Those Are Fightin' Words
| Published 10/15/04

Graphic by: Doni Neel

Having just watched 90 minutes of oratorical excitement, it is time to translate it into English. Under the moderation of Jim Lehrer of PBS, the University of Miami was lit up with miniature stoplights and the entire stage resembled a busy intersection. Included in the 33-page list of rules was a provision to have light and buzzer signals in front of the candidates. According to Fox News, prior to the debate, a Kerry campaign official was overheard telling a technician, "If you don't move those lights, I'll rip them off myself." The lighting provision was a demand of the president's campaign to prevent Kerry from making his historically lengthy remarks. In past debates for the Senate and offices in Massachusetts, the senator repeatedly spoke past his allotted time and was not corrected by the moderator which, in turn, gave him a perception of dominance over the competition. Fortunately for both candidates, the green, yellow and red lights were enough to manage time and the buzzer option was never used.

Going into the debates, the president was expected to do well if he could hold his own against Kerry, who is a talented speaker. The senator was told he would claim success if he could derail the Bush's steady and unwavering messages. What really unnerves me is that we actually refer to this debate as a performance. Rather than a human exchange of ideas, it is a major production. Complete with fresh tans, manicures and timed water drinking, this television appearance went over the top. 

President Bush is often criticized for giving the same speech repeatedly because it appeals to his popularity as a war-time president. This common misconception is met with the fact that there is one answer to our nation's troubles: leadership. When asked if he felt that Kerry's election on Nov. 2 would increase the chances of another 9/11-type attack, the president reiterated his position on leadership, saying, "No, I don't believe it's going to happen. I believe I'm going to win, because the American people know I know how to lead. I've shown the American people I know how to lead. I understand everybody in this country doesn't agree with the decisions I've made, and I made some tough decisions. But people know where I stand." In classic debate style, Bush attacked his opponent by talking about his own record rather than Kerry's.

The president often displayed an annoyed look on his face when the senator spoke. Some say this look came across as rude; however, I see it as a dismissal of the senator's ideas as valid options. The last half hour of the debate turned the topic to North Korea and their continued denial to relinquish their nuclear weapons programs. This topic either caught Bush off guard or merited a simple answer because he seemed to recycle previous comments and step lightly around the issue. His clearly pronounced solution to the North Korean situation was multilateral talks. Citing the importance of China in the discussion and their leverage over N. Korea, the president blasted the senator for suggesting American dominance through bilateral talks. The president's closing remarks laid down his plans for a safer America and stressed the importance of the citizens' unity in the global War on Terror. Sen. Kerry's display was equally tough. He exhibited the more offensive approach of the two debaters. He defended his positions on the war in Iraq and accused the president of failing to properly execute the post-war activities. He charged that, "...we are (paying)... 90 percent of the cost: $200 billion. $200 billion that could have been used for health care, for schools, for construction, for prescription drugs for seniors; and it's in Iraq." Kerry's main focus was to point out in what ways Bush mismanaged the post-war activities and what he proposed to change.

If the president's mistake was his annoyed look, the senator's was his often cocky style. This " bring it on" attitude showed Sen. Kerry as slightly arrogant and a bit overanxious. The night was neither a blowout nor a checkmate for the senator. He got a steady point across and may have picked up a few votes for doing so.

Overall, the debate was a 100% draw. Bush held his own and Kerry displayed his top-notch oratory skills. By portraying his folksy charm and saying towards the end, "I'm a pretty easy going guy," during a heated moment, the president appealed to his core voters and may have picked up some undecided voters with his offensive strategy for the War on Terror. Similarly, the senator appeared as a strong opponent with very different plans, and maintained a steady message throughout the contest. Freshly tanned and manicured, Senator Kerry did his best to appeal to the "common people." This race is still wide open.