Could Perry’s dismissal of debates change American politics?
This will be a very interesting test. Perry is challenging the underlying rationale for debates, that they afford the American people a chance to see what the candidates believe and how they craft their arguments. Perry’s argument is that you can’t possibly explain your policy positions in the one minute that is allotted to candidates, and that debates are really more about (and these are my words, not his) inducing a rival to commit gaffes than they are about a real airing of views.
Perry has a point–so much so that it could change how candidates view future debates, not just this year but in years to come. If Perry skips most of the rest of the debates, spend his time campaigning instead, and goes on to win the Republican nomination, he could set a precedent that the networks would hate, but it might change the future of American politics.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Perry is MIA in all of the remaining debates. His distaste for them is palpable. He has endured several costly attacks, such as Michele Bachmann’s accusation that he is a crony capitalist and charges that he supported in-state tuition for the children of illegal immigrants. He looks terrible when he is on the defensive, and not much better when he is on the offensive; his attack on Romney’s lawn service that hired illegal aliens fell flat. He is much better at other aspects of campaigning, such as meet-and-greets and speeches before friendly audiences. The only thing he will miss by not debating is the opportunity to confront Romney head to head, and he can do that just as well, if not better, with paid media. Yes, he will be subject to criticism that he is afraid to face the American people (as I suggested in a previous post), but so what? He has to be better off doing something he is good at than doing something he is bad at. If I were advising him, I’d tell him to blow off the rest of the debates.
Kenneth D. Franks says:
“He is afraid to face the American People,” in a debate format so he should be considered the fringe candidate from Texas.
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Col. Mike Kirby says:
Not going to happen. Perry’s a fool, much like Michele Bachmann. She started dropping long befoe the debates because everytime she opened her mouth something stupid fell out. Perry is the same. Perhaps if a viable, intelligent candidate tried that strategy it might work, but Perry is not that candidate.
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BackUpMembers says:
It’s too late to decide now to skip the future debates unless Romney and Gingrich also claim that it is debilitating to their actual efforts to campaign.
All Perry has to at the debates do is show up, attack the horrible Obama nationalization of the week, be polite, and go campaign with live audiences afterward, hammering the points about Obama. Ignore the rest of the GOP field.
Once Herman Cain loses his appeal, those anti-Romney votes will revert to the original anti-Romney candidate. Perry just has to be nice to the other GOP candidates and go after Obama.
If he is off the stage at a GOP debate at this point, he looks like Sarah Palin — a quitter.
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Anonymous says:
I think it may have been a good idea for Perry to refuse to do ANY debates, but now the damage is done. His opponents already have plenty of juicy tapes of his performances for their own attack ads. And you know this contest is not suddenly going to become positive and friendly. Reagan’s 11th Commandment is long forgotten by this crew.
Too late.
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Admonkey says:
The other pole of not having the opportunity to confront Romney head-to-head is also not being present to fend off (or at least try to fend off) attacks on his record before a live audience, both in the studio and at home.
The biggest attack, I imagine, will be that he doesn’t have the cajones to face the field, and do we really want a cajone-free president? Perry will come off looking week, which is to say, even weaker than he already does.
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Admonkey Reply:
October 28th, 2011 at 9:41 am
Took less time than I was expecting. Roughly 24 hours.
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/190315-santorum-campaign-aide-i-thought-texas-governors-were-supposed-to-be-tough
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Pri-ista says:
Perry won’t debate Obama until he releases his birth certificate.
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Pri-ista says:
Perry, “I opposed Obama’s stimulus before I accepted $14 billion of it.”
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Stevie F. says:
If he wants to avoid debates he’ll have to find another forum. People have limited interest in set campaign speeches or ads.
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WUSRPH Reply:
October 27th, 2011 at 3:19 pm
I was out of the country (1st time in 20 years) during the first debate in which Perry participated but–based on his past performance–I expected him to duck it. I was surprised when I got back and found out that he had actually gone. (For some reason Irish newspapers just do not give that much coverage to us. They seemed much more interested in the Euro problem, etc.)…He had the perfect excuse–Bastrop was burring down and he had to stay home to be governor, etc. but he did not use it…Having missed one, he could then have just stayed away and never had to show how poorly he handles direct confrontations. But, having already participated in several debates it will be hard for him to avoid the others without getting the image of being a little ‘fraidy boy who is not up to facing the big boys. But, I think Paul is right in that it can only hurt him to keep looking so bad in the debates. I think he is almost all washed up now…but he will probably keep trying at least thru South Carolina.
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garyfan says:
I don’t think Perry could explain his campaign positions no matter how much time he had.
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Pri-ista says:
Perry, “I cut taxes (franchise tax) after I created them.”
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AreYouKiddingMe says:
If he avoids debates, he will be roasted even more than he is now. “He is scared to be on a stage with 6 or 7 other Republicans, but we expect that he is tough enough to lead our COUNTRY??” The only reason it worked in Texas is because Texas voters are sheep and they will vote for the R no matter who they are or what D they are running against. Pathetic but true…
Fortunately the rest of the U.S. does not operate that way.
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Anonymous Reply:
October 27th, 2011 at 10:15 am
So true for majority of Texans. Not this one
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Bill says:
“If I were advising him, I’d tell him to blow off the rest of the debates.”
How’s that strategy working out for Buddy Roemer or Gary Johnson? Sure, they are not at the debates because they are polling less than 1%, but they certainly aren’t gaining any traction out on the campaign trail.
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Retired says:
Enough on Perry already. He is done, stick a fork in him. The American people (with an exception among Texas right wingers)want to see a candidate answer questions, not just pose statements. We need to see candidates on their feet, imporvising and thinking. We need leadership, not idealogues spouting familiars. We need the GOP to find a reasonable, moderate candidate.
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paulburka Reply:
October 31st, 2011 at 12:20 pm
Perry is not done. Evangelicals and home schoolers dominate the Iowa caucuses. If Perry can get them organized–and there are pros who know how to do it–Perry can do well in the state, maybe as high as second. He has the money. The Toomey superpac can provide more. Third or worse will just about finish him off, though. Perry has to start worrying about Gingrich, who has been rising, slowly but steadily, in the polls.
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Robert Morrow says:
“Will Rick Perry’s dismissal of the debates change American politics?”
The question pre-supposes does anyone really care what Mr. 4% Rick Perry says or does as if he is relevant at this point.
It is like saying “Robert Morrow has decided to not take Katie Perry to the ice cream social. Will Katie Perry be able to recover emotionally?”
Well, does Katie Perry care in the slightest what I think about her or the ice cream social?
The answer is NO and that this is a fun parlor game pretending that Rick Perry is relevant to the process. Most folks don’t care anyone, he has been written off.
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paulburka Reply:
October 31st, 2011 at 12:21 pm
The person with the most money is always relevant to the process. That said, Perry looks to me as if he is doing worse than doing better. That New Hampshire video is beyond weird.
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Distinguished Gentleman says:
It is truly difficult to imagine someone as mediocre as Rick Perry forever “changing American politics”.
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WUSRPH Reply:
October 27th, 2011 at 3:22 pm
Paul’s point is valid…as he admits…only if the “avoid debate” strategy were to work and Perry gets the GOP nomination. If it does not, he will be only a forgotten footnote in America’s political history. (Thank God!)
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Governor Toolshed says:
If there is a problem with the debates, politicians like Perry caused it by dictating nearly every as
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Governor Toolshed Reply:
October 27th, 2011 at 9:19 am
(premature send)
If there is a problem with the debates, politicians like Perry caused it by dictating nearly every aspect of how they would be conducted.
When the League of Women Voters ceased holding the debates in 1987, they said:
“The League of Women Voters is withdrawing sponsorship of the presidential debates…because the demands of the two campaign organizations would perpetrate a fraud on the American voter. It has become clear to us that the candidates’ organizations aim to add debates to their list of campaign-trail charades devoid of substance, spontaneity and answers to tough questions. The League has no intention of becoming an accessory to the hoodwinking of the American public.”
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Emeyekaye Reply:
October 27th, 2011 at 9:25 am
of course, Perry should then be held accountable for refusing to take part in the gubernatorial debate sponsored by the Travis County League of Women Voters… didn’t he call them Socialists?
Perry wants his cake and he wants to eat it too. Hypocrite.
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Anonymous says:
If he were to surprise everyone at the Michigan debate and comes across as able to defend both his past positions as governor and his flat tax proposal (and at the same time shows that he actually knows the details of that plan), then he can skip some of the upcoming debates and not get hammered.
On the other hand, if he goes in on Nov. 9 and does a Ralph Kramden “Hummina, Hummina, Hummina” when he’s probe on the details of his bi-level flat tax option and how it would affect federal revenues, any decision after that to pull out of the debates would make Perry come across as the Republican presidential field version of Sir Robin from “Monty Python and the Holy Grail”. Like Ted Kennedy being questioned by Roger Mudd in 1979 on why he was running for president and coming up empty, the perception from the Republican primary voters will be Perry’s unable to articulate his reasons for running for president, and would be a high-risk candidate in the general election.
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anon-p says:
I still haven’t found a viable reason for these debates in the format they’ve used recently.
I might see some value if there were a limited number of debates (say, three or four), they were spaced at least a few weeks apart, if they were confined to two or three candidates at most, and if they were in a LD format where ample, structured time is given to provide composed, thoughtful responses.
As it stands, the Prime Minister’s Questions format doesn’t serve the people well as a showcase of a presidential candidate’s relevant abilities.
I don’t really care how glib or pithy a President is and how well he can cut and thrust in a verbal spat. That’s good for a legislator who has to speak and deliberate in committees, or perhaps for an ambassador, but for an executive it is not a very relevant ability.
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retrocon Reply:
October 27th, 2011 at 4:32 pm
Our president is not just an executive. We, and the rest of the world, will see him or her often in the media on any number of subjects. We don’t want to put forth on the international stage a president that has a hard time piecing together a coherent thought.
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anon-p Reply:
October 28th, 2011 at 8:25 am
Controlled media encounters with the President are not even remotely similar to these cage match debates. Even unscripted press conferences are a different animal compared to these things.
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Joe Confused says:
Did I miss something? Robert Morrow and Katie Perry are dating?
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Robert Morrow Reply:
October 27th, 2011 at 10:04 am
Is Rick Perry relevant at this point? Am I missing something?
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Anonymous says:
Can we just admit that maybe Perry isn’t suited to be POTUS? Even Lincoln saw the value in debates. Debates are the job interview.
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anita Reply:
October 27th, 2011 at 10:50 am
Agreed.
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WUSRPH Reply:
October 27th, 2011 at 3:24 pm
But I might note that Lincoln LOST that election….Altho the debates did get him enough national notice to make it possible for him to run for president two years later…Perry’s performance is getting him noticed, but not in a good way.
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Businessman says:
Gloria Borger has an EXCELLENT article on Perry and Romney today. In it she all but calls him out for being an empty suit.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/27/opinion/borger-perry-ideas-campaign/index.html?hpt=hp_c1
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7th Generation Texan Reply:
October 28th, 2011 at 9:17 am
Thanks for the link.
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anita says:
It would be different if he excelled at debates, or was even average in the forum, but he was a disaster, so every debate he misses will just affirm in the electorates mind how ‘not ready for prime time’ he is. Every news cycle will have the ubiquitous section on how ” Perry did not participate, a decision he made after a series of poor performances in September and October.”
For a candidate who’s primary challenge is to demonstrate that he’s up to the job, he makes it even harder for himself by deciding he simply lacks the skills to be able to present
himself in a debate format.
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William Ward Reply:
October 27th, 2011 at 5:17 pm
@Anita Exactly
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Tom says:
How would Perry’s refusal to debate play out if he is the Republican nominee. I don’t think that being too afraid to debate Obama would go over well.
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Anonymous says:
His dismissal gives all of Perry’s supporters to Speaker Newt. Perry won’t be there and the Speaker will be. The Southern vote goes only to debaters in attendance that the good old boys like and that would be Newt.
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Indi says:
The Texas embarrassment continues….We should all be ashamed that we have allowed this man to be our Governor for more than 10 years. The Texas press corp has alot of explaining to do. You failed us.
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jpt51 Reply:
October 27th, 2011 at 11:49 am
Amen!
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Tom Barry Reply:
October 27th, 2011 at 11:59 am
It’s the Texas “press corps,” not “corp,”and it has repeatedly reported in detail on Perry throughout his career. It’s just that too many people did not pay attention to the reports. And many of those simply didn’t want to know the truth about the empty suit.
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Another Wilco Voter Reply:
October 27th, 2011 at 12:36 pm
I agree. We can’t blame this solely on the Texas press corps. We, collectively, as Texans and voters are responsible as well for not paying more attention and asking hard questions. However, that is how it goes when a state effectively has a one-party system. IMHO, that isn’t likely to change in Texas any time soon.
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Retired Reply:
October 27th, 2011 at 3:16 pm
The Texas voter failed us. The press has been sayin’ but folks ain’t been listening.
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Businessman Reply:
October 27th, 2011 at 3:27 pm
HEY! It wasn’t the press corps that pulled the levers!
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paulburka Reply:
October 31st, 2011 at 12:26 pm
The Republican primary is the only election that matters in Texas. As long as this continues to be true, we are in for more of the same.
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Vernon says:
Does anyone know if Perry’s refusing to debate would make good fodder for an effective Romney attack ad?
I think it might. I can see the visual of an empty podium on a stage, cutting to an a confused audience, back to the empty podium and then back to the audience who starts to leave.
Over all that I could hear a voice saying something like, “If Pery can’t defend his positions from his opponents…” or ” If he can’t explain his positions to the voters…how will he beat Barrack Obama?” The shot cuts to a dynamic Romney and we hear, “Vote for Mitt Romney. He’s got the courage to stand up to Obama.”
Then maybe I’d put devil horns or something on Obama, I don’t know. Something to fire up the base.
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jpt51 says:
Perry’s dismal ranking is the reason he wants to skip future debates. He’s right to avoid them because it shows how inempt he is. It’s time for Rick to come on back to Texas, with his tail between his legs. Forget about another election Rick. It’s time you start being directly employed by your fat cat friends.
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H. S. says:
If I were a frog, I wouldn’t enter any beauty contests, either. Mr. Perry appears to have damaged himself with voters who want to see conservative candidates who do not change course with every breeze. Poor Mr. Gore, on the liberal side, embarrassed himself a few years ago by becoming a poll-obsessed chameleon, demolishing his own credibility under what should have been manageable pressure. Dr. Paul has the remarkable virtue of being honest and direct, but Santa will be needing him soon to fix toys at the North Pole, and so far I don’t see much impressive wisdom emanating from the other candidates, though perhaps Mr. Perry has made them look more normal than we would ordinarily think them to be.
Surely American conservatism can find a candidate who can be both honest and electable. I can vote for a principled candidate with whom I do not agree on all matters, but I can’t support someone who will guide our nation with shameless hucksterism instead of integrity and intelligence.
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freshwind says:
Okay, even if that worked and he got the nomination, can you see the same strategy working in the general? Refusing to debate Obama? And if he has to debate him, he’s going to need the practice. Losing proposition either way.
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Sabine Dweller says:
Perry has become irrelevent to this campaign. His ideas are not working, as they never have in Texas. Truly, this state has such enormous resources, including its growing population of immigrant workers (they are not all from Mexico but they are all helping keep this great state in motion) that Perry and the Republican leadership combined, working as hard as it has to do so, cannot keep this state from thriving. He can debate or not, but all he is likely to change about the primary system is to convince future candidates you must know what you are doing, get in the race early, and work hard every day at leading by example.
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AreYouKiddingMe says:
If a politician cannot get in front of people and answer questions on the fly, he has no business being elected to a job that requires one to make decisions on the fly. Period. If he is asked stupid questions in a debate, he should call out the questioner like Gingrich has done a time or two. Perry is not suited for the job of POTUS. He should not even be allowed near Washington, D.C. Period…
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The Ghost of Sam Houston says:
The better question is whether the low-polling Perry should even be invited to any debates. He’s a marginal candidate at best.
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Anonymous says:
So the new idea in American POTUS politics would say that it is better to talk with 40 people in a barn in Iowa than to talk with 20 million people across the nation? I don’t get it. Someone please help me get the logic here.
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Robert Morrow says:
James Carville is one Democrat who is not trying to prop up Rick Perry anymore. Perry has officially reached Sarah Palin status where the Democrats would love to run against him/her, but they are too busting belly laughs to keep a straight face while they talk about his/her prospects.
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/james-carville-rick-perry-is-in-over-his-head-and-incapable-of-running-for-president/
“But he [Carville] saved the best/worst for Perry, saying of the one time belle of the GOP ball “The best thing Rick Perrry can do for himself and his friends and family is get out of the race and go back to Texas, adding “this man is evidently not up to this. He had plenty of chances to do it. He can’t debate. He can’t give a speech. He can’t hold a position paper. He can’t go on television….he’s in over his head.”
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Robert Morrow Reply:
October 27th, 2011 at 1:28 pm
Stephanopolous then added Perry had $15 million in the bank, and Carville countered that “it didn’t matter if Perry had $150 million in the bank – that he is incapable of running for president… he’s in over his head … it’s not just me it’s evident to 95% of Republicans.”
My sentiments exactly. I’m just waiting for Harvey Kronberg to tell me the latest way Rick Perry has resurrected his comedy campaign, and is on track for the nomination …
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Anonymous says:
Perry gives a whole new meaning to “Texas Toast”……..
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Blue Dogs says:
If Perry was the GOP nominee, I’d bet you $5 that he will NOT debate Obama period.
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Kenneth D. Franks Reply:
October 27th, 2011 at 7:27 pm
If Perry won’t debate Obama he will lose. He should lose anyway if he is the choice of the Republican primary voters. So all of you that want to vote for him do so. The Peter Principle already applies to Perry. He has already risen to his level of incompetence. We need a new governor and don’t need Perry as President.
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Robert Morrow Reply:
October 27th, 2011 at 8:28 pm
It’s now called the “Perry Principle” which means a person rises 3 levels above their highest degree of incompetence.
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Blue Dogs Reply:
October 31st, 2011 at 12:40 pm
Greg Abbott is making plans in moving into the Texas Governor’s Mansion by January 20, 2015 (assuming he wins the open seat in 2014 when Perry steps aside).
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Anonymous says:
“If Burka never announces his candidacy, posts some blogs about what’s never going to happen, and goes on to win the Republican nomination, he could set a precedent that the networks would hate, but it might change the future of American politics.”
This statement is as true as the original, and just as likely to happen.
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Muy Simpatico Reply:
October 27th, 2011 at 3:18 pm
Huh?
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Jim says:
If Perry had been decent or even mediocre in the first few debates, maybe he could sit the rest out. He can’t now because everyone would realize why he’s doing it. I can hear the jokes already.
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rw says:
Maybe not skip all of them but be selective.
There are too many debates – more than ever before – and they are not helping any of the candidates. The other candidates should start skipping a lot of them as well. That will help put an end to this nonsense.
We have a nominating process. Let’s use it.
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Robert Morrow says:
I would vote for Rick Perry OVER Jeb Bush or Hillary Clinton.
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Muy Simpatico Reply:
October 28th, 2011 at 9:01 am
Be serious. Voting is important.
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DaveInAustin says:
Is it too late to impeach Perry? He has abandoned his duties as governor to campaign for another office yet he is still drawing a nice salary and living in a taxpayer-funded home for a job he is not doing.
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Brown Bess says:
All it shows is that the guy can’t think on his feet, a quality many of us cherish in our presidential candidates. Skipping them now, after already flunking that test, looks less like a principaled stand than a cauterization.
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WUSRPH says:
THE BIRDS IN 7!
Cardinals error themselves into a 7th game.
Altho I am happy tonight…I must admit that this is not the kind of baseball I was raised to believe was the BEST….In my family a GREAT GAME was a 3 to 2 PITCHER’S DUEL…not a 10 to 9 slugfest…However, I will take anyway I can get it…
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Robert Morrow Reply:
October 28th, 2011 at 5:13 am
I am for the Cardinals. If the Bushes are for the Rangers, that gives me a great reason to root for St. Louis. I like their colors and their attitude, too.
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JohnBernardBooks says:
“DaveInAustin says:
Is it too late to impeach Perry? He has abandoned his duties as governor to campaign for another office yet he is still drawing a nice salary and living in a taxpayer-funded home for a job he is not doing.”
The things you can learn here if you have an open mind.
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Muy Simpatico Reply:
October 28th, 2011 at 9:02 am
JBB has an open mind….
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JohnBernardBooks Reply:
October 28th, 2011 at 9:54 am
my mind is made up most useful idiots are just plain stupid, as the post demonstrated
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paulburka Reply:
October 28th, 2011 at 10:06 am
JBB — I wasn’t kidding. I’m not going to allow you to hijack the comments column with meaningless blather. I owe it to our readers. You are welcome to contribute to the discussion, but no more long strings of blather.
JohnBernardBooks Reply:
October 28th, 2011 at 2:56 pm
“but no more long strings of blather”.
I concur I’ll leave that to your other posters.
Mr. Smith says:
It will be interesting who emerges from the pack as the anti-Romney. Bachman and Perry can’t, because negative opinion against them has solidified. Cain is already starting to fall. Like McCain, it may take a few primary wins for whoever becomes the anti-Romney to establish themselves, and pick up momentum by Super Tuesday. I bet all the Tea Party primary candidates here in Texas are hoping that the Presidential race will still be contested by March 6.
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Jerry Only Reply:
October 28th, 2011 at 11:30 am
Burka- Post of the day!
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Anonymous says:
You heard it here first: Newt Gingrich will be the nominee. He just has to fix the story of walking out on his wife with cancer and its done. The Republicans need a professor to go after the Professor in Chief and that is Newt. I don’t like him myself, but you look at the field and he is the last candidate standing.
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Mr. Smith says:
Anonymous @ 8:43. I think you may be correct. Its interesting that President Obama, who has not a wiff of scandal in his personal life, may well be challenged and replaced on the Family Values side by an admitted philanderer. Do you think all those Republicans who were yelling about Clinton’s philandering ways will become introspective for even a moment? Doubt it. Here’s a campaign slogan for Newt…”If you liked one southern politician who cheated on his wife, then give our guy a try!”
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WUSRPH Reply:
October 28th, 2011 at 2:51 pm
Make that”cheated on his wives”…
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Admonkey says:
Anyone else see the inherent illogic of saying their candidate is incapable of conveying ideas in 30 or 60 seconds in an unscripted format so, to communicate with the public, they will use their considerable war chest to purchase rafts of 30 and 60 second television and radio spots in order to communicate their candidate’s ideas?
The Perry campaign should just go ahead and admit their candidate needs someone else to do his thinking for him and end the charade.
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WUSRPH says:
The Birds in 7!
The Cardinals Win the World Series
And they did it the way it should be done—-with PITCHING
that shut the Rangers down and kept them down.
That’s Baseball the Way it is Supposed to Be!
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Reminder says:
It’s amazing how badly everyone speaks of Perry’s debates. After his first one, CNN declared him a winner. Then he did badly. In the last debate he was bold. He did well. But he doesn’t get credit for it. Eighteen MORE debates? REALLY? Thats nuts! Ronald Reagan must be rolling over in his grave. 18 more times of Republicans slamming Rebublicans?
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Jerry Only says:
Perry announced tonight- he’ll be attending 4 debates in the next 4 weeks.
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