by arthur Weinreb, associate Editor,
June 21, 2004
The televised political debates that were held two weeks before the country goes to the polls were exciting stuff. But they were only exciting for the media. Watching the debates was the closest thing to excitement that television got to since John F. Kennedy’s plane went down and CNN spent three days broadcasting the water.
a Leger Marketing poll taken after the English language debate found that only 10 per cent of respondents admitted to watching the entire two hours. It can be assumed that the vast majority of that 10 per cent was comprised of those who are politically active or at least following the election closely. If that is the case, it is doubtful that many watchers changed their opinions on the candidates or the parties.
The television media lives for the knockout punch, something that rarely occurs. The most memorable Canadian knockout happened during the debate prior to the 1984 federal election. It is difficult for anyone who watched that debate to forget the exchange between Brian Mulroney and John Turner over the latter’s patronage appointments. The visuals of that exchange were striking--a forceful Mulroney jabbing his finger at Turner’s chest while Turner threw up his arms in surrender at the accusation that he in fact had an option. Those who watched the debate knew right away that John Turner was history. It was powerful television but exchanges like that are extremely rare.
after the debates the television media concentrated on the lack of a knockout punch while the print media gained the opportunity to slant the results of the debate to the candidate that corresponds with that paper’s political leaning. The headline on CTV’s website was "no knock-out punches in English debate" as if the substance of the debate had little relevance. an example of the approach of the print media was the headline in the following day’s Toronto Star--"Bruised Martin attacks Harper". There was little the Star could do to make their boy Paul look good, but at least they managed to portray him, however bruised, as being on the offensive.
The debates were important to the media. But to ordinary Canadians they were, as the saying goes, two hours filled with sound and fury, signifying nothing.
nfair and one-sided segment--she certainly giggled enough.