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Defining moments in presidential debates
Even in this age of YouTube ads, incessant polling and action figures, debates have the potential to define a moment in a presidential campaign.
Just a few examples that come to mind:
* 1960 - Get me make-up! Richard Nixon vs. John F. Kennedy. Even I was too young to see this firsthand, but we studied it in a political science class my freshman year in college. Make-up and coolness gave Kennedy a decided edge over a pale, sweating Nixon. A defining moment in the role of television, one that would forever change how the candidates and campaigns approached mass media.
* 1980 & 1984 - There you go, again. Ronald Reagan vs. Jimmy Carter and later Walter Mondale. Again and again, Reagan shaped Carter’s record in four words, each time suggesting that nearly every statement Carter made came from a liberal agenda. The phrase became forever linked with Reagan. He reprised it in 1984 for his debate with Mondale, who had served as vice president under Carter.
1988 - Would you favor an irrevocable death penalty? George H.W. Bush vs. Michael Dukakis. Dukakis had plenty of hills to climb as a liberal governor from Massachusetts. But his campaign got no easier on the first question of his second debate with Bush. Then-CNN anchorman Bernard Shaw asked Dukakis if Dukakis would continue to oppose the death penalty even if Dukakis’ wife were raped and killed. Dukakis’ answer was so wooden and unemotional, it’s not even worth quoting here. His response did little to rally a spirit in American voters.
1988 - Senator, you’re no Jack Kennedy. Dan Quayle vs. Lloyd Bentsen. Vice presidential debates don’t often become national conversation pieces, but this one did. Quayle, a little-known senator from Indiana, was a surprise running mate choice for George H. W. Bush. Quayle noted during a debate against Bentsen that he had just as much experience as John F. Kennedy had when Kennedy ran for president. Bentsen, a longtime member of the U.S. Senate, leveled his gaze at Quayle and said, “Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator … you’re no Jack Kennedy.” The statement did nothing to knock Bush’s campaign off track, but it was an early sign (and many more would follow) that Quayle was a lightweight on the national political scene.
Those are a few that come to mind. Any others you want to share? More important, what do you hope to hear John McCain and Barack Obama address as the presidential debates begin Friday?
Comments
By Robert Cressionnie
September 24, 2008 2:39 PM | Link to this
I’d like to hear discussion of ending the Federal Reserve Bank, Congress taking control of our monetary policy, reigning in the interventionist foreign policy, strengthening our industrial base by withdrawing from the lop-sided so-called free trade agreements such as NAFTA, CAFTA, the WTO, etc., and just for giggles - repeal of the 17th amendment.
Alas… it will be the same issues from last time and the time before - none of which will be solved by bigger and more intrusive government as proposed by both McCain AND Obama!
By Disgusted Taxpayer
September 26, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this
Jeff, this is a change to another subject…you can title this “Unbelieveable”. This is just another example of my city tax money being wasted in a time when we need to get the most efficent use out of the tax dollar.
I find it totally unacceptable and unbelieveable that the city would take a group of highly trained professionals, such as our Firefighters and use them as “caterers” and waiters at the various Downeast Football Viking Classic meals. The fellar who came up with this idea needs to be “taken to the woodshed”.
I can understand having these brave men and women used as EMS standby at this and other events for medical emergencies, but using them to set up tables and chairs, clean up utensils and other cooking materials used at this function is unbelievable. This has got to result in the highest paid “you mess it up, we’ll clean it up with your tax dollars” catering group in the area.
Let’s add a little more expense to this “clean up crowd” and send some police officers, or some city electrical troubleshooters or maybe some secretaries from city hall to assist.
I believe that Rocky Mount has the best trained medical and emergency responders in Eastern Carolina and to use them in such a manner is totally unacceptable. To take a $500,000 fire truck or squad/rescue truck which uses the most expensive type of fuel today, out of the station and the district its SUPPOSE to be providing fire and medical services for tasks such as this is unacceptable.
I know this is a big event for the city but dang it……… There has got to be a cheaper way for the city to provide “caterer’s” for these “Viking meals”. I got find out whose in charge of this, because me and a couple of other folks are planning some big family reunions and we sure could use the firemen to help us set up and clean up afterwards.