• by Wayne Friedman , Staff Writer, April 15, 2024

Could there be a strong chance we won't see a Presidential debate in this election period?

The major TV networks hope not. And they are doing a bit of campaigning to make it happen. 

Really. A straight-ahead Presidential debate?

Perhaps the thinking is that a potential unscripted reality TV show full of huffing, puffing and nasty interruptions is just what viewers need.

The New York Times obtained a draft version of a letter endorsed by ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and Fox News, which reads: “We, the undersigned national news organizations, urge the presumptive presidential nominees to publicly commit to participating in general election debates before November's election.”

Specifically, the draft letter went on to read: “If there is one thing Americans can agree on, during this polarized time, it is that the stakes of this election are exceptionally high.”

Well, we know these are not ordinary times, the word “polarized” describes the least of it. 

In part, you would need to have a fair, respectable “conversation.”

That means few if any weird interruptions, which is an issue for Donald Trump. Waiting his turn to speak isn't worth his wait.

Biden says a debate is possible, but it depends on Trump’s “behavior.” We get it. But just the behavior seems to be the least of it.

I can understand. If you have misinformation, lies and other such things floating around from one candidate -- and perhaps to a greater extent than among other Presidential candidates during these debates -- why participate?

What’s the upside? In a world of ever-silo-ing voters, you don’t have much room to change minds, anyway.

Just look at how Trump handled the debate situation the last time, with all the wise-guy remarks and interruptions.

Trump wants to debate. But it’s all for some show.

If debates were that important, why didn’t he show up for his own party’s gabfest -- the GOP Presidential debates? Where’s the respect? 

Still, TV networks are pushing for this. They still want to be players of influence, news, facts, and honest perspective when it comes to major political events.

And that's not just with these big, dramatic events by which to grab new and old viewers, but also to retain their news impact value and respectability in a fast-moving digital media world -- especially in terms of social media -- that doesn't always offer a top-quality news product.

Perhaps this time around, TV networks might make a point that moderators could do more to hold candidates as accountable as possible -- keeping them in line. This is not so easy in a live, mostly unscripted news event. 

Perhaps that's what TV networks believe viewers would really want.

We disagree. They want a show, not politics, and snark, not position papers.