Needed, IMO, for future televised debates: A PALIN RULE requiring broadcasters to keep the QUESTION onscreen

[ProgressiveEconomist]

Needed, IMO, for future televised debates: A PALIN RULE requiring broadcasters to keep the QUESTION ...

onscreen for the duration of a debate segment, then put the next question onscreen. This is what C-SPAN does; I'm watching the re-broadcast now.

WHA'S YOUR OPINION?

TV cable outlets without the question onscreen, and radio stations, can leave audiences impressed with a memorized speech that's completely nonresponsive to debate questions.

I'd bet that, if polls asked on what channel respondents watched the debate, Biden's winning margin would be by far the widest among CSPAN viewers. Even among low-information short-attention span viewers, as long as they can read what's on the screen.

See also a debate transcript snippet with Palin's candid but rude and defiant admission she would not follow debate rules, but rather just string together nonsequitur talking points, at http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7293718 .

[ProgressiveEconomist]

1. Thank you, anonymous recommender

[renate]

2. that's a seriously good idea

Of course, politicians on both sides redirect topics to answer the questions they wish they'd been asked. But it was GLARINGLY obvious with Palin.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

5. "redirect topics to answer questions they wish they'd been asked"--Great phrase

IMO Palin kept coming back to energy so often during the first few questions because that may have been the index card at the top of the deck she read from most of the "debate".

[ProgressiveEconomist]

9. Kick!

[Johonny]

3. MSNBC popped up the question

when she was talking about her strengths, when the question was about her weaknesses. It was like saying huh? Are your strengths your weaknesses or are you just an non-humble ass like Bush.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

4. I watched MSNBC for awhile. Do they usually have the question onscreen ONLY when the moderator is s...

That's the impression I got from only a few minutes of watching a rebroadcast. Is that what you saw?

[ProgressiveEconomist]

6. Now I've seen a bit of the CNN rebroadcast. They appear to be doing just what

MSNBC did, although they of course have their focus-group approval graph going on at the bottom of the screen.

[krkaufman]

7. I have to admit that a few times during the debate ...

... after Palin had spun off on one of her unrelated talking points, I couldn't remember the original question. (And was wishing it was on the screen.)

Such a tool would be far more useful than the distracting audience tracking lines CNN employs, which actually distract further from the content of the debate. (Seriously bad journalistic practice.) Maybe both should be added to the petition.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

8. "I couldn't remember the original question" Me too. It was WORK to keep the question

in my head while Palin was spewing random unrelated talking points. I bet it was difficult for Biden, too. How do you rebut run-on nonsequiturs?

Maybe also there should be monitors for the debaters showing the relevant question at any moment in time.

[frickaline]

10. k&r

[DeepModem Mom]

11. K&R

[kath]

12. So, it sounds like only C-Span does this continuously - IMHO, this is something that all

broadcasters of the "debates" should do.
Makes it easier to keep track of just how weasel-ly each candidate is being.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

13. What I'd like to see...but won't

The Moderator should be given the authority to "Yellow Card" one of the participants, if you will, if the Moderator feels that the participant is willfully evading the question.

A second instance in the debate results in the next question going to the other candidate, with the offending participant getting no opportunity to rebut or respond.

Neither campaign would EVER agree to a rule like that.