Elections are supposed to be about ideas. But that’s not politics today, where ridiculous ads and social media soundbites stand in for actual debate.
This cycle, Texas voters haven’t seen candidates come together to wrangle over their ideas in the races for governor, U.S. Senate or lieutenant governor. The fact that every Republican for major office hasn’t been willing to put their ideas to the test in one-on-one debates is pathetic.
The Senate showdown between state Rep. James Talarico and Attorney General Ken Paxton is the most obvious example. Paxton just refuses to get on a stage with Talarico and then lies about why.
TMZ recently asked Paxton whether he wanted to debate Talarico. He fumbled and floundered to his own embarrassment.
“If the terms were right, I’d have no problem,” Paxton answered. “I don’t want to end up with a CNN reporter covering the debate.”
In the gubernatorial race, state Rep. Gina Hinojosa has repeatedly challenged Gov. Greg Abbott to debate, but there hasn’t been one. Abbott has debated all three of his past general election opponents for governor. When a reporter asked why he has not debated Hinojosa, Abbott said he is better off with campaign stops around the state.
Lt. Gov Dan Patrick has not debated his opponent, state Rep. Vikki Goodwin, either, despite Goodwin’s challenges. But Patrick hasn’t debated in his last two elections and rarely engages outside his echo chamber.
Across the country, The Washington Post reported that less than half of the nation’s Senate races feature debates.
The party in power tends to be less willing to debate. In Arizona, for instance, Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs is refusing to debate her opponent for a second election in a row, the Arizona Mirror reports.
In Texas, Republicans have demonstrated no interest in making a case to a broad electorate.
Political debates have always been rough around the edges: We’ve never been above bickering and ad hominem. Debates used to happen, though, usually with some decorum. And sometimes, they’ve even grown into legendary battles over principles and policy. Think Abraham Lincoln vs. Stephen Douglas.
But even debates that fall short of that lofty standard are worth having. Instead, we are left with the garbage filling up our feeds and mailboxes. It’s no way to pick a government.