Poli-ticks

A primer on how to debate

By Arlene Violet
Posted 10/22/18

What do you get when you have a top-notch moderator team of Tim White and Ted Nesi who insist that a candidate answer their well-crafted questions and two candidates who are intelligent and at the …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Register to post events


If you'd like to post an event to our calendar, you can create a free account by clicking here.

Note that free accounts do not have access to our subscriber-only content.

Day pass subscribers

Are you a day pass subscriber who needs to log in? Click here to continue.


Poli-ticks

A primer on how to debate

Posted

What do you get when you have a top-notch moderator team of Tim White and Ted Nesi who insist that a candidate answer their well-crafted questions and two candidates who are intelligent and at the top of their game? You get a senatorial debate which is a textbook example of how debates ought to be conducted. So, did incumbent Sheldon Whitehouse or his Republican challenger, Bob Flanders, win? The edge goes to Mr. Flanders. Here’s why:

Judge Kavanagh hearings - While Senator Whitehouse made a plausible argument that the year book entries were contemporaneous with the allegation of attempted rape hence probative of the activities of the Supreme Court nominee, Mr. Flanders adequately explained his theoretical vote of “yes” for Justice Kavanagh. Citing his adherence to the “rule of law “ and the presumption of innocence that governed his tenure as a R.I. Supreme Court Judge he defended his position by citing the lack of corroboration. Edge: Flanders.

Trump performance during Kavanagh hearings - Mr. Whitehouse scored points by developing the idea of the truncated FBI investigation and the name-calling done by the President. Republican Flanders negotiated the “shoals” by stating that, if elected, he would “call ball and strikes on the President”. He weakened his argument by going a step further and justifying why there is a statute of limitations, thereby showing a lack of understanding of trauma, particularly for women (and altar boys) who have been raped. Brain science studies have confirmed that details as to time and location can blur and sometimes is blocked out by the underlying trauma. Edge - Whitehouse.

Opioids - Mr. Flanders went on the attack by noting that Mr. Whitehouse sponsored a bill that gutted the authority of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to prosecute drug companies that flooded the market with opioids far in excess of the population. Sheldon Whitehouse countered that nobody from DEA opposed the bill. Flanders topped off his argument by noting the campaign contributions received by Whitehouse from Big Pharma and his investments in drug companies. Edge - Flanders.

Bipartisanship - Mr. Whitehouse touted his ability to work across the aisle by citing that he had 10 bills passed in 30 days which showed his leadership. Mr. Flanders countered that he was rated by a watchdog group as the 9th most partisan senator and that he had voted 90 percent of the time with Minority Leader Schumer. Edge - draw.

Burrillville power plant - Republican Flanders pointed out what he described as the deafening silence and hypocrisy by the incumbent given his moniker of being a climate change advocate. Mr. Whitehouse countered that he had a “lane” which the voters elected him to do, i.e. Congress and to leave local issues to the state authorities and siting board. Edge - draw.

Health care, Social Security, Obamacare, Medicare - Mr. Whitehouse cited the Republican budget that did have provisions to roll back Social Security and Medicare and pointed out these reductions were in there to give tax breaks to the rich. Mr. Flanders cited the growing costs of Obamacare and generally stated that he would never vote for anything that did not have partisan support. Edge - Whitehouse.

The debate was about equal so why did Flanders win? When a challenger more than holds his own he gets a boost because the expectation is that an incumbent will wipe the ground with the newcomer. That didn’t happen. Flanders won.

Arlene Violet is an attorney and former Rhode Island Attorney General.

Arlene Violet

2024 by East Bay Media Group

Barrington · Bristol · East Providence · Little Compton · Portsmouth · Tiverton · Warren · Westport
Meet our staff
MIKE REGO

Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.