The Bush and Kerry camps finally have ironed out the details that will allow the campaign to rouse itself out of the mud and to step into the spotlight of a free exchange not of insults, but of issues. Both sides have agreed on the dates and places for the presidential debates -with the first one scheduled for Sept. 30 at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Fla. While it is refeshing that the candidates finally have agreed to stage one of America's most revered political traditions, it is frankly about time. The debates are not only a time-honored tradition, but have influenced the way the viewing public has voted in previous elections.
In a recent poll conducted by the Pew Research Center, about 30 percent of those surveyed said the debates will have an effect on which candidate receives their support. Much like in 2000, this election will be close and the debates have the potential to be the deciding factor.
These debates should no longer have to be agreed upon by the candidates; they should become a regularly scheduled obligation that every presidential candidate must submit to in order to run. By doing so, the public would be able to listen to information from both sides of the issues and make a logical choice based on the facts, instead of basing their decision on which campaign ad is more effective.
In the immortal words of John Milton, Let truth and falsehood grapple; whoever knew truth put to the worse in a free and open encounter? Debate is at the heart of not only this statement but also democracy in general. It is time for the candidates to cut through the red tape and talk about the future of America.
The debates will serve as a perfect forum for President Bush and Sen. Kerry to display their talents and ideas. Also, it will allow the voting public to base their decision on more than the mud slinging that has dominated the media's coverage of the campaign. During the 2000 campaign 46.6 million people watched the first debate between Bush and Al Gore, and 37.6 million and 37.7 million watched the second and third, respectively. For the good of the nation, let the fireworks begin.
Political pandering
As a potential swing state in the upcoming presidential election, both Republicans and Democrats have made Ohio a featured battleground and attempted to win every possible vote. Such tenacity and commitment is respectable, but both parties have gone too far in trying to secure the vote of Ohio's forgotten minority: the Amish. In the past, only about 30 percent of Amish have exercised their right to vote, said Roy Miller, a member of the Old Order Amish. However, with a voting block estimated at about 36,000, this group theoretically could provide either candidate with enough of a push to win the state.
Realistically, the candidates have no intention of representing Amish concerns or honoring whatever campaign promises are made to them. Both sides need to stop pandering for every vote and help to stop the exploitation of a group that society views as backwards or odd. In addition to these all-too-common views, society -in the form of a CBS reality series -has used the Amish solely for amusement. From the cultural to the political arena, society needs to end its parasitic relationship with this group. In economic terms, nothing in this world is free, but surely it is clear that any support the Amish levy for a candidate will be given with nothing in return.
Possibly the most ironic twist associated with this shameless action is trying to guess which political party the Amish would more likely favor, should they choose to vote. The Amish might swing to the Republican Party because of its platforms denouncing abortion and gay marriage, but the Democrats have the edge in other issues. Esteemed principles in the Amish ideology are pacifism and opposition to the death penalty. It is difficult to decide where the Amish might fall when comparing the philosophies of each party, because neither one encompasses their entire belief system.
Should the Amish choose to vote this November, they will have a tough decision to make, but both political parties have a decidedly easier decision. It's time for our society to stop exploiting the Amish for personal gains, whether they are cultural or political.
17 Archives
The Post Editorial Board
