Obama Should Debate
Sen. Clinton has challenged Sen. Obama to a Lincoln-Douglas style debate. Which, as a huge Lincoln buff I'm predisposed to like anyway - especially on the 150th anniversary. But, if Clinton truly wants a debate in the style of Lincoln-Douglas Sen. Obama ought to take it.
Here is Clinton's Statement: "So here is my proposal: I'm offering Senator Obama the chance to debate me one-on-one, no moderators. Just the two of us going for 90 minutes asking and answering questions. We'll set whatever rules seem fair." Though, as one commentator said today the person proposing Lincoln-Douglas debates is almost always behind. The last person to do so was Mike Huckabee, before that Chris Dodd, before that Fred Thompson.
So what does "truly in the style of Lincoln-Douglas Debate" mean? Well in High School debates across the country it has taken a format as follows, which is not a true Lincoln-Douglas Debate :
6 min. Affirmative Constructive The Affirmative reads a pre-written case3 min. Cross Examination The Negative asks the Affirmative questions
7 min. Negative Constructive (and first negative Rebuttal) The Negative (almost always) reads a pre-written case and (almost always) moves on to address the Affirmative's case.
3 min. Cross Examination The Affirmative asks the Negative questions
4 min. First Affirmative Rebuttal The Affirmative addresses both their opponent's arguments and their own
6 min. The Negative Rebuttal The Negative covers everything said in the round and gives the judge reasons to vote for them
3 min. The Second Affirmative Rebuttal The Affirmative may either summarize the round or cover everything, but they always give reasons to vote for them
Now Lincoln and Douglas actually took considerably more time than that. But due to 20th century attention spans the format has bee shortened. If it were a true Lincoln-Douglas debate both candidates would give their stump speech first - for around 20 minutes. Which favors Obama. As KO said "New rule. Never speak after Barack Obama." Speaking with/against him on the same stage cannot be a pleasant experience.
Also a trait of the Lincoln-Douglas debates were they were at town-gatherings. Completely open to the public. And, their nationalistic (ok patriotic) pomp was in full bloom. The Clinton-Obama debate should be held outdoors and fully open to the public. Perhaps in a baseball stadium or even in an open field. The debate should be the capping point of a day long celebration of America. Much like the Iowa JJ Dinner. I imagine Obama's masses would show up.
I think Obama will win the debate. Of course Lincoln did not win in the public eye, of his day, during the debates. But he won in the historical sense. Why? His rhetoric was America. It appealed trough out to the greater good. Lincoln was steeped in Thoreau, Emerson, and Whitman. In fact he and Mary Todd often had fights over his reading of the 'vulgar' Leaves of Grass. His high points in the debate echo these authors. "America's story begins at Dawn," "My Ademic Song," "The Party of Hope verses the Party of Memory." These authors set the standard for American Political rhetoric. It is in Roosevelt's "The only thing to fear is fear itself," Kennedy's "Ask not what you can do for your country," Reagan's "It is Morning in America." These authors are at the root of the American personality. One that is innocent, memoryless, and hopeful. In the realm of rhetoric this is how Obama has one. It as if his campaign is running Emerson's campaign of "The Party of Hope verse the Party of Memory," or, "We are the Change we have been waiting for." Lincoln's rhetoric absorbed these authors, and so does Obama's. And the Lincoln-Douglas debate format allows that rhetoric to soar.
Plus alls having an overly patriotic forum in the shoes of Lincoln does it to remind people of Lincoln. A Tall, Lanky, inexperienced, politician from Illinois. Obama's speech could frame himself as Lincoln.
So If the Clinton Campaign is really willing to have Lincoln-Douglas Debates... I think the Obama campaign should allow it on 5 conditions.
1. It is open air allowing everyone who shows to hear.
- It last well over 45 mintues.
- It is billed as a historical event.
- It is done with a full day of patriotic pump.
- The Candidates appear to get along during the debate.
It could be a great moemnt for the Party. It could be a great moment in American History. And, John McCain would be completely forgotten about.
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