Cheering at Debates

iliveonramen said:

I've seen some criticisms of the Republicans cheering at the Primary debates. As you can see by my leaning...I'm not a huge fan of what they are cheering for, but I do like to see participation by the voters at these debates. I don't like the idea of a moderator and Presidential canidates with us just silent viewers. The people should be able to show their thoughts and the canidates should play to the crowd in my view.

Click to expand...

The most annoying audience response is when they start laughing because a candidate is trying really, really hard to not answer the question. It annoys me because it's like they are encouraging the behavior, and it also reduces the candidate's response time. Typically the the candidates just goof off and run the timer out, and make jokes about the question and clarifying the question.

Whatever the audience does, they shouldn't help them dodge questions. I prefer seeing the audience booing when they dodge and putting the pressure on. Seeing how the candidates respond under pressure in important to me.

radcen said:

This, this, and this.

To me they aren't really debates anyway, but rather a series of mini-speeches.

Click to expand...

I would agree, but how are we supposed to get them to debate? None of them really have any policies to debate or compare. How to fix the country is an important debate to have, and we will never likely see them argue back and forth. They are just going to say... tax cuts, tax cuts, yep, cut the taxes.. tax cuts will fix the economy. One of my big pet peeves is Romney's constant attack on Obamacare, while offering no other plan or nothing better... how can he do that? The discussion is all anti Obama, well, what are you for?

The debate forum won't really give Obama the chance to debate differing views and argue back and forth either, because the debates are not set up like that. Plus, when the candidates go after each other's views, the moderates usually stop them so they can ask the next question and then we get another mini speech, and another, etc.

The focus is on the debate, not pandering to the audience. By focusing on the debate, it diminishes the importance of the debate. Focus on the debate. Focus on the issues. Don't play for the crowds, imho.

liblady said:

Disagree, it's not a sporting event!

Click to expand...

Sure it is... it is a game. It really is. It is a competition. They are competing for a win. Fans cheer them on for a good comment or point just as tehy would cheer on Kobe for dropping in a three pointer just before half time. I am dead serious.

Psychoclown said:

I don't have a problem with the crowd cheering and getting involved. I just don't want it to get to the point where it gets to the point where the candidates can't deliver their message over the crowd, but that's usually not a problem.

Click to expand...

The history of debates in politics is littered with cheering, shouting, booing, interrupting and fist fights. I don't see the extremely minor and moderate stuff going on as anything but minor and moderate.

Remaining seated and applauding once a candidate has finished making a point? Yes.

Standing and hollering after a point is delivered, like we're at a slam dunk contest? No.