Open Letter to the President on the Debates
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thepoliticalcarnival.net – obama-v-romney
Dear Mr. President:
On October 3, 2012, Mr. Romney will meet you in the first presidential debate. The Republicans and the Romney campaign are hoping that this will be the beginning of their comeback. It is generally known that Mr. Romney has the best coaching money can buy and that he has been preparing diligently. It is further known that Mr. Romney is completely unconstrained by evidence, logic or known truths when seeking to make a case for his candidacy. Finally, while you are a great public speaker, you are not known as a superb debater. Therefore, it is essential that you find the time, energy, and motivation to prepare and perform far better than in previous presidential debating endeavors. With all this in mind, please consider the following musings on the 2012 presidential debates.
Effective debaters convey their thoughts with conviction and logic. They take the time to perfect several simple practices that are masterstrokes in the art of debating. First, they thoroughly research the topic from both pro and con angels. Second, they develop a powerful and winning argument for their side. Third, they prepare convincing rebuttals for the strong points likely to be raised by the other side. Fourth, they craft verbal traps to lure their opponents into blunders and blind alleys. Finally, they develop a stage presence that exudes confidence but eschews arrogance.
Following thorough, effective debaters deliver the winning argument for their side in several ways. They support their view with factual information. They present this information clearly and concisely, and raise only questions to which they know the answers. Winning debaters embody confidence; they unfailingly remain calm and collected while respecting their opponents as human beings. They are convincing, but not condescending. Masterful debaters lure their opponents into mistakes or cause them to reveal exploitable weakness. Winning debaters never flinch and they never grandstand.
Presentation is at best half the challenge for effective debaters. The other, and perhaps the more crucial task, is listening and responding to the other side. To triumph in this segment, effective debaters listen carefully to every word and argument of the other side. They scrutinize these thoroughly for potential clues or openings that facilitate a strong rebuttal. They leave no proposition or rationale unchallenged, and when and where possible they use the other side’s words against them.
A guideline followed by master debaters is – debate the claim, not the person. Consequently, master debaters realize they must display scrupulous courtesy toward their opposition. They do not want to engender sympathy among the audience for the opposing person that might unwarrantedly transfer to the opposition’s arguments. Debaters can only hope to persuade the audience, and they should strive to do so. Accordingly they resist the urge to insult, disparage, or otherwise malign the opponent or any other person associated with the opposition.
The converse is equally true. If the opponent uses ad hominem arguments, one can turn these to one’s advantage. Often times these attacks are signals of growing desperation on the part of one’s opponent. Ad hominem arguments prove that the opponent has exhausted logic and must resort to slander instead. This should be taken as an opening, but it should never be reciprocated. The key is to call attention to the switch from debating content to attacking character in a calm and non-defensive manner. Refusal to engage in mudslinging and name-calling will likely provoke ire in the opponent, and will certainly allow one to further distinguish oneself in the minds of the audience as a person of class and the voice of reason.
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Tags: challenges, Importance, Obama, Presidential Debates, romney, Techniques, Tips