George Wenschhof
Prior,
to the Colosseum being built in Rome, Gladiators would fight in many
amphitheaters across the empire, providing they would hold an audience, who
would always weigh in on whether a life should be spared.
Not
all gladiator fights ended with a turned thumb by the emperor. But, there was always clearly a winner in
this brutal spectator sport.
Today,
Television and Internet coverage of the U.S. presidential and vice president
debates result in 60 million viewers, a twenty-first century version of the
Colosseum.
The
debates are held to assist voters in determining the candidates they will
support to hold the highest elected positions in the United States.
But,
like the gladiators of ancient Rome, the debates have turned into a brutal
spectator sport and hardly a trustworthy means for a voter to determine how
they should cast their ballot.
The
first presidential debate moderated by PBS Jim Lehrer displayed a desperate
Republican Mitt Romney, who behind in the polls, was on the attack. Romney gave
his best chameleon impression with statements devoid of truth, always ending
his remarks with a fake quirky smile as he gazed off to the left.
All
the while, President Obama absorbed the blows and instead of striking back,
stayed with his message.
What
followed illustrates modern day politics dominated by campaign communication
directors, pundits and special interest groups. The spin room, already in
operation prior to the debate, was working full bore to tell the voters what
they had just witnessed.
Campaign
communication directors were busy prior, during and following the debate,
highlighting to the media the positives of what their candidates had said
during the debate.
NBC
commentator Chris Matthews; a progressive, was quick to denounce Obama for not
fighting back more fiercely during the debate, citing example after example of
the purported lies put forward by Romney during the debate.
Republican
friendly commentators touted Romney had found his voice and was back in the
race.
The
spin had taken hold with progressives critical of lies from Romney, who became
disappointed with the performance by Obama. Conservatives, bolstered by the
spin, were giddy over a perceived lackluster performance by the President.
Subsequent
polling reflecting the spin showed a tightening of the race in the battleground
states with Romney and Obama essentially tied among most likely voters
nationwide.
Next
up was the only vice president debate with the spin influencing the tone of the
debate which resulted in a slug fest.
Representative Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Vice President Joe Biden did not
disappoint. Biden was to Ryan what
Romney had been to Obama in the first presidential debate.
Now,
the spin masters are in full force and effect once again prior to the second of
three presidential debates on October 16.
This debate will be a town hall forum with questions from undecided
voters.
The
candidate campaign staffs are now in a dizzy over the possibility moderator Candy
Crowley of CNN may deviate from the agreed upon format and actually ask a follow up question, instead of merely serving
as a prop for the questioners.
As
the debate nears, Progressives and Conservatives are thirsting to see their
candidate dominate the other in this debate.
Three
presidential and one vice president debates in the month of October, prior to
the November 6 election is one way to assist voters in determining their
choice.
Democracy
isn’t easy. But, unlimited campaign spending and the current presidential debate
format leaves one longing for a better way.
We
can do better.
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