Monday, August 23, 2004
To Debate Or Not To Debate
A little over a week ago, the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) announced the moderators of the upcoming general election debates. The schedule and locations for the debates was announced on November 6, 2003, with the format for each being announced on June 17, 2004. As is the tradition, there are three debates scheduled.
But yesterday as I watched Meet the Press it seemed unclear whether or not the President intends to take part in all three.
Did I miss it, or did Mehlman not answer the question?
Apparently when his aides say “President Bush is committed,” they don't mean to the debate schedule. What's he going to do? Call in sick? Claim there's a terrorist threat? Skip? This is ridiculous. If the president truly does look forward to the debates, why can't he guarantee that he'll show up for them? Obviously it's an attempt to add some drama to the situation. Will he or won't he? Of course he will, if he doesn't he's a coward. He has to show up. But why do they play this game? Why the secrecy? Is he afraid the topic of military service might come up? I'll bet it does.
John Kerry should jump on this. Make it known that the president is waffling on whether or not to do the three debates. Force President Bush to commit one way or another. It’s about time the president played defense for a while. With the Republican Convention coming up, John Kerry needs to get a little momentum going again. Steal the spotlight back from the Swiftboat Vet controversy and go on the offensive. Make George W. Bush answer questions for a change.
But yesterday as I watched Meet the Press it seemed unclear whether or not the President intends to take part in all three.
- MR. RUSSERT: Is the president going to debate John Kerry three times?
MR. [KEN] MEHLMAN [CAMPAIGN MANAGER, BUSH-CHENEY ‘04]: The president will debate John Kerry. We look forward to the debates. There's a big difference on the issues, and we look forward to discussing it.
MR. RUSSERT: There are three debates scheduled by the commission. Will he appear in all of them?
MR. MEHLMAN: The president looks forward to debating. We look forward to debating the debates after the Republican convention, and there's no doubt about the fact that the American people are going to understand the clear differences between the president and Senator Kerry on November 2 when they vote.
Did I miss it, or did Mehlman not answer the question?
Apparently when his aides say “President Bush is committed,” they don't mean to the debate schedule. What's he going to do? Call in sick? Claim there's a terrorist threat? Skip? This is ridiculous. If the president truly does look forward to the debates, why can't he guarantee that he'll show up for them? Obviously it's an attempt to add some drama to the situation. Will he or won't he? Of course he will, if he doesn't he's a coward. He has to show up. But why do they play this game? Why the secrecy? Is he afraid the topic of military service might come up? I'll bet it does.
John Kerry should jump on this. Make it known that the president is waffling on whether or not to do the three debates. Force President Bush to commit one way or another. It’s about time the president played defense for a while. With the Republican Convention coming up, John Kerry needs to get a little momentum going again. Steal the spotlight back from the Swiftboat Vet controversy and go on the offensive. Make George W. Bush answer questions for a change.
