The Nation.

Debating for Dummies

the liberal media

By Eric Alterman

This article appeared in the December 10, 2007 edition of The Nation.

November 21, 2007

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  • Instead of questions on favorite gemstones or UFOs I would like to suggest some that might be of more concern to voters:

    Does your silence with regard to our Administration's policies regarding the West Bank and Gaza imply that you agree with them?

    Do you believe that our $3 billion a year to Israel and the $2 billion per year to Egypt for military aid serves the best interest of the United States?

    Matin Brod

    New York, NY

    11/22/2007 @ 9:53pm


  • What ever happened to the debates run by the League of Women Voters ? It is no accident that debates run by the Mega Media are all about "canned," "gotcha' and irrelevant questions. Their whole agenda is about perception , not reality or facts. They represent their owners , not the public.

    Would the League of Women Voters have asked any of the candidates if they believed in UFOs ?

    Michael McKinlay

    Hercules, Ca

    11/21/2007 @ 3:12pm


  • My sentiments exactly! But what can be done? Would it be possible to host a debate with public intellectuals as the questioners?

    What if MoveOn and The Nation co-sponsored a debate in NYC? Wouldn't C-SPAN film it, and wouldn't the major news channels feel compelled to cover it?

    Such a debate, properly handled to avoid the horrors Alterman describes in this piece, could lessen American cynicism toward the political process.

    Chris Hewitt

    San Francisco, CA

    11/21/2007 @ 2:58pm


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