LIBERADIO(!)

Tonight I watched John Seigenthaler moderate a debate between Knoxville mayor Bill Haslam and Congressman Jim Cooper on the steps of the parthenon as part of the Youth Presidential Debate 2008. This was a great collaboration of Montgomery Bell Academy with the Mayor’s Youth Council and Metro Nashville Public Schools.

It was a cool early fall evening, and the doors of the parthenon stood open, providing a glimpse of the chambers of Athena behind the debaters. Haslam stood in for McCain-Palin, and Cooper stood in for Obama-Biden. Each fielded a number of previously submitted questions from area students. As Jim Cooper said in his opening remarks, “We don’t inherit this country from our ancestors; every day we borrow it from you.”

Here is a sampling of the questions with answers captured impressionistically by me:

1. On nuclear energy

   Haslam: Three point answer: 1) drill more, 2) use less, 3) pursue alternatives, including nuclear (cited France)

   Cooper: Coal has a role. “We’re the Saudi Arabia of coal.” Mentioned support of nuclear, which is not always safe in Democratic-leaning areas.

2. On campaign finance (in light of both candidates receiving significant financial support from Wall Street)

   Cooper: There is a problem with the way we finance elections.

   Haslam: Noted that there is “all sorts of influence,” not all of it monetary.

3. On the draft

   Haslam: Gave strong assurances that McCain didn’t support a draft. POW! Strong military volunteerism in family. Slipped and cited “George Wallace” when he meant “George Washington,” but quickly corrected himself.

   Cooper: Claimed that Iraq was the first all-volunteer war. Supported a civilian service corps because service is the only thing that fosters “true humanity, true community.”

4. On presidential blame for the financial crisis

   Cooper: Pointed out that Clinton gave us the first (footnoted) surplus since the 1920s. Cited the independent Federal Reserve, the role of Congress, and the power of the bully pulpit.

   Haslam: Cautioned that “government is not a magic box. You get out what you put in.”

5. On going green (at the suggestion of pop culture)

   Haslam: Indicated that it transcended pop culture. Asserted that whether climate change is man-made or not doesn’t matter. Conserving and cutting costs “makes sense.”

   Cooper: Said he’s learning from his daughter, who is a “localvore.” Said the spirit of conservation connects her to the old ways of her grandmother, who saved material things (string, paper) for later reuse.

6. On Iran

   Cooper: Suggested that the “young people” read Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books as a method of better understanding other cultures. Referenced Israel’s complicated relationship with the international community and the complications of Shia versus Sunni.

   Haslam: Suggested that there is no black/white. That there is lots of “nuance.”

7. On containing the costs of universal healthcare

   Haslam: Suggested that market controls will be the most effective method.

   Cooper: With “all due respect,” suggested that this was “a terrible question” because it was asked with the assumption that universal healthcare would be more costly than the status quo, which is incredibly expensive with little value comparative to other industrialized countries. Recommended Overtreated: Why Too Much Medicine Is Making Us Sicker and Poorer for further reading. Promoted the Healthy Americans Act. Cited need to stop bad incentives.

8. On working families

   Cooper: Repeatedly stated that Obama’s tax plan lowers taxes for 95% of Americans and suggested that it’s time for people to “upgrade your stereotypes.”

   Haslam: Suggested that Obama’s promises can’t be kept just by increasing taxes on 5% of Americans.

9. On joining the International Criminal Court

   Haslam: Claimed McCain would consider joining if American soldiers could be adequately protected and not “second-guessed” during combat. POW!

   Cooper: Contra McCain, most Republicans have not been open-minded on this issue. Cited America’s damaged international reputation.

10. On offshore drilling

    Cooper: Noted that previous ban had expired as of today and that drilling is now allowed within 3 miles of American coastline except for West coast of Florida.

    Haslam: Didn’t hear Cooper state what Obama’s position was. Reiterated McCain’s position of drilling as a partial requirement for energy security.

11. On the DREAM Act

    Haslam: Admitted that he was unable to find McCain’s position on this issue and turned the floor over to Coop, who said, “He supports it.” Said he finds it’s better to admit it when one doesn’t know the answer to a question.

    Cooper: Explained the bill, which offers a path to higher education for the children of illegal immigrants. Said McCain’s support for this bill, likely to be lost as his “maverick” status fades in the presidential race, sets him apart from his party. Called it a “question of elemental fairness to young people.”

12. On schools

    Cooper: Pointed out that until recently, 95% of education policy was state/local. Referenced some of the “stupid rules” of No Child Left Behind.

    Haslam: Generalized the notion that the more government is local, the better it is.

13. On Islam

    Haslam: Recommended avoiding a “broad paintbrush.”

    Cooper: Called Islam a “completely legitimate” religion. Compared characterizing terrorists as “Islamic extremists” with characterizing the KKK as “Baptist extremists” or “Church of Christ extremists.” Referenced Clausewitz’s first rule of war: “understand the enemy.”

14. On the role of faith in public life

    Cooper: Against state-based religion, as well as discriminating on the basis of religion. Cited Romney’s Mormonism, a “perfectly legitimate faith,” but that contributed to Romney’s loss because of intolerance among conservative Christians.

    Haslam: “Faith should be welcome in the public square.”

In closing, Haslam advocated trust in what someone has done over what someone says. Coop ended with, “Once every few generations…” and issued a call to young people that was already underway.

The questions were impressive, revealing a level of student engagement far surpassing my own and that of most of my peers at that age. I heard questions from MBA, Harpeth Hall, McGavock, Maplewood, and St. Cecilia.

In my opinion, Haslam and Cooper represent the best each party has to offer in Tennessee. Each is likable and thoughtful and unlikely (in my experiences with each thus far) to dodge questions and replace them with careful messaging. Both men are as close to candid as modern politics allows. Each acquitted himself well and gave a thorough and thoughtful presentation of contrasting ideas that help to illustrate the difference in Democratic and Republican ideologies without the bluster and negativity so common on television. For students interested in politics and policy, this served as a great introduction.

Seigenthaler, whose moderation was mostly confined to giving a gravelly cadence of wisdom to the enthusiastically earnest words of Nashville youth, paused the debate at one point to note the civility, especially in contrast with the national version of this debate that is unfolding. At the end, he expressed his “profound honor” to be in the company of “young men” such as these (Haslam and Coop) and praised the “ingenious idea” of Brad Gioia, headmaster of MBA.

Several of the mayor’s staff and the mayor himself showed up to support the engagement of the Youth Council. Chris Henson (interim Director of Schools) and Alan Coverstone (member, Board of Education) were also present. Alan teaches and is an administrator at MBA.

I’m hopeful that we’ll get the opportunity to speak with Mayor Haslam on the show at some point if he’ll accept.