If you sound like you know what you're talking about, people will assume you do. -- Pug Mahoney
Political debating is a challenge, a contest, a game to see who can respond more persuasively to the question posed by the moderator.
Answering the question is not politically essential. Rather, a good impression is more important, so candidates use the question as an excuse to talk and persuade voters to support them.
Compare it to advertising. It's an opportunity to make a sales pitch to customers -- voters -- and to gain their support. In return, the successful candidate -- the salesman -- promises to deliver favors to the people.
But what will that be? When and how will the politician deliver on his or her promises?
Candidates are good at making promises, but delivering is another matter. A promise is like an IOU. It means "I owe you." But fulfilling ... ?
To avoid making promises that cannot or will not be filled, candidates resort to attacks on their opponents, and ignore pleas by the moderator to actually answer any questions.
Talk soup may sound good, but it has no taste or substance.
No comments:
Post a Comment