PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES.   Term Paper ID:28403 Click to get this paper

Essay Subject: Discusses effects & benefits of public debate on campaigns & as a central factor in elections. Examples.... More...

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Paper Abstract: Discusses effects & benefits of public debate on campaigns & as a central factor in elections. Examples. Paper Introduction: Presidential and Vice-Presidential Debates For most of the 18th century in the United States, debates did not play a role in political elections because the public and newspapers frowned upon any campaigning or direct appeal for votes (CNN.com, 1996). In those days, candidates relied on newspapers, pamphlets and an occasional public meeting to explain their positions to the public, primarily because the public expected candidates to reserve their energies for the task of government (CNN.com, 1996). Today, on the other hand, presidential and vice-presidential candidates essentially conduct a public job interview for as long as one year before the election. And the public debate has become a central and perhaps even deciding factor in some presidential elections. Presidential debates are a modern television age creation (CNN.com, 1996 Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. CNN reported that two snap networkpolls by ABC News and CNN-USA Today-Gallup rated both candidates about evenfollowing the debates. Forexample, one viewer who watched the October 3, 2 debate between VicePresident Al Gore and Texas governor George Bush noted that he formed animpression of each candidate before they even opened their mouths. Thus, since 1976, debates haveplayed an important role in presidential campaigns. (October 18, 2 ). RossPerot in 1992, they can also significantly lift a candidate's exposure and,hence, public rating. For example, Berke notes that a viewer's decision could be affected bya candidate who cannot keep his smirk in check or one who sometimes seemsto verge on condescension (Berke, 2 ). Bob Dole,former Senate majority leader and 1996 presidential candidate recallslistening to that Kennedy-Nixon debate on his car radio and thinking thatNixon was winning. "Bush fails to stir tough crowd of 3." New York Times, Politics, Online: http://www.nytimes.com. Only later when he saw the television replay did Dolerealize that Kennedy had "wiped [Nixon] out" (CNN.com, 1996). Shribman, D. The 196 debate can be offered assupport. Online:http://www.cgi.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/debates/history. Thus, public debates can have a significant effect on campaigns,although sometimes for reasons unrelated to a candidate's politicalpositions. They can also highlight a candidates weakness suchas when President Gerald R. She also believed that Bush was "too nervous" and "snappy," whichare physical characteristics from which a viewer can suppose an underlyingdiscomfort with not only the debate medium but also readiness for the jobas president in particular. Berke, R.L. Carter later stated that Reagan's commentsdemonstrated that Reagan "was relaxed and had a sense of humor, and it waskind of a denigrating thing to me [Carter]" (Apple, 2 , 2.1). Usually, debates merely reinforce a viewer's existing politicalallegiance to any given candidate. Online:http://www.pioneerplanet.com. Consequently, televised debates could offer thepublic its first and possibly only opportunity to scrutinize George W. The 198 debate between Reagan and Carter is illustrative of the blendof personality and politics in televised debates. Still, mostexperts believe that the last time a presidential debate significantlyaffected a campaign was that 196 debate, when Kennedy gave a far smootherlook and performance than did an unshaven, tired and injured Nixon (Berke,2 ). Jamieson maintains that the debate advanced the issues,illuminating the areas of both agreement and disagreement between the twocandidates (CNN.com, 1996). Many people are now aware of the preparationcandidates undergo and, consequently, viewers are concerned during thedebates about how much of the performance is showmanship and how much trulyreflects the candidate's character and personal and political views. In this campaign, neithercandidate is an incumbent. That debate was viewed by 6 million to 7 million people andintroduced a young and virile John F. Nonetheless, by 1976,Watergate, Vietnam, assassinations and other experiences had changedforever the way Americans viewed their government. There, Reagan scored bytelling Carter "There you go again" whenever Carter criticized Reagan'srecord on Medicare. References Apple, R. "Where American politics becomesa televised sport." New York Times, Television/Radio, 2.1. Before their advent, the senatorial debate between Abraham Lincolnand Stephen Douglas in 1858 was considered the most significant debate ofpre-broadcast elections. Presidential and Vice-Presidential Debates For most of the 18th century in the United States, debates did notplay a role in political elections because the public and newspapersfrowned upon any campaigning or direct appeal for votes (CNN.com, 1996).In those days, candidates relied on newspapers, pamphlets and an occasionalpublic meeting to explain their positions to the public, primarily becausethe public expected candidates to reserve their energies for the task ofgovernment (CNN.com, 1996). In the end, the public may have become far too knowledgeable about thenature of televised debates. M. Belluck, P. (October 3, 2 ). Newman, M. Although they usuallywill not change the momentum of a campaign, they can help candidatesexploit an opponent's weakness, help deflect attacks and provide new ideasto a national audience (CNN.com, 1996). (October 4, 2 ). W. One significant benefit of public presidential debates, however, isdemonstrated by the 2 presidential campaign. In a situation such as the 2 presidential election, where the pollsconsistently demonstrate less than a 5-point difference in support betweenthe two major party candidates, public debates can have a significanteffect on the outcome (Shribman, 2 ). CNN. Nonetheless, the evidencefollowing the three televised presidential debates and the one televisedvice-presidential debate did not result in a significant shift in supportfor either candidate (Shribman, 2 ). "Surprise! And as demonstrated by the relative success of H. Bushand Albert Gore side by side (Berke, 2 ). According to communications expert Kathleen HallJamieson, the debate was orderly and closely attended and both candidateswere serious and articulate and addressed themselves to certain politicalconcerns. (August 27, 2 ). Kennedy to the nation while showing aflu-ridden, poorly made up Richard M. "Bush, Gore finish debatesemerging as individuals." Pioneer Planet. "Presidential debate history: How we got them, and what they mean."(October 2 ). Today, on the other hand, presidential andvice-presidential candidates essentially conduct a public job interview foras long as one year before the election. Nixon (CNN.com, 1996). Still, since the advent of television,debates have produced many memorable moments, such as Ronald Reagan'svowing not to exploit Walter Mondale's youth and inexperience in 1984(Berke, 2 ). (September 24, 2 ). And the public debate has becomea central and perhaps even deciding factor in some presidential elections. Thefailure of the 2 debates to immediately have a significant effect oneither candidate's support could demonstrate a public more and moreunwilling to be shifted based on anything other than political views.Thus, Republicans stick with a Republican candidate and Democrats remainwith a Democratic candidate. On theother hand, Reagan also scored later in the debate when he told voters" "Itmight be well if you ask yourself, are you better off than you were fouryears ago?" (Apple, 2 , 2.1). Thus, in reaction to the October 3,2 debate, Virginia Lujano stated that she believed "they [eachcandidate's campaign handlers] told them to be more likable" (Newman,2 ). The significance of thedebates in such a situation, however, can also highlight one of theweaknesses of the televised debate as an electioneering tool. Where thedebates serve as the public's only opportunity to study the candidates,there is no guarantee that the public's perception of the candidate will bebased on deep policy considerations rather than on trivia. Still, although the 196 debates were popular with the public and werebroadcast nationally on network television, a presidential debate did notre-occur until 1976, due largely to incumbents' refusal to debate andfederal communications laws that required equal time for all presidentialcandidates, even minor ones (CNN.com, 1996). Notably, debate watchers leaned toward Bush byabout 1 points and did not change their support even though when asked whowon, 41 percent said Gore and 41 percent said Bush in the ABC Mews poll and46 percent said Gore in the CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll while 44 percent saidBush (Shribman, 2 ). KevinWiland thought Bush looked "stiff and formal [] with broad shoulders andchin up" while Gore appeared "a little more relaxed" (Belluck, 2 ).However, voters are far more savvy today about the significant preparationcandidates undergo before a debate. This can be unfortunate, but one must also consider that bodylanguage and a viewer's reaction to a candidate's physical appearance canbe relevant to that viewer's perception of a candidate's character andcomfort-level with the job for which he or she is campaigning. Ford stated that Poland wasn't under Communistdomination when he debated Jimmy Carter in 1976 (Berke, 2 ). However, the nominees of the two major partiesdid not debate until 196 , when Republican Vice President Richard Nixon faced John Kennedy, the junior Democratic Senator from Massachusetts(CNN.com, 1996). "Illinois trying to watch with openmind." New York Times, Politics, Online: http://www.nytimes.com. Dole alsostates that his own classification of World War I, World War II and theKorean war as "Democrat wars" in the 1976 vice-presidential debate "made[him] more cautious in future debates" (CNN.com, 1996). Debates may matter. Many deeply distrustedit, and debates came to be seen as a useful tool in restoring confidence inthe political process (CNN.com, 1996). Presidential debates are a modern television age creation (CNN.com,1996). Andhelp Bush." New York Times, The Nation, 4.4. If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again: Search for: or Click here to request an essay written just for you.

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