Reply #325: The parties themselves are to blame for the horrid debates

[nichomachus]

The presidential debates were originated by the League of Women Voters and were actually quite decent up until 1988, when the parties decided to corrupt them. Then, the League dropped out and the corporate media took over. The League explained at the time:

The League of Women Voters is withdrawing sponsorship of the presidential debates ... because the demands of the two campaign organizations would perpetrate a fraud on the American voter. It has become clear to us that the candidates' organizations aim to add debates to their list of campaign-trail charades devoid of substance, spontaneity and answers to tough questions. The League has no intention of becoming an accessory to the hoodwinking of the American public.