American presidency - Assignment Example

Insert Introduction The First Presidential Debate took place on October 3rd, with the candi s being the incumbent President Barack Obama and the governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney. The moderator was Jim Lehrer, a leading journalist and executive editor for PBS. The debate took place at the University of Denver, Magness Arena. Despite the competitive touting of ideas, there are several pitfalls that characterized the debate and thus needed some correctional measures. Question 1 One of the measures that should be added to the debate is the integration of the questions being fielded with a computerized database.

This database should be broad enough to allow for online and instantaneous retrieval of information, in order to extirpate lies from the debate. The failure to introduce a form of fact-check will leave the public vulnerable to lies despite the gravity of the debate. For instance, Romney charged wrongly that the 716 billion dollars in healthcare reductions would proceed from current beneficiaries. Romney’s charge that Obama used 716 billion dollars to facilitate the Obamacare may be at least dishonest since even Romney’s running mate, Rep.

Paul Ryan introduced similar source of revenue in his annual budget plans. Likewise, House Republicans had voted in favor of similar plans in 2010. In a closely related wavelength, Romney included the excision of the Independent Payment Advisory Board as a way of eliminating excessive spending. Although the House voted against the board in March 2012, the Senate has not yet effected the decision of the House. Under the 201o Healthcare Reform Act, the board does not recommend the rationing of healthcare services, increment of premiums, or deductions for healthcare beneficiaries as Romney charged (Cohen, 1).

The likeable aspect of the format that was used is its interactive aspect. The interactive aspect was not merely underscored by the facilitation of the answer-question exchange between the presidential contenders and the head of the Commission on Presidential Debates, but by allowing the contenders to ask each other questions and to query each other on policy frameworks. This is instrumental in pointing out the lacunae in policy frameworks and understanding the tenability of the same frameworks.

Question 2 Clearly, the three takeaway points from the debate are: the jobs that needed to be created en masse; the healthcare system which Obama felt needed to be made egalitarian and public-centered as opposed to Romney who wants its spending assuaged; and the economy which Obama wants strengthened through the strengthening of small and middle sized businesses, while Romney wants it resuscitated by protecting America’s interests in the international market (Cohen, 1). Works CitedCohen, Tom.

“Election Center: Romney takes Debate to Obama over Economy and Healthcare.” CNN, October 4, 2012. Retrieved From: http://edition.cnn.com/2012/10/03/politics/debate-main/index.html Electronic