RNC Chairman Reince Priebus’ letter complaining to NBC News about last week’s debate1 is an embarrassment for Republicans not because of what was said, but because it had to be said at all. The party that repeatedly uses bias in the media as an excuse for its failure to thrive should be looking inward instead of blaming the press for its PR problems.
If Republicans want to debate they should not agree to splashy events that give them exactly what they should expect from their media tormenters. What did they think was going to happen? If you walk through a bad neighborhood you should not be surprised when you get mugged.
Instead of acting like whining children Republicans should start debating for real, but they aren’t going to do that. It’s too risky. Better to allow the media to call the shots and set up the candidates, and then cry about the outcome.
How about a real Republican candidates’ debate?
Debating is about banging heads together. It is about argument and rhetoric, not making snarky comments before someone else’s time to answer a question runs out. There isn’t a high school debater born who couldn’t chew up and spit out the pieces of any of the candidates, Democrat or Republican, we watched participate in these safe, practically risk-free forums that substitute for real debate. Why don’t we get the real thing? Because no candidate is going to open themselves up to that kind of exposure. The stakes are too high.
While we consider who might be the best choice to sit in the Oval Office and control the big red button that can vaporize the planet, we at least deserve a chance to see these people sweat before a real moment of truth arrives. Instead, when the latest candidates’ farce was over we heard complaining.
Republicans knew what they were in for when they agreed to show up and put themselves on the line. If they don’t like the forums being offered, they should have their own debate. They can agree on the topics beforehand and then go at it mano a mano.
The Republican Party needs to grow up, stop wailing about being treated unfairly, and start doing what Priebus says the candidates still want to do: debate on February 26.2
RNC, let’s have that real debate. These ideas will get you started.
Real debating starts here: six resolutions for Republicans
One of Priebus’ complaints was that moderators didn’t stick to the topics that were agreed to.2 That’s not an unfair charge, so let’s make this easy. Here are six sample resolutions Republicans can argue until they run out of breath. The resolutions for each debate will be announced in advance. Each candidate can draw a name out of a hat. After everyone is paired up, each participant gets 8 minutes for constructive argument and two 4 minute rebuttals. For a little added fun and interest, we can toss in a few minutes of cross examination, just like they do on the high school circuit. That shouldn’t be too much for a future commander-in-chief to handle.
Let’s begin with these:
Resolved: that mass deportation will do less harm to our values and more benefit to our economy than Democrats claim.
Resolved: that the greater good demands spending cuts at every level of government.
Resolved: that military conflict in the 21st century requires America to lead the world.
Resolved: that our growing minority population demands we change how we police our cities.
Resolved: that social welfare should be billed to recipients.
Resolved: that religion should impact health care laws.
I would jump all over the chance to hear Republicans debate even one of the resolutions. It will never happen. When the choice is between real conflict and a chance to blame a bad debate on the media, which do you think a cagey politician is going to choose?
We’ll find out in February.
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