My View: Avoid Post-Debate Spin

By News Director Bob Longo

POSTED: 10:32 am EDT October 1, 2004
UPDATED: 1:30 pm EDT October 1, 2004

I still don't feel calling Thursday's little tete-a-tete a debate is a true representation for what we witnessed. Oh, it was spirited, interesting, at times revealing and I am happy to report, better than I had feared it would be. My hope is you watched it all.

And I also hope you turned the channel immediately afterward.

Thats right. I'm a TV guy and I'm telling you your best move Thursday night after the 90-minute rumba in Miami would have been to change the channel. Surprise! And here's another one. I'm not about to tell you who I think "won" the "debate."

There is entirely too much opinion mixed in with political reporting these days -- on TV, on the radio, in newspapers and the Web. It's everywhere. For crying out loud, just make up your own mind! Let what you heard sink in and mull it over. Talk it up with your spouse, friends and neighbors, soak it all in and come to your own independent conclusion.

Do you really think you'll hear something inspiring, novel or unique from one of the opinionators or spinmeisters that lurk behind every camera like a political mugger laying in wait?

When the networks, cable channels, newspapers and more go to the "experts" for their take on matters, is there ever ANY doubt what they'll say? Here's what it looked like in the Miami heat afterward Thursday night:

Network Anchor: "We have with us, the architect of the Kerry campaign, Joe Blow. Joe, who do you think won the debate tonight?"

Shockingly, Joe was certain his candidate, his boss, his man had won.

And guess what? The Bush campaign people interviewed thought their guy won.

Why would they say anything but that? Why are we hearing from these people? They have nothing to offer. Stop wasting your time with these people.

Watch the event yourself. Once you have, you are qualified to substitute for any one of these "experts."

Hearing from these people is like listening to Steelers coach Bill Cowher after a game he just won -- or lost. Guess what? He'll talk proud -- or be mad -- about the running, passing, special teams and defense, say they need to work a little on this and that, and they're going to get ready for their next game. He's the coach. What do you expect him to say? "We're going to go back to the drawing boards and work on renewable fission. Once we figure that out, we're going to be unstoppable!"

Much of what passes for political reporting in this country is a carbon copy of sports reporting -- dull-as-dirt, personality-laced opinion that tries to shock and enlighten but uses the same tactics and rhetoric day after unsurprising day. There is no shock, just schlock. The same things are repeated over and over, re-packaged slightly with perhaps a name change here and there. No suprises. Never.

If you want opinion, fine. Check out a lot of varied voices and latch on to the ones that ring true for you. Mull them over, challenge them, chew them up and, if needed, spit them out. But be careful. Make sure the voice you listen to in the voting booth is your own. You only get one vote. Make sure that is yours too.

Nobody asked. That's just my opinion.

Previous Columns: