Kucinch: Debates have become glorified news conferances under CPD

[Flabbergasted]

Open Debates

Presidential debates are the single most important event in the process of selecting a presidential candidate. They provide the American people with the opportunity to view all viable candidates as they discuss important issues in an unscripted manner, designed with the best interests of the people, not the political parties, in mind. They are an essential component of true democracy in America.

Unfortunately, the value of this democratic principle has failed under the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD). Established in 1988 as an extension of the major political parties, the CPD has transformed the presidential debates from dynamic political forums to "glorified news conferences," where candidates recite prepackaged sound bites and avoid discussion of significant issues.

Prior to this control, the presidential debates were faithfully sponsored by the nonpartisan League of Women Voters, who courageously included popular independent candidates, such as Congressman John Anderson, and prohibited major party campaigns from manipulating debate environments. The Democratic National Committee and Republican National Committee, however, did not want a sponsor who limited their candidates' control in order to further public interest. Their official agreement "for the parties to take over presidential debates" has led to a complete partisan control of these important events by major parties with little to no interest in promoting any alternatives to business as usual in Washington.

I believe in the power of open debates to restore higher values of democracy and voter education to the American political process. By establishing a Citizen's Debate Commission to replace the CPD, the American public can once again see presidential debates that are rigorous, fair, and inclusive of important issues and all popular candidates. There is an increasing demand for voices that challenge the bipartisan consensus on many critical issues in America, and I am one of those voices. It is time for open debates that will serve the American people first.


http://kucinich.us/issues/open_debates.php

[rinsd]

1. I am a little confused.

I assume Kucinich is talking about the general election debates and not primary debates.

Or is he referring to both?

[Freddie Stubbs]

4. The CPD only sponsors the debates for the general election

[rinsd]

7. Thanks Freddie.

:hi:

[AnOhioan]

2. He hits the nail right on the head with this

The debates have become a joke...both parties are at fault on this one, maintaining power is more important than serving the American public.

[IndianaGreen]

3. I totally agree, the Presidential debates are a joke!

Presidential debates had a better quality to them when they were run by the League of Women Voters. I long for those days.

[Freddie Stubbs]

5. The League of Women Voters (or any other group) is free to sponsor debates

[mtnsnake]

6. They shouldn't even call them debates

They are anything but.

All the presidential debates are is a couple of guys who have been well rehearsed in the art of giving pre-memorized answers to questions that don't even pertain to WTF they're answering half the time.

[Greyhound]

8. The one thing that both the Democrats and Republiks agree on is that

they are the only one's that get to play and they will set the rules as they go along, thus ensuring their candidates never have to answer for their actions.
:kick: & R