A New Kind of Debate

Setting out on my first blog post I was set upon finding the strangest, most off the wall or amusing debate fun facts that I could find. While doing some research however, I stumbled upon an interesting press release about a group intent on making presidential candidates more approachable to the general public. According to the piece, in 2004 Cranium, Inc. (the company responsible for the games Cranium, Hullabaloo, and other family friendly games) invited both Democratic and Republican candidates and their families to a Cranium Turbo Edition Game Night. The goal of the evening was to provide Americans a look at the candidates in a more casual, laid back respect. The questions were not rehearsed and off-the-wall. According to the Cranium executives in charge of the event, the goal of the event was to bring Americans a fresh new outlook at the candidates. Instead of stuffy suits and pre-meditated debate questions, the candidates were allowed to be fun and off-the-wall. Personally, I think that this is a great idea. We hear candidates repeat their speeches from word for word from one city to the next. Often Robert Redford’s character from the 1972 film The Candidate comes to my mind. In one clip he sits in the car reciting the same speech over and over, driving himself insane. These new debates might be a great way to let the American public see how our candidates really feel about issues when they may speak about them in a more casual setting. Isn't it about time for us to see our candidates in a more human light? Let's hear about what they have to say when the speeches and carefully anticipated responses are gone!