The Presidential Debates

When Senator McCain and Senator Obama meet to debate this week, it looks like they will have to set the rules and enforce them themselves.

Most of us expected to see Gwen Ifill stand up to Governor Palin when she announced she was going to say what she wanted no matter what the moderator or media expected.

Who is supposed to enforce the rules of the debate, if not the moderator?

Based on what she said in response to Tom Brokaw this morning on “Meet the Press,” she figured neither was going to answer the questions but say what they wanted.

I agree that Sen. Biden pointed out when he could the ties between Sen. McCain and President Bush but he at least responded to the questions. But Governor Palin made hardly any such efforts, especially after she “blew off” Ms. Ifill.

Now that the debates are back where there can be no challenges about “victimizing” Gov. Palin, it looks like Sen. Obama is going to have to be sure what the rules are, who if anyone is to enforce them, and then carry on whatever the style of “discourse” has been defined.

That may be harder on the “town hall” format which is supposed to happen Tuesday night, and may be a little easier to get defined when Bob Schieffer moderates the discussion while sitting at the same table with the two candidates next week.

Sen. Obama may have to do that at the outset of each broadcast while on the air in public view so those of us watching will know the rules too.


PS If I remember this correctly from seminary, those from any university should answer the questions asked, those from Yale should then discuss what lay behind those questions. Those from Harvard must then also answer the questions that should have been asked!