By Travis Perry │ Kansas Watchdog
OSAWATOMIE — Across the airwaves and the Internet, Kansans tuned-in to the final presidential debate to watch President Barack Obama and challenger Mitt Romney exchange verbal blows for the last time before the Nov. 6 election. But for Kansas Watchdog readers, what mattered most wasn’t what was said on stage, but rather who wasn’t allowed.
Responding to questions posted on Kansas Watchdog’s Facebook page during the debate, readers showed strong support for including third-party candidates in Presidential Debates, and argued that restricting it to only two parties limited the exchange of ideas between candidates and voters.
“My feelings is if they did, more people would go with the third party, and scares [sic] the heck out of the other two parties,” said Marcia Abernathy Lee.
Debate moderator and CBS News anchor Bob Schieffer was also roundly criticized by Kansas Watchdog readers, who argued that the seasoned television journalist continued a liberal slant many felt has pervaded the debate moderator selection process.
In the end, though, many readers were skeptical as to whether a strong debate performance translated into a strong presidency. Doug Roudybush said neither candidate did a good job of differentiating themselves, while Jane Henry said neither Obama nor Romney were strong performers in the debate Monday night.
“(It) sure isn’t like any debate I had when in school if I’d have debated this way I would have flunked,” Henry said.
Contact Travis Perry at travis@kansaswatchdog.org, or follow him on twitter at @kansaswatchdog.
