Posted on 10/01/2004 2:37:09 AM PDT by Swenson
This page on the JohnKerry.com website is a page specifically instructing Kerry supporters to, "Immediately e-mail and call all the major networks and programs listed below saying that Kerry won tonight's debate.". Talk about spin control.
What is needed in these Presidential debates is some way of taking stock of what each candidate has said, and grading it, using an unbiased scale to prevent the "post debate spin".
So I propose the "Swenson Standard", a new method for determining who really won a debate. For each question that a candidate answers directly, they earn one point, for every question they do not directly answer, they lose a point. On questions that were answered in a factually correct manner, they gain a point, and on each question that a candidate does not answer in a factually correct manner, they lose a point. I'm sure there are other unbiased ways of scoring the debate as well, these are just the first two that seemed obvious. Either this method, a percentage scale (ie "% of factually correct answers"), or some method of objectively looking at candidates responses should be used.
While this may seem silly, I think it is becoming necessary to gather and compile some sort of statistics on the most important "contest" in the country. Especially in a country where the completion percentage of quarterbacks in a dome and other such statistics are made readily available to fans.
It's amazing that John Kerry is asking people to lie for him....
Bush is going to defend this country better than Kerry, no doubt.
It appears that the page in question has now been changed (who knows if this post had an effect or not). But they changed the strongest wording that they had (quoted above) to, "Write letters to the editors of your local and state newspapers saying that Kerry won tonight's debate.". Hmmm...
Here's what I received immediately after the debate:
Dear XXXXXXX,
John Kerry won tonight's debate on foreign policy, and we need you to make sure the media reports this right.
Jump into the post-debate debate and keep the record straight.
America saw John Kerry as our next President tonight. Bush had a record of failure to defend, and he failed to defend it. Bush refused to take responsibility for his go it alone rush to war. Bush had no plan, no clue for ending the chaos. Bush can't fix the mess in Iraq because he pretends things are fine. Pretending is no substitute for planning.
Your assignment: Immediately e-mail and call all the major networks and programs listed below saying that John Kerry won the debate. The Republicans are going to do everything possible to spin the debate in their favor. We need you on the offensive.
Everything you need is in this e-mail, including contact information for the major news networks and programs.
Here are some things to emphasize:
* America saw John Kerry as our next President tonight.
* Kerry showed strength, conviction, and a steady command of the facts.
* Kerry left no doubt he can lead the fight to hunt and kill the terrorists.
* Kerry offered hope for a fresh start in Iraq so we can finish the job. Kerry has specific plans: Bush had shallow promises.
Here is a phone/e-mail list for the major news networks. Commentators like Larry King, Chris Matthews, Sean Hannity, and Alan Colmes are on TV right now offering their view of the debate results. Hosts of network news shows on ABC, CBS, and NBC are also busy offering their reviews. Hosts of tomorrow's morning shows, Good Morning America, The Today Show, and American Morning, are sure to do the same beginning at 7:00 a.m. EST tomorrow morning. Don't let your voice be cut out.
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