In contrast to the Republican clown shows they call debates, last Tuesday's Democratic presidential debate was serious and focused on policy. It let the public know that there are still adults at work trying to help deal with the country's real problems. It helped the country move forward.
Tuesday's debate gave the public a positive, optimistic presentation of the Democratic Party and its progressive message and how this gives hope for a positive direction for the country. For those worried about the debates helping one candidate or another one, polls tell us the debate lowered the "unfavorable ratings" of both Clinton and Sanders.
But the Democratic Party leadership still seems to want to try to limit the Democratic candidates from public exposure. Last Tuesday's debate was on a pay TV channel (my cable/internet/phone monopoly rent-seeking bill is closing in on $200+ a month) – not a very aware move for a party that supposedly wants to represent and get votes from low-income Americans – and still 15 million Americans tuned in. Even with that audience, this viewer-suppression strategy worked; that's almost 10 million fewer than the first Republican debate.
While Republicans chose a Republican-right TV channel with Republican-friendly moderators, the Democratic debate was on a Republican-lite channel with semi-hostile moderators. ("Will you say anything to get elected?" "You honeymooned in the Soviet Union." "The current top prosecutor in Baltimore, also a Democrat, blames your zero tolerance policies for sowing the seeds of unrest.")
The next debate will take place November 14 – a weekend evening that many suspect was chosen so younger members of the potential audience will be out on dates, out at the clubs, at movies, and so on. (At least it will be on a broadcast network so people can tune in without paying.) The one after that, December 19, is also on a weekend evening, but on top of that it is also on the last Christmas shopping weekend. The one after that is on a Sunday night.
Not everyone pays attention to these things so far before an election. But those who do can see this for what it is. One candidate has a big lead early on, the other has low name recognition. It looks like people at the top are helping the leading candidate "sit on" that lead and "run out the clock." Some also think that the same people do not want the other candidate's "message" to be heard widely because it threatens entrenched interests.
What's in it for those helping rig this primary process? Washington politics now runs on exchanges of promises – jobs, favors, and the like. We don't know if or what the chair of the Democratic National Committee was promised to protect Clinton's lead and keep the public from hearing Sanders' message. If this is what happened, it might show Clinton to be just the kind of savvy D.C. power-politics player who really can get things done. Maybe the country needs someone like that right now. Maybe, maybe not. Or maybe it is an unfortunate sign that a Clinton administration will be another pay-to-play corruption operation, people inside doing favors for the powerful. Maybe the public is sick of this kind of corruption.
The first debate was great for the country, the party – and Clinton. So how about we stop the nonsense and schedule plenty of debates, in prime time on weekdays, and let the country know that there is something available besides Trump and obstruction.
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This post originally appeared at Campaign for America's Future (CAF) at their Blog for OurFuture. I am a Fellow with CAF. Sign up here for the CAF daily summary and/or for the Progress Breakfast.
