Presidential Candidates Debate
Posted : September 28, 2008 at 6:31 pm [IST]
I found Anand and Shannon pretty interested in politics of US. Both are for Obama, but Anand appears to be emotionally more involved. As I understand, both watched September 26 debate in the cabin of Valleycare Medical Center, Pleasanton too on the second day after the arrival of Krish. Who knows if Krish plays some significant role in politics of US someday?
Anand had set TV ready for me so that I could watch it. Though I could watch only part of it, it was a good experience for me. As Anand told me, the most of US voters watch it. As I felt, the debate is intended to change the perception of the voters of US about the two candidates. How would they manage the country and confront America’s adversaries abroad? What would be their governing agendas - like scaling back promised tax reductions or spending programs - to accommodate the very tough economic times for the next president?
I was watching it to find out the merit of this feature in US presidential election. After all, the head of the most powerful country of the world must represent the country in best manner. However, the debate is only one and very limited means to know the better among the two. Can something like it be emulated by India? Should Man Mohan Singh or perhaps Rahul Gandhi and LK Advani follow this route to reach the voters in India. Many or perhaps most of younger generation voters will certainly like a debate if they go for it.
However I couldn’t appreciate some of the aspects of the debate and some questions cropped up.
Do the voters bother if Mr. John McCain mangled the name of the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and stumbled over the name of Pakistan’s newly inaugurated president, calling him “Qadari.” ( Asif Ali Zardari.). Does it matter if ‘throughout the debate, Mr. Barak Obama called Mr. McCain by his first name; Mr. McCain did not’?
Mr. McCain seven times used a variation of the phrase that Mr. Obama “doesn’t understand.” “I’m afraid Senator Obama doesn’t understand” “What Senator Obama doesn’t seem to understand” and “Senator Obama still doesn’t understand”. Obama said nine times that what his opponent claimed was “not true.” Four more times he piped up to “correct” his opponent. Will it be considered as poor in taste?
Media covered the debate extensively and tried to give its opinion about who was better. New York Times and Washington Post reported well. As it appears, the reporting and discussions of the experts in media after the debate might be influencing the voters more, as it helps to find out even the minor details critically.
Somehow none of the two aspirants for the office of the president of US impress me as the right candidate. Can’t the democratic process put into some more criteria to screen the best?
However, for a visitor like me, the debates will be a good pastime in days to come.
PS: If I go by the google entries, Obama wins, as Obama has 64 million entries against MaCain’s 47.4 million.
- Indra
Category: IRS in US 2008 |
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