Hello and welcome to RayFowler.org. If you are new here, be sure to subscribe by email or feed reader so that you don't miss any future posts. You can also check out the Top Posts page to get a feel for the site. Thanks for visiting!
Here are some good tips on watching the debates from Alan Johnson, a reporter with The Columbus Dispatch (with extra comments by H.B. London).
- Listen actively. Switch from a passive mode to a learning mode. Pay attention.
- Focus on substance not style. It is not so much how they look and how they sound as it is the clarity of their plans and positions.
- Ignore subtle and disruptive behavior. You have seen candidates twist questions to the point that no answer is ever really given. You need to listen for a response that represents your questions. Discount gamesmanship.
- Keep an open mind. Sometimes I find myself wanting the debaters to say what I want them to say and discounting the other person, even if he or she makes sense. Do you? My political bias many times gets in the way.
- Turn off the TV when the debate is over. The spin zone and post-debate analysis are designed to influence you. Make up your own mind.
- Give your own grade. Be objective. Weigh the significance of the issues. The polls are for the masses — the debate is for you.
HT: The Pastor’s Weekly Briefing
Related post: Fact Checking the Palin/Biden Debate
#5. Turn off the TV before the debate. Get a transcript and read it. Then you don’t have to worry about #1, #2 or #3.
Larry - That’s pretty good! Of course, then I would need to change the title of the post to something different than, “How to Watch a Debate.”
Actually, I do like to hear the candidates speak rather than just read the content later. A person’s body language and vocal inflections communicate a lot along with their words.
For those interested:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/02/debate.transcript/
Larry - Thanks for the link!