Pubdate: Wed, 25 Sep 2002
Source: Daily Gazette (NY)
Copyright: 2002 The Gazette Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.dailygazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/105

STOP STALLING ON DEBATES

Gov. George Pataki is not the first incumbent who's tried to remain in 
office by ducking debates. It's a battle-tested strategy for keeping the 
public from seeing the real you, from getting to know - and maybe like - 
your opponent(s), and from having them land any damaging blows to your 
campaign. But it's also bad for the democratic process.

Because they're unscripted, debates are revealing in a way that television 
commercials, TV news sound bites and stump speeches aren't. That's why 
they're useful to voters and vital to the election process - at least one 
that aspires to elevate the best candidate.

Typically, it's to the incumbent's advantage - especially one leading in 
the polls - to have as few debates as possible. That keeps the public in 
the dark about lesser-known opponents and reduces the risk of any damaging 
gaffes or attacks. Gov. Pataki is holding true to form this year, resisting 
any debates that wouldn't include all eight candidates.

Of course, Pataki knows eight is too many for a real debate. Unless it went 
on all night - and who would watch? - there's just not enough time in the 
typical debate format for everyone to get more than a few minutes to talk. 
Moreover, Pataki knows that including left-wing fringe candidates such as 
the Green Party's Stanley Aronowitz will increase the chances for attacks 
on his main opponent, Democrat H. Carl McCall.

For pretty much the same reason in reverse, it would make sense for McCall 
to have billionaire businessman Thomas Golisano join him in ganging up on 
Pataki, but to have no one else.

There's no need for fringe candidates such as Thomas Leighton of the 
Marijuana Reform Party mucking up a debate. The Independence Party's 
Golisano, on the other hand, beat Pataki in a primary and has enough 
credibility to be included.

Perhaps a good compromise would be three debates: one with all candidates, 
one with just Pataki and McCall, and one that also included Golisano. But 
Pataki mustn't shortchange the voters by refusing to debate.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom