The End of Debate

Friday's Presidential debate was anything but. Neither candidate behaved Presidential, nor did they debate. This election was supposed to be different. Both candidates touted high ideals and promised a campaign of ideas, not words. It has deteriorated into zingers and talking points meant to woo voters.

Friday night was supposed to be a thoughtful debate of those ideas. It was an excellent format: moderated by Jim Lehrer (host of the esteemed PBS program Newshour), the topics would be presented, each would give a two-minute summary, then they would debate the ideas for five minutes with each other. This was the format agreed upon by the candidates months ago.

Instead of thoughtful debate over ideas, Senators McCain and Obama disintegrated into election-year jabs and political talking points. The ideas presented were cut from advisors and broad plans, but little was foundational or substantial. Obama used the "Bush-McCain mantra" while McCain continued his "voice of experience" argument. McCain pushed his "I'm a maverick," and "earmarks are evil" comfort points, even when they were vaguely relevant. Obama postured "what I've called for" as if the President writes legislation.

Lehrer compelled them over and over "say it directly to him." "I'm determined to get you all to talk to each other," Lehrer implored. Obama finally engaged, McCain never looked to his opponent (or the camera). This is a position where world leaders confront each other. These guys must prove they can engage. We want a lion who will lead, not a golden retriever who will dutifully fetch.

I wasn't around in the 1860s, so I did not get to see Lincoln and Douglas debate, but I have seen high schoolers and college students follow guidelines and engage each other more passionately and with less posturing than these two. If one of these me wants my vote, they should get over their hubris and one-upsmanship. McCain should stop trying to be Teddy Roosevelt and Obama stop pointing fingers at others bad judgment calls.

In my opinion, McCain lost what could be construed as a debate handily. He drew the discussion off topic and shallowly defended his various points. Obama, while casting a broad net of ideas, did present considerable arguments for his positions. Earmarks are necessary for congressional business to get done and they are abused, but the President will have to let congress deal with those because he does not have a line-item veto. Presidents' agendas get overtaken by events (consider the Bush campaign of '00 and '04 who won as a "compassionate conservative" but became the progenitor of overarching executive power).

Watch online at www.youdecide2008.com.

Revisited

I listened again to the debate. The candidates did, at points, delve deeply into issues and explained the merits of their viewpoints and how they make decisions. It was regrettable, however, that political pandering and smearing were so prominent and sullied the stronger parts.

Donald Miller's Benediction

I was proud of Donald Miller's benediction after Monday's DNC Convention. He is influential, thoughtful, and represents a new evangelical Christian. Social justice will take a lot of us out of the GOP this year. The Republican party will have to answer for its missteps and the Democrats will have to live up to their rhetoric. The new Christian majority has a broader platform and is actively leading in setting things right.

Letter to Gov. Sebelius regarding classist comments

Your comment, "John McCain has lived the American dream but he, somehow, doesn't feel it should be opened up to all Americans," was grossly unfair. Because he has disagreed on various fiscal policies as your party members have put forth and has married a woman who had wealth before they were married is no indication that he is maliciously holding others back. Classist rhetoric as a philosophy is one thing, but used to deride one's opponent is beneath the dignity of your office and corrosive in this political climate.

See comment here (around 12:30 into the broadcast). Note how she continues the jabs afterword. Rewind to around 10:30 to see McCain's comments to Katie Couric.

Some Wounds Run Deep

Before you pass this up as another boring politics post, read on. This election promised to be historic. For the first time our country has presidential candidates from two demographics that are targets of discrimination. One is a woman, the other African-American. That is obvious just by looking at either of them.

We are challenged in our society to notice, but not judge others based on their gender or race. We are confronted when we even bring up some of the differences and distinctions, unless we value them. We even go so far as to specifically celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of people from different gender and race groups.

Despite tremendous changes in people's perceptions of women and African-Americans in society there still festers an underlying bitterness that divides us along gender and race lines. Women had to fight in this country to have the rights of men in the home, booth and workplace. African-Americans had to fight for the recognition as humans, to be free, to own and work, and to have access to things others enjoy. These fights were hard-fought and people were hurt in the conflict.

We still encounter the names, misperceptions, and inappropriate insenuations. Some people still carry those biases that were so long accepted. However, this is no longer the norm. It is unacceptable to discriminate or disenfranchise based on gender or race.

The 2008 Democratic nomination will prove historic. Among all of the potential candidates, a woman and a person of African decent became the contenders for the nomination. Today, though, we still have to acknowledge and address the resentment that leads people to slander and ostracize a woman and a black man based on those traits and the life experiences associated with them.

Because Ms. Ferraro brings up her candidacy and being chosen because she was woman, and because Rev. Wright preaches about conspiracies that reinforce his experiences our nation still has to heal. Because people are still judged -- whether implied or implicitly -- based on gender or race we still need to heal. Because people are willing to twist and exploit these experiences we need to heal.

P.S. Most of this was written before Mr. Obama's profound speech delivered this day in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He expresses some of these sentiments, which shows their validity.

Romney on Healthcare: Good ideas

I like presidential candidate Mitt Romney's concept on government healthcare. In a Yahoo! News article, Romney "said he'd leave it up to states to design their own systems."

That's good! Consider how effective it would be for fifty states to try different ways to implement the plan. With competition, ingenuity, and customized care according to regional differences, this sounds workable. Who knows that we may see states competing for residents like corporations for customers by offering better service.

Mike Huckabee: strong on domestic issues

LITTLE ROCK, AR – Former Governor Mike Huckabee (AR) won the support of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) today. The IAM, for the first time in its 119 year history, endorsed candidates in both the Republican and Democratic primaries.

Huckabee welcomed the IAM endorsement stating, "I’m proud to have the support of the workers who bring prosperity to America on a daily basis."

Huckabee spoke before over 700 members of the IAM in Orlando, Florida on Monday about jobs, globalization, health care, and other 21st century domestic issues. During his conversation with IAM workers, Huckabee stated, "In order for this country to be free, there are three things we must do: feed ourselves, fuel ourselves and fight for ourselves. That means we need to be manufacturing our own means of defense and making it a national security issue."

During his speech on Monday night, Huckabee outlined his program to improve the lives of working Americans, including his support of the Fair Tax. Under the Fair Tax, he said, "American companies are far less likely to move overseas and foreign companies are far more likely to come here, hiring Americans to build and work in their new plants."

Huckabee also said he believes in fair trade. "Free trade has to be fair trade. We are losing jobs because of an unlevel, unfair trading arena that has to be fixed. Behind the statistics, there are real families, real lives, and real pain. I'm running for President because I don't want people who have worked loyally for a company for 20 or 30 years to walk in one morning and be handed a pink slip and be told, ‘I'm sorry, but everything you spent your life working for is no longer here.’"

Huckabee received the historic endorsement this morning during the final day of IAM’s National Staff Conference. Shortly after receiving the news, Huckabee thanked President Tom Buffenbarger on a phone call : "I appreciate the unprecedented opportunity to participate in the IAM meeting this week and to receive this historic endorsement."