
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, June 26, 1994                   TAG: 9407220023
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: E2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

VA. DEBATES

WITH CHANNEL-SURFING becoming America's favorite indoor sport, it's a cinch many TV viewers won't sit still for even one hour of politicians' prattle - much less 20 hours, the total duration of the Lincoln-Douglas debates in 1858. But many more TV viewers might be riveted to their screens if what passes as modern political "debates" weren't so overly staged and predictable.

Too often, they're cat-and-mouse games: The candidates, being artificially polite to each other. Giving well-rehearsed spiels and answers to anticipated questions from a panel of journalists. Going through elocutional contortions to get in sound bites and killer one-liners, as instructed by their handlers. Stiffly trying to avoid mistakes of their own, while trying to lead their opponents into a blooper trap.

And the journalists - trying to show off their own expertise or importance, with questions on matters that may or may not be of interest to the public. Also trying to trip up the candidates with zapper inquiries.

Such debates can produce heat and noise, but very little light in terms of what sort of people the candidates are and the policy differences they have with each other.

Which is why we like one senatorial candidate's idea. He wants to get back to something more closely approximating the Lincoln-Douglas debates in this year's nationally spotlighted Virginia Senate race.

Let 'em go at each other, Oliver North proposes - asking questions of each other, and challenging each other's positions on issues, with only a moderator in between. As in 1858, suggests the Republican nominee, the media can report and editorialize on what's said - but should not play a starring role in the debates as inquisitors and filterers for what the candidates want to get across to voters.

North's idea, of course, is hardly original. Debate planners have been trying to move away from the press-conference-type format, and toward something that offers more opportunity for spontaneity by the candidates, more substance and illumination for the public. And it's not surprising that North would be pushing to exclude journalists. There's no love lost between him and many in the media. He's served notice that his strategy is to circumvent pesky reporters and other "liberal" media conspirators, and to communicate directly with the public whenever he can.

Still, the debate format he proposes has merit. It should get a good tryout Tuesday night in what essentially will be the first debate among Virginia's four senatorial candidates: North; Charles Robb, the incumbent and Democratic nominee; Douglas Wilder, Democrat cum independent; and Marshall Coleman, Republican cum independent.

That confrontation will take place before a national television audience, on CNN's "Larry King Live" show at 9 p.m., with King in the moderator role. Considering the notoriety of the lineup, it ought to make for intriguing show biz. Just, please, Mr. King, don't let any of them play a saxophone.

Keywords:
POLITICS

by CNB