NBC, CNN and Fox News Join 9 Other Outlets Urging Trump and Biden to Commit to Election Debates
"There is simply no substitute for the candidates debating with each other, and before the American people, their visions for the future of our nation," the statement reads.
Presidential debates don't reveal anything about how a candidate will perform in office. Especially when both candidates have already been in office so we already know how they will conduct themselves. We won't learn anything new about "their visions for the future of our nation".
Going back to the Kennedy-Nixon debates, can you name anything substantive that you learned about a candidate in any debate? All that people remember are embarrassing flubs and well-rehearsed quips. It's an exercise of style over substance.
There is a reason why normal job interviews don't include a debate between job applicants. Debating with the rules as set up by the debating commission is not a skill set required for any job. The job of president, like any job, does not forbid a person from using any and all resources and information they want to accomplish the job. Unlike the debates, there isn't a one or two minute time limit for a president to respond to a question. A president can consult with advisors about any issue.
Vice presidential debates are more of a waste of time.
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