Beating Around the Bush

Politicians. You've gotta love them. I mean I think they sometimes come off as being more like beauty contest contestants than beauty contest contestants themselves. Now before I get a dearth of e-mails from readers chiding me for being sexist in comparing beauty contest participants to politicians simply because I'm blogging about the Vice Presidential debate last night in which Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska participated but that's not the case. Not by a long shot. I am comparing politicians, liberal and conservative, to beauty contest participants because they will smile incessantly and stick to the key talking points that will make them appear to be knowledgeable about what they are being asked about.

As many of you probably know, last night was the night of the only Vice Presidential debate for this election. The Republicans who had been worried about how Sarah Palin would perform given the endless videos of her during her interview with Katie Couric being aired showing her multiple faux pas were probably pleasantly surprised at how she did. The Democrats on the other hand probably are rejoicing in the fact that Joe Biden didn't come off as a bully as many feared he would. I think it was restraint on his part that helped him come off as more knowledgeable and better prepared and it was the fact that Palin stuck to her ticket's main talking points that helped her maintain an air of knowledge in the face of confusion. I say this though knowing that for the most part in many cases, neither candidate offered up any concrete answers to what they were being asked.

But that's not something limited to this debate or any other for that matter. It's something that is inherent in the nature of politicians themselves. They will be asked a question but then they will talk around the issue and try to lose us in a sea of words so that somehow they can come back to talking about the issues they want to focus on and those are the times when the moderator of such debates needs to step in and ensure that the candidates get to the point. It was frustrating to see the candidates begin to answer the questions in brief and then talk around the facts, drop some statistics and then get back to their talking points. In that comparison I would say that Biden came off better because in many cases (I won't say all), he had key points which he made in support of his answer and then used those to tie into his rhetoric against John McCain. Palin for her part would quickly answer and then revert back to talking about John McCain being a Maverick. So if John McCain is Maverick, does that make Sarah Palin Goose? (Sorry... couldn't help making the Top Gun reference).

But that's beside the point. If candidates don't answer the question then how are we to know what they stand for? I blogged about it earlier in the week when I stated that if we don't as direct or unexpected questions, how can we ever expect to know what the true feelings or preferences of these candidates are? When you watch debates such as these you are often confronted with facts that the candidates throw out as evidence of the wrongdoing or misguided principles that their opponents have followed thus far. They sit there and insist that this is positive proof that the opposition is wrong and not worthy of your votes. But in all honesty, do you really think that the actual Joe Six-Pack and Hockey Moms out there really have the time or inclination to check?

I can bet you that outside of Washington, D.C., there are very few people who could care less. They probably care more about how much tax they are going to have to pay and whether they can live in their home for another month or not. I don't think anyone cares about how the candidates and their presidential running mates are going to solve the issues, they just want the issue solved and over and done with. It's a lot to hope for but unless you start effecting change, there isn't going to be any. Want to end our dependence on foreign oil by producing our own domestically? Great! But what about the fact that you begrudgingly accept that man is partially to blame for the environmental changes that have been affecting our planet? I'm sure the situation would be much improved by drilling in the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge. Of course it's all part of nature's cyclical cycle. I'm sure that's why the dinosaurs got wiped out when they started turning to drilling while Adam and Eve were hanging out in the Garden of Eden 6,000 years ago.

I think by sticking to talking points and spouting their ticket's littany of accusation and counter-arguements, they don't offer up concrete ideas for our future. They try to paint pictures of themselves to show that they are better than the rest of the field. And I certainly take exception to the fact that the Republicans accuse anyone and everyone of being sexist in their comments regarding Sarah Palin yet it was Governor Palin herself who brought up the fact that she's got the toughest job in the world by being a Mother. I give points to Senator Biden for jumping on that and bringing up the fact that he was a single father who raised his two boys after his wife and daughter were killed in a car accident. I'm sure it's not sexist when a mother talks about raising children but if a man brings it up, that too a father, then it would have been a sexist blow. How hypocritical.

I can't say that I was disappointed by the debate but I can honestly say that I didn't really learn anything or hear anything that I wasn't expecting to. Now I'll sit and go through the entire gamut of analysis and counter-analysis on what all was said and done by the candidates in the debate. The Republicans will spend countless hours lauding Sarah Palin while the Democrats will sing the praises of Joe Biden and while it's great that those aligned with a party or a certain ticket already are so happy. But they aren't the ones who will decide the race; it's the ones who are on the fence who will make the difference and the key to winning that battle is showing who is more reserved or better poised and competant enough to win over people whether it is by experience and knowledge or simply a folksy attitude. Whatever the criteria, it won't mean anything if they don't come out and vote.