Can I Have Presidential Debates for $400, Alex?
Mitt Romney, Sen. John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, and Fred Thompson were wise not to show up for the Value Voters Debate last night. Value voters have an important place in the GOP big tent and their issues are important. But how can you take a debate seriously that includes a game of green light/red light:
They even had a lightning speed round where candidates activated a green light for a yes answer and a red light for a no answer. I was waiting for Alex Trebek to step out and conduct this, maybe even say a prayer. (He didn’t but Judge Roy Moore did without the Ten Commandments in tow) Here were some of the questions candidates were asked to respond to in a yes or no format: (there were a lot of green lights)
Will you consider impeachment in cases of judicial activism?
Do you agree that multiculturalism is weakening American culture?
Will you de-fund Planned Parenthood?
Would you veto any legislation that re-institutes the fairness doctrine?
Would you nominate strict constructionist judges?
That made the snowman question dignified. These men are running for President not trying to win Jeopardy! That’s too bad because the question are interesting. The candidates should be given some time to actually say something about them. That’s too hard when there are 4, 5, 11 people in one debate.
“Value Voters Debate: Brody File Reaction”
UPDATE: John Hawkins watched the debate. He didn’t mention the red light/green light gimmick. Instead, he noticed Alan Keyes mentioned God “100 times over the course of the night” and “giving Ron Paul more time to speak only made him seem even nuttier than normal.” He gave the win to Mike Huckabee.
Disclaimer: I work for Friends of Fred Thompson.
I agree with you that these issues demand more than yes/no answers, but on the other hand, I can see the value of the light system in forcing people to come down on one side or the other without wiggle room to not answer.