What do you believe is the most significant exchange in a TV political debate show over the last 25 years?
As for me, there are a whole lot of answers that come to mind. Serious–in fact, grave–points being made by serous leaders. Important policy being heatedly debated by brilliant minds, new ideas breaking through and the like.
But I would select a very different moment that called out the most popular debate show of this period for what it –and copycat shows like it —really are: much more tv theater playing for ratings than genuine debate seeking out the truth. And the guest did so in a very human and effective way.
I spent a good chunk of my young life voraciously absorbing these tv political debate battles. But eventually I began to tire of them and feel a similar disappointment to when my grandmother explained to me at age 7 that tv wrestling wasn’t all real. I didn’t feel deceived. But did feel disappointed that I was manipulated and didn’t know it.
Give me Firing Line with William F Buckley, Jr. Give me Charlie Rose. Give me Dick Cavett. Give me—a conversation with a friend or family member over coffee that isn’t measured in decibels but is instead an honest exploring of an idea without fear of it leading to a conclusion that is inconsistent with the political narrative I embrace. Give me a conversation in which I learn something new rather than reinforce a comfortable but mundane position I don’t even fully embrace if I were honest with myself.
And please don’t let Jon Stewart’s politics cause you to miss the non-partisan point he makes. Yes, he does revert to some low brow tactics, but he brilliantly and successfully makes as important a point as any that face our citizenry today, in my view.
We are a divided nation today in part for substantive political policy ideas we disagree on– but also, I believe, in part because we all mimic what we see and have adopted the belief that to engage in political dialogue means we musta eviscerate our “opponents” arguments at all costs–including personal insults and clever debating tactics in order to “win” at any cost. But I can’t help believe that we are all really losing something more valuable as we engage in this corrosive pastime.
This is my choice for most important tv political debate moment in the past 25 years:
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