Bryce Benzine

Bob Mann
MC 4520
6 May 2016
Jesse Jackson once said that deliberation and debate is the way you stir the soul of our
democracy. Louisiana debates have been a circus lacking structure, candidate attendance and
clear rules. The current system is causing a disservice to the people of Louisiana. Much of the
electorate already believes that candidates do not care about them, and the debates have proved
no different.
Debates reached a breaking point during with the 2015 gubernatorial election cycle. WDSU
hosted a debate lacking moderation, clear rules and touched on issues that were not Louisiana
specific. With so many hot button issues facing Louisiana, candidates must be provided with
more than 15 seconds to pitch their plan to voters. Many debates lacked all major candidates
attendance furthering the disservice to the voters. We have 99 problems and, unfortunately, the
current debate structure just so happens to be one of these.
While not all debates have been total blunders, we need something to address the problems
plaguing Louisiana debates. In a state that uses a jungle primary heavily partisan areas such as
Democratic New Orleans and Republican Lafayette look for candidates in the respective parties
to send to a general election; moreover, these candidates are normally revolving their strategies
around unpopular politicians like President Barack Obama and now former Gov. Bobby Jindal.
Questions should be relevant to the state if its a gubernatorial election and focus on national
issues if its a congressional election. With no set standards for debates, candidates attack each
other with vicious accusations and become sidetracked. Our own debate between Sen. Vitter and
then-State Representative John Bel Edwards allowed the candidates to attack each other over the
moderators asking questions and controlling the debate. These types of issues have been rampant
in the debate process and must be stopped.
In order to combat the problem of debates not serving the electorate, a group of LSU Manship
School students formed a plan for a debate commission following the gubernatorial election. The
plan was submitted to PAR President Robert Travis Scott and myself. Through the Louisiana
Debate Commission, the students hope to provide the Louisiana voters with informative debates.
The commission will host its first cycle of debates this fall for the U.S. Senate race.
Through the Louisiana Debate Commission, the students hope to provide the Louisiana voters
with informative debates. The commission will host its first cycle of debates this fall for the U.S.
Senate race. Voters will be given the chance to demand participation from candidates. Debate
attendance should already be a non-issue for candidates seeking elected office to begin with;

therefore, the commission will provide candidates with the tools and information necessary as to
why they should participate in the debates.
The structure of the commission will include stakeholders consisting of civic and academic
leaders, policy groups and news media from across the state. A board of directors will be formed
in order to layout the foundation for the commission. The members from each of these groups
will bring expertise to the table even while remaining nonpartisan; however, non-sitting and
former leaders of the two major parties would be allowed on the board.
Several committees will determine different aspects of the debates. The executive committee will
determine final debate structure, production and moderators. The production committee will
coordinate with producers to ensure the debates operate smoothly. The candidate relations
committee will explain the rules of the debates, interact with the candidates and have a hand in
selecting moderators and panelists. Education policy will focus on allowing universities to
receive debate-related curricula and help create panels and parties for post-debate discussions.
Fundraising will be responsible for raising money from donors to run the commission.
The commission will develop standards for debates to ensure candidate participation, structure,
and rules to keep debates related to top Louisiana issues. Moderators will provide rules to keep
candidates on topic, ensuring the orderly debates. The central focus of these debates will be to
create a more informed electorate. In order to do this, a more consistent debate schedule and a
clear format of debates to increase candidate attendance are needed. These standards give voters
the chance to demand participation from candidates. Debate attendance should already be a nonissue for candidates seeking elected office to begin with; therefore, the commission will provide
candidates with the tools and information necessary as to why they should participate in the
debates.
Candidates can use debates as an interview to prove to the electorate why they are the best
person for the job. Debates strengthen the democratic process while informing citizens of issues
facing the state. During the fall, a senator will be elected and sent to Washington to work for
Louisiana. Voters want someone they can trust and depend on to work for them. Candidates will
have a difficult time persuading voters of their electability if they dont participate in debates.
Without candidate participation, the voters cannot make informed decisions.
The commission will be charged with hosting three debates each election cycle. The first debate
will be a traditional single moderator debate with opening and closing statements, questions and
rebuttals. The second debate will be a town hall format with an audience asking questions of the
candidates. The third debate will be formatted as a forum where a moderator will ask a candidate
about policy issues for 30 minutes. Each of these debates will be held at a higher education
institution that will show the worth of these institutions to the people of the state.
With a budget crisis threatening higher education, healthcare and other state services, no
candidate should be given only 15 seconds to explain their plans to solve the crisis. What better
place to prove the worth of state funding to higher education than to hold debates at these
institutions. The commission will work with broadcasters and state institutions to host debates
throughout the various regions of the state. Each of the public university campuses would be

showcased, highlighting their worth to the state of Louisiana and its people. Higher education
will be put at the forefront since they contain all the capabilities for the debates to be held.
The commission will invite candidates to participate in the debates based on polling numbers.
The commission can run the poll itself or hire an outside, trusted third party firm to run the
polling. A candidate will be considered viable for the debate when they poll at least 10 percent
with the electorate. A margin of error will be included, and the 10 percent threshold allows for
candidates outside of the two major parties to have a chance to be invited to the debates to offer
an opinion different from the major parties.
By setting requirements for candidates to participate in debates, the electorate will see an even
viewpoint of all the issues facing the state; in addition, the electorate will be able to submit their
own questions to be asked by the moderators or be able to attend the debates and ask the
questions in person. These debates are structured to allow for audience participation at all cost
connecting them with the political process.
If the ideas of the commission failed to be carried out, Louisiana will continue to be done a
disservice. As we have seen over the past several years, the debates have lacked substance and
clear rules to relate to current hot button issues facing the residents of the state. These debates
will reform the way the electorate looks at the political process and hold candidate accountable
for neglecting the people who will elect them. Without the commission, Louisiana debates will
continue to be dry, lack rules and structure and allow candidates to neglect the process leaving
the electorate feeling abandoned.
The challenge is here. It is up to the broadcasters to help back the commission and its work.
Imagine a process where debates serve the public and leave candidates sitting under a
microscope to be analyzed by everything they say and do. At last, the commission is on a path to
be established, and it is up to broadcasters to work with the board of directors to help the
commission operate to its fullest potential.
As we approach the next election cycle, I want to encourage everyone to think about what we
discussed today. The Louisiana Debate Commission presents potential to bring high quality,
significant debates to the electorate of this great state. Our people deserve better not only from
the broadcasters but also from the candidates. It is time all of us are held accountable for past
mistakes and take control of the path we are trying to put ourselves on.
Finally, Louisiana deserves more than mediocre debates and low candidate participation. It is
time for Louisiana to be an example to the rest of the nation by providing structured and
informative debates. The Louisiana Debate Commission will breathe new life into the debate
process while ensuring the candidates participate. Issues not related to Louisiana have been
discussed in debates too often instead of hot button issues. Louisiana must shine once again.
Voters need to take back the state they love and demand participation from candidates in the
first-ever commission run debates.