[SuziQ]

Fred won't regret it, because he's out there meeting voters one on one, not trying to step to the tune of a group of people who have set themselves up as the arbiters of the 'values vote'. The idea that they, as a group, would denigrate a candidate just because they didn't show up at the debate smacks of extortion to me. Why not just pay attention to the candidate when he makes his stump speeches, or educate yourself by reading the candidate's positions on his webpage ?

There will be plenty more debates. The candidates don't have to spend their time at all of them, or even most of them. Not that many people are watching them, anyway.

[WildcatClan]

Why not just pay attention to the candidate when he makes his stump speeches, or educate yourself by reading the candidate's positions on his webpage ?

That is a great idea! You have inspired me and I think I may have a variation on your idea that is even better.

What if instead of just listening and reading webpages, we compare what a candidate is saying and then see what he has done on that particular issue?

If your car breaks down and you need a mechanic; Do you care what a guy says about transmissions or do you want someone who has actually repaired one? If one of your pipes springs a leak and is flooding your house, do you really care what someone is saying about plumbing or do you want someone who has fixed a few leaks?

You may be on to something here! If a candidate has a slogan like, oh say, " secure the borders, kill the terrorists", let's start asking that candidate when he ever did anything to kill terrorists or secure our borders. Let's forget the interest groups, media hype and poll numbers and get right down there where the rubber meets the road. We may be onto something big here! :)

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

This conservative, values voter is getting sick and tired of “debates”. If this one was on TV, I don’t even know what network carried it.