"Congress Debate" held at George Washington
In a debate format recognizable to academic debaters, four members of Congress held their first in a series of public encounters removed from the Capitol building. The Democratic Caucus and the Republican Conference's stated purpose is to "foster higher-quality discourse than the bombastic one-minute floor speeches that often pass for debate in the House" and "use public debate to arrive at common ground."
CQs "trail-less-traveled" blog reported the debate in depth. In an earlier post debatescoop outlined the series. Unfortunately the event received such sparse coverage that it is likely nearly everyone missed the debate. The eight congresspersons found some common grounds spurred, in part, by the venue and format.
"It's ironic that we have to leave the U.S. Capitol to give you the kind of debate the American people deserve," Putnam (FL) said
Davis (NY) noted that just having an audience is an improvement.
"We're accustomed to empty chairs and nobody listening," he said.
Excerpts from the GW event:
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: Congress, policy debates, public debates, NAFTA
On the Road - 'Congress Debate' Club Announced
According to the New York Times members of the US House will be debating issues, like HS debate teams in heir home districts.
In cooperation with two outside organizations, the chairmen of the Democratic Caucus and the Republican Conference have agreed to a series of debates away from Capitol Hill to give some of the policy wonks serving in the House the opportunity to challenge one another over the big issues of the day, beginning with the economy later this month.
"I look forward to the battle of ideas, not insults," said Representative Rahm Emanuel of Illinois, chairman of the Democratic caucus and a lawmaker capable of both.
If it sounds a little like high-school debate club, with four Democrats and four Republicans squaring off through a moderator on a college campus and relying on their index cards, it might be. One organizer mumbled something about modified Oxford style rules and wasn't referring to the shirts. But if it is nerdy, so be it.
Full Story. The first debate is scheduled for Feb. 25 at George Washington University
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: congress, debate club, debating issues
