Analysis

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Biden-Ryan debate 'spirited, civil, and even entertaining'

By: Bloomberg News

Posted: 10/15/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

If the vice-presidency, as John Nance Garner famously said, isn't worth a bucket of warm spit, then what's a vice-presidential debate worth?

As it turns out, thankfully, something more than a bucket of warm spit. Thursday night's sitdown between Vice-President Joe Biden and Republican vice-presidential nominee Paul Ryan was useful in both substance and style. It may not have changed many minds, but it clarified a lot of differences.

First, the substance. The candidates discussed a lot of foreign policy, a fair amount of economics and a few social issues. On foreign policy, Biden was clearly more comfortable and experienced, calling other national leaders by their nicknames and repeatedly -- and rightly -- asking Ryan what he and his running mate would do differently. ("We've disagreed from time to time on a few issues," was the best Ryan could do on Afghanistan.) Martha Raddatz, the debate's moderator, gamely tried to pin down both candidates on specifics of their plans to raise taxes and reduce the deficit, but made little headway.

One of the more revealing contrasts between the candidates was on abortion. Ryan was unapologetic: "I believe life begins at conception," he said, and under president Mitt Romney, the policy would be to oppose abortions with the exceptions of rape, incest and to save the life of the mother. It was an admirably honest answer. Biden said he, too, accepted his church's belief about when life begins, "but I refuse to impose it on equally devout Christians and Muslims and Jews."

To say that Biden got the better of the argument is not to diminish the achievement of that moment: illuminating an authentic difference of opinion and approach on a matter of public import.

Of course, a debate is more than just words. It is theatrics: rolled eyes, raised eyebrows, furrowed brows, grins and smirks, even an occasional look-to-the-skies-and-throw-up-your-arms-I-can-t-believe-my-opponent-just-said-that gesture. How you feel about this stuff is largely a function of how you feel about the candidates.

Take, for instance, that word "stuff." At one point Biden complained that Ryan's view on the Middle East "was a bunch of stuff." At another point, he called out Ryan for spouting "a bunch of malarkey." By one count, he interrupted Ryan 82 times. Ryan, for his part, was polite and deferential. He created no Twitter hashtags or trending terms on Google.

We could decry these developments as inappropriate for a serious debate. Forgive us if we resist the temptation. First, serious is not a synonym for dull. Part of the art of politics is getting people to pay attention, and a little humour and theatricality can serve the cause.

Second, in debates perhaps more so than on the campaign trial, style matters. Biden's avuncular persona --whether you find it endearing or condescending -- is useful information for an undecided voter. So is Ryan's wonky persona -- whether you find it refreshing or hard-hearted.

It may be that Biden was playing not to undecided voters, of which there are astonishingly few, but to Democrats depressed by President Barack Obama's desultory performance a week earlier. If that was Biden's job, he succeeded. What he did not do -- nor did Ryan, with his competent and respectful presentation -- is change the dynamics of the race in the way that Romney-Obama debate did.

Which brings us back to the central point of the night: This was a vice-presidential debate. Like the vice presidency itself, a vice-presidential debate is forever destined to matter less than the presidential one.

As Biden and Ryan showed, however, it is possible to have a debate between two ideologically antagonistic candidates that is informative, spirited, civil and even entertaining. We hope their running mates -- especially the president -- were taking notes for their next meeting on Tuesaday.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 15, 2012 A10

Fact Check

Have you found an error, or know of something we’ve missed in one of our stories? Please use the form below and let us know.

* Required

In which story did you find the error? *
Please post the headline of the story or the title of the video with the error.
What was the error? *
Please post exactly what was wrong with the story.
What should we have written?
Please indicate your source for the correct information.
Who else should we interview to improve this story?
Please include any contact information you may have.
Can we contact you in the future for advice on stories about this topic?
Yes

No
First Name: *
Last Name: *
E–mail Address: *
This will only be used to contact you if we have a question about your submission, it will not be used to identify you or be published.
Phone: *
This will only be used to contact you if we have a question about your submission, it will not be used to identify you or be published.
Colour:
Are you blue? If you can see this, leave it blank and get some CSS support.
Enter the words that you see: * This is to prevent our forms from being filled out automatically.
You have failed to correctly identify the words in the box above. Please try again.

More Analysis

Undock

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.

Have Your Say

New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

Have Your Say

Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscribers only. why?

Have Your Say

Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press Subscribers only. why?

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.