Wiston Papers

Why the presidential debates matter

Wednesday night President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney will engage in one of the most important exercises of a democratic republic—a nationally broadcast debate of their hopes for America and the path each man would follow if elected president next month.  It is the first of three scheduled debates and this one focuses on domestic programs.

These will be the only opportunities for Americans to hear each man respond to direct challenges from his opponent about campaign promises, claims and accusations.  Every American should pay attention.

Both candidates agree on the same broad themes: employment, education, energy, economic growth and health care.  Here is what we can expect to hear.

EMPLOYMENT

Mr. Obama  will claim that —despite the high unemployment  figures at the end of the George W. Bush administration—Americans are slowly going back to work.  With  more than 500,000 manufacturing jobs added in the past two years and  another 1,000,000 promised in the next four years, the President will say that American workers are beginning to dig their way out of a deep hole.

He will argue that the economy is gradually recovering thanks to the administration’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act--the so-called stimulus program.  He will cite the bailout of the auto industry as evidence of   support for American business.  His excuse for not making more progress will be the partisan intransigence in Congress and the depth of the recession that he inherited from President Bush.

Mr. Romney will argue that he has a plan for creating 12 million new jobs because he has private business experience.   Part of his  strategy will be to reduce taxes on job creation through individual and corporate tax reform.

He will say that he will cut the red tape that is strangling small business.  And he will  claim that strong unions are an impediment to hiring new workers and are stifling growth.

EDUCATION

The President will say that he has improved higher education through more Pell Grants for university students, established tax credits up to $10,000 for students and their families,  and will reduce college tuition and fees by 50 percent in the next decade.  And he wants to recruit more science and math teachers for secondary schools as well as save teachers’ jobs at the local level.

Mr. Romney will argue that he has a plan for “affordable and effective higher education options,”  that Americans should be able to choose which schools to attend based on quality teachers,  that occupational training should be in line with America’s growth and job needs.  

ENERGY

Both men will repeat the usual political rhetoric about reducing America’s dependence on foreign energy.

Mr. Obama will resurrect his original campaign promise—largely ignored during his first term—to increase investment in clean energy and to reduce oil imports by half by 2020.   He will tout increased U.S. natural gas production as one of the achievements during his first term,  and note that domestic oil production is at a 14-year high.

Governor Romney likewise will call for increased domestic energy production, but will argue for greater research and exploration efforts to tap existing resources of all types.  He will push for relaxed  regulations on the coal industry and he favors the controversial Keystone XL pipeline.

ECONOMIC GROWTH

President Obama will say that he reduced taxes for U.S. workers and small businesses.  And he will argue that the end of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will free money for much needed domestic rebuilding of America’s infrastructure and help lower the U.S. deficit.

Mr. Romney wants less federal government intrusion and greater private-sector initiative in creating a stronger economy.   He’ll argue that he can reduce the deficit by lowering discretionary spending in the federal budget,  transferring some programs from Washington to the 50 states for their decisions, and cut the number of federal workers and their  pay.

Washington can still play a role, he will claim, by fighting unfair trade practices with China, and identifying those countries that share America’s commitment to equitable trade--what he calls a Reagan Economic Zone.

HEALTH CARE

Perhaps the most controversial issue facing each candidate is the question of health care reform.  And each has a record to compare.

The President will point to the Affordable Care Act as his signature domestic legislative accomplishment.  He will claim that millions of Americans now are covered by insurance than ever before, insurance companies can no longer  deny coverage for pre-existing health conditions, and the law preserves Medicare.

Mitt Romney was governor of Massachusetts in 2006 when he signed into law that state’s Health Care Reform bill.  It is similar to the Obama plan, but Mr. Romney says he wants to get the federal government out of it and turn over waivers and administration of the program to the states.

The October presidential debates offer Americans the last opportunity to compare the presidential aspirants’ position on policies that will shape the United States in the next four years.  One of these two men will hold the fate of the nation in his hands.

We really should pay attention and decide whom we trust.

Steve Coon

October 01, 2012