I just saw a great example of what a presidential debate should be
@RonElFran (1214)
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
February 28, 2016 6:55pm CST
I've been watching a replay of a presidential primary debate on CSPAN, and I'm amazed!
This debate was civil and respectful. The questions were about real issues, not personalities. And the candidates answered them in detail with specific policy positions. And not one time did the candidates shout at one another or call one another names. Amazing!
As you might have guessed, this debate did not take place in 2016. It happened during the 1960 West Virginia Democratic Party primary contest between senators John F. Kennedy and Hubert H. Humphrey.
Watching this early debate makes me realize how much we have regressed, not just in debate practice, but in our entire political discourse. No demagoguery, no half-truths or outright lies. The candidates calmly stated clearly what their positions were, and backed them up with verifiable facts.
In general I'd never want to go back to the way things were in the 1960s. But we could definitely learn some things from that primitive era on how run an election.
5 people like this
2 responses
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
29 Feb 16
I haven't watched any political debates. Reading your first paragraph, I wanted to ask which debate you were watching. Ha, ha, ha....a good lesson from the past.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382555)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Feb 16
I really hate how politicians don't seem to have an original thought but just attack each other.



