Newt Gingrich may find he’s unable to debate his way to the Oval Office

[babylonsister]

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/gop-presidential-primary/206281-gingrich-unable-to-debate-his-way-to-the-oval-office-


Newt Gingrich may find he’s unable to debate his way to the Oval Office
By Christian Heinze - 01/25/12 05:00 AM ET

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has turned his skill at debating into his central argument for the GOP nomination — but it’s not clear he has an airtight case.

snip//

Gingrich’s debating skills are overrated

Brad Phillips, the president of Phillips Media Relations and author of the Mr. Media Training blog, thinks Gingrich’s style won’t play when he’s trying to sell general-election voters on his candidacy — and nowhere will that be more evident than in the debates.

“Since the beginning of the 24/7 media age in 1980, the sunnier and more optimistic candidate has won all eight general elections,” Phillips points out.


snip//

Now, to be sure, Gingrich isn’t basing his entire campaign on the prospect of winning debates against Obama. He frequently talks of “big issues” requiring “big solutions” that are anything but the fluff that usually dominates debates.

But, more than any other candidate in modern history, he’s wooed Republicans through the hope of making Obama sweat on the stage.

Should Republicans sweat that promise?

[DCBob]

1. At some point he will run out of hot button sound bites..

and then most voters will realize this guy is not qualified to be running for the highest office in the land.

[liberal N proud]

2. The only skill Gingrich has in debates is turning the tables on the moderator

If he runs into a moderator who will not back down from his attacks, then he is toast in any debate.

But even if he does not encounter that, when he gets to debating Obama, again, toast.

[Responder3]

12. Brian Williams did a good job shutting down the shit

duRec

[madrchsod]

3. his temper will get the best of him

but what will really sink him is his record in the house and his women problems. the boys in chicago are not going to play nice.

[tallahasseedem]

4. Look how he floundered in Tampa...

with no audience participation. The Presidential debates do not allow for audience participation and, no matter what, there is the expectation that the President is to receive a certain amount of respect from his opponent.

[no_hypocrisy]

5. Gringrich doesn't debate as much as he employs an array of logical fallacies.

Begging the question, appeal to emotion, appeal to the masses, overgeneralization, appeal to authority, appeal to fear, appeal to pity, confusing cause and effect, appeal to ridicule, etc.

http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/

When you come right down to it, Gringrich rarely addresses the question posed head on and comprehensively. He answers the way he wants to.

[GoCubsGo]

6. That comes as no surprise.

His purported "intelligence" is also overrated. Unfortunately, the GOP "base" have some really bizarre ideas of what constitutes winning a debate. It's style over substance with them. As long as their guy somehow makes the other guy look bad or weak, he wins, even if everything that spews out of his mouth shows him to be the biggest moron on the planet.

[davidpdx]

7. Obama will run him over like Barlett did on The West Wing.

God I miss that show....

[Zorro]

8. Republitards want someone to stand up and insult Obama to his face

That's what they think they'll get with Leroy.

[Ebadlun]

9. They genuinely think Obama can't speak without a teleprompter, they've said it so often

The dangers of believing your own crap.

[bemildred]

10. Obama will wipe the floor with him.

There will be nothing left but rubble.

[Amonester]

11. Agreed.

And in style. (Smiling)