Like many people, I watched the Presidential debate. Ironically, my biggest concern was not the debate itself, nor the views held by the Republican or Democrat candidate; my biggest concern was that it seems we are entering an era where people are being conditioned into placing an exaggerated value on who is a better debater rather than placing value on the ideas themselves that were presented.
The truth at least for myself, is that my vote isn't determined by "who won the debate" or someone's debate skills. I fully understand that sometimes people who have the better ideas may not have the same level of skill in making their case to others as someone else.
This is compounded by the fact that "who won the debate" is subjective to our own views on the role of government. Its like picking pizza toppings, its been said that no two people can agree on them. Some people love anchovies; others get sick at even the thought of them. Its simply not a fair question to ask because its relative to who's asking and who's answering.
The first Presidential debate, which occurred earlier today did not sway me at all from who I plan to vote for come November. Granted, there is something to be said about how well someone can convey their thoughts, especially in a position of leadership, and I suppose that everybody weighs that characteristic differently in their assessment of candidates for public office. That characteristic holds very little weight with me - some, but very little.
I am concerned, however, that there seems to be a conditioning to make an individual's debating skills more significant; as if debating skills are more important than policy and fundamental beliefs about the role government.
So who won the debate? I'll leave that to those who care about an individual's debating skills. I think both candidates didn't really win over many undecided voters but went par for the course for their constituent base. In the end, at least in my case, my vote will go to not the best debater but to the one that shares views that are most closely aligned to my own.
