As a debate coach, I find sometimes after a debate it’s easier to evaluate a performance if we break it down to its basics.
In this case, lets divide up the Republican debate in Iowa Thursday night as Donald Trump, who was absent from the stage, appears to divide up the world. Winners and losers.
Winner: Ted Cruz. Regardless of how he performed in the debate. Why? He was center stage. Appearance matters in debates. For example, I’ve taught my team to be the first ones to the room where we will debate. That way we can get the best seats so that we position ourselves right in front of the judges. Our opponents? Left off on the periphery. I promise you based on years of experience that this spacing made a difference for Cruz.
Winner: Jeb Bush. I honestly think if Trump didn’t exist (as he didn’t in this debate), Bush would be near or at the top of the field. His confidence was high in the debate, his answers sharp. He thrived on issues like the accomplishments and standing of his “establishment” family (calling his father, former President George H.W. Bush, the greatest man alive) and getting lawyers off the back of the military, and fixing the Department of Veteran Affairs.
Winner: Fox News clips. What a terrific idea … playing video clips of the candidates making statements on positions before asking them an uncomfortable question challenging their new positions. It’s brilliant. It forced the debaters to answer for their previous statements. In all future debates, I eagerly say, “lets go to the videotape.”
Loser: Ben Carson. Why is he still here? He is a neurosurgeon, I realize, but he seemed to sleep through most of the debate, only to be awakened for a question from a YouTuber who served in Iraq and was brought to this country from Mexico as a child. She asked whether, if America doesn’t seem like a place for immigrant entrepreneurs, will the economy suffer?
Simple and direct question. Carson’s answer? “Huh? Oh great,” he said while wiping the sleepy dust from his eyes, and responding, for all intents and purposes: “Something, something … declare war on the Islamic State … something something … Keep America Safe!” Drop the mic, Ben. You’re done.
Loser: Donald Trump. A bunch of reasons:
First, Trump’s rationale, which goes like this: Megyn Kelly is mean (i.e.: smart, prepared, etc.) to me. This thinking is unimpressive to undecided Republicans and independent voters. Trump’s rationale makes him appear weak. And for a candidate whose entire approach is to deride weakness, this is a poor choice. A little advice for a debater: If you don’t like the questions, don’t quit. Simply get better at answering them. For example, at any given tournament held in the fine states of Washington or Oregon, my debaters at Southern Illinois University will invariably get a topic about salmon (fisheries/sustainability/spawning/dams/fish farming, etc.)
Guess who’s now got the best debating files in the country about fishing? We do.
Second, Trump’s move was too risky. When I’ve been lucky enough to have a dominant team, I teach them to take no risks when you are expected to win. Risky business is for Tom Cruise and naked short selling. Anyway, it’s not for debaters who are ahead. Now is the worst time for Trump to take a chance.
Third, hubris. We want a confident president. But when it crosses a line, this confidence turns to arrogance, which turns off voters. Indeed, my team lost a debate to a team not even on the radar in national rankings because the judge disliked us and thought we were overly arrogant in skipping the previous weekend’s regional tournament. And the judge was correct. We deserved to lose. I’m afraid Trump’s move, to put yourself above a debate, will do the same to his future standing.
Finally, the short-term gain is not worth the long-term loss in future debates.
Trump’s own defensiveness will also be on display in future debates. Think of the ribbing he’s going to get. “Glad you could make it. Did your Twitter followers give you permission?” And so on.
Here’s what we know for sure of Trump. He can dish it out, but he’s not so good at taking it. His future debate performances will suffer when he loses it after the incessant teasing.
And it’s open season on The Donald for all future moderators. Imagine how bad it would look for Trump to complain in the future about tough questions. He’s already played the “she’s mean to me” card, so any complaints will make Trump appear weak, childish, and unfit for the tough job that is the presidency.
