ELEPHANT-DONKEY.com

CRISP said 04/19, 06:57 AM
This FACE OFF was inpired by a brief exchange I had with Donkeydude on another Debate and I thought Its strong enough to be FACE OFF.

I have had the opportunity to listen to all three candidates over the past three months. I agree that this is a Presidential race, and character and profile scrutiny is crucial. But all three have atitulated better arugments on why they are the best candidates, only by focussing on issues. The issue is that these policy issues are not sexy enough for cable news networks and the media at large. So they end up publishing or broadcasting the parts where candidates talk about the other candidate. I think Hillary has spoken far less about Barack and John than she has spoken about her plan for economic recovery, health plan, Iraqi withdrawal strategy and the foreign policy, CRIME, and many other issues. I have observed the same about Barack and John. So why does the media have this obsession.

We become very hostile at each other, very enraged about these personal attacks and yet candidates spend more time on pstve issues.

Worst of all, there are Superdelegates that have made their choice based on how dirty the other has been on the other.

CRISP said 04/20, 04:20 PM
More than this is a debate, its a cal to the media to take the challenge. I bet if they covered the issues with as much passion Americans would make educated and well informed choices.

I think there is less engagement on the issues that seperate these candidates and more on what they say about each other.

Media freedom is a right I would never temper with because It also is as a result of Democracy. I just think that it carries the responsibility to educate and inform our society equally to the responsibility to entertain and increase ratings.

So if controversy and scandal sells, ok, granted. But I think that should not overshaddow their role to help Americans choose the correct leader (based on thier capacity to address the people's challenges)

CRISP said 04/20, 07:14 PM
As you will understand the issue at hand, it requires that you look at what the media is saying about the candidates and not what the candidates are saying about each other or themselves. I agree with you, those statements were made by both candidates, so what? is that the only thing I need to be fed to make up my mind about who to vote for? the answer is NO.

I am saying, let us hear for a change what they have to offer. It is shocking that even the last debate between Hillary and Barack, the focus was these personality issues, (as I have said earlier, they are legitimate but not the only thing we need to hear)and not the policy proposals and solutions to the problems we have. As far as I'm concerned, Obama has adopted the same tactics as Hillary on the attacks.

If a TV or radio channel would unpack the issues and the proposals of the candidates on various subjects I would feel that the media is playing some significant part in this election.

The last time I heard about Hillary's plan on crime was on her website, McCain on economy has been covered poorly and the only profiling Obama's health plan was on his attacking advert in PA this week. Media can do better.