I admire you for thinking ‘outside the box’ and picking someone from as far away from Washington as possible as your running-mate. I was pleased to hear the news when you were the first-ever Republican nominee to ask a woman to join your ticket. With Governor Palin on your team, I point to her and tell my daughter, “See, you can be whatever you want.” And really mean it. For that, I thank you. But, just like I’m not going to use race as my reason to vote for or against Senator Obama, I will not use gender as a reason to vote for or against your ticket. I have a few questions for you.
Please define the word ‘Maverick.”
You and your running-mate refer to yourselves as mavericks quite a bit. What, exactly, is a Maverick, other than the cocky character Tom Cruise plays in Top Gun?
Why didn’t you ask Whoopie Goldberg if she’s read the Constitution?
When you made an appearance on The View, you talked about wanting judges who are strict contructionists (or something like that). Whoopie asked you if that meant you thought she should be a slave. Why didn’t you ask her if she’s ever read the Constitution – especially the 13th Amendment that abolishes slavery? It would have been enlightening to hear your understanding of a strict interpretation of the Constitution.
Please define your understanding of the word ‘bipartisan’.
Speaking of the Constitution, is McCain/Feingold your example of bipartisan efforts? Because it places limitations on the freedom of speech and where I can spend my own money (I realize the Supreme Court has upheld its constitutionality, but come on…shouldn’t I be able to spend whatever money I want in support of a particular candidate?) during the campaign season, is this the example you’d prop up as your bipartisan efforts?
Are you really looking forward?
In her debate, Governor Palin said the Obama-Biden ticket keeps looking to the past – to the Bush administration, instead of looking forward to the future. You’ve brought up Obama’s links to Ayers several years ago. And you regularly bring up your own experience as a POW (which I hold you in high esteem for persevering through). Isn’t that looking backward? In what ways are you looking forward instead of looking backward?
Without mentioning your opponent in any way, why should I vote for you?
I want to vote for someone, not against someone else. Why should I vote for you?
Could you clarify this statement for me?
A few weeks ago, you said that the fundamentals of our economy were strong. You’ve been getting a lot of flack for that statement, but I think I understand what you meant. If, by fundamentals, you meant the principles of a free-market economy and the spirit of American workers and ingenuity, then I understand what you mean. If you think the free-market is one of the strengths of the American economy, then why did you vote for the intervention of the Federal government into the economy to the tune of $800 billion dollars? Although it would have been much more difficult in the short-term, should we allow the market to correct itself if we’re a free-market society?
What was your biggest mistake? What did you learn from it?
All of us have made mistakes. All of us have had to change our minds at one point or another. If you really want straight talk in government, I believe that comes from the top. How are you talking straight now?
Please define ‘negative campaigning.’
Both of you promised that you wouldn’t go negative. Over the last few months, I’ve watched both of you go negative. Maybe I don’t understand the word.
My offer stands for the IU Fight Song
I’d totally vote for you if you’d sing the IU Fight Song and post it on YouTube. This offer is for either candidate: I’ll even canvass my area for you if you were to post a video of you singing the University of Evansville fight song, too.
I know there are more questions I have, but I’ve already gone too long. And the way these guys like to talk, it might take more than a week for them to answer these simple questions.
Latest posts by Matt Todd (see all)
- Leadership, teams, and Enneagram types with Angela Kohl - May 8, 2024
- Recapping PopCon Indy 2024 - May 7, 2024
- Katy Mann talks about writing a book - April 30, 2024
One thought on “If I were moderating the debates.”