Found via Tom Tomorrow's site. Fascinating reading.
http://www.johnkerry.com/pdf/pr_2004_0920b.pdf
Ryan
Official Debate Rules
-
Rspaight
- Posts: 4386
- Joined: Wed Apr 30, 2003 10:48 am
- Location: The Reality-Based Community
- Contact:
Official Debate Rules
RQOTW: "I'll make sure that our future is defined not by the letters ACLU, but by the letters USA." -- Mitt Romney
"No props, notes, charts, diagrams, or other writings or other tangible things may be brought into the debate by any candidate. Neither candidate may reference or cite any specific individual sitting in a debate audience at any time during a debate."
What is the purpose of these rules? Specifically, why are the candidates expected to memorize everything? And it is allowable to reference or cite any specific individual not present at the debate, but not if he's actually there? I don't get it.
What is the purpose of these rules? Specifically, why are the candidates expected to memorize everything? And it is allowable to reference or cite any specific individual not present at the debate, but not if he's actually there? I don't get it.
Dob
-------------------
"Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance" -- HL Mencken
-------------------
"Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance" -- HL Mencken
-
Rspaight
- Posts: 4386
- Joined: Wed Apr 30, 2003 10:48 am
- Location: The Reality-Based Community
- Contact:
The first, I assume, is to level the playing field, so one guy doesn't come in with flip-charts and a notebook full of statistics that the other guy doesn't have the facts or flashy props on hand to effectively refute. Also to prevent grandstanding, like pulling out a picture of some guy who died on 9/11 or Saddam's gun or a Purple Heart or something.
The second I think is also a grandstanding rule, so a candidate can't plant a "surprise" in the crowd -- "Iraq's going great! But don't take *my* word for it, ask Prime Minister Allawi! He's right over there!" "I happen to know that sitting in the second row is a woman who lost her job and health coverage and has to eat through a straw and poop in a bag. Stand up, ma'am!"
I find this sort of thing endlessly interesting. My life is a hollow shell.
Ryan
The second I think is also a grandstanding rule, so a candidate can't plant a "surprise" in the crowd -- "Iraq's going great! But don't take *my* word for it, ask Prime Minister Allawi! He's right over there!" "I happen to know that sitting in the second row is a woman who lost her job and health coverage and has to eat through a straw and poop in a bag. Stand up, ma'am!"
I find this sort of thing endlessly interesting. My life is a hollow shell.
Ryan
RQOTW: "I'll make sure that our future is defined not by the letters ACLU, but by the letters USA." -- Mitt Romney